Vaiden Area Graduates

BACK TO PAGE 1 OF THE CAROLYN NOAH GRAETZ INTERVIEWS

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Melvin O’Neal “Mel” Hawthorne

Biographical information for Melvin Hawthorne.

Parents: Mother: Corine Cunningham Hawthorne Father: Edward James Hawthorne

Melvin “Mel” Hawthorne was born in Vaiden, Mississippi, on 1 September 1945. He graduated from Vaiden Negro High School in 1962 before enlisting in the Air Force in October, 1962. After serving four (4) years at Selfridge AFB, Michigan, as a Physical Conditioning Instructor, he was released from duty. He traveled to Chicago, Illinois, and attended McCoy Barber College. After graduating from McCoy Barber College, he worked on the Westside of Chicago on Cicero Ave. and became a Master Barber. While barbering in Chicago, he attended Automated Institute and received a certificate in Computer Programming. He was employed by OPOC Computing, Inc. in Chicago as a Computer Programmer before relocating to Garden City Park, NY, in 1970. While working in the Data Processing field, he was able to attain an AS Degree in Data Processing and Personnel Administration, and a BS Degree in Business Management. He later joined the NPD Group as a Data Processing Manager in Port Washington, NY. After several years with the NPD Group, he joined A.C. Nielsen as a Senior Computer Systems Manager. He also worked part-time at H & R Block for three years before starting his own Tax Service.

In 1976, he joined the 49^th Aerial Port Squadron Reserve Unit at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. Throughout his military career, he served in a variety of unique positions, of which two of those unique positions included being the unit Career Advisor and the unit First Sergeant. He also served during three major conflicts: Vietnam, Desert Storm, and most recently, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Chief Master Sergeant Hawthorne served as the Air Transportation Manager for the 726th Air Mobility Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in 2004. In this capacity, Chief Hawthorne led 195 Air Transporters conducting Aerial Port Operations which include Passenger Service, Fleet Services, Aircraft Services, and the Air Terminal Operations Center. During this time period, 28,813 tons of cargo were processed and airlifted, 7756 aircraft handled, and 274, 633 passengers were flown.

The major highlights of Chief Hawthorne’s tenure with the 726 AMS included the support that his team provided for President Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, and the seven Iraqi amputees who came through Rhein-Main AB, Germany enroute to Houston, TX.

Mel Hawthorne was elected mayor of Vaiden, Mississippi in 2009, the first Black American to be elected to mayor of Vaiden.

Mayor Mel Hawthorne August 2009

He is married to the former Willie Lou Smith of Coila, Mississippi. He has three children: a son (Marcus), two daughters (Monica & Sheila) and six grandchildren.

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Willie Lou Smith Hawthorne

Interview by Carolyn Noah Graetz with Willie Lou (Smith) Hawthorne on December 15, 2010 at the Vaiden City Hall, Vaiden, Mississippi

Date form is filled out: December 15, 2010 By whom: Carolyn Noah Graetz

Your full name- Willie Lou Smith ( married to Melvin O’Neal Hawthorne)

Where you were born-Coila, Carroll County, Mississippi

Parents: Father:Jap Petty Smith Mother: Willie Jones (Smith)

When did your ancestors first arrive in Carroll County?- Willie knew all four of her grandparents and they all lived in Carroll County, Coila, Mississippi during her lifetime

Your school history. Willie attended the country school of Shady Grove in Carroll County through the fifth grade..

At Shady Grove, students played hopscotch, jump rope, Famers in the Dell, Little Sally Walker, baseball and other games that did not require a lot of equipment. There were outdoor toilets, they took their lunch and they opened their lunch bags on the school desk to eat. There was a wooden heater used to heat their school. Teachers had multiple grades to teach.

The Shady Grove School was closed so for the sixth grade she attended the Black Hawk Elementary School

The Black Hawk Elementary School had a teacher for each grade.. This school also had indoor plumbing and steam heat.

After Black Hawk she went to the Marshall School in North Carrollton, Mississippi and graduated from Marshall in 1964. At that time all of the schools that Willie attended were segregated.

All of her teachers were Black teachers.

At Marshall she had all of the conveniences. They had indoor plumbing, a lunchroom, and steam heat.

After high school-She graduated in 1964 in the auditorium/gymnasium of Marshall School.

