Hoover and Barbara Barger Harleson recently celebrated their 50th together and as the photo shows they haven't changed a bit. They were still a great looking couple 50 years ago! Who says things don't get better with time.
House family goes West
Doug House recently returned from a visit to Arizonia and Nevada and graciously shares some of his visit with us.
Doug traveled with his lovely wife Jaye, their granddaughter Tia and her husband James Rogers.
The first photo was taken at the west rim of the canyon. Also at the
west rim is the Grand Canyon Skywalk which is a glass bridge that protrudes
over the wall of the canyon. With much apprehension we walked out and
looked thru the glass floor at the canyon floor about 4,000 feet below. (I've heard much about this and not sure if I would want to venture out on the bridge).
The second photo was taken inside the Venetian Hotel in Vegas. Notice in the
background the Gondola with passenger being guided thru the hotel. The
Gondoliers also sing as they maneuver the Gondola and sing really well. They were at the Venetian to attend an
evening performance of "the Phantom of the Opera" which is always a great
musical.
This is a picture of our "attack cat" that guarded our house while we were
gone.
Thanks Doug for sharing what must been a wonderful trip with your family!
Trip to Czechoslovakia
Jerry Vaughan attended an international conference in Prague, Czechosolovakia in August and sent us the following picture of him at the conference dinner.
From left, Jerry Vaughn and his friend, Aleksander Blaszczyk from Poland.
Happy Anniversary
Anita Quinn Wright and Jim Wright recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Oregon and Washington. On the trip they were able to visit their son in Portland and rode the Amtrak to Seattle with his family. They spent several days touring Seattle.
Anita Quinn Wright and Jim Wright atop the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington.
Thats our Son!
Doug and Jaye House's son, Andy, has been doing research for more than 20 years on the Civil War in the Charleston SC area. More specifically the research has centered on Morris Island a battle that was depicted in the movie "Glory". Andy has written three books, as yet unpublished, based on his research. In 2011, Andy was cited by the Library of Congress for providing documentation that correctly identified the Civil War as Battery Chatfield on Morris Island. See photo below.
Battery Chatfield on Morris Island.
In April 2011, Andy was granted the privilege of an overnight stay at Fort Sumter during the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the firing on Fort Sumter. While there, he took the Fort Sumter picture at sunrise on April 12 which was the exact day and time of the beginning of the Civil War. This picture was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2011 Civil War Trust photo contest. That photo is as follows:
Andy also has avid interest in his 1982 Delorean ("Back to the Future") which recently got a major overhaul.
Andy and his Delorean.
Doug and Jaye we know that you are proud of your son Andy. Thanks for sharing!
I've Been Working on the Railroad.....
Received a note from my friend and our classmate, Henry Snyder about the very interesting volunteer work he does in association with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Henry Snyder during a recent trip to Raleigh, NC.
Henry has had a life long love affair with trains, all kind of trains big and little, and last year he joined the NC Train Host Association, a volunteer organization sponsored by the NCDOT Rail Division. North Carolina is one of three states that have host associations and NC’s is the largest and most active. As a member he greets passengers as they arrive at the station and then travels with them on Amtrak trains between Charlotte and Raleigh or Rocky Mount. While on board he visit with passengers, provide information to a variety of passenger questions along with information about the various cities and points of interest as they travel through NC, assist passengers with special needs (as directed by the Amtrak crew), and best of all, talks with the children about their train ride experience.
Congratulations, Henry, for combining your love with a volunteer program that brings you much joy!
A Good Looking Family
This photo of Nita Brown Rayburn's family was taken this year on Mother's Day (actually Saturday before Sunday....(we decided our new practice would be to eat dinner before Mother's Day to avoid the usual crowds eating out on Sunday....we loved it!!) The daughter-in-law who is running the marathon (see below) is on the right as you look at the picture.
