MAY, 1943
THE BENNETT BANNER
Page ITiree
64 SENIORS GRADUATE MAY 24
The Prophesy For Class o£ ’43
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
Daisy Alexander is singing with
“Wings Over Jordan” every Sunday
morning — seems as the '>'li ) ’ n
they lost that fine soprano , j ^ok
the lead in their signature song
there was no one to fill that place
but our own Daisy.
Myrtle Alston is a long distance
operator . . . though always shy
you should hear Myrtle impressing
some of those bsiness men with her
pleasant efficiency.
Laura Allston is the brain behind
the meals at the Hollywood Grill in
Washington, D. C. — best in the
district, too—seems those lessons
in cafeteria management stood her
in good stead.
Leola Balknight is the head of
the Girl Reserves of the Southern
Area — since her practice teaching
days at Bennett Leola just couldn’t
be with kids enough.
Mary Catherine Bell is a Guidance
teacher in the .Jacksonville, Fla.,
schools — seems she was always so
understanding of other people’s
problems that Guidance was second
nature to her. She giets more apples
than any teacher in the system.
Edna Brinson is back at Bennett
managing the dining hall — and
planning the meals for the new com
binations canteen-recreation room
that’s lodged in the building- once
known as Thirkield Gymnasium.
Georgia Brooks is blowing her lit
tle pitch pipe at the students in the
Charlotte high schools and waving
her baton contentedly before a cou
ple of juvenile bands. We always
knew it! Why is she in Charlotte?
Oh, didn’t you know—she married
a fellow from there—Wells I believe
his name was.
Helen Brown, well you’d never
guess it, is on the stage. Best
comedienne out since I'utterbeans
and Susie left the maiiT^ircutts.
Nora Bell Calicutt went to build
up her health one summer in the
Adirondacks and liked it so well she
just stayed. She has a summer and
winter camp up there for sports en
thusiasts like herself — and she
weighs 160 pounds!
Helen Cobb, you couldn’t miss
this, is a history teacher from way
back in the Buffalo school system!
She’s teaching from those sharp
notes she took in Miss Frances
Johnson’s classes.
Kathryn Dowdell is still sewing
. . . seems she’s improved no end—
designs and drafts her patterns her
self. Her sewing machine is by her
front window so she> can still see all
that goes on in the busy little town
of Hartford — and a telephone is
within easy reach so she can pass on
all news of interest she may gather,
Lucille Edwards is playground di
rector at Windsor Community Cen
ter—seems she liked to play so well
she made a lifetime job of it!
Ruth Everett is “parlez-vous-ing”
with the Freshman and Sophomore
French students here at Bennett—
she finds it difficult still to stay
awake—completely awake during
some of the duller moments of verb
conjugations.
Frances Fonvielle, always mathe
matically methodical, is Bennett’s
first woman Business Manager her
latest delight lies in the extra
$22.50’s pulled in from the “NEW
DORM” recently constructed.
Odd that both room-mates should
meet again at Bennett. Ruth Gallo
way of the pleasant voice is the re
ceptionist at a broker’s office in
NYC. Her smile hasi encouraged
many a fluttering salesman to de
liver the master oration of his
career!
Wilma Gorham is on Good House
keeping’s staff of laboratory ex
perimenters. She thinks up and pre
pares some of those teasing meals
photographed in full color—we hear
she still has no end of suitors. She
knows the way to a man’s heart.
Mary Gregory is married — and
content to be a happy housewife . . .
gee, her husband’s lucky! Her bis
cuits always were something to rave
about.
Lucille Hall is a lecturer — on
what? Elementary education. She
jumps from town to town; from con
ference to conference. She’s booked
for Bennett’s next Homecoming In
stitute, we hear.
Frankie Hardwick as a result of
some of Mr. Banner’s teachings on
Spinoza has taken up the race issue
in a methodical, rational way. In
stead of blowing up in a huff and
marching out of drug! stores that are
discourteous, she represents the N.
A. A. C. P. —is head of the investi
gating committee to determine where
the Negro is being ill-treated.
Sara Harris has taken Bettina
Bolegard’s place as the best hat
model N. Y. John Powers has. You
can see her face peeping out from
Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar any day
. . also dig the latest Pond’s
Vanishing Cream ad.
Queen Hester is on the other end
of the telephone calls these days—
she used to receive so many. Now
it is she who says “Information”
when you dial “0” in Baltimore.
Gwendolyn Hogans has just had
her first book of poems “The Vag
rant Dream” published in Austra
lia—everyone wants to read it—even
the bushmen “down under”.
Virginia Holder, yes it’s Hall now,
is the principle of the Jr. High in
Thomasville, Ga. ’Nuff said.
Johnetta Holloway is blowing sax
with the Sweethearts of Rhythm.
Gloria Jackson has taken Tizzie
Lish’s place on the air waves.
■Keien Jacobs is now the second
colored woman lawyer—civil liber
ties being her field. Here's a secret:
She has to sit on a bunch of her
law books to make her tall enough
to see over the edge of the podium.
Ida Lou Jenkins took the W. S.
