North. Ms. Henderson worked as a nurse for 31 years while singled him out and disciplined him. For the Sweethearts raising three sons. Mr. Henderson worked with the U.S. Ball, the Junior-Senior Prom, for plays and performances, Postal Service, then for 21 years with the New York Police students learned how to dress, escort a date, walk gracefully Department. Along the way, he received his bachelor’s, and usher guests. They learned how to manage a farm. They master’s and doctoral degrees and was called to the ministry. learned sportsmanship. They learned how to run a kitchen, Today he is a pastor in Vance County and chaplain of the set a table and eat properly. alumni association. Restoring the “Every time I made a step higher,” says Richard Core Values Henderson, “my thoughts The Warren County Training came back to Warren County School alumni association Training School and Pops was formed 24 years ago not Washington and my teachers only to keep alumni in touch here. He brought some good with each another but also to people here to teach us, and revive the spirit of the school they made many good people itself. The association has who went out into the world nearly 1,000 members and and accomplished something.” maintains active chapters Clara Henderson recalls her in Philadelphia, New York, high school teachers instilling Maryland, Virginia, North in her the idea that “whatever Carolina and Washington, we want in life, we have to D.C. They purchased work for it.” “The touching of hearts, learning right from wrong, learning respect, the school buildings and Maggie Dunston Kiah grounds. They began the it all made a significant difference in who we are today.” attended WCTS when Gillis —Larry Sledge $2.5 million campaign for Cheek ran it. “I liked school restoring the main school so much I cried when I couldn’t go,” she remembers. Cheek building that recently was placed on the National Register of worked to get her a scholarship to North Carolina College Historic Places. They set up a health and wellness program for Negroes (N.C. Central) where she studied dietetics. She for the local community as well as senior citizens and veterpursued her education at Howard University in Washington, ans programs. They meet monthly in the cafeteria building D.C., then she, too, moved to New York City and became the that they themselves renovated not long ago. They conduct city’s chief dietician. She taught school for 16 years before periodic fundraisers and workbees on the grounds. They retiring to Warren County, where she soon returned to work established a scholarship fund which has awarded more as the county’s public health nutritionist. “I will never forget than $45,000 to worthy graduates of today’s Warren County the kindness and attention I received at this school. This is High School. where I got my start for three wonderful careers.” Frank Hendrick, the association’s president, speaks of his Stories like Maggie Kiah’s and Clara Henderson’s come father and uncle who attended the school as boarders in its from dozens of WCTS alumni. Ethelene Russell Hughey early years. His grandmother, who raised him, so revered was raised by several family members, including aunts the foundation of the school that she named Mr. Hendrick’s and uncles. “It does take a village to raise a child,” she said. father “Julius,” probably to honor Julius Rosenwald. “What I learned from them and at this school is that there “We remain under the watchful eye of this school,” he is nothing you can’t do. Thanks to that I have accomplished says. “That’s how strong it is. We feel a need to perpetuate everything I put my hand to.” She remembered the generous the culture that developed here, the core values we learned spirit of her teacher Bertha Washington as well as the math here. We feel a need especially at this time to return those and home room teacher Susie Love Knight. “I didn’t like values to this community.” math at all,” she recalled, “but she had a way that she could As if to demonstrate that such a drive can succeed, the teach you math.” Ms. Hughey graduated in 1961 and was son of Larry Sledge is a board member of the alumni assohired by the U.S. Department of Education as a professional ciation. Prince Sledge graduated from Warren County in 1965 when there were virtually no blacks in professional High School in 2002 and, as the first recipient of the positions there. (Ms. Hughey, who was Cheek-Washington Scholarship, he Contact information: alumni association treasurer, passed studies English at Elizabeth City State away unexpectedly not long after she was University. “My family, my teachers, WCTS-NWHS Friends & Alumni Association interviewed for this story.) these alumni,” he said at an association P.O. Box 122 Along with reading, writing and arithmeeting recently, “have inspired me all Wise, NC 27594 metic, they remember learning how to along to do my best, to go on to other behave. If they wronged someone, Mr. accomplishments. I appreciate being a Frank Hendrick’s phone: Washington taught them to recognize it (757) 826-0835 part of this family.” and to apologize. When one boy yelled Charles Jefferson’s phone: “Fire” during a movie, Mr. Washington (252) 456-4731
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20 JUNE 2006 Carolina Country