Combined Bolivar Central High School Classes of 1949 – 1959 Hold Reunion
The Bolivar Central High School Classes of 1949 through 1959 gathered at Simon’s on Saturday, June 10, 2023, for a combined reunion. Seventy years and counting of graduates, from BCHS classes that span 10 years, still enjoy getting together and sharing memories of their time at the high school.
This was the first time BCHS classes combined to celebrate a reunion together. Eighty students from those school years attended the reunion and despite the range of BCHS graduating classes, so many of the students knew each other from the various classes. Celebrating together and as often as they can is something that has become important to many of the graduates.
“Because of the classmates that we have lost already, makes you aware of the need to meet again. Charlie Brown had often talked about combining several classes. We just took his idea and made it happen,” said reunion coordinator Neva Kirksey, class of 1957.
Several of the people who attended the reunion still live in Hardeman County. That was one of the topics of conversation during the evening as they shared about how special it was to have lived in a small and safe community. Several graduates who now live outside of the area also returned for the reunion. Some of the places people came from include Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other cities in Tennessee. Having the number of people come from in state and out of state to celebrate has been a long process.
“This has been in the works for over a year. Many phone calls, e-mails, text messages, and letters were needed to accomplish this reunion,” said Kirksey who was pleased with the attendance and believes it was worth all the effort. “Getting to see people from the other classes that we had not seen since we graduated was nice. We had to read the name tags, but then we instantly could see the resemblance from years pass. The conversations would commence like it was yesterday.”
Kirksey also noted that of the students from the reunion school years, many excelled in their chosen careers, which she believes is a testimony to the education received from BCHS.
Louise Stallings, who was the one attendee from the BCHS Class of 1949, received a special recognition. Two of her children, Janet Stallings (Class of 1969) and Ron Stallings (Class of 1977), were there to celebrate with their mother.
“What a wonderful event with a very large group of classmates attending and sharing wonderful memories of growing up in Bolivar,” said Janet Stallings.
Also recognized during the evening were the people who helped coordinate the reunion. Those people along with Neva Kirksey included Wanda Anthony, Marion Creekmore, Barbara Grant, Kenneth Hadley, Jerry Hornsby, and Karen Brooks Moss.
“Karen Brooks Moss class of 1974, who is Anita Brooks daughter, really helped to find class members of 1949 through 1953,” said Kirksey. “I have had so many remarks sent my way telling of the wonderful time they had and thanking me. It was a joyous occasion. I want to thank Simon’s and manager Suzanne Rhea.”
Kirksey would love to host another reunion and maybe include classes from the 1960s. There has already been talk about holding another combined reunion in June 2024.
“That’s a wait and see, but will be so much easier to accomplish since we just had the first ever combined BCHS reunion.”
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