GHS alumni celebrate ‘Cheers to 50 Years’

By Lois Robinson

Special to The Greenville Advocate

Members of Greenville High School’s (GHS) Class of 1974 convened at Beeland Park the weekend of June 21 – 23 to celebrate their once-in-a-lifetime 50-year golden reunion. Many thanks to the reunion committee led by classmate Sharon Purifoy Bradley for the fine job they did in pulling it all together.

The class shared happy tears as they greeted classmates they hadn’t seen in 50 years and sad tears for the loss of at least 40 classmates who passed away since their high school graduation. Notably missing from this gala were the class valedictorian, Dr. Tim Marlow, who passed away in 2018 after a prolonged illness, and the class salutatorian, Alabama Department of Revenue Deputy Commissioner (retired) Curtis Stewart, currently serving as the Administrator of the Alabama Beverage Control (ABC) Board. Curtis was out of the country on an African trip planned two years prior to the event.

Event highlights included:

* Friday – An emotional meet and greet social evening;

* Saturday – Brunch at Shoney’s; photo opportunity at our old high school (currently the Butler County Board of Education) and a festive evening that included each class member in attendance receiving a golden diploma; and

* Sunday – We closed the way we began, praising God for His goodness, with a stirring message delivered by classmate Apostle Melvin Stackhouse

A special thanks to Greenville Mayor Dexter McClendon for the support he provided to make this reunion an especially memorable event. “Cheers to 50 Years!” While the opportunity for another 50-year event will never be repeated for the GHS Class of 1974, we are making plans for another celebration in two years. We look forward to seeing everyone again.

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