Group Pictures

Miss Ginny Allen's Kindergarten

Miss Ginny Allen's kindergarten class from the mid '40s. First row: Allen Long, Patsy Wilson, Mary Candis Walker, Sammy Furman, Mason Speer, ?. Second row: Emily Kelly, Jesse Hall, Marshall Leach, Samuella Speer. Miss Allen must have been 80 years old when this picture was made. She was a remarkable woman who taught us to read before we entered grade school. I remember one word stumping me during one of her reading lessions. It was the word "butterfly." I have been asked what the wooden structure is in the background. I think it was a rabbit hutch, but I don't remember seeing any rabbbits in kindergarten.

Mrs. Willie Mars's First Grade

Mrs. Willie Mars's first grade class of '46-'47. Front row: ?, Marie Nance, Tommy Fellows, ?, Nancy Ware, ?, Sammy Furman, Rodney Martin, Ronnie Copeland, Jesse Hall. Second row: Patsy Smith, Patsy Gause, Jimmy Rambo, ?, Leon Brock, Johnny Lomax, Marshall Leach, Linda Boswell, Sonny Timmerman, and Allen Long. Mrs. Mars is at the back. The picture was taken at a party held behind her mother's house next door to the ARP Church on Vienna St. Mrs. Mars's mother was Mrs. McClane. Our class presented the play "Hansel and Gretel" and I played the part of Hansel. The play was complete with a gingerbread house made of cardboard.

In the spring 2007, the McClane house was listed for sale in Abbeville. The price was $200,000. This is a view of the house from the real estate ad. It was really a large house.

Mrs. Cheatham's 3rd Grade

Mrs. Cheatham's third grade class of '48 - '49. Front row: Irene Kelly, Jesse Hall, Caroline Carlisle, Rodney Martin, Peggy McDonald, Patsy Gause, ? (maybe Peggy Flemming), Patsy Wilson, Marian Hagen, ?, ?, ? (maybe Lilly Mobley). Second row: ?, ?, Samuella Speer, ?, Patsy Smith, Jeff Evans, Mike McCarthy, Linda Bosdell, Cornelia Timms. Third row: Johnny Lomax, ?, ?, Bobby Byrd, ?, Allen Long, ?, ?, Jimmy Mann, Marshall Leach, Mrs. Cheatham.

Miss Black's 4th Grade

Miss Black's fourth grade class of '49 - '50. Front row: Sonny Timmerman, Allen Long, Bobby Byrd, Jimmy Mann, Lamar Hall, Mike McCarthy, Jesse Hall. Second row: Georgia Scott, ?, Emilie Kelly, Norma Higginbotham, ?, Patsy Wilson, ?, Ann Nickles. Third row: Jimmy Rambo, Ralph Davenport (?), Ronnie Copeland, Cornelia Timms, Jo Johnson, Eva Reames, ?, ?. Fourth row: ?, ?, Marshall Leach, Billy Rabon, Sammy Firman, Jack Paine, ?, Johnny Lomax.

Miss Annie Hill's 7th Grade

Miss Annie Hill's '52-'53 7th grade class. Front row: Ralph Davenport, Conrad Cheatham, Jesse Hall, Tommy Fellows. Second row: Marie Nance, Patsy Wilson, Mary Charlotte Wilson, Linda Boswell, Linnie Burdette, Georgia Scott, Patsy Bradberry. Third row: Samuella Speer, Patsy Smith, Jean Wright, Gail Wells, Patsy Gause, Jo Anne McNeil, Caroline Carslile. Back row: Sammy Furman, Jimmy Irwin, Marshall Leach, Johnny Lomax, Donnie Perry, Miss Hill. We were warned by upperclassmen to bring a towel if we sat on the front row in Miss Hill's class. I sat on the front row and never remember any unwelcome shower.

Mary Winton Hughes's Birthday Parties

Mary Winton Hughes's birthday party in the early '40s. At that time, we lived across the street from Mary Winton. First row: Nat Vandiver, Robert Long, Billy Cox, Mary Winton, Sammy Furman, Coga Weldon, Marshall Leach. Second row: Allen Long, Jo Johnson, Maxene Johnson, Judy Philips, ?, ?, Robin Cox, Mixon Darracott. Third row: Bobby Knell, ?, Teto Nickles, ?, Samuella Speer, Karma Knell, Judy Fennell.

