Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. Add any updates or news you have to our message forum.  

Cheryl Pope (Bumgarner)

Below is the obituary for Kemp Ferguson who passed away in 2008. Kemp served in the US Army in Vietnam.

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Thank you, Cheryl for your dedication to search details about our classmates living and passed that continue to bind us together. 

Jimmy Winchester

Anyone else thinking more about turning 75 this year? I wonder daily now.... How did I get here and where did all of those years go!

Jimmy, I do think about that a lot.  Do you remember the song by Judy Collins, "Who Knows Where The Time Goes"?  We are different people now.  But, the good side is we can wear what we want, say what we want and use the phrase "I'm too old" to get out of activities that don't interest us, or "I don't want to." Sometimes I have to think about it before I can remember my age. That started last year.  What I think about a lot is how full some people's lives are and how much they have accomplished, and then there is me who was happy to raise the kids to adulthood and now I can sleep nights. Little did I know, with old age comes insomnia.    Kay

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Jimmy,

Thanks for your post so I'll share.

Last year at the age of 74 I struggled a bit. Only because my mother was 74 years old when she passed. So I felt a little out of control especially heading into the holidays and a little too preoccupied with it. Not sure why, but it is what it was. Therefore, for that reason I feel set free on turning 75. I know aging will have its challenges. But I plan to stay busy and do what I can to be productive and mindful of others. It was a joy to see so many classmates at the reunion this past Saturday and I look forward to another reunion in 2026.

Did you know Judy Beach has offered to arrange some Zoom sessions for our classmates? If you or anyone wants to sign up, let me know.

Thanks again, Jimmy for checking in.

Becky

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Would some body please post your experience at the reunion. I didn't get to go and would love to hear about it. I hope Becky will have a video for us to see.  Tell me who you were excited to see.  Thanks!

Jimmy Winchester

Thank you Kay and Becky for your comments. Both my Father and his Dad died in their mid 60s I thought that I would also , I was relieved after I passed 65 and now approaching 75 I feel both blessed and uneasy. Jim

Jim,  I remember when my husband and I got married we both didn't expect to have much time together. He said all the men in his family died young.  Well, we have long passed those crucial years and have entered the "gravy" years.  Everything past 70 is gravy, or whipped cream, or whatever extra we would like to call it.  Thank you for your participation on the web site and your beautiful photographs. Please send more as time goes by.  Kay

Richard Heckle

Kay,

Over the years I have only attended 3 reunions because of activities with Boy Scouts and family vacations, etc. as conflicts. I was excited to go this year for several reasons, but really wanted to see some old friends (no pun intended) including you. I am sorry you did not make it, but also several others that signed up to go unfortunately could not make it.

I enjoyed seeing many I knew, and some I don't remember, and catching up on what has been happening over the years. Enjoyed catching up with Paul Sprouse and some old buddies especially. The Memorial service was emotional and done very well. The Committee did a great job putting this together. Like many others, I hope to make the 60th in 2026. Hope to see many more as well.

Regards to All!

Rick Heckle

Rick, Richard, I'm not comfortable calling you Rick yet. I'll ease into it.  What a nice thing to say!  I'm sorry I was unable to come, as I would have loved catching up.  I'm glad you were able to make it since you have missed out in the past.  From what I've heard, there were a few who had unexpected accidents, illnesses and a few misfortunes, otherwise they would have been there too.  As time goes by and Becky has time, she will post some pictures and videos for all of us to see.  From what little I have heard, it was a great reunion.  Your comments are greatly appreciated.  Stay in touch.  Kay

Charles Ferguson

Congrats to the Committee for putting a great night together!  What a great job done by George.  We had a trip planned for over a year.  So many of my close friends can no longer join us, but I remember each one of them so often....Ladd, Bubba (no last name necessary), Steve Mickle, Linda Etters, Brenda Comer, Bobby Hyman, & on & on!  Oh my gosh!  

By the way, 75 has not been so bad, since 76 is in sight (November).  Shot a 71 today, so any day that I can shoot my age it is a good day.
As an FYI, Rocky Evans has been in the hospital in Prattviile for a couple of weeks.  He has really struggled the last year or so.  Prayers would be much appreciated & a visit welcomed.  

All Tiger fans are welcome to our tailgate on Centennial Blvd.  Go Tigers!  Susan Bates, Trisha has enjoyed your visits so much.

All the best to everyone & hope to see everyone at the next reunion.  God Bless,

Charlie Ferguson '66.

Dennis W. Haire

Could you post the people who attended?  There were people on the list that were I wanted to see but never ran into during the evening.  I just wanted to know if somehow I missed them.  It was a great evening and was very well organized.  I hope to see more in 3 years!!

David Sealy

Me too DENNIS 

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

All,

Look at the tab on the homepage "Look Who Attended 6/3" and the list of those attending our reunion are there.

Thanks George for putting the list together and for our committee members who ran a very efficient registration process 6/3.

