By By Sherry Digmon
Advance Staff Writer
They've been out of school for more than 60 years, but when they get together, it's almost like it was yesterday.
Several former students of Escambia County Training School remain in Atmore. They plan to attend next week's three-day reunion.
Not a class reunion. A school reunion, spanning 1926 to 1970.
Five former classmates and a teacher got together recently to reminisce and look ahead to the reunion.
Inez Thames Crowe was in the Class of 1930. The school had been in existence only four years. Her graduating class was all girls – four girls, to be precise. She is the only survivor.
Marcelete Hollis Harris was in the Class of 1935.
McClain C. Lee, Class of 39, was on the basketball team which he terms "one of the best."
The other training schools they played included Monroeville, Century, Brewton and Evergreen. There was also a girls' basketball team.
Willie Lee Singleton, Class of 37, had five girls in her graduating class. They were the first seniors to wear caps and gowns. Before that, girls wore white dresses to their commencement. These were "poor times" and folks couldn't afford much.
Esterlyn Williams Stephens graduated in 1939.
Carrie Walker Williams taught at the school for more than 40 years. Her words still ring in the minds of least a few local folks who were relegated to the back of her classroom for not keeping up or for misbehaving. She will be honored in this first training school reunion.
Other Atmore residents who plan to attend are Alvin Sinquefield, Ironza B. Montgomery, Seila Montgomery Arrington, all of the Class of 39.
The reunion will take place July 3-5.