Cruising down the . . .

Since the Canal is still a mud-hole from the repair procedures of the late winter-early spring, our cruise will now be on the River. Don Patterson has created this flyer with details. Please note that 10th Street doesn't go through, so 11th is the best bet. When 11th deadends at Tattnall Street, there is parking on the left in the old Golf Hall of Fame property or in the parking lot at the Marriott one block to the right. Walk through the cut in the levee to board the Patriot.

This event is full.
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The Countdown -- Favorite Song #10

It's Elvis and Heart Break Hotel



Remember: The "Our Songs" label or the sidebar link will give you a Ten Song Countdown to #1.

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Charles Jackson Jenkins 1941-2009

I apologize for missing this notice. Thanks to Blythe Carroll Hampton for calling it to my attention.

Jack Jenkins played football and ran track during his years in junior high at ARC. He was a member of Young Life. Many of you will remember his sisters, Jane and her husband, Milner Lively, Betty and Tommy Green.

His obituary from the Augusta Chronicle follows:
Retired Edgefield County Building Official NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - Graveside services for Mr. Charles Jackson "Jack" Jenkins, 69, of West Woodlawn Avenue, North Augusta, SC, who entered into rest April 14, 2009, will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Father David F. O. Thompson officiating. Jack was a native of Augusta having made North Augusta his home for the past 47 years. He was a member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church where he was a former member of the Vestry and a US Army Veteran. He attended The Academy of Richmond County, Augusta College, The University of Georgia and Aiken Technical College. Jack was retired from the State of South Carolina as an Edgefield County Building Official, worked as a Superintendent of Construction, a licensed Building Contractor, a licensed Home Inspector and was a former Real Estate Agent. He was a certified Building Official and Fire Marshall, a member of the Board of Directors of Central Inspections and SC Code Compliance and a member of the Building Officials Association of South Carolina. Jack loved boating and fishing at Clark Hill Lake, the University of Georgia football and working in the yard. "He fought the good fight, holding on to his faith and a good conscience." Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Pamela Hayes Jenkins; three daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Rob Rothley, Peachtree City, GA, Cindy Owens, North Augusta and Jennifer and Matt Creswell, Huntersville, NC; four grandchildren, Cameron Hayes Rothley, Matthew Thomas Creswell, Jr., Reagan Elizabeth Creswell and Bonnie Pamela Owens; 2 great- grandchildren; two sisters and their husbands, Jane and Milner Lively, Augusta and Betty and Tommy Green, Carrollton, GA. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pat Timmerman, Charles Goodwin, Oliver Owens, Roger Lowe, Milner Lively, Tommy Green, Bill Benjamin, Matt Creswell and Rob Rothley. The family will receive friends at the funeral home this Thursday evening from 6 to 8. Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta in charge of arrangements (803-278-1181). Visit the registry online at www.poseyfuneralhome.com . Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com

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Ready to Party!

Military Ball. Golf Ball. Graduation Ball. Sock Hops. Sock Hops. Sock Hops.

We don't party the same way, but we still party! If you are not on the list, why not? (Bold indicates names recently added to the list; let me know if you have paid but are not listed here!)
Updated April 30: The reservations have been closed. These folks along with spouses, friends and significant others are gonna PARTY!

I don't know about you, but I'm haven't changed a bit so I'm going to wear my mother's makeup. See you next week.