Seated, first row (left to right): Bob Rayburn & Brett Rayburn. Second row (Left to right): Their wives, Kelly Rayburn & Cindy Rayburn. Back row (left to right): Austin Rayburn, Jack Rayburn, Me, Walker Rayburn and Matt Rayburn. (The brothers are Austin and Matt; Jack and Walker). Note: Nita also has a daughter her two sons that were not able to be at this gathering.
Please understand that the following is not a solicitation but simply to tell you of the wonderful thing that Nita's daughter-in-law, Cindy, is doing for cancer and in honor or Nita's late husband, H.L.. The following is a letter Cindy sent to her family and friends. Of note and interest it should be noted that Nita did not know the daughter-in-law was going to do this in memory of H.L.. Nita was quick to note that H.L. would think that she was crazy to run 26.2 miles, but he would be really proud of her.
The letter sent is as folows:
"Dear Friends and Family,
2011 marks fifteen years since my father-in-law, H.L. Rayburn, lost his battle with cancer. In his memory and to support the efforts of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I have joined the Team in Training program ad will run my first marathon at Walt Disney World on January 8, 2012.
Over the next four months I will be pounding the pavement, running and rasing funds to find a cure for this disease that claims nearly 1,200 victims a week. It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers will strike over 100,000 Americans this year. The cause of leukemia remains unknown. However, the effectiveness of recent developed treatment methods and steady advances in research bring us closer every day to finding the cause and probable cure of leukemia and related cancers.
Although H.L. did not have a blood cancer, I believe that advances with any type of cancer will surely be beneficial to all those battling cancer. My goals are to raise $3,800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and to finish the marathon...without injuty. 75% of every dollar I raise will directly support research for a cure and provide fanancial assistance to families in our country struggling with the financial burden of treatment.
I have made a commitment to run this marathon and bring us 26.2 miles to providing hope, support and pease to individuals battling blood cancer. I am hopeful you will support me in the fight against blood cancer.......
Thanks so much for your support.
Sincerely,
Cindy"
Yes, Nita can be very proud of her family and looking on from the outside, she has done a wonderful job of raising her family!
Thanks to David Dennis for sending me the following on one of our classmates, Charles Price:
Some classmates may remember a young man by the name of Charles Price. He only attended CHS for his senior year. However, he joined the choir and was good enough that he earned the part of Will Parker in the operetta “Oklahoma” that the choir performed at the end of the school year. After graduating from college, Charles worked for a number of years as a journalist and later in a variety of government jobs that took him to Washington, DC. When he retired in 1995, he and his wife moved to Burnsville (near Asheville) and he began a writing career. His work has focused on both the Civil War and the War of the Revolution, relying on family history of his own ancestors. His novels have been well received, as this information from his web site reveals:
His first book, "Hiwassee: A Novel of the Civil War", appeared in 1996. His second, "Freedom’s Altar", won the Sir Walter Raleigh Award as the best fiction of 1999 written by a North Carolina author. "The Cock’s Spur", his third title, received an Independent Publisher Book Award as one of the Ten Outstanding Books of 2001 and Price was named Story Teller of the Year; it also won the Historical Fiction Award of the North Carolina Society of Historians. The last in the series, "Where the Water-Dogs Laughed", was released in 2003. It also garnered the Society of Historians’ award, was a nominee for a second Sir Walter Raleigh Award and was a first finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award for historical fiction that year.
David Dennis notes that, although Charles only spent his last year at CHS, he wrote in my wife’s 1957 annual that this was the best year of his life to that point and he wished that he had been at Central for all three years. Perhaps one of those highlights was the fact that in "Oklahoma:, he got to kiss Ado Annie (Sandra Markham – who became my wife) a number of times in rehearsals and the final performance. His kiss was so exuberant in the dress rehearsal that he almost caused the two of them to fall into the orchestra pit!
Like the rest of us, you probably won’t recognize Charles from his current photo (see above), but if you see him at a book signing around North Carolina, you’ll find him very easy to talk with. If you want to know more about him, go to his web site by clicking HERE.
