Class of 1965 45th Reunion and Homecoming Weekend

Homecoming Reunion Weekend
Surry Central High School Class of 1965

The Surry Central High School class of 1965 celebrated its 45th Reunion Weekend last week by participating in the annual Homecoming Parade. Approximately 15 members of the class decorated the parade float, provided by classmates Michael Stanley and Charles Collins, with black and gold streamers and banners of
“Go Eagles…Beat The Villains”! An added feature of the class float included music of the 60’s that kept the crowd and everyone “pumped up”! Following the parade, several members of the class enjoyed the Booster’s Club BBQ and the Homecoming football game against Bishop McGuinness.

On Saturday, October 16, several members of the class decorated the Dobson Community Center for their 45th reunion party. There were a total of 106 who attended including
57 classmates and honored guests. Honored Guests, retired Principal Mr. R. O. Lanier, and retired teachers Mr. Gene Everette and Mrs. Ann Pack were presented a chrysanthemum and a CD of easy listening 60’s music. Also, each classmate was given a CD of music from the 60’s.

The evening party began as class members gathered to enjoy “seeing and catching-up” with one another during a social hour that included background music from the 60’s and
delicious food provided by M & R Catering. A special “memorial and memorabilia table” was available with pictures of twenty-three deceased classmates, numerous graduation items provided by Brenda Hardy Garris, and a DVD of background music and pictures from The Aquila, the 1965 high school yearbook.

Classmates, Ronnie Phillips and Bobby Simpson served as MC’s during the awards and recognition segment of the evening’s agenda. Following a moment of silence to remember twenty-three deceased classmates, Ronnie and Bobby presented awards as follows:
Long Distance: Dr. Jerry Hemric from San Diego, California
Classmates married the longest (46 years): Susanne Hall Hayes and
Brenda Hardy Garris
Classmate with the most grandchildren: Barbara Shumaker Bryant (9) and Norma Marion Miller (9)
Classmates with great-grandchildren: Ellen Branch Baird (3),
Barbara Shumaker Bryant (1), Roy Hodges (1), Hilda Collins Joyce (2), and Judy Beck Gillespie (1)
Classmate with the youngest child: Jimmy Flynn (16 year old son)
Classmate who has lived in the most states: Susanne Hall Hayes (48states,
with only New Mexico and Alaska which she has not lived in)
The Sweetheart Award, 1965 classmates who married each other and are
“still dating”: Eddie Brown and Lillie Mae Key Brown; and
Roger Garris and Brenda Hardy Garris
Barry Mounce and Sonya Bryant Mounce (not in attendance)
Most Difficult Classmates to locate: Roy Hodges from Lake Norman and
Tommy Evans from South Carolina (not in attendance)
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The Bald Eagle Award recognized the classmates who had the baldest head: Mickey Wright and Bobby Simpson (Mr. Gene Everette, teacher, was also recognized as a Bald Eagle because he said, “It was the class of 1965 that caused my baldness”!)
45th Homecoming Queen, the female classmate who had changed the least over the years and nominations were: Scarlett White Chaney, Janice Hayden Barker, Opalene White McKeaver, Judy Beck Gillespie, Norma Marion Miller, Judy Pratt Key, and Billie White. After much consideration, it was the decision of the judges (husbands) that ALL thirty-one women classmates in attendance were QUEENS! Therefore, ALL were voted 45th Homecoming Queen! (Whew!)

Following the awards and recognition program, Bobby Simpson announced that the DJ for the evening dance party had not yet arrived. But, to the surprise of all in attendance, “Eagle Man”, the DJ, immediately “flew in” from the hallway to take his position on stage! As it turned out, Ronnie Phillips emerged as Eagle Man, dressed in a black, eagle-printed tee shirt, cap and goggles! Laughter from the audience, the comedy exchange between Bobby and “Eagle Man”, and the antics of his Eaglemania…1965 Trivia Game, proved to be fun and entertaining. Eaglemania contestants, Roy Hodges, Linda Branch Jackson, and Scarlett White Chaney, were asked trivia questions about events from their 1965 senior year. With five correct answers, Linda was the winner.

Everyone agreed…seeing friends again, socializing, and reminiscing were
the main events of the evening!