C. S. to heart and is now the south
ern field representative. She recent
ly sponsored a tag! day at Bennett
for the Chinese student fund—re
member they did something like that
the year she graduated.
Candis Johnson is NOT a phys. ed.
teacher but a happy housewife with
the civic-minded diversion of coach
ing the local girl’s basketball at the
community center.
Euphemia Johnson is helping El-
freda Sandifer Moore with her
Abbyssinian Church Choral Organi
zations in N. Y. C. Carry over from ]
Bennett choir days. |
Dorothy Jordan is running Dicks’
out of business with her new clean
ing establishment—got her pointers
from Mrs. Raines—^now she sits be
hind a desk and rakes the dollars in.
Thomasine Kirkland is a Hygiene
demonstrator in the North Carolina
elementary schools — always a pic
ture of neatness itself, Thomasine is
teaching the Ikids of Bennett girls to
be the same.
Inez Lawhon (Smith) is working
in the research laboratories with her
husband—sort of on the Curie style.
Mazine Lawson is still doing the
“Silver Swan” only now she does it
in toe shoes and gets paid $500 per
engagement. ’Tis a far cry from the
jitterbug- we used to know.
Melba Lea is an announcer over
WBIG—seems their woman an
nouncer left and Melba’s was the
best Southern accent they could find
as a substitute.
Lucille Lewis is a very proper his
tory teacher — she still plans quiz
shows for assembly days and she
still believes that a sense of humor
THE LAST WILL AND
TESTAMENT OF THE SENIORS
Edna Brinson wills her height to
Vashti Warren. To Cynthia Stover
Frances Fonville leaves her ability
to comprehend Physics. Helen Cobb
wills her American History notes to
Delores Lockett. Frances Lindsay
wills her height (or rather her lack
of it!) to Obera Dawson and Carrie
McDonald. Geraldine Nesby leaves
her “speed, verve and bounce” to
Mary Taylor. Mary Lou Hayes is the
recipient of Minnie Miller’s basket
ball prowess. Candis Johnson wills
her extra pounds to Lula Tillett.
Skippy Minor leaves Kat Jenkins
her “skinny” legs—Kat needs them
so direly!
Annie Valentine wills her sweet
disposition to Vassar Battle. Carol
Fripp will carry on Inez Lawhon’s
interest in photography. Gwendolyn
Scavella wills her small feet to
Muriel Gayle. Queen Hester wills
Emma Perry her ability to keep her
boy friend. To Jean Kennedy, Ida
Lou Jenkins wills her long hours at
the typewriter. Bass drummership in
the school orchestra is left by Geor
gia Brooks to Betty Cooke. Ruby
Williamson wills Helen Horton her
ability to swallow the bitter with
the sweet.
Fannie Strickland wills her size to
Mai'y Ella Drake. Lucille Hall wills
both her height and size to Evelyn '
Rinlki. Daisy Alexander wills her I
ability to maike high notes in the
choir to Frances Walcott. Orinda
White wills her smartness in dress
to Annabelle Knig’ht. The presi
dency of the Marshals goes from
Gloria Jackson to Wilhelmina Hoff-
ler. Thadamalee Nelson wills her
violin virtuosity to Marguerite
Pope. Beatrice Moore and Ruth Gal
loway wills to Thomasine Wright
their fine art of Jersey bouncing!
Vivian Plunkett wills to Ruth
Dowdell her ability to “off-time”
(We hope this refers to dancing!).
I Euphemia Johnson and Ruth Ever
ett wills to Vassar Battle the
esoteric information on sleeping in
class w'ithout nodding. To Sara
Lawson, Lucille Edwards wills her
room in Pfeiffer Hall. Helen McLure
wills her love of music to Olivia
Wright. Laura Allston and Wilma
Gorham will their place in the cafe
teria downstairs to Shirley Franklin
and Delores Graves. Jean Perkins
wills her skill in athletics to Delores
Carnegie. Vicky Morrison wills her
pinocle skill to Vei'melle Williams.
Lucille Lewis wills her “swiftness of
the foot” and “rug-cuttin’ ” steps to
Hattie Dixon. To Valeria Chappele
and Cynthia Stover Maye Tayson
wills a portable ironing board and
iron to be carried on the arm and
used when needed.
To Katherine Davenport Rosa Lo
max wills her grace as a dancer.
Mary Randolph wills to Australia
Hines her sense of humor, wittiness,
and all that goes to make up “Miss
Bootsie”. Helen Brown leaves to
Marg'aret Hunter her job as assist
ant matron in Merner Hall. Marion
McLaughlin wills her “leisure” time
to Bettye Wade. To Gertrude Ball,
Sara Harris wills her place on the
mail list. Louise Parker and Louise
Reid will their room in Merner to
Louise Lewis and “Blondie” Louise
Martin. Miarian White wills her “sol
dier boys” to Dot DeVauig;hn. John
etta Holloway wills her place at ALL
the dances to Ruth Vanhook.
Kathryn Dowdell wills her excit
ability to Dorothy Forte. Virginia
Holder wills her- Greta Garbo voice
to Annie Bowe. To Carrier Carter,
Mary Catherine Bell wills her high
voice. Thomasine Kirkland wills her
freckles to Kappy Davenport because
Kappy has always wanted some!