After graduation she attended Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Mississippi for two years studying elementary education. She later moved to Memphis, Tennessee where she took bank teller courses. During this training she worked at the Howard Johnson Motel in Housekeeping.

In 1967 she moved to Chicago, and stayed there for two years. She worked as a sales clerk, worked for a catalog company, and she worked at a fabric store. She later worked in Chicago at the Laidlaw Book Company.

If married, to whom did you marry? In 1970 Willie married Melvin O’Neal Hawthorne, who was born in Vaiden, Mississippi. They had met in the home of Melvin’s Parents when Willie visited them with her brother who was married to Melvin’s sister.

Melvin and Willie Hawthorne

Wedding Day 1970

Chicago, Illinois

After marriage Willie and Melvin moved to Great Neck, New York. Willie continued to work after marriage and chose as her career to work as a Hear Start teacher in Great Neck for nine years. After this nine years she worked as a teacher in the Uniondale Elementary School for 20 years in Uniondale, New York. She retired from there in 2006.

In 2008 Willie moved to Vaiden where she lives September 5, 2011. In 2009 her husband Melvin Hawthorne, was elected as the first Black Mayor of Vaiden.

Willie and Melvin Hawthorne have three children, one boy-Marcus, who lives in New York, and two daughters Monica and Shelia. Monica is married and lives in Florida, and Shelia lives in Georgia.

Marcus, Willie Lou, Melvin and Sheila

Antoinette, Sheila's daughter

Marcus, Dawn and Mason

Lee and Monica

Kenneth, Kenisha, Tikobe (baby) and Kya-grandchildren of Willie and Melvin

Melvin and Willie Lou Smith Hawthorne

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Ronnie Lee (“Ron”) Collins

Ron Collins at Lou Mitchell’s Famous Eatery in Chicago, IL on 07/02/2011

Questions for Vaiden High School graduates – Questionnaire originated with Carolyn Noah Graetz January 16, 2008 – Revised by Ron Collins on September 10, 2011.

Year of Graduation from Vaiden High School- May 21, 1972

1. Your full name-   Ronnie Lee Collins

2. Your nickname - Ron

3. Date of birth  12/31/1954

4. Where you were born ?  Vaiden Clinic – Vaiden, Mississippi (only child)

5. Your parents’ names:  Alf Trotter Collins and Juanita Hambrick Collins

7. When did your ancestors first arrive in Carroll County? They arrived in the Carroll County area in the early 1800s (long before Montgomery County was formed)

8. Where were they from? My 14^th generation grandfather (John Collins) was Keeper of the Gael for King Charles I of England in 1600s – after Charles was executed (beheaded) on January 31, 1649, my family left England and started to arrive in America in the South Carolina area – further research indicates that my family goes back as far as 1050 in England, Ireland and Scotland

9. Who was your strictest teacher?  Coach Hugh Shearer – I had him in the 7^th grade – he would spank you if you failed a test.  Thankfully, I only failed one in his class.  He was actually nice to me because I respected him (and his paddle)

10. Who was your hardest teacher?  James Alford – of course, this was Algebra, so what’s easy about it? 

11. Who was your favorite teacher?  Grace Hatcher – above and beyond any teacher that ever existed – I had her for the 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades – somehow, I missed her in the 10^th grade – Miss Grace Hatcher forgot more that I’ll ever know.  I didn’t like her when I had her in school, but came to appreciate her after I graduated.  Her influence on me (although unwanted at the time) will NEVER be forgotten, and I miss her dearly

12. What uses were made of the auditorium during your time in the Vaiden School?  Plays, pep rallies. School band concerts and other entertainment (My band played on the stage several times); we had magic shows and all sorts of displays about safety, etc. that was presented from that stage; currently (2011 and 2012), I play on the stage for the Vaiden Musical Events each Spring and also, most importantly – my two sons, Sean Eric and Cody Ryan Collins (The “Collins Method Actors”) got to perform “The Night Before Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” there in December 2001, while I was there to photograph the school with special permission from the Carroll County School Board.

