Members of the DeKalb County High School graduation exercises on May 3, 1957, reunited for this special occasion on Sept. 13, 2017, for their 60-year Reunion at the New Life Connection Center in Smithville. It appears to be the only year a class has had a song written in their honor. A compact disc of the popular song “Class of ‘57” by the Statlers was presented to each class member attending by Jerry Moore.

The remainder of the reunion committee members, Dorothy Jean Cantrell, Jo Baxter, Nelle Washer, Glen Page, Urias Lafever, Jimmy Driver and Jewell Murphy presented Merle Sandlin with a special “Thank You” for the work she did and the very informative book she compiled for each member attending. In this booklet, each deceased classmate’s name and the year of their death is listed. Each one was remembered with reading their name aloud and a moment of silence. We felt blessed to have all three of the surviving teachers present: Ms. Ina Ruth Bess, Mr. Tommy Webb and Mr. James Cantrell. Our class vice-president Jewell Murphy presided. 

Picture seated from left, Calvin Urias Lafever, Merle Helm Sandlin, Nelle Pedigo Washer, Jane Phillips Eller, Jo Robinson Baker, Nina Cantrell Clark, Marlene Martin Crosby, Betty Cook Owen and Vernon Arnold

Standing from left, Freddy Colvert, Jo Davis Young Adcock, L.M. Murphy Doris Kirby Fuson, Evan Barnes Stephens, Barbara Barnes Young, Jimmy Lane Driver, Robert Earle Cantrell, Jerry Moore, Glen Page, Mark Wright, Robert Adcock, Robbie Hibdon Smith, Reba Hibdon Graham, Jeanna Evins Carahan and Thomas Jewell Murphy.