Another birthday party of Mary Winton Hughes. First row: Maxene Johnson, Judy Fennel, ?, Mary Winton, Judy Phillips, Robin Cox, Samuella Speer. Second Row: Robert Long, Billy Cox, Nat Vandiver, ?, ?, Teto Nickles, Jo Johnson, Allen Long, Bobby Knell. Sitting on upper steps: Sammy Furman. Upper Row: ?, ?, Mixon Darracot, ?, Marshall Leach.

Allen Long's Birthday Party

Allen Long's birthday party in the early '40s. Allen lived several houses down the street from us. I am sitting on the left of the bench. Allen is sitting next to me holding the cake. Standing next to him is Jane Hulsey. Sammy Furman is on the front right. The African-American guy was Sammy's babysitter. Who are the rest of these little rascals? Notice the weeds growing in the lawn. This was before folks had power mowers and lawn chemicals, so there were not many neatly manicured lawns back then.

Robin Cox's Birthday Party

Picture taken at Robin Cox's birthday party in the early '40s. Front row: Frances Nickles, Linda Terrell, Robin Cox, Bobby Knell, Allen Long, Sammy Furman, Maxene Johnson, Marshall Leach. Second row: Judy Fennell, Virginia "Gin" Wilson, Teto Nickles, Flynn Bowie, Betty Neighbors, Mary Winton Hughes. Third row: ?, Robin's sister Betty, Hazel Reeves Gilliam, ?, Jo Johnson, Robert Long, ?, and Robin's brother Bobby.

Weekend House Party at Lake Secession

Picture taken at a weekend "house party" at the Hughes's cabin at Lake Secession in 1955. Pictured are Jo Johnson, Marshall Leach, Jane Hulsey, Billy Mann, and Mike McCarthy trying on each others shoes. Billy wore a size 14. It looks like Jane is wearing his shoes. The rustic Hughes's cabin burned in around '59 and was rebuilt as a small house.

Easter Sunday Behind the Main Street Methodist Church

Picture taken behind Main Street Methodist Church in the early/mid '40s. Johnny Lomax is at the upper left. Marshall Leach is saluting in his white suit. Just to his left rear is Joann Baughman. It is my guess that this was taken on an Easter morning. Can someone identify the other little rascals in the picture? The windows in the picture are to the basement area of Main Street Methodist. I remember our Vacation Bible School meeting in the basement area on the other side of these windows. Later our MYF met there when I was in high school. One of my best memories of Sunday School was Erskine Link giving out free chewing gum to us kids as we were leaving the building at the back entrance. My favorite flavor was Juicy Fruit. I never got Juicy Fruit at home because my mother would only buy Beechnut gum.

From the Press & Banner in the fall of 1958 - Twenty candidates have begun the competition for Abbeville County Bi-Centennial Queen and they and their sponsoring organizations are now busily engaged in acquiring votes. The vote-getting is a matter of selling advance tickets for the Bi-Centennial spectacle, "So Long Remembered." The candidate receiving the largest number of points from advance tickets will reign over the celebration, and the ten runners-up will comprise her court. In the competition are: Irma H. Slater, Shirley Fisher, Georgia Ware, Agnes Ware, Carolyn Smith, Lena Simpson, Joyce Porter, Pat Thomason, Jane (Hulsey) LaBoon, Jean Ross, Lynda Cowan, Judy Hagan, Ann Brown, Linda Terrel, Johnel White, Harriet Cartledge, Phyllis Green, Edna Martin, Lois Ashcraft and Rose Hagen. (Not pictured is Lottie Jean Ayers. Lois Bond Ashcraft sold the most tickets to become Queen.)

One of Miss Mabry's second grade classes.

One of Miss Mary Wilson's third grade classes.

Mr. Davis' sixth grade class in 1954.

Mrs. Nickles seventh grade in 1956.

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