Carver 'family' gathers Saturday
By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 4, 2015 10:58 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
John Ward, Class of 1965, left and Douglas Walls, Class of 1966, right, laugh as they reminisce on their days at Carver High School at their reunion picnic on Saturday afternoon.
MOUNT OLIVE -- It is all about family and the rich heritage of the old Carver High School that brings people from near and far back year after year for a Fourth of July weekend celebration.
Even those who did not attend the school are welcome. And this past weekend hundreds attended the 33rd annual Carver High School Alumni Association and Friends' reunion held on the old school campus -- now the Carver Cultural Center.
Cassandra Rush, president of the Association's national board, calls herself a "Carver baby." Her mother, the late Bernice Rowe, attended Carver and would have graduated in the Class of 1957, but her family moved to Washington, D.C. where Ms. Rush was reared.
"The people bring me back," she said. "My mother and I used to do a girls' trip every weekend for the reunion weekend. I started taking her to the (Washington, D.C. Metro chapter) meeting. She said, 'I can't go there. I don't know how to drive there.' I said, 'Mom if you want to go, I will take you. Don't worry about it.'"
Ms. Rush said she was embraced by the alumni and instead of just being a casual member, she found herself becoming more and more involved.
"The first reunion I came to I was just so impressed about how much people were able to do with so little, and how the teachers were so dedicated," she said.
It was apparent, she said that everyone in the Carver community cared about the education the students received.
"Everybody cared," she said. "When you didn't show up for school, teachers went to your home. That is the thing that is so missing from today."
Planning for the event is ongoing all year long, she said.
Efforts are also under way to help boost the membership of the Mount Olive chapter that has experienced a decline, she said.
To that end she has contacted Southern Wayne High School where students went after Carver closed.
Barbara Waters Wilson, Class of 1965, made the trip from Raleigh to attend the reunion -- a trip she has made for many years.
"The teachers, the friendships that we had here -- it was just a wonderful place to get your education," she said. "I really enjoyed it."
It is important that the alumni keep the event going, she said.
"You want to preserve the memories and the history of the school because it educated a lot of people who went on to do great things," she said. "For my children and grandchildren, I always like to tell them about how I got my foundation in education.
"I want to tell them about my elementary and high school years. I think just to preserve the history and all of the good memories and to bring in the community."
She agreed with Ms. Rush about the importance of encouraging people to join the Association and to keep it going.
Along with preserving the history, the Association gives back a lot to the community, Mrs. Wilson said.
"They give scholarships to young people," she said. "I think when you have more support you can do more. It is a good time just to have fun. They have golfing and things for the youth.
"So I think the community involvement should increase because when you have more, you can do more. I think the scholarships are great because education is wonderful."
The festivities got under way Thursday morning with a fundraising golf tournament at Southern Wayne Country Club.
A youth and scholarship program was held that night at the Carver Cultural Center.
The general membership meeting was held Friday afternoon at Payne Temple AME Zion Church. A social hour and banquet dinner was held that night at St. Mark Free Will Baptist Church, 222 Nelson St.
Former Carver teachers were special guests and special recognition was given to the Classes of 1945, 1955, 1965, 1950, 1960 and 1970.
A dance and social was held Saturday night 8 p.m.