Chapel Hill High School Class of ‘57

Miss May Marshbanks celebrated her 90th birthday Friday, May 18th in an unusual fashion — at work!

Her staff arranged a party for her and invited former students, teachers and friends to share the experience. She regrets not being able to attend the Class of ‘57 reunion, but a birthday celebration understandably trumps our occasion.

For those not aware, she is the Director of the Department On Aging for Harnett County, NC. She was personally responsible for the genesis of the department as a contractor several years ago, and then remained on as the Director when the County formally incorporated her group into the county government structure.

At age 67, most of our class members are retired. Miss Marshbanks works from 7am to 5pm, five days a week. but does relax a bit Wednesday afternoons, we are told. Spry and quick of wit, she still exemplifies what we all could have been in life, had we only paid a little more attention in her geometry class!

Check the Photo Gallery “link” here on the website the next few days for additional photos of her and the celebration.

Pete Ness

Sharon Sullivan Mujica recently received the Ned Brooks Public Service Award which is the only public service award that UNC gives to an individual. Sharon is the first staff member to receive this award. The previous recipients were all faculty members.

My friends,

Time is running out on us. We have to give the caterers a firm count no later than April 23 for our May 18th and 19th 50th Reunion gatherings. That is set in stone!

We have only 60 folks signed up so far. We have a minimum of 100 needed to engage the caterers.

Please don’t delay another moment in sending in your paid reservations. Any not received by the cut-off date of April 23 cannot be honored. I don’t know what our options will be if less than 100 send in their payments.

Milburn and Elaini

Are you registered?

Some have sent their registration forms back to Elaini — and some have not. She needs to know so final arrangements such as number of meals can be determined, and so directions can be sent out.

If you won’t be able to attend, at least send regrets so she knows that the mail reached you. Either way, let her know by April 23rd, the new, extended deadline for registration. Finish the income taxes and send in your registration form!

Pete Ness

My friends,

It is my sad duty to report that our classmate Jimmie Turner died on Wednesday, March 8.

My sister, Brenda Gibbs Turner, said he was in the hospital in Albany, GA for a gall bladder procedure when his blood pressure dropped and he went into cardiac arrest.

The memorial service is this Sunday, March 11 at Kenly, NC at the Coley Funeral Home on Main St. at 4:00 pm.

Milburn

NOTE: This form can be downloaded and filled out if you need a copy to send to Elaini — In Internet Explorer, put your mouse cursor on the form and choose to save or print. In Mozilla, right-click and save the image to a file on your computer and then print the file image.

My friends,

Elaini had an email from Lala Watson, in our class of 1957.

She has re-assumed her maiden name, I understand. Lala is not at all well, and not expected to live too long. Elaini said she sounded like she could use a lot of encouragement from the likes of us.

Her address is 671 Pierce Rd. in Garner, NC, 27579. Her email is gramamimi@nc.rr.com.

Milburn

My friends,

Several suggestions about the 50th reunion in May of 2007, and other things.

We are inviting the seven classes (1954-1960) with the idea being to invite anyone who was in school with us during our four years at CHHS. Elaini and I are working on getting contact people who will use their data bases to contact their classmates. So far, we have a positive response from Clarice Merritt Page.

Some of us attended the Annual Carrboro United Methodist Church New Year’s Day breakfast. Haywood and Frances Pendergrass, and Lala and I, were early eaters. I don’t know who else attended after we left.

Sharon Sullivan Mujica, Elaini Bingham and I met in Carrboro on January 3 to make further plans for the reunion. Elaini and I drove out to speak with Jimmie Freeland, who will cater the Saturday evening dinner/dance/talkathon at his new catering facility and home on Holman Mill Road, just off Highway 54 toward Graham.

We would hope to add a permanent service whereby anyone who is ill (if we are notified) would receive our best wishes in a letter similar to this. Elaini has received an email from Lala Watson in this vein. Emails or telephone numbers of these individuals will be included so you may contact them. That will come to you as soon as I receive it.

More as it develops.

Milburn and Elaini

We are still looking for “lost” classmates so we can make sure they know about the 50th Reunion, May 18-19, 2007. Here’s the list:

Wilma Blackwood Adams. Billy Wayne Andrews, Charles Blake, Marshall Blanton, Barbara Fyfe Newsome, Thomas Grassman, John Hall, Linda Jeanne Louise Harrig, Phyllis Kidder, David Latimore, Reba Magnum, Marilyn Markell Tull, Sara Markham, Martine Masure, Peggy McCauley, Susie Nesbitt, Martin Perez, Geneva Perry, Jeanette Pulver, James Edgar Wadsworth, Jr., Johnny Watts, Wade Wellman, Billy White, Ray Yeargan, Clifton “Dude” Stewart, Floyd Pittard, Woody Eller, and Barbara O’Neil.

If any of them are “found” on a Christmas card list, in the rolodex or computer, or in your local phone book, please let Elaini know.

NOTE: Roy Sparrow has been found, removed from this list, and is now in the Class Directory.

My classmates and friends,

There will be a lunch at the Garner Golden Corral at which David Schwentker of New Mexico will be the honored guest. The time is 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26. Anyone who wishes to come is invited, as it is a dutch treat meal.

Directions: From I-40, take South Sanders St. and US 70 ramp (away from Raleigh). Follow US 70. Fayetteville Street and US 70 split with Fayetteville St. going to the right, an US 70 to the left. Stay on US 70.

After the split, go through one stoplight and make a U-turn as quickly as possible. After making the U-turn, Golden Corral will be on your right after a few auto stores. Because Golden Corral does not face US 70, the address is 60 Sun Lan Parkway, but you can see it from US 70 and enter it as well off of US 70.

The restaurant’s phone number is (919) 661-1111. No reservation needed, just show up.

Apart from Lala and me, Frank Carlisle and Elizabeth Naughton, I don’t know who else may come, but we usually have a pretty good crowd.

Sure it is the day after Christmas, but David leaves the next morning, so it is now or never for this visit.

Milburn Gibbs