My most memorable events in the auditorium while I was in school was playing in “Rumplestiltskin” when I was in the First or Second Grade. Rev. Earl Ezell let us borrow a “deacon” chair from the Vaiden Baptist Church to use as a throne. Also, around the 6^th Grade, I got to tell the story of the different religious denominations and their “habits.” Of all of those, when I was in the 10^th or 11^th Grade, my band, the Livin’ End, was asked to provide the entertainment for the Friday Morning Assembly one week. The band at that time, if I remember correctly, was made up of myself, Kenny Loftin, Jack Fullilove and Van Simpson. Our last song was King Floyd’s Groove Me. The students were comprised of about 80% Black and 20% White. We played Groove Me as the last song of the assembly and, about halfway through, the bell rang to dismiss the assembly. Our Principal, Rev. Curtis Armstrong, made up stop playing so everyone could exit the auditorium. After we stopped playing, we let about 1/3 to 1/2 of the students exit the auditorium and cranked up on Groove Me again. All of the students came back into the Auditorium and were grooving with us. Mr. Armstrong made the guitar guys unplug their amps so everyone would finally leave. Since I couldn’t unplug my drums, I just sat there and laughed at the situation. I still love that song. [Footnote] The students requested that should come back and play again, so, not too long after that, we played from after lunch until almost 3:00 one afternoon in the Band Hall to a packed crowd of students. Groove Me was requested several times.

Ron Collins Playing Drums at Vaidenfest in Vaiden, MS - August 2002

13. Tell about rules that you had to follow?  Nothing extraordinary from any other school

14. Were there rules for what you wore?   There were, but we ignored them, for the most part – just stupid stuff like hair, length of pants (I think there was one about the size of the cuffs, but I’m not sure); girls had certain dress lengths; grooming and appearance, etc. 

15. How was the cafeteria managed and can you tell about some of the meals that were served? There were four WONDERFUL lunchroom ladies: Gladys Wiltshire Shelton (Mrs. Rufus Cox), Mary Lynn Cable (Mrs. Ben S.) Hodges, Lillian Wilson (Mrs. Claude) Cox, and Claire Geiser (Mrs. Tom) Montague – they couldn’t be beat ! I NEVER remember them having a bad meal in our “lunchroom.”

Meals were:

Mon-Thurs. – mashed potatoes, chicken, corn, beans, gravy, English peas, greens, milk (reg. or chocolate), and anything nutritious

Friday:  tomato sandwiches, “sweet” (peanut butter and honey) sandwiches, banana and mayonnaise sandwiches, and a few others I can’t remember

16.  After high school graduation what did you do?  Please elaborate   Went to Holmes Jr. College from 1972 – 1975 and did not graduate; worked with Exxon in Vaiden as manager; got married (1^st wife) in 1979; moved to Jackson, MS in 1981; divorced in 1986; started back in college at Hinds Community College in 1986; remarried in 1990; had to sons, Cody Ryan Collins in 1993 and Sean Eric Collins in 1996; divorced in 1997; graduated from Hinds with A.A. Degree in 1990; went to MS College and graduated with B.S. Degree in 1992; went to MS College School of Law for 3 semesters (until fall of 1995), and decided to go for Master’s Degree instead; went to Mississippi College in Graduate program; graduated MS College in May of 1997 with M.S.S. Degree (Master of Social Sciences); worked in-house for First American Bank and AmSouth Bank as computer tech; worked for Getronics Wang Global and Pomeroy IT Solutions as computer tech on several contracts servicing AmSouth Bank computers at locations throughout Mississippi and Louisiana; also worked on the Trustmark account in downtown Jackson, MS as an employee of Logista Solutions.

17. Tell me about your family. I have two sons, Cody Ryan Collins and Sean Eric Collins. As of September 2011, Cody is studying Graphic Design at Full Sail University in Florida and Sean is a Sophomore at Mendenhall High School, Mendenhall, MS. Cody also graduated from Mendenhall High School and loves computer operation and design. Sean is more sports-oriented and plays baseball. Both, of course, are/were drummers in the Mendenhall High School Band. They are my proudest accomplishment. As of 2013, Cody is a student at Co-Lin Community College – Mendenhall, MS Campus and Sean is completing his Junior year at Mendenhall High School.

