By: Vareva Harris
The WHS Class of 1947 met in reunion to celebrate 75 years after graduating from Woodruff High School. The bond of their relationships has withstood the test of time. They communicate with each other regularly, and they meet for lunch every year in Woodruff at a restaurant. At the 75th reunion, eight of the 11 living members of the graduating class of 1947 attended along with many family members and friends. One of the most interesting facts several graduates talked about was that their Class of 1947 was the last class to graduate under South Carolina state policy that required 11 years of school instead of 12 to earn
a South Carolina high school diploma. They shared stories about the advancements in communication devices they have used to keep in touch over the years.
Several alumni talked about going to the communication house or operator to place a call in the early years. Now, several of them use emails, text messages, and smartphones to communicate with each other. The discussion about the communication devices they have used over the years is a testament to their commitment to lifelong learning. The average age of the alumni from the Class of 1947 is about 93. The ladies laughed about H. G. Gus O’Shields being the only man alive from their class because he never married and bragged about Mary Lee Kennedy Robinson driving herself from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Woodruff. They all have stories that celebrate the love of their families and friends and their cherished memories of high school. Several of the ladies talked about how their career choices were limited because “women were not allowed to do certain things like being a lawyer.”
Most of the alumni attended college or trade school after graduating. Some cherished the memories of serving as homemakers and volunteers in their communities. Others talked about their success as professional women despite the limitations placed on their professional opportunities because of legal discrimination against women.
They laughed about the nicknames they had in high school and shared stories about how they came to be. The May 14 meeting was the first meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic. They plan to continue meeting for lunch every summer in Woodruff.
Author: Tracy Sanders