There is more beauty to this clown than her face
Lu Lu Pickles the Clown. Also know as Lundee Williams Amos
This is one lady that doesn't know its time for retirement
A little about our featured classmate, Dr. Lundee Williams Amos.
Lundee graduated from Eden Energy Medicine in February 2011 after studying for two years. In April she became a certified practitioner after a two hour exam, one on one with an instructor. She presently is taking the third year of training.
In 1994 she began studying Healing Touch and has been certified since 1997. She volunteers offering Healing Touch/Eden Energy Medicine to residents at Arbor Acres, a United Methodist Home in Winston-Salem, NC with Doug Suggs, a United Methodist Minister, who is their Chaplain.
In addition, she volunteers at a Healing Touch Clinic at West Markt Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro. She visits hospitals, nursing homes, and private homes in addition to a private practice in her home. Also, she volunteers healing touch/eden energy medicine sessions at health fairs, employee appreciation days, and recently at the IANDS conference (studies near death experiences) in Durham.
In August she attended the Healing Touch Worldwide Conference, Bridging Science and Spirit : Celebrate Healing, in San Antonio, TX. She took a special class on Utilizing Auricular Acupressure after the conference. She teaches classes at Guilford Technical Community College three times a year on Healing Touch and Eden Energy Medicine.
She offers Laughter Programs after being trained with worldlaughtertour.com to seniors, business clubs, churches, autistic children, stroke victims, dysphonic people, garden clubs, etc.
Dr. Kataria, from India at the American Therapeutic Humor, developed Laughter Yoga which is the origin of how Lundee was trained in Laughter by Steve Wilson from Columbus, Ohio. She became a Certified Laughter Leader before she retired from Guilford Technical Community College.
She went to clown camp three years ago and volunteers with the 5th grade clownettes at Florence Elementary School in High Point, NC. She always visits sick people after the clownette programs because she looks so cute.
She will be hosting a lady from Peru for a week along with other families hosting the other 11 ambasadors through Friendship Force International. Sounds like she isn't retired. Her hobbies are contra dancing, kayaking, water aerobics, hiking, walking, yoga, and zumba.
Lundee tells me that she loves Contra dancing. I am still scratching my head trying to figure out when she has time for dancing.
Lundee lives in Greensboro and has three grandsons which she adores. They are ages 9, 11, and 13, live in Hickory and are GROWING UP FAST!
WOW!! is all I can say. Lundee, keep on staying young. A very blessed classmate who in turn is blessing people all over the world!
After a workshop in California on the rhythm's for her sister's friends.
As if Lundee had a few minutes to spare, she will be teaching two classes at Guilford Technical Community College in Greenssboro, NC this year. On September 15 she will teach "Donna Eden's Energy Medicine". Experience a Five-Minute Daily Energy Routine developed by Donna Eden to help restore your energy flow. Using this routine daily will help keep you healthy and bring energy to your body.
Then on November 17, she will teach "Healing Touch: Promoting Health, Harmony & Balance". Learn about and experience Healing Touch (HT) which is described as a Biofield Therapy by the National Institute of Health which brings comfort, diminishes pain, eases stress, helps to rid body of toxins, instills serenity, and promotes the body's natural healing ability.
You can learn more about these classes at the Guilford Technical Community College web site (www.gtcc/continuing-education-(com-ed).aspx.
Lundee, also know as Lu Lu Pickle,s bringing smiles to the River Landing Senior Center
Lundee, thanks for sharing your blessings with us and hopefully all of us can put on our clown faces and be as active for many more years!
SHAG DANCERS
I am sure all of you remember the great shag dancing demonstration Bob and Yvonne Bowen gave to us during the 50th reunion. Well they are still at it and congratulations to both of them!
Bob and Yvonne Bowen in North Myrtle Beach at the midwinter shag dance festival in January 2011. Yvonne looks so young and I look like an old man.
