GA-JCTS Newsletter

The newsletter of the Gilmore Academy-Jackson County Training School Alumni Association, Inc.

 

Vol. 1 No. 4

May 1998

 

Celebrating our Heritage

 

 

 

Thursday, July 2, 1998

McClane Community Center

 

3 p.m.      Registration

 

6 p.m.      Reception

 

Friday, July 3, 1998

9:30 a.m.   Spelling Bees*    St Luke Baptist Church

 

1 p.m.        Oratorical Contest         St James A.M.E.

 

 Afternoon     Class Meetings     Locations TBA

 

7 p.m.        Banquet  National Guard Armory

 

Saturday, July 4

10 a.m.    Annual Meeting    Mt. Olive Baptist Church

 

1 p.m.      Picnic   Marianna Middle School   (Old JCTS)

 

 8 p.m.     Talent Show

                                Marianna High School

 

Sunday, July 5

11 a.m.    Worship Service    Annual meeting Report

                                                 officers & directors’ installation

                                                2nd W. FL. Missionary Baptist Facility

 

*Open to students who were in 3rd through 8th grades during the 1997-98, school year.

 

 

Membership Report

(Charter members as of May 1, 1998)

Maggie Atwater, ‘31            Marianna FL

Catherine Barkley, ‘51         Marianna FL

Johnnie J. Batson, ‘55         St Petersburg

Iola Bell, ‘53                         Marianna FL

Lula Bell, ‘63                        Marianna FL

Shepard Bell, ‘58                 Marianna FL

Mattie Berrian, ‘64               Miami FL

Georgia Bowen, ‘62              Tallahassee FL

Tereather Boykin ‘50           Lakeland FL

William Brinson, ‘60            Tacoma WA

Shirley Bronson, ‘54            Marianna FL

Queen Brown, ‘44                Marianna FL

Elmore Bryant, ‘53                Marianna FL

Eulice Bryant, ‘53                 Marianna FL

James Caldwell, ‘63              Spanaway WA

Elmer R Clay, ‘61                 Marianna FL

Christine Clemmons, ‘51     Marianna FL

Johnnie Clemons, ‘63          Newark NJ

Beatrice Cobb, ‘62                Miami FL

Walter Cooper, ‘63               Scotch Plains NJ

Willie Cooper, ‘44                Marianna FL

Eloise Cotman, ‘51               Irvington NJ

Thomas Crawford, ‘54         Poughkeepsie NY

Vivian Darby, ‘49                 Marianna FL

Valaria Davis, ‘70                 Marianna FL

Arnold Dickens, ‘61             Los Angeles CA

Benjamin Dickens, ‘68         Brandon FL

Amos Dickson, ‘64              Rockingham NC

Barbara Dixon, ‘53                Marianna FL

Lovonia Dupont, ‘47           Marianna FL

Authur Edwards, ‘66           Mims FL

Arnita Everett, ‘57                Knoxville TN

Eddie Everett, ‘51                 Marianna FL

Joseph Fagan, ‘47                Marianna FL

Annuel Franklin, ‘66            Graceville FL

Moses Freeman, ‘53            Brandon FL

Annie Gibson, ‘41                Marianna FL

Lula Gipson, ‘56                   Irvington NJ

Gwen Godwin, ‘49                Mt Holly NJ

Eloise Gordon, ‘69                Tallahassee FL

Frank Graham, ‘48                Tampa FL

Sam Graham, ‘51                   Fairhaven MA

Rozetta Gray, ‘69                  Marietta GA

Gertrude Green, ‘35              Marianna FL

Annie Hadley, ‘55                Sarasota FL

Dorothy Hall, ‘62                  Marianna FL

Dorothy Harley, ‘63             Marianna FL

Morris Harrison, ‘62            Tampa FL

Naomi Harrison, ‘61             Orlanda FL

Irma Hawkins, ‘47                 Tallahassee FL

Lucy Hawthorne, ‘58           Marianna FL

Mitchell Hayes, ‘47              Brooklyn NY

Dan Hester, ‘59                     Marianna FL

Gina Highsmith, ‘75             Marianna FL

Erma Hines                            Palatka FL

Richard Holland, ‘68            Riviera Beach FL

Lavern Holloman, ‘65          Plant City FL

Voncile Jackson, ‘56            Huntsville AL

Arthur Johnson, ‘64            Springlake NC

Barbara Johnson, ‘62           Marianna FL

Minnie Johnson,                 Marianna FL

King David Jones, ‘59         Jacksonville FL

Linda Jones, ‘66                   Marianna FL

Priscilla Keith, ‘64                Lakeland FL

