20 • Thursday, July 11, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SOCIAL
The 60 Years In Between
On June 1, members of the Shades Valley High School Class of 1959 celebrated their 60th reunion at Vestavia County Club. One hundred classmates, spouses and guests were greeted by a restored 1957 Chevrolet, owned by Walter Russell. The two-door car had a black hardtop with red interior, the Shades Valley Mounties school colors. Class members from throughout Alabama enjoyed renewing friendships with classmates from Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Texas and Arizona. The Reunion Committee, led by cochairmen Jack Armistead and Paul Henderson, began planning the reunion in spring 2018. Using social media, they were able to locate 300 members of the original class of 340. Each classmate who attended received a detailed scrapbook compiled by Harold Hagler, with class pictures and answers to a questionnaire “What I did after Shades Valley” returned by 120 class members. The booklet featured an “In Memory” section memorializing the 80 known deceased members, along with a listing and pictures of the administration and faculty. Every guest received an uncirculated
1959 penny and a chance to draw for one of three glass bricks from the “old” Shades Valley. The pennies and the bricks were contributed by Celeste and David Cisco. Bill Clark, class chaplin, led the blessing, and Donald Sweeney, student body president, gave a moving tribute to deceased members of the class of 1959, including Paul Henderson, who unexpectedly passed away in May. The Reunion Committee met regularly. Members included Jerry and Linda Campbell, who decorated the ballroom tables in red and black with white hydrangeas; Clark; Kappie Chapman Dunn; Hagler, who also produced a slideshow of classmates from the Tower yearbook and challenged the members with a Shades Valley trivia quiz; Lynne Puryear Kent; Rush McInnis; Charles Money; Patti Patterson Stanford; Woody Strozier; Celeste and David Cisco; Russell Cunningham; Ann Rolling Elliott; Nick Hauser; Ann Dial McMillan; Danny Markstein; Kenneth Perrine; Betty Owens Snoddy; and Donald Sweeney. In 1959, Shades Valley was the only Over the Mountain high school, and
Photos submitted
Shades Valley High School Class of ’59 Celebrates 60th Reunion
Above, June Hood Carpenter, Bill Clark, Paula Ford Birchall, Jack Armistead, Paula Huffstutler Allen, Richard Cross and Brenda Ford Propst. Below, Harold Hagler, Memory Hagler, Martha Palmer, Charles Hare and Mona Hare.
students from Irondale, Mountain Brook, Cahaba Heights, Vestavia Hills, Bluff Park and Homewood attended grades nine through 12. Out-of-town attendees included Jan Falkner Graves and David of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina; Bobby
“Birddog” Smith, Dallas; Paula Huffstutler Allen, Marietta, Georgia; Linda Kelly Garner, Venice, Florida; Charles Yeldell, Scottsdale, Arizona; Jimmy Nichols, Pensacola, Florida; Pat McGrath, Hickory, North Carolina; Cookie Daugherty Keller,
Madison; and Betty Burton Barton, Ames, Iowa. Amy Montz took candid photos and the class pictures. Also enjoying the evening were Susie Fullerton Anderson, Dicki Boykin Arn, Paula Ford Birchall, Dena Fortenberry Bowden and Travis, June Hood Carpenter and Myles, Joan Lunsford Clark and Norman Glass, Alethea Porter ColeTyson and Gary, Richard Cross, Ted Doster, Peggy Fisher Douglass and John, Byron Driver, Judy Jacobs Eanes, Bruce Eich and Sharon, Grace Carmichael Finkel and Joe, Bobby Keith, Kitty Ribe Melvin, Kay Strozier Owen, Elwyn Palmer, Diana Williams Quinones, Margaret Webb Reed and Karl, Leigh Robinson, Jimmy Sizemore and Brenda, Virginia Brush Stevens and Johnny Green. ❖
Coffee and Conversation
dent of scholarship; Ellen Tucker, recording secretary; Miriam Morris, corresponding secretary; Roberta Atkinson, treasurer; Jeannie Bradford, historian; and Laura Bryan, parliamentarian. Committee chairs for the new year include Angie Holder, hospitality; Linda Griggs, bylaws; Martha Mims, newsletter; Lesley DeRamus and Fran Howard, yearbook; Amy Roberts, publicity; Powell Owens, addressing/mailing; Michele Smith and Susanne Thomas, spring luncheon; Elizabeth Broughton, Christmas party; and Pat Grant, education support and benevolence. The investment trustees for the Guild are Becky Keyes, Linda Griggs and Cheree Carlton. ❖
Photos submitted
The Guild of the Birmingham Music Club held its annual Membership Coffee on May 3 at the home of Kathy Miller. Guests were greeted with coffee and refreshments as incoming President Michelle Rushing welcomed new members to the organization and expressed appreciation to outgoing President Laura Bryan. Marsha Drennen installed the new officers for 2019-2020: Linda Cooper, executive vice president; Beth Adams, Nancy Canada and Mary-Noel Sellers, vice presidents of projects; Anna Williams, vice president of placement; Kim Strickland, vice president of programs and location; Elise Warren, vice president of membership; Margery Whatley, vice presi-
Katie Sellers, Michelle Rushing, Kathy Miller and Anne Carey.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Birmingham Music Club Installs New Officers
Ann and Sam Todd.
Jess and Carol Bullock.
Lauren and Preston Kelley.
Natalie Harrison and Joni Moore.
Rachel Cowden and Faith Cowden.
Art With Heart
Studio By the Tracks Hosts Annual Art Auction Fundraiser The work of more than 200 artists was on display and up for auction June 9 at Studio By the Tracks’ annual Art From the Heart gala. Funds raised through the event benefit the studio, which serves as both a workspace and gallery for adult artists with autism spectrum disorder. Held at the Theodore, both silent and live auctions featured artwork, while a cash-and-carry section included hundreds of items created by Studio By
the Tracks artists. In addition to purchasing opportunities, the event included food by the Happy Catering Company, beer by Good People Brewing Company and wine from Pinnacle Imports. ❖