Yesterday Cherry Grove School students, 1923-24

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 22, 2013

Glenn Jenkins, who is 98 and living at the Big Elm Retirement Center in Kannapolis, provided this picture showing the 1923-24 class of Cherry Grove School in Davie County. Jenkins, 8 at the time, is the third student from the right on the bottom row. The one-room school included grades 1-9, and Jenkins said he made it to the fourth grade. He would go on to live in Kannapolis and build a 47-year career in the Weave Room at Cannon Mills’ Plant No. 1. Times were different in Jenkins’ school days. He says his oldest brother would take his dog with him to school and keep his shotgun behind the teacher’s desk. When school was over, he’d grab the gun and go hunting. Jenkins asks anyone with memories or comments about the school to send him a card at the Big Elm Retirement Center, 1310 Glenn Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081. Students in the photograph include in the first row, left to right: David Koontz, Claude Ratledge, Millard Godbey, John Godbey, Clyde Harbin, Clay Harbin, Glenn Jenkins, John Frank Ratledge and Lester Walker. Second row: Polly Hodgson, Thelma (Pat) Jackson, Lizzie Steele, Lorene Ratledge, Lena Hodgson, Margaret Godbey, Elsie Reeves, Beatrice Harbin, Paul Stroud, Clara Godbey, Margaret Daywalt, Elsie Jackson, Leona Koontz, Lucille Stroud and Hazel Koontz. Third row: Nowell Godbey, Lila Reeves, Grace Griffith, Paul Hodgson, Mona Hodgson, Clyde Stroud, Pauline Godbey, Lewis Godbey, Mary Hendricks, Minnie Godbey and Rene Steele. Fourth row: Joe Godbey, Lavora Stroud, Arzie Hodgson, Pearle Steele, Willie Mae Steele, Clyde Griffith, Sadie Hendricks, Annie Harbin, Willie “Bill” Harbin, Maude Whitaker and Paul Jenkins. The teacher (not pictured) was Myrtle Tomlinson.