Cody (left) and Sean Collins – Thanksgiving 2010

18. Anything to add? Much more information and pictures on Vaiden can be found on my website at the following address: http://www.vaiden.net

Ron Collins with Cody (left) and Sean at the Mississippi Agricultural Museum – July 2000

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Geraldine McGlothan Sanders

Interview began by: Carolyn Noah Graetz December 16, 2009; Completed January 4, 2012

Year of Graduation from Vaiden High School: May 1975

Your full name-Geraldine McGlothan ( Married Rufus Sanders)

Date of birth- August 21, 1957

Where you were born? Home of her grandmother, Georgia Davenport Williams, in Carroll County, Mississippi. She was delivered by a midwife.

Your parents’ name –Father- Floyd Collins McGlothan Mother-Annie Mae Williams McGlothan

Where did you attend elementary school? North Vaiden Negro-later called North Vaiden Public School- in 2009 it renamed Hathorn Elementary.

Describe your elementary school experience-your teachers, your classroom, activities, school lunch, bathroom facilities and any other information that you can think of to give folks a picture of how it was. Geraldine attended the North Vaiden Public School through eighth grade and from there she went to the Vaiden High School where she graduated in 1975.

There was a gymnasium/ auditorium which were part of the building. They had weekly assemblies and chapel programs. Each week a different class would put on a program.

Classes had “end of the year” plays and other functions. There was a band in which, Geraldine tried to play the clarinet, but says she didn’t master it.

Mr. Percy Hathorn was the principal and his wife Omeria, taught Geraldine history and other social studies.

Mrs. Hathorn was also cafeteria manager of the school.

They had a 15 minute morning recess and more time for lunch.

How did you get to school? She rode a yellow school bus. Her grandfather was one of the school bus drivers.

Information about middle school if it were different from your elementary school. No difference

Describe you high school experience Geraldine graduated from the Vaiden High School in 1975. There were about 38 members of her graduating class. Many of them still live in and around Vaiden.

What classes were required to take to graduate? Four years of English, three years of mathematics, two science, two history, typing, bookkeeping, civics, one year of home economics, government.

Did you have a favorite teacher, and if so tell why? Delores Trust Clark who taught English and Paulette Palmer, who was from Carrollton, for business courses.

There was an auditorium at the Vaiden School. What were some uses of the auditorium? The auditorium was used for assemblies. Also, the auditorium was used for choir practice. Mrs. Lamar Bowie was the long time choir leader.

Describe where you had lunch? The was a lunchroom. Lunchroom workers including Mrs. Tuberville, Mrs. Collins, and Mrs. Evelina Davis

Tell in detail what you did after graduation from Vaiden High School.

In the fall of 1975 Geraldine enrolled at the Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi. She graduated from there in June 1980. majoring in accounting.

After graduation, Geraldine’s her first job was for Carter Johnson at the Delta Queen Night Club in her hometown, Vaiden, Mississippi. She worked both as a waitress and as a bookkeeper.

She left this job and began working for the 35/55 Truck Stop in Vaiden, Mississippi which was owned by Robert “Bobby” and Billy Noah in those days. A first she worked as cashier and later as the bookkeeper.

In July 1985, Geraldine got a job at the Mississippi Department of Human Services, in Carroll, County, and Mississippi –Division of Child Support Enforcement as a fiscal control officer. Mrs. Voorhees, a City of Vaiden Alderman in 2010, was the acting director of the department at the time of Geraldine’s hiring.

In December 2010, Geraldine works for the Carroll Department of Human Services as the Child Support Enforcement Officer.

Did you get married and to whom? Geraldine married Rufus Lee Sanders at the home of her grandmother, Georgia Williams, in rural Carroll County, Mississippi on June 06, 1981.

Rufus and Geraldine McGlothan Sanders have two children, a son, Brian T. Sanders and a daughter, Gabrille L. Sanders.

Brian has a five year old son, Dequez Latrena Sanders

Gabrille is in her fourth year of college at Tougaloo College studying psychology.

