It’s been 50 years since the John J. Jefferson High School Class of 1967 graduated.
Columbia was different then and now. The school, the former home of the Greenwaves, is now the middle school for the Columbia School District. The school shifted to the middle school when classes were integrated in Columbia soon after. Members of the class gathered to reminisce July 21 through July 23 and look back on their 50 years since graduation.
Brenda Shields, who helped organize the reunion, talked about the class and getting together before a dinner at the Columbia Expo Center on July 21.
“We’ve been doing reunions for the Class of 1967 for numerous years,” she said. “This is our 50th year, and we’re here to celebrate it. I’m the business manager, the Rev. Billy Don Paige is chairperson, Katherine Barnes is the treasurer and Brenda Spencer is our program committee chair. We join together every few years to meet up and have a little fun.”
The weekend included many activities for class members, beginning with the dinner on Friday. A breakfast was held on Saturday at John the Baptist Missionary Baptist Church and later the group reconvened at the Expo Center for a talent show and entertainment from the Bass Sisters. On Sunday, class members attended True Vine Baptist Church and had a lunch of greens, peas, beans and butter beans. A memorial service was also held.
“We had about 65 people at the reunion (including spouses),” Daniels said. “In our graduating class there were about 62 of us, if I’m not mistaken. There are a lot of memories. We played basketball together, went to class together and got in trouble together. We’re just a fun class.”
Paige spoke about the class from the Greenwaves mascot to the class motto.
“Our motto was, ‘Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,’” he said. “How many people remember that? Our colors were the mighty green and gold. Our class colors were blue and white.”
The Friday night event included a prayer from Minister Burtaniel Owens, an honorary member of the class, a scripture reading by Evernell Powell Bradley, a welcome from Shields, introduction of the class by Barnes and the blessing of the food by Nelson C. King. After dinner, Brenda Scott Spender introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Janice B. Wilson Reed. Prentiss S. Thomas and Annie P. Sutton King shared reflections on the class before the Jefferson High School Alma Mater was sung. King then gave the benediction.
“We are so thankful to have been back for 50 years,” Barnes concluded. “Fifty years is a long time and God has been so good to us.”
Pictured Above: Billy Don Paige addressess his classmates at the beginning of the John J. Jefferson Class of 1967 reunion dinner last Friday night. More than 60 people attended the event and enjoyed the program and weekend festivities. | Photo by Mark Rogers