Bob tells me that When they were going into one of the clubs, a fellow looked at him and Yvonne and then he said, "I see you brought your daughter with you". All during the next night he could hear Yvonne laughing when she was supposed to be asleep in bed. She has gotten many miles out of this story.
CLASSMATE VISIT
Hoover and Barbara Barger Harelson during the last of August traveled to Nebraska for a reunion of old neighborhood friends and spent the night with Danny and Cheri Sells on their way home to North Carolina. Here is a great photo of them having dinner together in St Louis, Missouri.
Now this is what I call a vacation! Lundee Williams Amos recently spent time with her grandsons at Camp Cheerio.This is one of the pictures that were made of her coming down a zip line! Great to see that you are still young at heart. Thanks to Barbara Barger Harelson for sending us the photo.
CONGRATULATIONS TO HOOVER and BARBARA BARGER HARELSON on their 50th wedding anniversary! The Hoovers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June with our son & daughter-in-law, daughter and 4 grandsons with week-long trip to St. Croix.
Front row: Electra (our daughter-in-law), Hoover, Barbara, Jodi (our daughter), back row: son, Jeff, grandsons: Daniel & Tommy Harelson, Brad & Brian Ruhaak.
A wonderful story from a friend and and dear classmate, Liz Lazarides White.
Liz wrote a wonderful Greek cooking book ('Opa') and I recently asked her about her achievement and the following is what I was able to gather.
How OPA Cookbook happened to be:
My parents, Thomas and Eleni Lazarides were both born in Greece. They came to the States
in the mid 20's, had a small cafe in New Jersey. After I was born,we moved to Charlotte
and they opened a restaurant on West Trade Street. "The Charlotte Waffle Shop". I remember loving being in the kitchen watching my Dad cook. He was equally talented
in preparing food and as a pastry chef. My Mother was just as talented in her kitchen except
we enjoyed her Greek cooking, that she did so well.
I always wanted to learn how to cook. My parents never wanted to take the time to teach me.
I remember asking Dad to teach me and his reply was "These are my recipes, I made them up and when I'm gone, they go with me. You'll have to make up your own someday"!
I grew up, married, had 5 children and had to teach myself how to cook for my family. I fell
in love with cooking and my children, David, Melanie, Anna, Todd and Chris loved to taste! It's amazing how your memory and senses stay with you as I remembered what my parents prepared, how it all tasted. I never forgot what their food looked like and I could still remember
the aroma of flavors and seasonings they used. The sense of smell never left me.
My children kept after me over the years to write recipes down for them since they were all
in my head. My son Todd and his wife, Cami are both in marketing and advertising so they
really pushed me to write a cookbook just for the family to have copies. After I put it all
together, wrote some family history and about 150 recipes, I turned it over to Cami to design.
The next thing I knew, instead of just becoming copies for the family to have. they insisted
we do photography, self publish it and see what would happen. Naming the book was the
biggest obstacle as we all had ideas of what the title should be. Until my little 4 year old
grandson, Jacob, was running around one evening while we were all out having dinner,
yelling out to the customers "OPA"!! We couldn't shut him up. Todd had taught Jacob
a couple of Greek words and Opa was his favorite word of all, we discovered.
Jacob named our cookbook.
I never dreamed we would publish OPA Cookbook in 2007 and people are still interested
in having a copy. I've met a lot of people that I never would have met, shipped copies of
cookbooks to places that I never knew existed and and traveled to towns and some states that
I've never been to. Even have given some food demonstrations and cooking lessons thanks to OPA!
I couldn't have paid for the fun I've had over the past 4 years and I'm still having fun. From it
all, I've learned doing something like this, isn't about money, or ego. It's all about doing
what you love doing, taking a chance because of someone encouraging you to do something
you've never done before. To see the finished product and share with others what you've
learned while taking a journey with life! The most valuable lesson learned? Never say "No I
can't" and always remember you can do anything at whatever age you happen to be.