Geraldine McGlothan Sanders March 17, 2010

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Lucretia Applewhite Bryant

Questions for Vaiden High School graduates –Form was created by: Carolyn Noah Graetz, Classmate of Lucretia Applewhite Bryant

This form was filled out by Lucretia and Jack Bryant in August 2011

Year of Graduation from Vaiden High School: 1956

Your full name: Martha Lucretia Applewhite

Date of Birth: November 12, 1938

Date of Death: June 17, 2015

Where you were born? Carroll County Vaiden, Mississippi

Your father’s full name and if he had a nickname: Walter Arnold Applewhite

Your mother’s full name including her maiden name and if she had a nickname: Martha Rose (Mattie) Collins Applewhite

Lucretia's Ancestral Home

When did your ancestors first arrive in Carroll County? My Mother was from Abbeville, Mississippi. My father’s Applewhite family came in the 1830’s

Where did you attend elementary school? Vaiden

Lucretia on her tricycle

Describe your elementary school experience-your teachers, your classroom, activities, school lunch, bathroom facilities and any other information that you can think of to give folks a picture of how it was.

I usually went home for lunch every day and used the bathroom facilities there.

How did you get to school? I rode with Miss Lovie Wright, an elementary school teacher at Vaiden for many years.

Miss Lovie Wright

Information about middle school if it were different from your elementary school.

Describe your experience. For example: your teachers, sports, after school activities, how you got to school, rules you had to follow.

What middle school? It was called Junior High and included the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. We had a homeroom but the teachers rotated. Mrs. Kittrell, Mrs. Muse and Miss Grace Hatcher taught us in the sixth grade. In the spring of 1952 we had an eighth graduation.

Information about your high school

Describe you high school experience?

What classes were you required to take to graduate?

Four years English, one year of Math, two years of Algebra, one year of geometry, one year of chemistry, one year of typing, one year of bookkeeping, one year of civics, two years of home economics, one year of science and one or two years of history We needed 16 hours of credit to graduate. During my junior and senior high school years, I was a member of the Beta Club.

Who do you think was your hardest teacher? Mr. Frank Prewitt, who taught chemistry

Did you have a favorite teacher and if so tell why? Miss Shula Armstrong because I liked English.

There was an auditorium at the Vaiden School. What were some uses of the auditorium?

Friday Pep Rallies, Class Plays, Graduation exercises

Did you wear any special clothing during any of your school years?

I had to wear my Cheer Leader Outfit on Fridays.

Describe where you had lunch? I had lunch at home most days. Luncheon workers were pleasant and let me keep my ginger ale there so I could get it at recess because I threw up every day before Mr. Prewitt’s Chemistry Class.

Tell in detail what you did after graduation from Vaiden High School.

Lucretia's Vaiden School photo

Attended the University of Southern Mississippi (called Mississippi Southern at the time) in Hattisburg, Mississippi. Graduated in the spring of 1959 after three years at Southern with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Speech/English. While at Southern I pledged a sorority and I was elected Secretary/Treasurer of my summer graduation class. The fall of 1959 after graduation I taught school in Selma, Alabama for a semester. I had met Jack Bryant, a brilliant, tall, handsome, geology major at Southern, and we were married in 1959.

Lucretia and Jack Bryant on their Wedding Day

at the Shongalo Presbyterian Church in Vaiden, Mississippi December 20, 1959

After marriage we moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where Jack attended graduate school at the University of Tennessee. During this time I taught sixth grade.

When Jack finished his studies, we moved to Jackson, Mississippi. We lived in Jackson for a year, and then we moved to New Orleans where I taught sixth grade and middle school English for over twenty years. Most of my teaching years were at Belle Chasse, Louisiana where I was named the first teacher of year for the Belle Chasse Middle School.

Jack and I have one daughter, Andrea who is married to Mark Ott. Andrea and Mark have one son, Jax.

Lucretia on the wedding day of her daughter, Andrea

Lucretia's daughter with husband Mark and their son, Jax

Andrea and Lucretia at the Mad Hatters Luncheon

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Left to Right: Jack Bryant, their daughter Andrea with her husband Mark, and Lucretia

on Jack and Lucretia’s 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

at Commander's Palace in New Orleans, Louisiana

In 2012 Jack and Lucretia Bryant are retired and reside in the Old Metairie Area of Metairie, Louisiana

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Carolyn Sue Noah Graetz

Carolyn Sue Noah Graetz’s story for Vaiden.net

My name is Carolyn Sue Noah Graetz. I was born in the Blackmonton Community of Carroll County, Mississippi December 29, 1938. My mother had a home-delivery for all five of her children. My parents were Robert Randall and Susie Evelyn “Dollie” Mann Noah.

