Washington High School Class of l954 and guests attending the reunion were (front row, l-r) Edna Lamar and Charlie Davidson, faculty; Agnes Hester Smith, Agnes Cofer Church, LuAnn Koger Elbaum, LaVera Smith Strickland, Billie Jean Vinson Sasser, Joyce Daniel Wilkinson, Nancy Denard McAvoy, Kerry McAvoy; (back, l-r) Bobby Walker, Sam McGill, Guy Norman, Frank Jones, Joe Whittemore, Jim McAvoy, and Emory Gresham. Not pictured is Cecil Callaway. “And a good time was had by all” might best describe the reunion gathering of Washington High School classes of l954, l955 and l956 at the Georgia Club in Statham on Friday, June 9.

The event was hosted by Cicero Lucas and John Greene, along with George Armstrong and Carole Johnson Murphy, all members of the Class of l955.

Each class was represented by a classmate from their respective class and 70 classmates and spouses gathered for the luncheon with much time spent visiting and reminiscing.

Washington High School Class of l955 and guests gathering for the reunion were (seated) Bob Murphy; (front row, standing, l-r) Martha Matthews Echols, Betty Jo Callaway Denard; faculty, Edna Lamar and Charlie Davidson; Carole Johnson Murphy, Flora Ann Dunnaway McGill, Mary Long Rhodes, Stella Lucas Swann, Jean Newsome Casey; (back) Bettye Eubanks Armour, John Long, Faye Sisson McAvoy, John Greene, George Armstrong and Cicero Lucas. Honored guests were faculty members, Edna Lamar of Tignall and Coach Charlie Davidson of Rome, who was accompanied by his wife, Vickie Davidson.

John (Buck) Greene “got the ball rolling,” so to speak, for the event in order to re-establish and remember a wonderful time of growing up in Washington and attending Washington High School. This goal was accomplished as all enjoyed the festive event, all feeling blessed to have grown up during this era.

Washington High School Class of l956 and guests attending the reunion were (front row, l-r) faculty, Edna Lamar and Charlie Davidson; Choyce (Doodle) Jackson Thompson, Vivian Ficklen Barnett, Mary Ann Garrard, Ella Mae Callaway Mines; (back) Barbara Mulkey Edwards, John Long and Thomas Roth. A time was set aside to remember the classmates who had passed away and are “gone but not forgotten” as the sign implied by the pictures of the Class of l954 along with a listing of spouses of classmates who also had passed away. Mr. Greene read the names of those departed for the Class of l955; Vivian Ficklen Barnett read the names for the Class of l956; and LuAnn Koger Elbaum read the names for the Class of l954. Rev. Bob Murphy, 1955, offered a special prayer for these loved ones.

Memorabilia of “days gone by” were displayed for all to gaze upon along with the WHS Yearbook for 1954 and the WHS Yearbook for 2004, which was dedicated to the Class of l954 as their class had the first yearbook for WHS. Yearbooks from the classes of l955 and l956 were also displayed. The Class of l954 displayed pictures of the classmates who were unable to attend along with pictures of the WHS High School faculty.

Coach Davidson was presented a picture signifying him as the “ #1 Coach” and Mrs. Lamar and Mrs. Davidson were also presented “thought” gifts for their continued attendance at many of the class reunions. It was noted that it would not be the same without the three of them. It was also noted that Mrs. Lamar did not bring with her the “Board of Education,” also known as the paddle.

A lovely luncheon, prepared by the Georgia Club staff, was enjoyed and a special thanks was offered to Cicero and Barbara Lucas for making the arrangements possible.

Many comments were enjoyed as each classmate present, plus the guests, gave a brief synopsis of their life and family.

It was unanimous that more gatherings of these classes should occur yearly, if possible, as this occasion was definitely enjoyed by all who attended. And, hopefully those who were unable to attend this year would be able to be present for the next reunion.

Attending from the Class of l954 with their spouses and guests were Cecil and Sharon Callaway of Homer, Agnes Cofer Church of Atlanta, Emory and Rachael Gresham of Lizella, Frank and Rona Jones of Americus, Emil and LuAnn Koger Elbaum and LaVerne and LaVera Smith Strickland of Brunswick, Jim McAvoy of Dawsonville, Guy Norman of Conyers, Hank and Billie Jean Vinson Sasser of Southern Pines, N.C., Bobby and Ann Walker of Rayle, Joe and Pat Whittemore of Hartwell, Joyce Daniel Wilkinson, Agnes Hester Smith, Sam and Flora Ann Dunnaway (’56) McGill, and Kerry and Nancy Denard McAvoy of Washington.

Class of l955 attendees with their spouses and guests were George and Kay Armstrong of Jacksonville, Al and Betty Jo Callaway Denard of Abilene, Tex., John and Sue Greene of Anderson, S.C., Bob and Carole Johnson Murphy of Bishop, Cicero and Barbara Lucas of Statham, Stella Lucas Swann of Thomson, James and Jean Newsome Casey of Cedartown, Henry and Faye Sisson McAvoy of Rayle, James and Martha Matthews Echols, Charles and Mary Long Rhodes, Sam (’54) and Flora Ann Dunnaway McGill, Travis and Bettye Eubanks Armour and Charles and Mary Long Rhodes of Washington.

Attending from the Class of 1956 with their spouses and guests were Don and Choyce (Doodle) Jackson Thompson of Atlanta, Jerry and Barbara Mulkey Edwards of Athens, John Long of Evans, Ella Nell Callaway Mines of Union Point, Mary Ann Garrard, Vivian Ficklen Barnett and Thomas and Gladys Roth of Washington.

Guests included Coach Charlie and Vickie Davidson of Rome, Edna Lamar of Tignall, Boyce Ficklen Davis, Sally Ann Wickersham Cauthen, and Melissa Moon, granddaughter of Ella Nell Callaway Mines, of Athens, Layne Hammock of Watkinsville, daughter of Stella Lucas Swann; Priscilla Vinson Luna of Hampton, sister of Billie Jean Vinson Sasser; and two friends of Joyce Daniel Wilkinson from her church.