It's been priceless! I think my parents would have been pleased that I watched their
every move in their kitchens when I was small and never forgot and was able to
almost prepare their recipes like they did and also made up my own recipes along the way.
Thanks, Liz, for sharing this wonderful story!
As a footnote, you may be interested in knowing that the greek word 'Opa' Is a word of "Cheers", "Hooray", "hell yeah" and "yeehaw" too!!
FAMILY NEWS
This is the place to tell us about you and your family. Our classmates want to hear! Please send me information!
Gayle Hart Bangert has informed us on the wonderful success of her two children, Derek and Stacie Neal. Both were born in Germany while their father was stationed there with the US Air Force. Both graduated from Kecoughtan High School, Hampton VA.
Derek, at age of 40, began medical school at UofA August 1 of 2011. This is his first white coat ceremony.
Derek has been a resident of the state of Arizona for more than 10 years. He received a bachelors degree in English from the University of Virginia and worked in the restaurant business for a number of years. He completed studies in the University of Arizona school of nursing in Tucson AZ and has worked as a critical care RN in the pediatric ICU of the University Medical Center for the last 5 years. August 1, 2011, he began his first year in the University of AZ's College of Medicine school. He is married to Sylvia, a psycho therapist. They have two children: son, Gabriel, 8 and daughter, Emma, 4 in September.
Stacie and Gayle at our 70th Birthday Party
Stacie received a bachelors degree in International Relations & Russian Studies at the University of VA. She has lived and worked in several US states as well as in Germany. She received her Masters in emergency managment and is now living in Indian Trail and working with the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Fire Department in Homeland Security and in cooperation with the Police Department. In addition to her normal duties, she is working hard on plans for the upcoming 2012 Democratic National Convention and plays a large part in educating the public in these areas.
Gayle we know that you are so proud of your children and thank you so much for sharing with us your love!
From the Hoover and Barbara Barger Harelson family, Barbara reports the following news:
Our daughter, Jodi, who has been a single mom for 8 years and a breast cancer survivor was married in July to Richard W. Arnold of Canton, Ohio. Our son, Jeff and Electra Harelson live in Dallas, Texas. Our 4 grandsons: Tommy is a senior at the University of Texas, Brian, a sophomore at Ohio State University, Daniel, a freshman at University of Virginia and Bradley is a senior in high school in Copley, Ohio. Life is good!
GRANDPARENTS BRAGGING RIGHTS
Lundee Williams Amos three grandsons at the oldest one's birthday. From left to right: Grant Amos (11), a friend, Davis Amos (9), and the birthday boy Cameron Amos (14).
The oldest grandson of Nita Brown Rayburn, Austin, will be graduating from the University of Auburn on August 6. Nita notes that even though she and her late husband, H. L., were avid fans of The University of Alabama, it would have been excused for this Auburn event. Congratulations Nita, we know you will be beaming and on cloud nine at the graduation!
I need you to send me information about you, your children, your grandchildren, your dog and anything else you would like to brag about. Come on people, help me out.
Anyone have any news, interesting stories and items you would like to share with your classmates, please let me know.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Catherine Steagall Peeler - Catherine is having her right knee replaced on Jan. 3. She is really dreading it since she had the left one done last January. Please have a prayer for Catherine's operation and recovery.
Jim Barnett - I received the following email from Jim's wife on 12/30 and I am sure that prayers are needed for both Jim and Pattie:
"An update on Jim. He had to have a pacemaker put in 6 weeks ago. Since then he has been cardioverted 4 times, had 2 heart caths and a stent put in the 2nd time. He has Afib and still is not in rhythm even with the pacemaker. They have him on new meds and they are waiting to see what these meds will do before they shock him again. He is doing much better, but spent most of Dec in & out of the hospital."
Hearing of several of our classmates having problems, I have decided to add a section
on our site that will allow you to read and note of those that would desire our prayers.
