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FEATURES
Remembering when...after 65 years, they're still classmates
David Atchison
05-16-2008
They gathered at the Pell City Steak House, swapping stories about their family, health and about the past they shared with one another.
“It’s been 65 years since we’ve graduated,” said Elaine Goodgame of Pell City, who graduated when she was only 16-years-old.
Goodgame was one of 10 former Pell City High School students, the Class of 1943, who met for lunch Thursday.
“We meet every three months,” said Florence Compton of Pell City. “We were looking for a bigger crowd but the weather.”
The steady rain continued outside as the group continued to chat while their meals were prepared.
The Class of 1943 was the largest class to graduate from Pell City High School at the time.
Former classmates, who are now in their 80s, said there were 46 students in the graduating Class of 1943. About 26 students are still alive.
“We had about 20 students who passed away,” Pete Champion said. “We lost two this year.”
Champion said he joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Pell City High School, entering World War II. He also served in Vietnam before he retired for the U.S. Navy with 24 years of service.
“I’m the baby of the group,” Champion joked as he looked down the table. “I’ll be 83 in a couple of months.”
Compton said members of the Class of 1943 meet every three months now, February, May, August and November.
“I don’t know how long we’ve been doing this, but it’s been several years,” she said.
Edward Harrison of Lincoln sat across the table from Compton with his wife Jean Bryant Harrison of 60 years.
“I’m not with this group,” Harrison said. “I married into it. These are children to me. I graduated in 1939.”
Champion said there were only about 13-14 boys in their graduating class; the rest of the Class of 1943 were girls.
“We have two old maids,” one woman joked.
Compton said classmates Johnnie Dale Stewart and Cecil “Bubba” Gray organized the quarterly gathering of students, and the group has continued to meet regularly every three months for lunch.
“We were a really close class,” Compton said. “We have been all these years.”
The group had their 25th Class Reunion at the home of Mary Hughes in Birmingham and their 50th reunion at the home of Cecil “Bubba” Gray.
“This is our 65th,” Compton said, jokingly adding, “We like to meet and see how old everybody looks.”
Each time the group gets together, money is collected for flowers and memorials.
“We send flowers or a memorial to each one who passes away,” Compton said.
But members of the group say they will continue meeting every three months as long as their health allows them.
“We’ll keep meeting as long as we have at least two people,” Champion said.
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About David Atchison
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David Atchison is Pell City news editor for The Daily Home.
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Contact David Atchison
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