Jun. 1, 1933: Grandmother's High School Graduation

With a grandmother of 97, age is a preoccupation--her miraculous vigor is something of a mystery to me. So when I see the list of students in her graduating class, I have to wonder, how many are left?

As grandmother describes the time when she met grandfather, when they were both working at Coffee High, as having separate junior and high school buildings, I have to assume the school had grown a bit in the intervening years, even as the article mentions that her class was the largest ever at the time.

Article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1wgsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BboEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2968%2C3938910

Diplomas to Be Presented: Coffee High Will Graduate 79

Seventy-nine students will receive diplomas at the auditorium of the Coffee High school this evening at 8 o'clock, when Judge J. Fred Johnson will deliver the commencement address. This is the largest class to graduate from the school during its history.

The program to be presented at that time will be Grand march (Verdi), Mrs. D. A. Springer; address, Judge J. Fred Johnson; presentation of diplomas, J. W. Powell, superintendent of city schools; Alma Mater, class of 1933; prayer and benediction, Dr. D. W. Hollingsworth.

The following will receive diplomas:

Alma Angel, Grace Barnard, Nell Beasley, Mildred Billingsley, Ruth Bounds, Bille Brown, Brooks Brown, Fred Bryant, Elaine Cauhorn, Blanche Copeland, A. W. Darby, Evelyn Dial, Frances Dominick, Virginia Eastham, Josephine Edwards, Ollie Mae Ellis, Margaret Ezzell;

Susan Jane Fleming, Everett Gamble, William Grace, Charles Haley, Mildred Hardeman, Cora Mae Harris, Ruth Hill, Dorothy Hill, Christine Hite, Mildred Holland, Harold Hughston, Betsy Jane Jacoway, Brooks Jackson, Mildred Jaynes, Gertie Jolly;

Ruby Kachelman, Ray Kennedy, Harley Kirby, Billy Lacefield, Cornelius Langer, Marie Langer, Nancy Lucas, Aldine Mackey, Homer Martin, Eliza Malone, Mary Duke Mansell, Edward Meadows, Walter Mitchell, Ellen Moore, Alene Moore, John Morgan, N. P. Morrison, Nellie May Muse, Robert McKinney.

Mary Emma Parham, Lee Porter, Marguerite Power, Dorothy Price, Allen Price, Virginia Reeder, Marilou Reeves, Edith Evelyn Rhodes, Howard Romine, Carroll Rickard, Mary Evelyn Roberts, George Scarce, Leona Sharp, Billie Simmons, Virginia Simpson, Arlin Smith, Billie Stafford, Martha Frances Stafford, Harriet Stone, Jimmie Lou Stribling, Margaret Stumpe, Corinne Stutts, Doris White, Jimmy White, Sue White, Myrtle Williams, Thomas Wilson and Eva Womble.

Jan. 11, 1932: Grandmother in High School

Perhaps at some point I will cease to find these scraps interesting, but at the moment anything that illuminates the early life of my grandmother is delicious detail. Add the oddly named "N" club to the list of many things I want to look up...

Article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IgksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BboEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2684%2C324955

"N" Club Meets with Virginia Reeder

The "N" club met yesterday afternoon with Margaret Reeder at her home on Poplar street.

Following an interesting program delicious refreshments were served to the following members: Edith Rhodes, Mary Louise Wilson, Billy Simmons, Mary Lou Reeves, Elizabeth Simmons and Virginia Reeder.

June 25, 1941: Scott-Reeder Wedding Announcement

My grandparents were married on June 25, 1941. This is the text of the announcement in the Florence Times that I found on top of my late grandfather's dresser in his bedroom. It is really what started my search/interest in collecting everything in one place. The photo of my grandmother hung above grandfather's dresser, and the one of the two of them was in grandmother's scrapbook that followed their first year of marriage.

Society News (The Florence Times)

Beautiful Church Ceremony Marks Wedding of Miss Virginia Reeder and Mr. Scott

Characterized by beauty and simplicity, the marriage of Miss Virginia Reeder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown Reeder, of this city, and William Owen Nixon Scott, of Montgomery and Florence, was solemnized on Wednesday at five o’clock in the afternoon. The impressive ceremony took place at the First Methodist church in the presence of a large assemblage of guests.