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Annette Adams Bush
Jack Adams
Donna Andrews Pittman
Brenda Atkins Fuller
Larry Wendell Beam
Jane Bass Moxley
Jack Bearden
Joe Bill Beazley
Carolyn Bell Jones
Alex "Bubber" Best
Joyce Blanchard Baker
Ronnie Bowers
Betty Brown Kastner
Jackie Brown Neal
Rae Brown Higgenbottom
Carolyn Cadle Folds
Ben Cheek
Lee Cheeseborough
Herbert Clark
Joann Cliett Dukes
Ron Colvin
Blythe Carroll Hampton
Marie Croft Neal
Michael Danish
Sherry Doris Mercer
Nancy Dunn Adams
Jayne Dye Snell
Barbara A. Ellis
Fred Fidler
Frederick Fuller
Mary Gahnz Usher
Alma Gardner Dewitt
Faye Gardner Harris
Gilroy Garner
Eddie Glover Tanner
Helen Gnann Byars
Kittie Graham Taylor
Tim Hegler
Charles Henry
Nancy Huff Berzins
Joy Hughes Mallard
Judy Hunnicutt Johnson
David Hurst
Elizabeth James Roye
Ruthie Jarrett Fitzgerald
Charles Johnson
Janice Johnson Dixon
Shirley Johnson
Maria Kellett Couch
Judy Kent Huff
Janice Keel Helton
Yvonne King Langley
Robert Koontz
Hamilton Kuhlke
Carol Lamb Thurman
Fred Lamback
Dorothy Lanier Cravey
Susan Leard Wright
Speir Lehmann Mary
Caroline LeRoy Ayers
Judy Little Muphy
Betty Love
Wade Mallard
Bill Marsh
Pete May
Minta McDiarmid Nixon
Pete McDonald
Jimmy Melton
Tom Mercer
Carolee Metcalfe Wende
Claude Miller
Grace Mitchell Hayles
LaVerne Montgomery Young
Bob Mulcay
Alvia "Butch" Murdock
Cobbs Nixon
John Overstreet
Drew (Dip) Page
Linda Paschal Cannady
Carol Patterson Wesse
Don Patterson
Becky Paulos Girten
Jimmy Paulos
James R. Perkins
Joan Pilcher King
Dennis Primrose
Donovan Pugh
Mae Pulliam Williams
Harry Pund
Forte Rabb
Betty Reed Keenan
Madeline Register Bandy
Elizabeth Reid Lundquist
Carolyn Remley Burns
Raymond Richards
Donny Ross
Carol Ann Sandiford
Arnold Scharnitsky
Randall Scott
Robert "Bob" Smith
Joyce Sherrod Wilson
Patricia Sox Snyr
Frank Stafford
Emily Stevens Baumann
James Strong
Judy Stubbs Terry
Maxie Terry
David Thomas
Vernon Tice
Mary Todd Pyott
Ruby Turlington Preuss
Harry Vaiden
Lydia Wammock Ramsey
Bill Ward
Elaine Watkins Skeel
Chuck Wende
James Westbury
Sandra Whitaker Woytcke
William Wilkes
Douglas Woo
Marvin Wren
Merle Wright Dansby
Anne Yearty Gojda

Request for names of girls in picture: Top Ten Candidates for Honorary Cadet Colonel, Military Ball. The picture was taken from the annual. Two of the girls are not identified. Do you know who they are? Top Center is Rae Brown*
L to R: Martha Tallman, ??, ??, Lydia Wammock*, Faye Bussey, Nancy McElderry, Sheila Seago, Helen Gnann*, Jayne Dye*. *Will be attending reunion.

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Another Class Member Has Died

An email this morning began to spread the word that Mary Comeria Whittle (Sikes)has died. Carol Lamb Thurman had received word in Kansas from Merle Wright Dansby in South Carolina. Later emails from both Don Starnes and Caroline Leroy Ayers wanted class members to know of her passing. A morning of concern, memories, friendships. It seems we were together just yesterday. It does not feel like fifty years.

Carol wrote: I met Comeria in the eighth grade at Tubman, and we were friends from then on. She and I roomed together at UGA. I last talked with her in October before the decade reunion. I hope Comeria can be remembered along with our other classmates who have passed. . . .

Caroline's note had this message: Comeria and I met when we were in junior high and both volunteered at the downtown branch of the Augusta Library. Since she went to Tubman and I went to Langford and we went to different grammar schools, I may never have known her otherwise. She was a good friend and blessing to all who knew her. I haven't seen her in years, but I will always remember her as a thoughtful and caring person. I'm sure she will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Under her picture in the annual was this quote, "'Tis said, her presence would make an undertakers' conference entertaining," so I particularly loved that she was still "known for the witty and inspirational handwritten notes . . . ." Oh, the smiles she has left.

