The Book of Ephesians tells the Children, to “obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Happy Children’s Day, today.” Jeremiah 17:1-8 says “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out roots by the stream.”  Happy Father’s Day  to all fathers on the third Sunday. May each of you be blessed.

Happy birthday to my twin nephews, James and Dwayne Beard of the Loyd Star community who are celebrating today. Special happy birthday wishes are also, extended to all who are celebrating during the month of June 2015. May God bless each of you. Happy wedding anniversary is extended to James and Tara Beard who are celebrating their 18th year. Also, to all June Brides and Grooms.

Eva Harris and Lincoln County Schools Alumni Committee invites you to participate in this year’s parade that will be on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. on July 11 in downtown Brookhaven. The line-up will be at 8:30 a.m. by the post office. You are welcome to watch from the sidelines or participate in the following ways: ride in the parade to represent your business, your status and your leadership; you can ride your motorbikes, corvette cars, trucks, other vehicles or other. All teachers and faculty members are encouraged to participate and all former students are encouraged to participate. Floats are encouraged by all who are interested in doing one, especially former students by classes of Lincoln County Training School, Friendship, Progress and Eva H. Harris.

The alumni committee members along with the former students of Eva H. Harris, Progress, Friendship and Lincoln County Training School would like to welcome our grand marshalls for the 10th School Reunion Parade. They are Evangelist Willie Ray Watkins, Robert L. Barnes Jr., Cora Bracey Edwards and Curtis Tyner. These grand marshals have served the alumni well throughout the years in their different capacities, and we salute each of them. Edwards and Tyner will be featured next week.

Watkins is the son of the late Willie and Bernice Watkins and was reared with his seven siblings in the Chisholm Mission Community by their parents. He is a 1968 graduate of Eva H. Harris School where he exceled well in his studies and was an honor student. He graduated as the valedictorian of his class, he served as the class president, and he shared as the Who’s Who for the most intellectual of his class with Jean D. Scott. He furthered his educational goals at Copiah Lincoln Community College.

He is married to Evelyn Stanberry Watkins, and they have five children and three grandchildren. He has served four years in the U.S. Air Force with two of these years of duty spent in the Vietnam War. His work history includes: South Central Bell, Chevron Oil Company, self-employment and Denbury Resources, Inc.

Watkins is recognized for his services in the organization of the Eva Hall Harris and Lincoln County Schools’ Alumni. He served well as the chairperson during this organizational period, and he moved this group forward in many ways during their forming stages. He held this position until a president was elected and was instrumental in helping to elect his classmate, Barnes, as the president.

Barnes is the son and the only child of the late Robert L. Barnes, Sr. and the late Lucretia Barnes. He grew up in the Loyd Star community and attended Progress and Eva Hall Harris Schools. He excelled well in his studies and was an honor roll student. He graduated in 1968 as the salutatorian of his class. He shared with Ellen Ann Beard as Most Likely to Succeed, and he was voted as the funniest person of his class. He attended Mississippi State University for four years where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He also served an officer in the U.S. Army.

Robert Barnes has served active duty for about five years in the United States Army and earned a master’s degree while on active duty. He was stationed stateside but mostly in Germany. While in Germany, he visited many countries. (Some of which he will be visiting while his classmates and schoolmates will be enjoying the reunion). During his civilian career, he has remained in the Army Reserve. The Army Reserve took him to many places and situations that he could never imagine as a young man from Mississippi.  One of his tours while in the Army Reserve was to the Middle East, where he deployed in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraqi.  He retired from the Army Reserve with over 32 years of service at the rank of a colonel. He thanked God that his rearing and his foundations at Progress and Eva H. Harris Schools took him there safely and brought him home safely through his faith in Jesus Christ. His devoted wife has been very supportive and a vital part of his civilian and his military life. He is the father of two loving children and five wonderful grandchildren.

All faculty and alumni members are encouraged to please plan to attend the next couple of meetings to be held at the public library at 6 p.m. on June 30 and at 6 p.m. on July 2. After these meetings the work will physically begin in order to prepare at the Lincoln County Civic Center and all other places for the reunion on July 10 – 12. The first event will be the Legacy Hall of Honor program to be held at the Civic Center on July 10 at 11 a.m. with several nominees being inducted. That night there will be the talent show, fish fry and dance at the Civic Center at 7 p.m. There is a great show, plenty of good food and wonderful music planned for your enjoyment. Please contact an alumni member if you have any questions or if you need to pay your fees.

 

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn E. Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.