The Salisbury Alumnae of Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, recently attended the 51st national convention in Washington, D.C.
This marked 100 years since the founding of the Greek Organization.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is an elite group of college educated women who emphasize a five point thrust, which includes economic, educational and political involvement as well as physical and mental health.
The week-long gathering marked a milestone in the sorority’s history with events that included a message from past Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and visit to Howard University, as well as a Greek step show, GospelFest, Signature Gala and daily Plenary session.
This nationally recognized sorority has more than 900 chapters around the world.
More than fifty thousand women were in attendance.
Those from Salisbury include Monica Green, Mary Ponds, Linda Stoner, Ruby Steele, Bernetta Maske, Victoria Thomas, Brenda Davis, Holly Lawson, Catherine Rivens, Marion Thompson, Jetta Hartwell, Melinda Kemp and Audrey Stewart.
The local chapter of Detla Sigma Theta is known for its annual scholarships to area high school seniors, the Jabber Wock and voter registration.
For more information, contact president Monica Green at 704-636-4878.
A number of former classmates of Boyden High School class of 1953 and guests gathered at Hotel Salisbury on July 19 and 20 to celebrate 60 years since graduation.
On Friday night the group of 58, 41 being classmates, enjoyed a social hour, a light meal and time of fellowship and telling of favorite stories. It has been five years since their last reunion.
Saturday was left open for touring Salisbury and the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer, but a favorite was when many gathered at College Bar-B-Que for barbecue and footlong hotdogs.
On Saturday evening the group of 70 classmates and 45 guests gathered at Hotel Salisbury for social hour, a group picture by Steve Norman Photography, dinner and fun.
After they registered and received their name tag with a picture from the 1953 annual, made by Phyllis Murdock Myers, classmates were given an opportunity to enter a drawing for an 8 x 10 group photograph.
Twelve were given as door prizes.
Guests wore the picture of their spouse or relative to help with identification.
The Rev. Robert Fogner gave the invocation and Charles Walker welcomed the group with special recognition to former coach, Joe Ferebee, who was able to attend thanks to Charles Floyd.
A table was set up to sign cards for those too ill to attend, and there was also a table with pictures of the deceased.
A memorial flower was given by Brenda Malone Zimmerman for that table in honor of her mother, Nancy Stoner Malone, a former classmate.
Barbara Page Earley told a little about each of the ill and read a list of the names of the 18 classmates who have passed away in the past five years.
After 55 years, the class has only lost 41. They have also maintained a book with pictures and obituaries of each deceased classmate and many of their teachers.
They learned also of the passing of former band director Richard Southwick of Raleigh on July 13
There was a table for albums of previous reunions. Charles Walker led the class down memory lane by asking different ones if they remembered certain things from the “good old days.”
Class members attending from Salisbury were Tom Austin and wife Nancy; Roy Campbell and wife Norma; Betty Coburn Gillespie; Dick Earnhardt and wife Stewart; Ray Fleming; Connie Gardner and wife Corinna; Bill Gullett and wife Faye; Joel Hubbard and wife Jayne; Bill McSwaim and wife Nancy; Phyllis Murdock Myers and husband Carlton; Barbara Page Earley; Lenora Porter Ridenhour and daughter Laurie; Ken Ritchie and wife Ruth; Barbara Robison Waggoner and husband Julius; Bevis Safrit Norris; Jeff Thompson and wife Mary Jane; Julia Wagner Queen; Ken Owen and Jim West.
Out of town members attending were Charles Hattaway, San Diego, Ca.; Jim and Mary Ann Artz Livengood, Smithfield, Va.; Mary Virgina Newsome Broughton of Daleville, Va. with sister Liz Humphries of Winston-Salem; Charles Proctor and wife Gerda of Manassas, Va.; Carol Ward Thomas of Springfield, Va.; Dr. Wayne Miller and wife Pat of Pensacola, Fla.; Ruth Kepley Parrish and husband Buddy of Bell, Fla.; Jim Peeler and wife Mazie of Eustis, Fla.
From S.C.: Gary Cooper of Spartanburg; Rev. Robert Fogner and wife Maggie of Conway; Gail Seibert Honeycutt and husband Charlie of Pawleys Island; Samuel “Pete” Griggs and wife Anita of Greenville.
Also Jane Lewis Flinn and husband Alfred of Willow Street, Pa.; Joe Eagle and wife Sherry of Gainesville, Ga.; Denton Ward and wife Kathy of Homer. Ga.; Frank Foil and wife Billie Jane of Roswell, Ga.; Janet Plyler Deal and husband Charles of Hobart. Ind.; Dr. Pat Davis of Bay St. Louis, Mo.;
From N.C.: Johnnie Bankett and wife Barbara; Charles Walker; Mary Lou Harrington Paterson; Frank Cothran and wife Nancy; Tom Frick and wife Todi; Bill Heck and wife Emily; Mona Spargo Hayes, all of Charlotte.
Ervin Allen and wife Betty Jean, Lexington; Frances Barringer Gamewell; Laura Rodgers Barringer and husband B K, Mooresville; Mari Hege Rink, Cornelius; Bill Fleming and wife Martha; Charles “Buddy” Monroe and wife Susan; Bob Shuping and wife Jean of Winston-Salem; Gerald “Spec” and Barbara Burns Hawkins; Carolyn Strong Fanjoy, Raleigh; Jean Cauble Browning and husband Dr. Don, of Jacksonville; Charles Floyd and wife Becky, Cleveland;. Bob Graham and wife Chris and Dr. JoAnne Safrit of Greensboro; Tom Graham and wife Polly, Gastonia; Ellen Justice Thomasson, Leland; Carolyn Ketner Penny and husband Wade of Durham; Mary Catherine Miller Taylor and husband Clyde, Hickory; Sylvia Miller Hoffner, Gibsonville; Melba Perkins Goldsby and husband Dr. Joel of Asheville; Ed Safrit and wife Trully, Hendersonville; Charles Stevens and wife Carolyn of Pine Hurst; Billie Hartman Kluttz of Statesville; Barbara Swaim Crouch, and Nancy Murphy Roberson and husband Don of Rockwell.
Another classmate, Gretchen Weber Redwine of Yearington, Nev. was unable to attend on this weekend but came the previous Friday on her way to visit a sister in Florida and stopped off to visit with friends.
Booklets of names and addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses with a section of the deceased pictures were given each classmate.
Many met for breakfast at Hotel Salisbury Sunday morning to say farewell until the next reunion, which they optimistically hope to have in three to five years.
Many thanks go out to the reunion committee for their hard work in the planning but also to those who travel from far and near to renew old and dear friendships.