Greeting Readers, God speaks to our hearts and minds about the different talents that mankind has; in 1-Corinthians 7:7 you will read: “Each man has his own gift from God; one has this one, another has that one.” God is good and his loving gifts endure forever and ever!

Eva Hall Harris, Progress, Friendship and Lincoln County Training School; teachers, students and guests continues to enjoy the 10^th school reunion festivities early Saturday morning on July 11 for the Grand Parade in downtown Brookhaven at 10 a.m. The students and faculty members were very excited about finishing their cars, trucks and their floats before time for the parade to start. There was lots of things to do, such as: putting the last minute things on the floats that could not be put on them ahead-of-time because it would mess-up or it would fly off when pulling it through town for the line-up. Also, signs had to be put on all of the vehicles that were beautifully decorated. Now it is time for the line-up and this was done by prestige, by schools, classes, people of interest and other participants.

The parade line-up started rolling down the streets; with motorcycles and motorcyclists leading the line, the Brookhaven Fire Department, the Chief of Police Bobby Bell, then the grand marshalls, the alumni president Curtis Tyner and the first chairperson for the alumni evangelist Willie Ray Watkins. Robert L. Barnes Jr. served as the first alumni president, and Cora Bracey Edwards served as the second alumni president, but they were not available to ride in the parade. The parade continued to roll-on down the street with Mrs. Augustine Tillman Buie who serves as the alumni Honorary grand marshall followed by the honored classes; the Class of 1964 who celebrated their 50^th golden year in 2014 and the Class of 1965 who celebrated their 50^th golden year in 2015. Our teachers followed the line-up, then Progress School Alumni, Lincoln County Training School Alumni and Friendship School Alumni. Eva Hall Harris School students lined-up by classes: Class of 1961 the first class to graduate from this prestigious school, followed by class of 1962, class of 1963, class of 1966, class of 1967, class of 1968, class of 1969, the class of 1970 had a beautiful float followed by the class of 1971 with another beautiful float. The classes of 1972, 1973 followed in vehicles, the classes of 1974 and 1975 followed in vehicles as they celebrated their 40^th year anniversary. There were also representation from the classes of 1976 – 1978 as well as our elected officials, NAACP representatives, businesses and other special guests. Special thanks to the line-up crew: Michael Dixon, James V. Smith, Wilbert Upkins, Evelyn Richardson Buie, Carolyn E. Beard Humphries, John Kees Jr., along with the Brookhaven Police Department and William and Cynthia Price for the motorcyclists.

Special thank-you is extended to McLane Southern Wholesale Company and to Wal-Mart Distribution Company for your participation in our parade with your “big trucks” and your “drivers.” Also, special thanks to the judges for your participation in choosing the first and second place floats and vehicles.

The President Curtis Tyner, Vice-President Mozel Jackson and the alumni committee members would like to thank all of you who participated in this parade. Also, thanks to the ones who did not participate in the parade but helped with the decorating of the vehicles and the floats. May God continue to shower his loving blessings down on each of you daily.

Look for the winners of the floats and the vehicles in my next article along with pictures.

Special love and sympathy is extended to all families who are in bereavement at this time. May God’s peace, his understanding, love and his mercies be with each of you as you go through day-by-day.

Eva Hall Harris will have a meeting on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at the library. The alumni are encouraged to be present for the election of officers.

Alexander School Alumni Homecoming Committee members are meeting  the second Monday, monthly at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmy Furlow Senior Citizen Center to prepare for the upcoming school reunion that will take place in 2016. The chairperson Phyllis Watkins and the Homecoming committee members are encouraging each alumni member as well as faculty and staff members to attend.

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