(Mary) Comeria's obituary is below, but

Mary Comeria Sikes (1941 - 2009)

Mary Comeria Sikes, 67, passed away at her home Sunday, April 19, 2009, as a result of kidney failure.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Thursday in Laurel Land Memorial Chapel. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park of Fort Worth. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mary was born in Augusta, Ga., on Dec. 27, 1941, to Benjamin Howard and Annie Lee Whittle. After graduating from the University of Georgia, she taught school in Augusta and Smyrna, Ga. She married her high school sweetheart, Lee, on Aug. 8, 1964, in Augusta. After living in several locations in the country, they settled in Fort Worth in 1982. She worked at the Fort Worth Public Library from 1984 to 1990. Mary was a member of Hillside Memorial Christian Church and was active in the Christian Women's Fellowship. Mary was known for the witty and inspirational handwritten notes she sent to the shut-ins as well as to the church members serving in the military overseas.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Dr. Michael Howard Whittle of Moultrie, Ga.
Survivors: Husband of 44 years, Lee Sikes; children, Leigh Ann Morrison, Benjamin Sikes and wife, Brooke, and Andrea Robia and husband, Michael; grandchildren, Erika Wikoff, Olivia Sikes, William Robia and Matthew Robia; sister, Linda Johnson and husband, Gen. H.T. Johnson; and sisters-in-law, Janet M. Whittle and Beverly S. Fester.

Published in Star-Telegram on 4/21/2009

There is a link to the obituary here where you may leave a message to the family.

Have you missed me? It's Earth Angel

Announcement: "The Blogger has been away from her posts while she has finished the Reunion Memory book." True. But I have been thinking about the 59 Musketeers as I have edited your bios and cropped photos and double checked your information. The Memory Book is different from those we have had in the past. It has been my privilege to create this special edition. More about it later -- a few sneak peeks. Maybe. heh heh.

Meanwhile, enjoy our Song #9. Earth Angel by the Penquins. It's a newer version and they're closer to our ages.




If the video doesn't come in, try this link

Here's an interesting raw recording of Elvis singing Earth Angel in Germany. Not the best recording of Earth Angel (or from Elvis) but the photos are interesting ones of Elvis's Army years.

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Chances Are You'll Love #8

It's Johnny Mathis and our #8 favorite, "Chances Are"




Just in case you've forgotten, this list of songs was compiled from your responses for the 45th Reunion. If you want to have a complete countdown from here to #1, just click on the tiny little 'oursongs' label below or use the link under "The Lists" on the left sidebar. You'll have them all in one place.

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Here's What We Looked Like

Don't forget that the Reunion Photograph will be taken on the steps of ARC at 10:00 on Saturday morning. Here's what we looked like five years ago at the 45th!



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45th Reunion photo

It's A Big Four-Oh!

Yes. A big four-oh at the 50th!

Over and over, I have heard on the phone and read in emails, "I just don't want to come by myself." Well, guess what? There are more than 40 classmates who have made reservations for the weekend who ARE COMING BY THEMSELVES!

So, do you want to stay at home where you will really be alone or come party with a couple of hundred Fabulous Fifty-niners!?!

Send Harry your check!

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Tables Piled High!

On Friday night, memories will be the topic of the evening. There be a lot of "Do you remember. . .?" "You haven't changed since junior high!" and "Oh, wow! I had forgotten this." Fifty years will be erased in minutes as we compare nametags and faces and relax.

Chairman Pete May has arranged for memorabilia tables to be set up for ARC, Langford, Murphey, and Tubman along with one for any other junior highs we went to. Bring things to share and show off. There will be someone at each table to help you place your treasures. Photo albums are appropriate for Friday as well.

On Saturday night, our focus will be more on who we are now. We'll remember those who have died. We'll talk about life after 50. We'll share things we forgot on Friday night. We might even sign each others' Memory books! Chairman Janice Johnson has checked on all the details to make this a night of memories. We'll get past the remembering and make new friends of old friends or old enemies.


So get your stuff together.

Put your name on everything.

Be ready to enjoy tables piled high!








Photos from Madeline Register's Murphey Junior High collection.

Dan Miller 1941-2009

Dan Miller has sent his bio and photos for the Reunion Memory book. He will be included, but he will not be with us. He has contributed to the memories of the class across the years in notes to the committee and comments about Augusta on his own blog.

Danny died last night here in his hometown. We will miss him.

This link will take you to his home station http://www.wsmv.com/video/19136339/index.html http://www.wsmv.com/danmiller/index.html
More videos and clips about Dan Miller from WSM.

I will put up more info later today.

