MHS Class of 1966 holds 50th reunion

Published 2:44 pm Saturday, October 15, 2016

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The colors are the same, black and gold, and they were also the “Packers”! Boasting the largest graduating class at Moultrie High School up until that time with 397, around 120 alumni of the Class of 1966, many with spouses and partners, gathered in Moultrie to celebrate their mutual experiences of so many years ago.

“Do you remember so and so?” or “Do you remember when we ….? was heard over and over at both the planned group reunion events and during breakfast at the Moultrie Hampton Inn where many of the classmates stayed for the weekend.

The weekend was planned by co-Chairs Ralph Underwood and Nancy Reeves Usry. They were assisted by Joy Muggridge Truitt, Travis King, Harry Thompson, Sally Tucker Lee, Vicki Norman Fausett, Alfred Hiers and Helen Lewis Whitney.

Friday night kicked off the weekend with a BBQ at Ralph Underwood’s farm on Glow Road. With an inspiring rainbow in the hurricane induced cloud cover memories were rekindled over pulled pork and barbecued chicken. Some 20 classmates had to cancel at the last minute because of Hurricane Matthew.

Saturday was the main event at the Sunset Country Club with a buffet dinner, a memorial service for the 78 classmates who have passed away, a short program and of course a DJ playing music of the ’60s. The reunion booklet included a list of the 36 members of the class that served in our armed forces, the 78 deceased classmates, the reunion committee and those that had supported the event in some way. Short notes about their lives over all these years from many in the class including some that could not attend.

Among the notable classmates recognized was Rebecca (Becky Fullmer) Smith as the person who traveled the farthest to attend. Becky came from Phelan, Calif. She had been “lost” to the alumni group for well over 30 years but her short note about her activities over the 50 years probably explained why. Becky has six children, eight step-children, thirty-five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She and her husband, Ray, have spent mission time in Sri-Lanka, India and New Jersey.   

The last event of the weekend was a concert at Trinity Baptist Church by classmate David Campbell. Even before he was a student at Moultrie High, he was composing music at home near Okapilco and continued into scribbling melodies during classes at Moultrie High. His concert, with both piano and organ performances, included some of these early works as well as more classical material. The concert ended with a spontaneous medley of over 20 hymns selected by the attendees from a list of 50. Some, like “Victory in Jesus,” evoked hearty sing-along and other hymns brought serious, reflective expressions.  

Campbell now lives in Pennsylvania and drove down to the reunion to share memories and his music. Around a hundred folks attended his concert at Trinity Sunday afternoon.

Reflecting on the number of classmates that have passed away and that reality of life, some members of the group discussed holding a “Seventieth Birthday Party” since many in this class will turn 70 in 2018. This will allow a more frequent gathering than waiting for the next significant anniversary such as the 55th or 60th. Other conversations suggested a local, Moultrie, open event such as a set breakfast time every few months with no registration, just a “show up if you can” format.

In any case, those that attended this event left with renewed recollections of that shared time a half century ago, a handful of updated contacts and promises to stay in touch!