Nothing will be posted without the permission of either the person or family approval.
Also, a name without any details may be the only thing noted to keep anyone from any embarrassment.
Thus, if you desire to be placed on a prayer list for either health and/or other reasons please let me know.
Names will remain on the list for as long as desired but will be removed if additional
information has not been forwarded to my attention within a few weeks time.
Other Classmates I am aware of classmates that are having some health problems but prefer not to disclose information for personal reasons. Thus, it would be nice if prayers go out for the health of all of our classmates.
MONTHLY CLASS SOCIAL LUNCH GATHERING
Thanks to Doug House and his wife, Jaye for taking and sending me pictures of those attending the August Luncheon at Jimmie's. All are welcome to the luncheons and no reservations are required.
L to R: Walter Elmore, Gene Davis, Jackie Shaw O'Neill, Susie Kisiah Moore, Clair
Thornhill Skinner, Tom Skinner, Patsy Boyte Ratchford, Ricky Ray, Jim
Bennett, Bob Beard, Donna Beard.
L to R: Manning Watts, Rita Watts, Henry Snyder, Harry Litaker, Doug House,
Walter Elmore, Gene Davis, Susie Kisiah Moore and Jackie Shaw O'Neill.
L to R: Manning Watts, Rita Watts, Henry Snyder, Harry Litaker, Doug House,
Walter Elmore, Gene Davis, Susie Kisiah Moore, Jackie Shaw O'Neill, Clair
Thornhill Skinner, Tom Skinner, Patsy Boyte Ratchford, Ricky Ray, Jim
Bennett. Bob Beard, Donna Beard.
Previously posted photos taken at monthly luncheons can be found on the Snips and Cuts pages
The monthly class luncheons will be held at 12:00 noon on the third Saturday of each month. Come on out and join the fun.
NO DECEMBER LUNCHEON
The next Class of '57 Luncheon and Fellowship will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2010, 12:00 noon at Jimmie's Restaurant. Jimmie's is located in downtown Mint Hill, (7024 Brighton Park Drive,
Phone: 704-545-7750) South of the intersection of Lawyers Road and Highway 51. Directions from I-85, exit
off I-85 onto I-485 and continue to exit 43 (Hwy 51), turn right (Hwy 51 South) and travel approximately 2.5 miles.
At Wendy's turn right into shopping center. Turn first left and Jimmie's will be on your left.
No reservations are necessary.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Thanks to Catherine Stegall Peeler for this one:
Have you ever told a white lie?
lice Grayson was to bake a cake for the
Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa , but forgot to do it until the last minute.
She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after
rummaging through cabinets, found an angelfood cake mix &
quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack for scout camp.
When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat
and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed,
"Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!"
So, being inventive, she looked around the house
for something to build up the center of the cake.
She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet Paper.
She plunked it in and then covered it with icing.
Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect.
And, before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work,
Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific
instructions to be at the bake sale the moment itopened at 9:30 and to buy
the cake and bring it home.
When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive,
perfect cake had already been sold.
Amanda grabbed her cell phone and called her mom.
Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know!
What would they think? She would be ostracized,talked about, ridiculed!
All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her
And talking about her behind her back.
The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake
And would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member
and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend
because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her
nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the
founding families of Tuscaloosa, but having already RSVP'd, she
couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home.
The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old south, and to Alice 's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert!
Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake!
She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet,
the Mayor's wife said, "what a beautiful cake!"
Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess
(who was a prominent church member) say,
"Thank you, I baked it myself."
Alice smiled and thought
to herself,
"God is good."
Anyone having items of interest, please send them to me!
This site has been developed and is maintained by MIckey Connell for his friends from the
Charlotte Central High Class of 1957.
If you have any stories, photographs, memories, current news, etc. of our classmates, contact
Mickey
NEWS ABOUT OUR CLASSMATES!
