Franklin County Agricultural High School, Franklin County, MS

The Class of 1925

Place of residence in 1975 under names

First Name Last Name Married

Eva Wright Golson

Baton Rouge, LA

Lela Smith Halford

Meadville, MS

Bonnie Mae Jones Whittingon

Gloster, MS

Maude Rush Sucich

Galveston, TX

Lorelle Emanuel

Church Hill, MS

Irene Emanuel Shaw

Port Isabel, TX

Gussie Hancock Doughty

Cleveland, MS

Morton Little

Luverne, AL

Louise McCulley

Irondale, AL

Sara Lou Andrews

Tylertown, MS

Lessie Sullivan Oglesby

Waterproof, LA

Jack Giles

Prentiss, MS

Proby Magee

Fairfield Bay, AR

Malcolm L. Aldridge

Jena, LA

Jack Cupit

LaPlace, LA

Lula Hutto Jeffries

Summit, MS

Dorothy Martin Cherry

Natchez, MS

Hubert Laird

New Orleans, LA

Edgar McGehee

Lacombe, LA

J.H. McGehee

Terry, MS

Edgar Lofton

St. Joseph, LA

Leslie Flowers

Meadville, MS

Cleon Cupit

New Orleans, LA

Bonnie Whitehead Kelly

Darling, MS

Ethel Oglesby James

Hattiesburg, MS

Aileen Barlow Perritt

Jackson, MS

Florelle Garrett Jackson

New Orleans, LA

James Wentworth

Meadville, MS

Harry Mullins

Meadville, MS

Wilson Nichols

Unable to Locate

Deceased:

Ernest Nations

Julia Buie

Cecil Cupit

Archie Hemphill

Leland Walker

History and Prophecy of the Class of '25

composed and delivered by Florelle Garret on May 11, 1925

In the fall of twenty one, there gathered from the hills and valleys of Franklin and the adjoining counties, a band of students, twenty four in number, to have their names enrolled upon the record book of the Franklin County Agricultural High School. Of course, as all freshmen are, we were exceedingly green, but before that session was over, we became used to the rules of high school and were deep into our work.

After a summer of recreation, we returned, rejoicing in the fact, that we could no longer be styled as "green little freshies". New students took the places of the members who did not return. We earned a few honors in our school work that year as well as furnished able men on the athletic field.

By the time we gathered for our Junior year, our class had thinned in number, but we profited by our past experiences and found the way much easier. Although we failed to make many new experiments in the Chemistry laboratory, we tried hard to memorize the text book. During this year, several of our members established for themselves, a reputation on the athletic field not soon to be forgotten.

The close of that year came, how near but yet how far we seemed from that great honor -- Graduation!

We had many new members at the beginning of our Senior year, some of which did much to keep up our class record, and now at last, as we a band of twenty-six have reached, what we have long thought our greatest aim, we have mingled thoughts of joy and sadness. By an accident of fire, we have been deprived of our main building, made sacred to each of us by happy association.
We have the privilege - for we truly count it so - of graduating in the Baptist Church. It is true that not all our efforts have been crowned with success, but we have learned to make our failures "stepping stones to higher things".

We are separating, no longer will the difficulties and hard places be smoothed by the aid and kind words of our classmates; but memories of their friendship will be everlasting.

Let us imagine tonight for a few minutes that this is the same day ten years hence. An urgent request has been sent out by Bonnie Mae Jones, our class president, for every member of the class to meet again at the old F.C.A.H.S. on May 11, 1935 on the day of our graduation anniversary.

The day has dawned beautifully and clear, just as it was ten years before. The principal of the high school where Irene Emanuel and I were presiding as head of the respective Home Science and English departments, was kind enough to allow us a two day vacation in order that we might be present at this reunion.

How great was the joy in our hearts at the prospect of seeing again, all or the majority of our class of twenty five. Upon arriving at the station, we were met by Leland Walker and Jack Cupit. As we wondered, they told us that Leland was superintendent of what used to be F.C.A.H.S. , but was now a combination junior college and high school and that Jack was superintendent of education in his native county.

We immediately made our way to the auditorium of, not the old building where we had learned and recited many lessons in the past, but a massive, beautiful brick building.

Only a few of the class members had arrived before us. The first to greet us was Sarah Lou Anders. She too had become an English teacher, was still single and teaching at Copiah Lincoln A.H.S.

