The Beginning: Sampson High School Alumni Association, Inc.
The impetus for our first reunion probably started years ago with the graduation of each class from Sampson High School.
From A Class Reunion…To SHSAA, Inc.
The Class of 1960 had a meeting at graduation and vowed to have a class reunion in 1970. For some of us, this sparked continued to burn as we saw one another at holidays back in Clinton. Perdethia Ezzell continued to remind us of our promise from 1968 through 1969 via constant phone calls. Relentlessness on her part really made it impossible for me to go to sleep on our plans. She reminded me that I, as class president, would have to get the reunion organized.
In the summer of 1972, I received a long letter from Perdethia about our missed date of 1970. We later talked by phone and outlined initial steps to be taken. She agreed to send out letters to all classmates if I would write the letters. We reached 50 of our 72 classmates; all were in favor of our plans. By polling them on dates, time and places, it was agreed that the reunion would be held in Washington, DC during the third weekend in August in 1973. Before I could forget again about our commitment, Perdethia called and wrote to remind me that we had lots of work to do.
We contacted all of our classmates in the DC area and set up the Action and Planning Committee. A series of meetings in January and February in 1973 yielded the committee composed of Carolyn Tatum Butler, Alberta Williams Russell, Ollen A. Dupree, Jr. and yours truly, Jesse F. Williams. We drew up all the initial plans and began acti work on the reunion. When word got around about our plans, other SHS graduates expressed interest and wanted to participate. We called another meeting and invited SHS graduates in the DC area. With the added interest and expanded focus, it was decided that this would be the FIRST ANNUAL SAMPSON HIGH SCHOOL REUNION.
It also became apparent that this was the opportune time to officially establish an ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. Leslie Williams mentioned setting up a scholarship fund to help our youth in Clinton and Sampson County. The committee began regular work and planning sessions; a key objective was to locate as many SHS graduates, teachers and friends as possible. The committee members subsequently made trips to Clinton, NC, New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, PA to publicize and explain the reunion plans. We urged the graduates in DC and other locations to set up chapters.
Some became quite active in their areas. George White, Olen and Clarence Robinson, Paul Register, Daisy Wright, alter Smith, and Morrell Faison in New York, Paul J. Williams, Bobby Harris and Neutrice Merritt in Clinton, Junnie Melvin and Percy and Mary Kirby in Newark, New Jersey, David Boykin and the Ashford sisters in the Philadelphia, PA area, Muriel Allison in Raleigh, NC, and Edward Faison, Dan and Yvonne Faison, Milford Sampson, Graham Faison, Don McCalop, Jerry Lane, and Alton Rich in the DC area. The first reunion of Sampson High School graduates, teachers and friends became a reality in August 1973 at the Twin Bridges Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC with an attendance of
over 300. And the legacy continues today… in 2014 with the Fayetteville, NC Chapter hosting the 42nd SHSAA, Inc. Reunion at the Holiday Inn 1-95 Fayetteville.
From the records of … Dr. Jesse F. Williams
President, Class of 1960 & 1st President of SHSAA, Inc.