The altar was effectively decorated with graceful vines flanked by baskets holding white specimen gladioli, the central motif being a beautiful white trellis entwined with ivy. At intervals ivory cathedral tapers burned in seven-branch candelabras. The candles were lighted by Mrs Earl De Arman and Miss Elizabeth Simmons, who wore lovely dresses of blue striped marquisette over net. Their corsages were of talisman roses.

Prior to the entrance of the bridal party, an artistic program of nuptial music was presented by Robert Tomlinson, organist, and Mrs. Crawford Belser, vocalist. As the tapers were lighted Mr. Tomlinson played “Meditation” from Thais, and during the ceremony softly played Schubert’s “Serenade”. Mrs. Belser’s selections were “All For You” and “Because”. The wedding march from Lohengrin was used as the processional and Mendelssohn’s march as the recessional.

Attending the bride as matron of honor was her sister, Mrs. Roger Steverson of Sheffield, whose lovely frock was of pink marquisette over net, fashioned with puffed sleeves and a full shirt. The back was effectively trimmed with tiny velvet bows. Complimenting the dress was a matching halo hat of shirred marquisette. She carried a French bouquet of garden flowers. The bridesmaids, who included: Miss Edith Evelyn Rhodes, Miss Billie Simmons, Miss Wilo Mae Goddard of Haleyville, Alabama and Miss Caroline Bennet of Butler, Alabama, were dressed alike in blue marquisette over net made similar to that of the matron-of-honor. All carried French bouquets of garden flowers and wore halo hats. The adorable little flower girls, Gethryn and Gayle Steverson, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Steverson, wore ankle length dresses of pink and blue marquisette. They carried French bouquets.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, was never lovelier than on this occasion when she was gowned in a classic model of white ninon over net, beautifully embroidered with seed pearls, made en train with flowing sleeves. The finger tip veil was caught to the hair with seed pearls, cap-effect. The shower bouquet was of brides roses and lilies of the valley.

Frank K. Scott, father of the groom, served Mr. Scott as best man, while the ushers were: Floyd McClure, Jack Scarbrough, Hershel West, and Alfred Scott.

The ceremony was read by Dr. M. E. Lazenby, pastor of the church. Mrs. Reeder, mother of the bride, wore an afternoon dress of poudre blue eyelet embroidered chiffon with white accessories and a corsage of white roses.

Mrs. Scott, mother of the groom, was charming in white jersey. Her corsage was of gardenias.

Immediately following the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Scott left for their wedding trip to Mobile, Biloxi, and other points of interest in the South.

For traveling the latter wore a natural color linen frock, trimmed with cross-stitching, with matching accessories.

Mrs. Scott received her B. S. degree in home economics at the Alabama College for Women at Motevallo in 1938. While there she was president of the home economics club and vice-president of Omicron Nu, honorary sorority.

Mr. Scott graduated from Sidney Lanier High school in Montgomery in 1933 and attended Marion Institute. He received his B. S. degree in Education in 1937 from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn. He is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Kappa Delta Phi honorary educational fraternity.

For the past two years he has resided here and has been a member of the faculty at Coffee High school.

Out-of-town guests present for the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Scott, Mrs. Thomas E. Martin of Montgomery, Alabama, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Reeder and Jane Reeder of Morris Town, Tenn., Mrs. Evans R. Sherill of Lewisville, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Williams of Decatur, Ala.

After Rehearsal Party for Miss Reeder And Mr. Scott

Entertaining at her home in Sheffield, Mrs. Roger Steverson was hostess Tuesday evening at a lovely party for Miss Virginia Reeder and Owen Scott following rehearsal of their wedding plans. Throughout the reception rooms artistic vases of mixed garden flowers were used.

In the dining room a green and white color note prevailed. The dining table was spread with a lace cloth, holding as its centerpiece a tiered wedding cake, beautifully embossed, surrounded by white carnations and fern; white tapers were used in the candelabra.

Heart shaped ices, mints, nuts, and other dainty refreshments were served by: Jane Reeder, Nena Wilson, Bobby Reeder and Peggy Reeder. Miss Reeder wore a lovely gown of aquamarine starched chiffon with embroidered bodice and a corsage of pink rosebuds.

About forty guests were included in this hospitality.