Calvin Killings, ‘72               W Palm Beach FL

Quetta Latimer, ‘55               Huntington NY

Betty Lattimore, ‘59             Miami FL

Marilyn Long, ‘63                Marianna FL

William Long Jr, ‘71             Tallahassee FL

Addie Mack, ‘66                    Knoxville TN

Billie Mack,’69                      Tallahassee FL

Mary Mack, ‘60                    Panama City FL

Verna’ Mack, ‘74                  Tallahassee FL

Hattie McCoullough, ‘49    Marianna FL

Elizabeth McElveen,’49       Ft Washington MD

Sheryl McGriff, ‘78               Detroit MI

Rosie McKay, ‘ 54               Marianna FL

Eugene Merritt, ‘52              Montgomery AL

Willie H Morris, ‘53             Opa Locka FL

Eldean Nichols, ‘48              Pensacola FL

Robert J Pender, ‘54             Marianna FL

Sarah Pender, ‘57                 Marianna FL

Donald Pittman, ‘56             Graceville FL

Lewis Pittman, ‘51                East Moline IL

Mildred Pittman, ‘46            Lake Wales FL

Sam Pittman, ‘46                   Marianna FL

Curley Porter, ‘63                 Bronx NY

Julius Porter, ‘66                   Houston TX

Lillie Porter, ‘55                     Marianna FL

Dorothy Prather, ‘42            Gaithersburg MD

Roberta Pressley, ‘32           Marianna FL

Herbert Price                         Montclair NJ

Hercules Pyles, ‘58              Upper Marlboro MD

Lutissue Pyles, ‘59               Upper Marlboro MD

Arskco Raines, ‘58               Plainfield NJ

Carolyn Reed, ‘72                 Marianna FL

Mary Reeves, ‘47                 Tallahassee FL

Connie Richardson, ‘65       Tallahassee FL

Amos Robinson, ‘62            Marianna FL

Bernice Robinson, ‘43         Marianna FL

Billie Robinson, ‘52              Albany GA

Gussie Robinson, ‘42          Silver Springs MD

Idell Robinson, ‘54               Miami FL

Johnnie Robinson, ‘53        Ft Lauderdale FL

Lillie Robinson, ‘53              Marianna FL

Roymonia Robinson, ‘75    Marianna FL

Elmer Roulhac, ‘63               Parkland FL

Roy Roulhac, ‘61                  Detroit MI

Ruby Roulhac, ‘58               East Orange NJ

Charles Russ, ‘64                 Southfield MI

Gloria Russ, ‘67                     Marianna FL

Clarence Sikes, ‘66               Tallahassee FL

Eva Simpson, ‘43                  Marianna FL

Charles Smith, ‘61                San Fransico FL

Latrell Smith, ‘47                   Blountstown FL

Vestivure Smith, ‘44             Greenwood FL

William Smith, ‘63                East Orange NJ

Arthur Spears, ‘59                Colorado Springs CO

Nelson Speights, ‘52           Ettrick VA

Patricia Speights, ‘66           Jacksonville FL

Waymon Speights, ‘59        Freeport NY

Benjamin Stephens, ‘47       Brooklyn NY

Chrystelle Stewart, ‘43        St Petersburg FL

Sylvia Stroman, ‘75              Miami FL

Gwen I Summers, ‘47           Marianna FL

Gloria Taylor, ‘66                  Daytona Beach FL

Irma Thomas, ‘64                  Jacksonville FL

Dianne Thornton, ‘65          Ft Washington MD

Lola Tillman, ‘64                   Pompano Beach FL

Oscar Waddell Jr, 63            Tallahassee FL

Meredith Washington, ‘53 Chicago IL

Victoria Watts, ‘62               East Orange NJ

Anne Weatherington, ‘49   Sarasota FL

Vera B Westbrook, ‘69        Jacksonville FL

Cottee White, ‘58                 Denver CO

Dayatra White, ‘64               Greenville SC

Earl White, ‘51                      Marianna FL

Juan White                            Washington DC

Kha White                             Miami FL

Mary White, ‘55                   Dallas TX

Sheldon White                     Washington DC

Martha Williams, ‘41           Marianna FL

Nellie Wilson, ‘38                 Marianna FL

Marcellus Wynn, ‘54           Hopkins SC

Sylvia Yon, ‘60                     Cottondale FL

Annie Young, ‘51                 Tallahassee FL

 

Membership is open to former students, staff and faculty of the Gilmore Academy or Jackson County Training School. Alumni who pay dues by July 1998, will become charter members.