Annette

On March 9, 2009, I posted an entry here about the Reunion questionnaire along with suggestions of how you might use the forms to send us information about yourself I suggested that you "think of what you would like to read about your old friends. Then tell us that same thing about yourself;. . . " Then I used a photo of Danny Miller reading to his daughter's third grade class. As I thought about what to write about Danny today, I decided to let you read his own words. This is how he answered those questions for our Class of 1959 Fiftieth Reunion.

---What has been your main focus (career, family, hobbies/collections) for the past fifty years?....Broadcasting. It's the only thing I've worked in all these years. In fact, in 1961 I decided to take -- what I thought would be -- a one quarter sabbatical from Augusta College to earn a little extra money editing film full-time at WJBF. Here we are 48 years later and I still haven't gone back to class, but I might yet!

---What would surprise us most about what you have been doing, are interested in or have become?....
The most surprising thing for me, by far, was becoming a father again at age 57, after my first three were already grown. It was frightening to me, but has truly become the most wonderful thing I can imagine in life.

---What surprises you most about your reaction to having grandchildren? That's easy... My biggest surprise about being a grandfather is... I'M A GRANDFATHER!!! Isn't that something really old people do?

---What has it taken you 50 years to learn?... That 50 years can pass in no time at all.

---How or why would you most like to be remembered?... Oh, I suppose as a kind person who came up with a few good ideas, and became a friend to some really fascinating people, even some of my childhood heroes, along the way.

--—What is your favorite memory or what one thing would you change about your high school years?... I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe try not to be such a dork.

---What is the best thing about retirement?! ... I have no idea. Maybe I'll be able to answer that someday way down the road. Remember, I have a 10-year old daughter.


---
The photo is of Dan Miller with his friend former anchor, Jim Davis. Danny sent it for our book. It was taken at Sacred Heart Cultural Center while Dan was here for the 59th Anniversary Celebration of the premier of "The Three Faces of Eve" at the Miller Theater. I sent him the link to the article about the event.


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The Righteous Brothers & Hit # 7

At the 45th Reunion, 0ur Top Ten List placed Al Hibler at #7 with Unchained Melody. I liked this version by The Righteous Brothers better. It may just be the youtube quality. Click on the white arrow and prepare to enjoy.





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Guess Who's Coming To Dinner!!

Actually, these party people are at Langford. Do you recognize any of them? (Click on the photo for a larger image.) Some of them will be coming to the Reunion. You probably won't recognize them then either.

Here is the list of people who have decided to come share memories, meals and dances on the weekend of May 1-2, 2009. They will probably not have a monument placed in their honor as General George Washington did when he came to Augusta and reviewed the troops at our school in 1791 . They will be able to stroll Broad Street and the RiverWalk, read nametags and do a lot of remembering.

Will you be one of them?

0 = 0= 0 = 0 = 0

Annette Adams Bush
Jack Adams
Donna Andrews Pittman
Brenda Atkins Fuller
Jane Bass Moxley
Jack Bearden
Joe Bill Beazley
Joyce Blanchard Baker
Ronnie Bowers
Betty Brown Kastner
Jackie Brown Neal
Carolyn Cadle Folds
Herbert Clark
Ron Colvin
Michael Danish
Nancy Dunn Adams
Jayne Dye Snell
Barbara A. Ellis
Fred Fidler
Faye Gardner Harris
Brenda Gay Applewhite
Helen Gnann Byars

Tim Hegler
Charles Henry
Nancy Huff Berzins
Joy Hughes Mallard
Mike Moxley
Judy Hunnicutt Johnson
David Hurst
Ruthie Jarrett Fitzgerald
Charles Johnson
Janice Keel Helton
Hamilton Kuhlke
Carol Lamb Thurman
Fred Lamback
Dorothy Lanier Cravey
Susan Leard Wright
Mary Lehmann Speir
Caroline LeRoy Ayers
Judy Little Murphy
Wade Mallard
Bill Marsh
Pete May
Minta McDiarmid
. . . .Nixon
Pete McDonald
Jimmy Melton
Tom Mercer
Carolee Metcalfe
. . . .Wende
Grace Mitchell
. . . .Hayles
Bob Mulcay
Butch Murdock
Cobbs Nixon
John Overstreet
Linda Paschal
. . . .Cannady
Patterson Donny
Becky Paulos
. . . .Girten
Jimmy Paulos
James R. Perkins
Dennis Primrose
Donavan Pugh
Mae Pulliam Williams

