The Shadow
The former Jefferson School, Clifton Forge, now listed on the National Registry of Historical Places, held a school reunion over the weekend of Aug. 11-13. Jefferson was an all-African American school prior to integration with the Clifton Forge Public School System in 1965. It is now named Clifton Forge Elementary East.
About 44 former students, 14 graduates, attended the weekend of events, to include registration and refreshments at Come As You Are Community Ministries in Historic Downtown Clifton Forge and food and fellowship at the Booker T. Washington Park.
The former students and one remaining teacher, Coach Richard L. Chubb, traveled from Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Washington, DC, Northern and Central Virginia, and around the corner or across the A Street Bridge to be in attendance.
Frank Davis, of Franklin, Committee Member, and the son of the first African American to serve on the Clifton Forge City Council, Robert G. Davis and George Goode, Jr. of Waycross, GA, the son of the first AA mayor to serve on the Clifton Forge City Council, George Goode, Sr. were among the traveling group of Jeffersonians.
Upon their arrival at CAYA, Friday evening, the group was greeted by Bishop Alfred “Mustard” and Mother Jennifer Dearing, as well as the Jefferson Group Committee Members: Patty Davis-Ross, Ione Calendar, Jackie Davis-Pierce, Davis, and Mother Dearing.
CAYA was decorated with the Jefferson Dragon’s school colors and memorabilia as the group greeted each other and shared some memories and laughter with former classmates. CAYA provided musical entertainment and refreshments as the group mingled.
On Saturday afternoon, a larger group was greeted by a “Welcome Jeffersonians” banner as they arrived at BTW. The banner was made by local merchant Melissa Huntley of Bear Mountain Signs in Historic Downtown Clifton Forge.
The Matthew T. Barnette Pavilion was decorated with the Dragons’ colors of blue and white and provided shelter from the heat as the group gathered for a short program, games, door prizes, dancing, and food.
Calendar welcomed the crowd of about 44; Minister Pamela Marshall, First Baptist Church, and former Clifton Forge Mayor followed with an Invocation; Clifton Forge Mayor Jeff Irvine greeted the group on behalf of the town; and Mother Dearing gave a brief overview of the past and future of the Jefferson school and before pronouncing a blessing over the food.
Lily Hughes gave remarks on behalf of the Class of 1949, consisting of 17 graduates and “there are only two of us remaining,” said Hughes. The other remaining graduate was of her class was Gloria Hatcher Brown, who traveled from Connecticut to be in attendance. “It’s such a pleasure to be here and see your faces,” said Brown. “We are 91 years old”, said added in closing to a round of applause. Charles White gave remarks on behalf of the Class of 1951. He traveled from Buckingham to be in attendance. “We need to leave something to tell people who Jefferson was,” said White.
The largest class of 22 students was also the last class to graduate from Jefferson. Laverne Washington Taylor gave remarks on behalf of the Class of 1965. White was recognized for being the eldest graduate and Davis was recognized for being the youngest.
The traveling group of former students were all in agreement that they were glad for the opportunity to be present and hoped to be able to attend the next one. “I had a great time,” said William Leisure, who traveled from Cincinnati, OH to be in attendance.
“This is something we look forward to but for this year we didn’t know when we were going to do it or if we were going to do it,” said Davis-Ross of the Jefferson Reunion of 2023. A few decided to have a get-together, keep it simple and free for a chance “to do it again,” added Davis-Ross. “Many of us are older and many are no longer here.”
The Jefferson Committee would like to thank the Food Services Group: Mark Jefferson, Evelyn Cooper, Debbie Heighter, Maxine Lee, Ethel Thompson, and DJ MUGGS for providing the music.