My parents were both Carroll Countians- My mother was from the Enon Community, and my father was from the Blackmonton Community of Carroll County. They were married on July 3, 1937 at the Black Hawk Methodist Parsonage.

All five of my parents’ five children were graduates of The Vaiden High School including: Carolyn Sue (later Graetz) Sarah Lou (later Planer), Billy Layne, Robert Mann “Bobby” and Marvin Cade

Many of my ancestors arrived early in Carroll County, Mississippi. The earliest recorded ancestors of mine came to Carroll County from Warren County. They paid taxes there in 1835.

My sister, Sarah and I began our early years in the Blackmonton Country School in Carroll County. My brothers- Billy, “Bobby,” and Marvin -all began the first grade in the Vaiden School, and went through the 12^th grade at the Vaiden High School.

My elementary – first through the 5^th grades were spent in the Blackmonton Country School in Carroll County. I had the same teacher, Lillie Hatcher Jones, in the first through the third grade and for the 4^th and 5^th grades I had Louise Jones Walker. Lillie was married a brother, Lum Jones, of Louise Jones Walker. In the Blackmonton School I learned to read, write and to do math. We also had science and social studies. I am especially proud that at this small country school I memorized the Presidents of the United States, forty-eight state capitals and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. I can still rattle off that information, and my children loved to demonstrate to their friends that this was so.

When I began school at Blackmonton, we had three classrooms, but by my last year there were only two classrooms.

At some point in our Blackmonton School days my sister and I got head lice. I remember how horrified my Aunt Ruth was that we had lice. We were told that we likely got it from a fellow student — name withheld — while we were squatting in the school line with this unnamed person’s coat over our heads to keep warm.

School was not all work. We had a small stage, and the first play I ever saw was at Blackmonton School. Grace Elliott was the lead character — Goldilocks — in The Three Bears. Though memory dims, that little play remains in my mind and what a wonderful little fairy tale.

Though we had no electricity, we had night events. One was a Halloween celebration. We pinned the tale on the donkey blindfolded, and we bobbed for apples in a tub of water. No one worried about how sanitary bobbing for apples may be.

We learned the traditional Christmas carols, like It Came upon the Midnight Clear, Joy to the World, and Silent Night. .

There was a small area for library books in one of the classrooms. I first read, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” one of the library books in the collection.

During recess and at lunchtime, we played games that required our imagination only, hopscotch with shards of glass to throw into the blocks, jump rope alone and with a person on each end to throw the rope while others jumped until they missed.

We sometimes threw the rope fast, and we called this hot pepper and at other times we would throw the rope at a regular pace. One of the little sayings that the rope throwers would say to the person jumping the rope was Cinderella dressed in yellow went to town to meet her fellow, and as she jumped the persons throwing the rope would count how many kisses she would get. Other games were Ring Around the Rosey, London Bridge, Mother May I, Drop the Handkerchief, and Hide and Seek.

Classmates whom I remember at Blackmonton are Paul Shelton, Gloria Faye Minyard, Denon McNeil McGraw, Shirley Marie Goss, and Robbie Brooks. Paul Shelton is the only classmate who started to school with me at Blackmonton, went through the fifth grade there and both of us transferred to the Vaiden in the sixth grade. We were in school the entire twelve years together.

Carolyn Sue Noah in the 5th grade at the Blackmonton School

In the fall of 1949 I entered junior high in the Vaiden School. We rode on a yellow, school bus without air conditioning driven by Mr. Roger Shelton on unpaved, gravel roads. Mr. Roger’s wife, “Miss Gladys, who was a lunchroom worker, rode the bus, also. She sat in one of the front seats of the bus behind, Mr. Roger. “Miss Gladys” was a smoker and was often seen smoking.

On the school bus we had to behave. All Mr. Roger had to do was to look into the rear-view mirror and call a name if a person was misbehaving. We passed the time on the ride into the town of Vaiden by singing songs. For example: “I’ll Fly Away, patriotic songs, and sometimes church hymns. Other things that we did were to talk about news of the day. When Joseph Stalin died we talked about his death.

In the Vaiden School we had indoor toilets, one for girls, one for boys in an attachment to the regular building and the teachers had their own. There was a lunchroom, but my sister and I walked to our grandparents, Tom and Willie Noah’s home to eat.

