Palmetto High graduates hold annual reunion picnic in the park

By Naeem McFadden
Marion Star & Mullins Enterprise Reporter
Published: July 18, 2008

For the third year in the row, graduates from Palmetto High School gathered at Smith Haven Park in Mullins for a July 4th celebration with family and friends. This marked the 50th and 40th reunion for the graduating classes of 1958 and 1968.
The classes of 1958, 1960 and 1965 were represented in what is now a new addition to a number of activities organized by the Friends and Alumni Association of Palmetto High School. Classmates set up tents on the lawn, and underneath their shade from the sun, shared stories while the aroma of food “hot off the grill” filled the air. The menu included an assortment of summer dishes loaded onto paper plates and included fried fish and chicken bog. 
Mayo Phillips and Lillian Green Graham from the class of 1963 explained that each class comes up with the activities, starting from 1944 through 1970. Within that span of time, Palmetto High School introduced to the world a number of young people prepared to meet the challenges ahead, accomplish great things, and help a nation evolve from a practice that separated them from total freedom and equality.
The class of 1947 was represented, with Francis Mason Washington, Lucinda McClellan Eaddy, Marion Atkinson and Nancy Atkinson Smith in attendance. The ladies are as sharp as ever, recalling a story of students submitting their math work to the teacher, signing their names as jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald.
“We were sent home for it, and I remember us being sent home for playing around … now I had to tell my mother,” Atkinson said, which turned out to be another story.
Going back a couple of years further, graduating in 1945, were Louis “Luke” Cooper, Hazel Hodge Dotson and Claudia Hughes.
1957 graduate, Raymond Robinson, forged through social obstacles, retiring as a physician and teaching medical school.
Dozens of graduates from across the country came out to the park, despite the spike in gasoline prices.
Lynwood Israel, Paul Gerald, Thomas Hardnett Sr., all from the class of 1962, said it’s a joy to see the classmates reuniting.
“It’s a stress-free zone and a great opportunity to meet people you haven’t seen in years,” Israel said.  “It’s a fun day for everybody to enjoy themselves, meeting other classmates and exchanging foods,” Gerald said. Hardnett added that Palmetto students have a camaraderie that’s hard to find nowadays and 1968 graduate Fronnie Mae Gerald said the entire weekend is a celebration that draws a huge gathering, and she’s one of the many proud to support the events.
Alberta Tolliver, known as Ms. McPherson in school, taught home economics at Palmetto High School, is fondly remembered by the former students, and her presence during the weekend festivities yielding a number of stories.
“If you were single and got married, your husband could stay at the school, but the wife had to relocate. There were no married women, and I couldn’t understand that,” she said of a rule that didn’t allow married female teachers.  “So I went to Lake City, worked nine years, they changed the law and I came right back to work,” she said about her return after leaving in 1960. 
Another retired former teacher, getting her start in 1949, was Jessie Williams. Williams taught every grade level during her 40 years experience of teaching in Marion and Horry County.
And the senior class’ fondest memory? After a survey, it would appear, as William Penn Troy said of his 1963 commencement, “Graduating!”
Raising money for scholarships is the best part of the weekend celebration, retired English teacher Harriett Williams said.
“People give unconditionally, because they know it’s used to help students further their education, and it will better our society to help with that,” she said, adding that everybody working together for a cause that’s beneficial to others can and will make a difference.