From the overcast skies in the morning through the welcomed shade of the Catawba trees in the afternoon to the last dance Saturday night, the Marvell High School Reunion brought warm memories and lots of alumni back to dear, sweet Marvell. By 10:00 when the Reunion officially began, a large crowd had already formed at the registration tent manned by Ruth Helen Remley, Floye Dean Hollowell, The Mummel Girls and other volunteers. Free orange and grape Nehis and moonpies reminded us all of a simpler time. Mayor Clark Hall addressed the early crowd under the purple and gold "Welcome Home" banner. It was good to hear a public prayer and to pledge allegiance with old friends led by Tommy Guthrie. Coach Corkran, Coach Crone and Principal Jerry Haley recalled fun times and winning seasons from their days at Marvell High. Also spotted in the crowd were former teachers Mrs. Rachel Rogers, Mrs. Elizabeth Washburn, Mrs. Carrie Davison, Mrs. Ginny Cowsert, Mrs. Betty Jo Hall, Mrs. Grace Henderson, Mrs. Rosemary Collins, Mrs. Vivian Word, and Mr. Jesse Collins.

Thanks to The Gospel Express and The Cypress Creek Band for a daylong sentimental journey through our musical roots. "Gloria," "Stand By Me," and of course "Shout!" highlighted three sets by Cypress Creek. Mixon Van Meter sang "The House of the Rising Sun" and other favorites with the band. What a voice! Shannon Ford (or was it Patsy Cline herself?) belted out "Crazy." But nothing thrilled the crowd more than Frances Hindsley Story "shakin’ a tail feather," backside to the audience.

What cherished memories came flooding back to everyone of junior plays, assemblies and pep rallies as we sat in The Auditorium for the Womanless Beauty Pageant. Grace Henderson quipped innuendoes and clever ad-libs to keep the pageant moving along as Master of Ceremonies. Alan Hirsch, Jr., David Henderson, Bruce Hayes and others made up into "beautiful women," which was more than a little scary. Marvell memorabilia from Alan and Mary Anne Hirsch’s football and basketball jackets to old photos of Main Street and Senior play programs drew bidders to the silent auction. Hamburgers, fried fish, boiled crawfish and jambalaya were all available.  Each class gathered individually for class pictures beside Mrs. Lazenby’s Home Ec Building.

The highlight of the day was The Superior Seniors of ’66 pulling off the Tug O’ War against the Juniors (Class of ’67) in less than a New York minute. No real challenge there! That settles that forever!

It was good to renew friendships with alumni who moved away and returned for the day. Among others were Mary Frances Orme, Paul and Doris Foree, Anna Lee Williams, Molly Molitor, Charles Clark, DeVaney and Barbara Pope, Jack Cooke, Bill Clariana and Rosa Lee Whitson and Pat George. It was especially good to see senior alumni present, including Howard and Clarice Holtzclaw Willis, Earl Norton, Irene Bonner Foree, Suzanne McElroy Bratcher, Boy Fielder, Jane Pope Glass and Dorothy Tschabold Watkins.

Several of the classes had dinners together that evening and the rest joined together for a delicious barbecue. Gloria Higginbotham and Cindy Tschabold had transformed Betty Davidson’s store into a Marvell Mustangs’ Senior Prom. Then Alex Ward cranked up the jukebox for an evening of bopping and twisting and rockin’ ‘n’ rollin’ the night away. Spotted on the dance floor cutting a rug were Rosemary Reed and Jesse Collins, Pam and Allen Culp, Linda and Ben Story and Jo and Bill Turner. Many of us had forgotten that the best dancers in Marvell are The Bartletts. That family can move!

Thanks to Reunion Chairman Ben Story, Mary Hall Bloesch, Pam Culp, Gloria Higginbotham, Cindy Tschabold, Beverly Davison Helmke, Richard Wooten and Nickie and Carolyn Criddle Alexander and the entire Reunion Committee for all the hours of planning, meeting, creating, decorating and physically WORKING to pull The Reunion off. A job well done! From all of us who moved away to all of you who stayed to make Marvell the quaint, little town that it is, we appreciate all your efforts. It was a day we’ll always remember!