The sixth, seventh and eighth grades in Vaiden were called junior high. Entering the sixth grade I had three different teachers who taught different subjects. The teachers moved from room to room, but the students stayed in one room for all classes. I remember that some of the teachers were scary to me and one, Mrs. Vivian Kittrell, seemed downright mean.

She may not have been mean, but it was my first experience with teachers who did not know my parents well. I doubt my parents had ever seen Mrs. Muse or Mrs. Kittrell.

In Junior High we had three years of math, English and spelling. Some of the other subjects were history, geography, health, science.

After finishing eighth grade, we had a junior high graduation in the spring of 1952.

In the fall of 1952 I entered the ninth grade in the Vaiden High School. Though different sections of the building were used for elementary, junior high and high school, we were all in the same building.

The entire student body first through twelve went to chapel many Friday mornings in the auditorium. We had prayer and sang patriotic songs. There were announcements and pep rallies.

Also the auditorium was used for junior plays and senior plays. I was selected to be in both the junior and senior play. Here are copies of the books we used for the plays.

I have these books and hope to place them in archives at a museum in one of the rooms at what is now the Vaiden Community and Cultural Center, which was formerly the Vaiden High School until 1999.

In the ninth grade, it was the students who changed rooms when the bell rang and the teachers had their own classroom. It was in the ninth grade that I began to internalize the importance of class participation an. d to study to make good grades. I was later in the Beta Club

I was inspired by our 10^th grade algebra teacher, Tom Dulin--- a Vaiden High School graduate who went on to get his PhD----I may have had some aptitude for this subject in that I made good grades. I still have my report card so this is not faulty memory.

However, it was our English teacher, Miss Shula Armstrong and our Chemistry teacher, Mr. Frank D. Prewitt who made an indelible impression upon many of us. Miss Shula taught my class English and literature all four years of high school. I remember that she drilled English conjugation to us day in and day out throughout those four years. It seemed impossible that anyone would have been lacking in English grammar. Miss Shula also taught literature and she made Shakespeare come alive. We had to memorize either Brutus’ or Anthony’s speech when we studied Shakespeare. I memorized the speech of Anthony that begins like this: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears, I have come to bury Caesar etc.”

It was indeed Mr. Prewitt, our chemistry teacher, who was both feared and revered. I know without a doubt that Mr. Prewitt made the biggest impression upon me. Because of his expectations of the seven seniors in the class of 1956 we had to study and be prepared for his classes.

Mr. Prewitt was also the principal of the entire Vaiden School, he sometimes had to be absent for meetings, and we liked that too. I began to appreciate Mr. Prewitt in chemistry class at Tulane University in New Orleans where we first year student nurses at the Touro Infirmary School of Nursing took our basic sciences. I was well prepared for chemistry which left time to study other subjects.

A teacher, I always loved was Christine Carithers. She taught Home Economics. She was enthusiastic and competent but I did not consider myself a good student in her class. I, especially, never cared for sewing and the apron that I made in her class is as much sewing as I ever did or wanted to do. But I did learn basics of cooking, how to serve a meal and most of all how Emily Post would have set the table. I set the table as I was taught even today more than 50 years later.

I do not remember who taught typing, but my typing skills were unused until computers became popular. My skills learned in the Vaiden High School typing class are put to good use today. It is so good that I learned the keyboard at an early age.

We, also, had, sports such as football and basketball. I was not a participant in any of these but I did enjoy attending the games especially the girls’ basketball in my years at the Vaiden High School. I did enjoy playing volleyball.

Vaiden High School Building photo by Carolyn Noah Graetz 2005

In 2010 this building became known as the Vaiden Cultural and Community

Home Economics/Agricultural Building

Both the old Vaiden High School and the Home Economics/Agricultural Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places November 5, 2009

I graduated from Vaiden High School in 1956. On September 3, 1956, I began my first year of nursing school at the Touro Infirmary School of Nursing in New Orleans.

Louisiana. The teachers at the Vaiden High School had prepared me well.

Three years after graduating from nursing school, I enrolled in the Charity Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in New Orleans. After marriage and two children I attended the University of New Orleans and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

Mrs. Brim, Dr. Roger Graetz (Ophthalmology Resident, and Carolyn Noah,

administering anesthesia at Charity Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana January 1964

On November 20, 1964 I was married to Roger Graetz in the First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans. We have two children-Derek and Gionne.

