It’s been 40 years

It’s been 40 years

POSTED 10/02/2008 - Forty years ago (1968) the last class to graduate from Pine Forest Community School marched off the gym floor. Saturday night, that gym, now a part of Callahan Middle School, became Pine Forest again as many of that graduating class returned for its 40th reunion.

In 1968, the last class to graduate from Pine Forest Community School marched off the gym floor. Saturday night, that gym, now a part of Callahan Middle School, became Pine Forest again as many of that graduating class returned for its 40th reunion.

The school graduated 29 students, both boys and girls. Over time, five have left this veil of tears. Of those remaining, 16 were able to attend the reunion. Johnnie Green, Jo Ann Kelly and Rilla DeLains, all class members, were primarily involved in setting up the program.

Green said that when they first called him, he didn't want to be involved. The more he thought about the reunion and all it would mean, the more he decided it was a good idea.

Valedictorian Lois Ann White attended as did several faculty members and staff - including Ophelia Morgan, now 92 years old. She was a member of the cafeteria staff. Helen Jones Goodwin, Miss Pine Forest 1968, also attended the reunion.

One of the main speakers, Emmitt Coakley, had been a physical education teacher and coach for the 1968 class. The first to coach in the new Pine Forest School Gym, he later became assistant principal and principal of Callahan Junior High School - formerly Pine Forest Community School.

Willeva (Nelson) Strickland (center) and Lois (White) Harebey (right) point out their second grade pictures to other former classmates.

That school was later torn down, except for the gym, and the present day Callahan Middle School was built. Coakley later became principal of West Nassau High School and served in that position from 1976-1990.

He told several stories and commented that the basketball team boys got to sit with the girls on the bus if they did well at the game. If not, they were required to sit in separate sections of the bus. They sometimes had to scramble to get in their proper seats when the lights came on.

"I am proud of you," Eleanor Simmons, home economics teacher, told the reunion group. Betty Tyson Albert, who started teaching the 1968 class when they were in first and second grade, taught them never to laugh at anyone about clothes or anything. Both ladies not only received mementos but accolades from the students.

Several former students commented that these teachers had taught them to be ladies: how to walk, talk and be real ladies, and the students would never forget those teachings. They also tried to follow these ladies' teachings with their own children.

Helen (Jones) Goodwin, Miss Pine forest 1968.

Green was one of the basketball players. Coakley called him a good one. Now at West Nassau High School, Green has coached most of the children of his classmates who remained in the Callahan area. Coach Green also mentioned that following graduation, he and six others joined the military and went to Vietnam. They all returned safely.

As Coakley called the class roll, each member present answered, raising his or her hand. Over the past 40 years, the class has lost five members. They were remembered by setting up black balloons and black bows on seats in the audience. Five candles were also set up on a nearby table and as each name was called, a class member came forward and blew out the candle.

Councilman Ted Combs represented Mayor Shirley Graham at the reunion, presenting the group with a special plaque. Green later told me: "This past weekend is one which I'll never forget. It will always be embedded in my heart."

As Coakley put it, "Something good did come out of Callahan, 40 years ago.