Harry Pund
Forte Rabb
Keenan Reed Betty
Madeline Register Bandy
Elizabeth Reid Lundquist
Carolyn Remley Burns
Raymond Richards
Donny Ross
Carol Ann Sandiford
Joyce Sherrod Wilson
Priscilla Sox Snyr
Frank Stafford
Emily Stevens Baumann
James Strong
Judy Stubbs Terry
Maxie Terry
David Thomas
Mary Todd Pyott
Harry Vaiden
Lydia Wammock
. . . .Ramsey
Bill Ward
Elaine Watkins
. . . .Skeel
Charles Wende
Jim Westbury
William Wilkes
Ethel J. Wilson
Sandra Whitaker
. . . .Woytcke
Marvin Wren
Merle Wright
. . . .Dansby
Anne Yearty Gojda


0 = 0 = 0 = 0= 0
I have not put hometowns but will be glad to help anyone locate a classmate. Just email me or leave a message in the comments. There is still time for you to call a friend, send a check, add your bio to the book and enjoy the fun.

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Today's b/w photo from Chuck Wende
Color photos from my file

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Where In the World Is. . . .

Jimmy Melton is one of the people who will be dancing at the Reunion. He and Cheryl have great fun where ever they go! Come join in!

A Potpourri of Stuff You'll Want to Know

• Bios/Photos and Reservations

It is NOT too late to send them! Just fill out the form and send about 300 words about yourself (or just answer the questions) ALONG WITH A PHOTO which tell us about the interesting you as an adult. Just use this email address! (I will email the form to you if you have lost yours.)

We now have close to 150 reservations. We are limited to 200, so get yours in now! If you are from out of town, don't assume that your local friends are coming. CALL THEM UP! TELL THEM YOU ARE COMING TO SEE THEM! Send your check to Harry Pund!

Come make some memories like these from Chuck and Carolee Metcalfe Wende:

• REUNION PHOTO

If you have not planned to tour the school this year, you may want to change your plans. The official photo will be taken on the front steps of ARC at 10:00 ( ack!, not 10:30,) so be there.

• BLOG UPDATES

---Thanks to Madeline Register Bandy, Niki Johnston and Paul Wolfe, we have found out about a few more people. There's an addendum on the blog links for the deceased and for the missing, please check to see if you can verify any of these.


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Places to Eat in Downtown Augusta

This list is for downtown only since you will probably want to eat SOON after the Canal Cruise. There are some franchises as well, but I have tried to list locally owned places which I love.

If you have another to add, just click on 'comment' at the bottom. There is a complete listing of area restaurants on the Metro Spirit website
Amazing! Who knew there were so many?!!


For breakfast and lunch, try one of these:

• Sunshine Bakery -- 1209 Broad Street -- Great Bagels!/ Great Sandwiches

• The Whistle Stop Café -- Corner of 5th and Greene Streets -- Great Biscuits! Great Hamburgers!

For lunch, I like these:
All are open on Saturday (subject to change)

• Augustino's at the Marriott - #2 Tenth Street -- Bargain pasta bar! only M-F--11:30 AM-2:00 PM no pasta bar on Saturday

• Beamies at the River - 865 Reynolds Street -- Good Seafood

• Blue Sky Kitchen - 990 Broad Street -- Redneck Stirfry and other unusual good stuff

• Boll Weevil - #10 9th Street -- Great Desserts

• Café 209 - #4 8th Street -- Good Southern Food

• Cotton Patch - 816 Cotton Lane at Riverwalk -- Long Time Favorite

• Fat Man's Riverfront Cafe - #1 Seventh Street on TheRiverwalk -- Better View; Good Food

• Nacho Mama's - 976 Broad Street -- Big Old Burritos

• Pizza Joint - 1245 Broad Street -- Guess!

This is just a little list with a decent lunch variety.

• T's is still on Hwy. 56.

• Sconyers is out off Hwy. 25

• Luigi's is still on Broad Street.

Remember to let me know if you want to join a group for Thursday evening dinner.

Okay, start your stomachs!
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Photos from my collection of odd places. Top one is The Whistle Stop.

Our Number 6 Song!

The Platters, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.

I hope this one is on my dance card!