Becky

Kay Manning (Elrod)

15th Reunion Family Picnic:  Yesterday, I took a trip back in time to 1981 and revisited the 15th Reunion Family Picnic post when most of us were 32-33 years old - our children were small, some of us hadn't started our families yet.  We were in the early years of our money-making potential.  This was a time when we began our careers that may have sustained us for the next 30 years, or perhaps some of you had decided to further your education and obtain advanced degrees, change directions altogether, or maybe chose to stay home and raise your children. We were - like Bob Seger said - "young and strong and still believed in our dreams."

The post lists the names of people in attendance and a small profile of each one.  Some of us married our high school sweethearts, some of us divorced, some have passed away.  The interesting aspect of the post is that it is a documentation of a time in each of our lives that may have otherwise gone unnoticed as we aged, a simple picnic with classmates - a time capsule.

It made me appreciate all the time and effort that our Reunion Committee members contributed over the years, some having volunteered for the very first reunion way back before cell phones or anything was "smart".  They gave us many wonderful parties and also a historic record of our lives in the previous millennium.

Visit the pages of our 15th reunion picnic and see if it doesn't spark some memories for you.

Again, thanks to all of you who have served on the committee and continue to do a fabulous job!  K

Jimmy Vick

Only gonna have 2 this year, here's 1st

Kay Manning (Elrod)

So beautiful!  Have you picked out names?  Keep us posted on their progress.

George Crow

That looks like one proud mama, Jimmy! And if you're going to have two, what about bringing them down to our 60th reunion in 2026? Isn't it 3-years olds that run the Kentucky Derby? I figure since yours will be that age then and if you break 'em in, you could make a little extra money offering rides to some of the young at heart from the Class of '66 :-) 

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Prayers for Cheryl Bumgarner and her family at this difficult time. 

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

A message from Cheryl Bumgarner this morning. Please keep Cheryl and her family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Joe's funeral will be Wednesday at 12:00 at Catawba Baptist Church, 1450 S. Anderson Rd. Rock Hill, with visitation at 11:00. The obituary may be on Greene's Funeral Home site by tomorrow afternoon and in the Herald Tuesday. Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers.

Thank you,

Cheryl

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

Here is a photo of Joe and Cheryl at our June 3rd reunion. Please keep Cheryl and her family in your prayers. Joe attended our reunion committee meetings with Cheryl. He will be missed.

Below is the link to Joe Bumgarner's obituary.The family will receive friends from 11:00 -11:45 am on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Catawba Baptist Church, 1450 S. Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730.  A celebration of life will be at 12:00 pm at Catawba Baptist Church.  Burial will be at the church cemetery immediately following the service.

https://www.greenefuneralhome.net/obituary/joseph-allen-bumgarner/

Jimmy Vick

Sometimes the gain is worth the pain

Fender bender? Nope, my car was a total after being hit by a yankee

Replacement is nicer

Think I can get used to it

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Jimmy, hope no injuries involved. You came out on top of that one! Don't be too hard on the Yank. He was probably overcome by our southern heat and humidity.  But, aren't you the cool one?

Jimmy Vick

Dagnapit Kay & all, I forgot to post the pain.....

Kay Manning (Elrod)

Jimmy, that has got to be the worst selfie I have ever seen!  Did you go to ER in case there is any permanent damage to your eye?  Hope you have recovered since then. 

Jimmy Vick

Yep, they did a cat scan on my noggin and upper spine. They said everything was good except they couldn't locate a brain

Becky Armstrong (Helms)

FB post by Dennis Haire:

Here’s a photo from The Herald (Rock Hill, SC) from Nov. 24, 1961.  Our 8th grade football team had just completed an undefeated season and allowed only 6 points scored.  I showed it recently to a lady, Sharon Norton, associated with the Catawba Indian Nation.  There were at least 4 tribe members on the team (Harry Blue, Wayne George, Troy Canty, & Kirk Canty); maybe more. She wanted a copy for a Catawba event to be held in Lancaster in November.  Just as a note, you may recognize some, especially that tough kid on the bottom left (Me, sitting beside my cousin, Joel Ferrell) and the kid on the bottom right (Jim “Bimbo” Armour). Boy, that’s been a long time ago!!

Here’s a photo from The Herald (Rock Hill, SC) from Nov. 24, 1961.  Our 8th grade football team had just completed an undefeated season and allowed only 6 points scored.  I showed it recently to a lady, Sharon Norton, associated with the Catawba Indian Nation.  There were at least 4 trib e members on the team (Harry Blue, Wayne George, Troy Canty, & Kirk Canty); maybe more. She wanted a copy for a Catawba event to be held in Lancaster in November.  Just as a note, you may recognize some, especially that tough kid on the bottom left (Me, sitting beside my cousin, Joel Ferrell) and the kid on the bottom right (Jim “Bimbo” Armour). Boy, that’s been a long time ago!!

Ernie Wright

Played Football Baseball and was on Track team with most of them. Who is that bearded man with Jimmy Vicks name spent your retirement money on that Lexus didn't you Jimmy.