Malcolm Aldridge was also present and with him two very small boys. In answer to our inquiries, he said that they were his children and as he was chief nurse at home, his wife compelled him to bring those children along or he would stay at home himself!

Aileen Barlow was present with another who had been a member of our class three years in high school, Cleon Cupit. Aileen had been a Bookkeeper a while after graduation, but when Cleon finished his college course, they had married and were living in perfect bliss and happiness.

We then heard a ladies voice outside the door, mingled with that of a small child. When the two entered, we recognized Winnie Dickey. She had married immediately after graduation, the expert school teacher she had been in love with so long.

Someone glanced out the window and observed a young man walking briskly in that direction. We all immediately recognized him as Leslie Flowers. He had followed a little in the footsteps of his father and become a railway clerk on the I. C. Railroad. He said he had seen Jack Giles and Archie Hemphill and that they would be there soon. When they came we eagerly asked of their accomplishments and were pleased. Jack was president of a lumber company in central Mississippi and Archie was still "catching", but on one of the foremost American Leagues.

Bonnie Mae Jones and Hubert Laird, our Class President and Secretary were the next to arrive. They had kept up with a good many of our class members. Hubert had finished at Mississippi College and was Pastor of one of the Baptist churches at Biloxi and Bonnie Mae was dress designer for a large department store in Memphis, Tennessee. They then told us of some other of our classmates. They said there were four that could not be present. Julia Buie was in training for a Missionary to China while Bonnie Whitehead had reached her highest ambition and had for two years, been doing great work in the Missionary fields of Africa. How our hearts throbbed with joy to hear of two of our classmates being in such a noble, self-sacrificing work. They then said that Lorelle Emanuel had far excelled our expectations and was then in South America as an Ambassador for the U.S. Government and that Eva Wright had gone to the state of Kansas to complete her education but had lately fallen in love with a young high school boy. They had married and she was now teaching her husband in college!

Two stout but very stately ladies entered the room. We recognized them as Dorothy Martin and Lela Smith. Dorothy had finished college at Hattiesburg and was then teaching music at Meridian. Mississippi. She was boarding with Lela, who had been a professional bookkeeper but had recently married a noted lawyer of that city.

Our thoughts then turned to J. H. McGehee; as if in answer to our inquiries, he entered the room. He was very stately looking and quite as handsome as during our high school days. He had practiced law a while but was a then a member of the U.S. Senate.

Some one asked about Lessie Sullivan. Aileen said they had corresponded for a while, but lately she had lost trace of her but had heard that she was still single. As we talked we heard a familiar voice outside and Lessie entered the room at once with
Cecil Cupit one of our old classmates. They were not married, as we first supposed, but Lessie was still teaching. Cecil acknowledged though he was still happy because though he was only courting Lessie, he bid fair to win her heart at last!

Maude Rush and Proby McGee then entered the room, neither of which had as yet reached the height of their ambition but were still climbing. Proby had become a Doctor and was head of a large hospital at Jackson, Mississippi and Maude was one of his most efficient trained nurses.

We then had the opportunity of welcoming our Class Valedictorian, Ethel Oglesby. We had had great expectations of her and she had more than filled them. She had been a successful employee for the Lamar Life Insurance Company, but had recently fallen in love with one of their agents, Mr. Luce Scott, and was to be married the following June.

The next to arrive on the scene was Lola Hutto. She still held the same dignified, business like attitude as during her high school days. The position she held during her senior year had helped her to rise to be head librarian of the public library at Jackson.

Lola then told of James Wentworth. They had kept up a steady correspondence since graduation and James was now teacher of Science at Bude High School.

Bonnie Mae then called order and the regular meeting proceeded.
How it did bring back memories of our old class meetings in the Math Room. Some of the things we did were to review memories of high school days, of our experiences since then and tell of our plans for the future. After the meeting we looked over the campus; we found things almost entirely changed so that they were hardly recognizable. The girl's dormitory which was practically new when we finished, was somewhat familiar though
enlarged and modified. In place of the old boy's dormitory
stood a beautiful, three-story building with wholly modern equipment. Another thing that was quite familiar was Charlie, the cook, although he had to have another story built to his house across the ditch to take care of his supply of crochet and tatting which was still growing!

After spending all that day and night, the members departed by ones and twos. Everyone left with a sad feeling but with something of a glad feeling connected with it because we had been allowed the privilege of seeing each other again.