The first time it was a novelty. Every time since has beenroutine. But this time will be special.

This time will be the last time.

Brookhaven’s Willard Stanley, 97, could be the most faithfulgraduate to ever turn a tassel for Brookhaven High School, andshe’s not even a native of the city. A member of the Class of 1930who moved to the Homeseekers Paradise from Louisiana, she’sattended every 10-year homecoming reunion since 1940 – a 70-yearstreak of perfection that has not wavered in the least, even asother members of her group have passed on and left only her torepresent them.

At the school’s 2010 homecoming ceremony Friday, Stanley willsit alone in the front row and be the sole recipient of the honorsbestowed on her class. She’ll be reminded of 1930, when Pluto wasdiscovered, the Snickers bar was created and Wonder Bread cost 9cents per loaf. She’ll hear Wendell Woods Hall’s “It Ain’t GonnaRain No Mo'” and see The Charleston performed.

After that, the Class of 1930 probably won’t be heard fromagain.

“I’m going to enjoy this one because it’s going to be my lastone,” she said. “My doctor says I can make it to 100, but thatwon’t be enough to make it to the next reunion.”

Stanley’s heart is physically weak, but it’s strong inspirit.

It’s beat in anticipation of Friday’s homecoming ceremony sincethe last one ended in 2000, and she’s been making preparations forweeks in advance. Her hair is fixed, her oversized 1930 diploma islaminated and ready for display and her ride to the school is linedup for 2 p.m.

Once Stanley arrives for the ceremony and social hour, she’llhave attended 10-year reunions in 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980,1990, 2000 and 2010. The only class reunion she’s missed sincegraduating was the first one, in 1931. Just one year out from highschool, she wasn’t worried about seeing her class’ 38 members justyet – she was working hard on the dating scene.

“I was too busy sparking,” Stanley said.

There were still plenty of boys for her to chase after in 1931,only her third year in Brookhaven.

The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Blackwell, Stanleyarrived in Brookhaven after bouncing from town to town in Louisianaalongside her hard-working father – from Kentwood to Slidell toBogalusa and, finally, to Brookhaven, where the family settled onChickasaw Street. The movement between schools caused some of hercredit to be lost in the shuffle, and she didn’t formally graduateuntil October 1930 – months behind the rest of her class.

It was a penalty for which Stanley never forgave BHS PrincipalC.H. Lipsey.

“I just lacked half a unit, and he knew I was going to summerschool,” she said. “We had several homecomings while he was stillthere, and I reminded him of it every time. I wasn’t going to lethim live it down.”

After graduation, Stanley attended Whitworth College and took ajob at Brookhaven Bank. Her boss, Ray Godbold, was big on BHShomecomings, and soon she would be, too.

“He wanted me to help him write up the invitations to our classfor homecoming,” she said. “He’d write the message and I’d do thetyping and get them mailed. That got me interested. I wanted to seeif my classmates had more wrinkles than I did.”

After that, Stanley became well known around the city.

She and her husband, Harry Stanley, ran Stanley Chevron ServiceStation for 21 years on the corner of South Jackson and Chickasaw.They lived on South Jackson Street in the house now occupied by theStan King family, where Stanley’s mother first ran Blackwell’sGuest House. She was an active member of First Baptist Church upuntil about one year ago.

Stanley also took the lead for the Class of 1930, often holdingget-togethers at her home and writing up the invitations for herclassmates for every 10-year reunion.

But now there’s no one left to write to. Since HenryettaTownsend died in March 2008, Stanley has been the last livingmember of the Class of 1930.

“I’m looking forward to the reunion, but I’m going to be lonely.I won’t see any of my friends because they’re all dead,” shesaid.

Seeing Stanley sit alone in the seat of honor for her class issomething BHS Principal Dr. Jay Smith hopes will be a positivelesson for all the other graduates attending, no matter theirage.

“To see someone that vibrant and that young at heart is anencouragement to all of us,” he said. “She encourages the overallspirit of life.”

Pat Gartman, a member of the Class of 1953 and longtime neighborand “adopted” friend of the Stanley’s, is escorting her to thehomecoming ceremonies. She’s been impressed by her old friend’spreparations for the event, preparations carried on even thoughshe’s prone to tire easily and breathe hard.

“For her at 97 to think a Brookhaven High School reunion is sucha special occasion, that means something,” Gartman said.

Shirley Estes, a private sitter who helps take care of Stanley,said the 2010 homecoming is what Stanley has been living for.

“Her birthday and homecoming. If she can do that, she said,’Then I’ll be ready to go,'” Estes said.