 

Oratorical/Essay Contests

The July 3 oratorical and essay contests are open to students who were in grades 7-12 during the 1997-98 school year. They are designed to encourage and promote oral and written communication.   Scholarship will be provided to winners of both contests. The oratical contest topic is:

Contributions My Generation Can Make in the 21st Century

Students may enter the essay contest by writing a 300-word essay on the following topic:

Framing the Past, Visualizing the Future

Each essay should be typed or neatly written and include a cover page with the student’s name, age, address and grade. Essays must be post-marked by the extended deadline, Monday, June 1, and sent to Sarah Pender, 2838 Pennsylvania Av, Marianna FL 32448.

 

Through A Slave’s Eyes

Through my eyes I see a prize, such a prize through my eyes that they will some day read.

These eyes see a prize, such a prize that will take me to the country side.

Such a prize through my eyes that me and my followers will see freedom.

That is what I see through these eyes, a prize.

And that is the prize I see through my eyes.

by Aaron R. McGriff, age 10  5th grade class project 

Suggested Readings

In the last 30 years many African American have made remarkable strides in education, politics, business, the arts, and other professions. However, many well-educated African American are unaware of the major contributions that Africans and their descendants have made to world civilization. The following list, endorsed by noted historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke, professor emeritus, African World History, Hunter College, provides an excellent beginning for all who seek to strengthen their understanding of our often slighted history. African world history is more than interesting reading, it is essential to the betterment of our own lives and the lives of African people around the world.

 

African Origins of Civilization, Myth or Reality by  Cheikh Anta Diop

 

Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams

 

The African People and Their History by Joseph E. Harris

 

Introduction to African Civilization by John G. Jackson

 

Caribbean History: The Caribbean From Columbus to Castro by Eric Williams

 

Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams

 

Black Jacobins by C. L. R. James

 

Documents in West African History by Eric Williams

 

They Came Before Columbus: The African in Ancient America by Ivan Van Sertima

 

African-American History from Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin

 

Before the Mayflower by Lerone Bennett, Jr.

 

Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson

 

The Slave Community by John Blassingame

 

The Negro in the Making of America by Benjamin Quarles

 

Roots by Alex Haley

 

A Chronology of the Bible by Yosef Ben-Jochanan

 

Classical Africa by Dr. Molefi Asante

 

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley

 

The Pains and Images of Psychological Slavery by Na’im Akbar

 

Woman Thou Art Loosed! by Bishop T. D. Jakes

 

Gifted: Discovering your Hidden Greatness by Jefferson Edwards

 

Rebellion of Humans by David A. Anderson

 

Egypt Child of Africa by Ivan Van Sertima

 

What is Life by KalamuYa Salaam

 

 

The Jackson Voice

Vol 1 No 2 Feb. 2, 1961 Ten Cents

J.C.T.S. Band

by Charlene R. Crawford

 

After the first six-weeks, forty-two of the band members started practicing once again on concert music.

 

On the fourth Sunday in Nov., the b\Band Parents Club sponsored a program in the school gymnasium. The band rendered a few numbers for this occasion. The band also raffled off a radio which was sponsored by Mr. Sylvester Jenkins. The girl that sold the most tickets for the radio received a bottle of perfume. The boy that sold the most tickets received a $2 bill. The winner of the perfume was Aggie Wynn, and the winner of the $2 bill was Joe L. White.

 

The band is greatly anticipating its trip to the District Band Festival in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 25th. The band will be in Class EEE at the festival, and is now learning an overture, “Lustpeill,” by Keler Bela for this very special event.

 

In November the band selected officers. The officers are as follows: Chalmers Wilson, president; Hubert White, vice-president; Charlene Crawford, secretary; Evelyn Gant, Ass’t sec.; William Harley, treasurer; and Lee Edward Smith and Charlene Crawford, reporters.

 

 

 

Proposed Agenda

GA-JCTS Alumni Association

Annual Meeting July 4

Mt Olive Baptist Church

I.    Agenda Approval

 

II.   Minutes of 1997 Annual Meeting

 

III.  Treasurer’s Report

 

IV.  Adoption of Mission Statement and By-Laws

 

V.    Election of Officers & Board

 

VI.   Old Business

 

VII.  New Business

         Association Projects

 

VIII.   Adjourn

 

Choir Members Needed

Musicians are needed for the GA-JCTS Choir’s performance during the Sunday morning worship service. Indicate your willingness to participate on the registration form.