Carolyn and Roger Graetz November 20, 1964

Murat Celebi and Gionne Graetz February 7, 2008 the day before their wedding in Hawaii

Roger, Carolyn and Derek Graetz Copacabana Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 5, 2011

Tracy Karoline Graetz, grandchild in Brazil, November 11, 2011

Elias Celebi-who lives in New Orleans- on the beach in California July 2011

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Interview with William Walter Hill 
by: Carolyn Noah Graetz February 18, 2013
 
 
 
William Walter Hill
Nickname:” Bob” 
Birthday: May 8, 1922
 
Where were you born: Vaiden, Mississippi. Home-delivered by Midwife Mrs. Ada Mayfield 
 
Names of your parents: Father: George Hill Mother Savannah George Hill
 
Where were your parents from? “They came to Vaiden from the Big Hungry area of Carroll County, Mississippi.” 
 
Where did you go to school? Vaiden Black School 
Graduated from 8th grade and later was in the Army where he received more schooling. 
 
What did you do for lunch? “We carried our lunch.” 
 
What are some of the activities that you did at school? “We played marbles and other simple games.” 
 
How did you get to school? “We walked to school.” 
 
Who was your teacher? Mrs. Burkhead
 
Tell me about your after school activities, and what you did when school was out? “We planted corn, cotton, grew hogs and had a vegetable garden. Later we had to chop cotton, pick cotton, help with hog killing for the meat, and take care of the vegetable garden. We had to gather vegetables to can for eating until the next year when we grew more vegetables.”
 
Tell me about your service experience. “I was in North Carolina, California, Louisiana, and Illinois in the United State.” “Later I was in Hawaii-Hawaii was not a state at the time- New Guinea and was under General MacArthur in the Philippines.” 
 
One experience Mr. Hill wanted me to know about was that he drank bootleg whiskey one time and got drunk, but he never got drunk again. 
Mr. Smith, also, wanted me to know that he knew my daddy, Robert Randall Noah. 
 
Mr. Hill married Minnie Ellis in the Vaiden Hill Methodist Church in 1945. He and his wife had two daughters. One of his daughters lives in Chicago. This daughter had one child and adopted four. The other daughter lives in St. Louis. She has five children. 
 

Figure 1 William Walter Hill photo on February 18, 2013 by: Carolyn Graetz at his residence in Vaiden, Mississippi

Figure 2 William Walter Hill and Carolyn Graetz showing a double handsaw at this home in

the carport Vaiden, Mississippi

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Information from Jessie Lee Baskin Cutts 
Submitted by E-mail to Carolyn Noah Graetz April 2009
 
Photo not currently available
 

Year of Graduation from Vaiden High School - 1954

Date of birth of Robert N. Baskin was 8-18-07.  Carroll County place of birth ( I feel sure it was at the home place but I never asked).  He died 10-90 but I do not remember the exact date, it is on the tomb stone in Midway Cemetery.

Mom Susie Mae Devine Baskin 10-20-07 place of birth Carroll county probably place where James Robert was reared.  She died in January 97 but once again I do not remember the date, it too is on the grave stone with Dad's.

They were married in Vaiden by Bro. Hooker at the Manse, parsonage, or whatever it was called.

My BD is 9-28-36, I was born at home on the JB Bailey place now.  Cross the two bridges between JB's home and the field on your right, there was a small two room house there where Mom & Dad lived the first 5 or so yrs. of their marriage.

I married Dewitt Cutts on Oct. 20, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Goodman, where I had been in Church while at HJC.  Dewitt's birthdates is Sept. 17, 1935.

LaWanda Sue Cutts Tarver is our eldest and was born July 19, 1958, with Dr. Power's help in the Vaiden Clinic, she has two children Charles Michael Tarver, born in Troy, Michigan; on March 4, 1989; and Anna Alyce Tarver born in Baton Rouge, LA on October 5, 1991.  Her husband, Gary Tarver, died in 2008.

Timothy DeWitt Cutts is our only other child and was born at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, TX, on Dec. 11, 1960.  He married Tonya Leigh Crum and they have three children:  Derek Thomas Cutts born September 17, 1989; Jamey Allen Cutts, born February 26, 1991; and Andrea Leigh Cutts born March 23, 1993

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