Dillard-GHS alumni gather
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on May 29, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Grand Marshal Gerri Sherard waves to the crowd during the Dillard-Goldsboro High School parade on Saturday.
Thousands of people turned out Saturday for the annual Dillard-Goldsboro High Alumni parade that had streets in south Goldsboro packed with participants and onlookers.
This year's event paid special homage to the classes ending in 1 an 6.
Former state Rep. and Wayne County Commissioner Jimmie E. Ford is a member of the Class of 1961. The annual event is a homecoming for classmates across the country, and even around the world, he said. Some came from as far away as Canada.
"It's just coming back together," Ford said. "This was the beginning of the career for life for many of us, and this is our way of celebrating that."
"It's just the camaraderie and the fun of seeing old friends," said the Rev. Dr. Marshall Smith, first assistant pastor at First African Baptist Church, another member of the Class of '61. "We just love being with each other. We just get together and fellowship."
Almost all of the classmates The News-Argus spoke to invoked the leadership of the late principal H.V. Brown in creating the spark that lives on to this day in the hearts of the schools' alumni.
"This spirit is something that was instilled in us," said Grand Marshal Gerri Sherard, also of the Class of '61. "We come from all over, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C."
Norwood Davis is a member of the Class of 1961. He said that while he was stationed in the military in Massachusetts he ran into a man who had been once stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The man recalled the many churches in Goldsboro and also mentioned that the local high school had the strongest alumni association he had ever known, even stronger than some colleges.
"It's just the love we have for one another," said alumni Clifton Middleton.
"The love and the unity," added classmate Gloria Spears. "It coming together like one big family."
Eddie Baker is a member of the Class of 1957. He said the reunion stays strong because of the closeness of the older folks and the fact that the younger generations have come to appreciate what they have seen over the years.
"That's what it's all about," he said.
"It's good to see old classmates," Baker said. "I always get excited knowing it is coming up and I will get to see them. It gets your adrenaline rushing and you want to be a part of it. It's just good to be together."
Willie Battle is a member of the Class of 1966. He also credited H.V. Brown for making the reunion a success so many years after his passing.
"He wanted us to have something we could come back to," Battle said. "It gives us a chance to show these children what we used to have in the early days."
Adeen George is a member of the Class of 1957.
"It's so exciting to see old friends coming back together again," she said.
Dexter Yelverton is president of the Class of '86. He said the younger folks look upon the older ones with both pride and admiration.
"I have friends in other counties who see this and are amazed," he said. "They just didn't want to lose their history, plus they felt a responsibility to give back to the next generation."
The reunion gave out more than $35,000 in scholarships on Thursday and held a banquet and dance on Friday. Following Saturday morning's parade, another dance was held and individual classes held parties.
Today, church services were to be held at the H.V. Brown Hall and picnics were to be held afterward.