Martin Walker Elementary reunion set for June 24

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

Summertime is often reserved for high school class reunions, but on June 24, Martin Walker Elementary School will be the site of a reunion as well. 

Sherry Gray, who taught for 34 years, taught at Martin Walker for 11 or 12 of those years, she said, starting in 1981. She said a group of former Martin Walker retired educators came up with an idea to have a reunion to include anyone who’s been associated with the school since it opened its doors in 1977. 

“It was supposed to be finished in September to start school, but they didn’t finish it in time,” Gray recalled.  “The faculty and staff and the kids had to go to Mae Stevens half a day. So Mr. Turner, principal at Mae Stevens, his group did the morning, then the Walker teachers shared classrooms in the afternoon.”

The group of retired educators who taught at Martin Walker still gets together every so often, Gray said. 

“It’s a small campus. The teachers taught there forever, they taught the same grades. A lot of teachers retired from that campus. So we get together every once in a while, and we’d often talk about trying to get everybody together other than at a funeral or a wedding. So that was our plan.”

The celebration is open to anyone who’s attended or worked at the school, past and present.  

“That can be former teachers, students, anyone,” Gray said. 

Gray said former principal James Sneed will say a few words, followed by the school’s current principal, Amanda Crawley. Sneed’s wife also worked for the school as its secretary.

Gray said Crawley has been instrumental in paving the way for the former teachers and staff, along with students of the school, to gather to reminisce about times gone by. 

The event begins at 1:30 p.m., with light refreshments being served. 

Many of the original staff who opened the school 40 years ago will be there at the reunion, Gray said, to include Frances Killingsworth, Elaine Krause, Mary Stroud, along with former principal James Sneed and his wife, Nancy, who was secretary on that campus at one time. 

Part of the former work crew, Jeannette Hooten, is also planning to be there, Gray added. “We would have one person in the office who could do it all; she’s amazing. She could do everything.” 

Students, present and past, teachers present and past, are all welcome to drop by the celebration.