Maxine Lawson wills her ability to
retain the choir songs to Cynthia
Stover. Gwendolyn Hogans wills her
Vogne-ishness to Muriel Gayle.
will take you anywhere.
Frances Lindsey is head of the
music department at Dudley High—
and directs the Glee Club—with the
technique of her ole prof., Mr. Gat
lin, placed in her hands.
Rosa Lomax now has two “Johns”
to worry about — John, Sr., and
John, Jr.—she is first and foremost
a happy wife and one the side runs
a gift shop in Lynchburg. Seems she
doesn’t ever regret the “great career
she might have had”!
Marian MacLaughlin, too, is happy
with just Grant—three meals a day,
a clean house, and ever so much fun
with “the guy” are all she asks . . .
and they’ve been married almost five
years! They act worse than newly
weds.
Helen McLure is teaching French
with a South Carolina accent—and
carrying on with her “southpaw” di
recting of two or three musical or
ganizations.
Ele.stae Merrick—well. President
Jones said it, is on her way toward
being another Mary McLeod
Bethune.
Minnie Miller just coached her
girl’s basketball team into regional
prominence. She’s the head of the
athletics at the Lucy Thurman in
Detroit.
Valena Minor is leading a cosmo
politan life — married to a band
leader and a journalist surreal in
her own right. She and her husband
both sleep days and work nights—or
should we say play nights? They
have so much fun. She’s got her by
line and he’s got his name in lights.
Beatrice Moore is a voice teach
er—got her training at Oberlin and
is established in Chicago.
Victoria Morrison is secretary to
Walter White — she still lays her
shorthand and typing.
Thadamalee Nelson is with John
etta — with the Sweethearts of
Rhythm—she has laid down her vio
lin for an electric guitar and puts
them in the aisles nightly.
Geraldine Nesby is operating a
tea house in Freeport, 111., and from
bouncing around tasting evei'ything
her cooks prepare she is quite a
plump little creature.
Alease Nevitt sings over the radio
with one of the hill billy programs
and gets the biggest Ikick out of it.
Her fan mail is a killer. Write in
your requests; .she honors Bennet_
requests specially.
Louise Parker and Louise Reid
are still together—both English
teachei-s in Durham.
Joan Perkins is a buyer for
Macy’s in their sports clothes de))’t.
Seems her taste for college togs is
practically faultless.
Vivian Plunkett is handling the
geography lessons for NBC’s School
of the Air—quite similar to the Ben
nett houi- she used to handle ovei-
WBIG.
Mary Randolph let that fourth
place she received in the dash dui'-
ing her last sports day become an
incentive for her. She holds several
A. A. U. records now for short dis
tances. I don’t know whether this
has got anything to do with her run
ning or not but her name is Cun
ningham now . . . and I don’t mean
Glen!
Virginia Reid has opened an ex
clusive dress shop in N. Y. that is
the opposite of Lane Bryant’s. Her
shop features clothes for the VERY
SLIM. She is her own best advertise-
(Continued On Page Four)
The^Class of
’43 Lists It’s
Superlatives
Shortest—Geraldine Nesby.
Tallest—^Edna Brinson.
Quietest—Helene Trent, Myrtle
Alston.
Noisiest—Alease Nevitt.
Mosit excitable—Katherine Dow
dell.
Most indifferent—Dorothy Jor
dan.
Most sophisticated—Maye Tyson.
Most childish—Thadamalee Nel
son.
Most ladylike—Mary Sims, Annie
V alentine.
Most dignified—Helen Cobb.
Most fickle—Mirian White.
Most constant—Rosa Lomax.
Most understanding — Helen
Brown, Mary Catherine Bell.
Most misunderstood—Joan Per
kins.
Most even tempered — Sara Lou
Harris.
Most officious—Helen McLure.
Most patient—Laura Allston.
Most industrious—Mary Gregory.
Most studious—^Frances Fonvielle.
Biggest bluffer—Virginia Holder.
Moat egotistic—Ruby Williamson.
Most co-operative—Inex Lawhon.
Most athletic—Mary Randolph.
Prissiest—^Geraldine Nesby.
Best dancer—Maxine Lawson.
Best dressed—Orinda White.
Neatest—^Thomasine Kirkland.
Most patriotic—Lucille Hall (Yes,
indeed I).
Most attractive—Maj e Tyson.
Most Beautiful—Sarx Lou Harris,
Gwendolyn Hogans.
Most dramatic—^Edith Whiteman.
Most efficient—Beatrice MooJ'e,
Wilma Gorham.
Most intelligent—Elest.ie Merr’ck.
Most comical — Gloria Jac!k\ion,
Queen Hester.
Most musical—Georg-ia Brooks.
Most bashful—Sylvia Wallace.
Most popular—Johnetta Holloway.
Most versatile—Rosa Lomax.
Most talented — Gwendolyn Ho
gans.
Cleverest—Valena Minor.
Most liekable—Marion Mcl^augh-
lin.
Most optimistic—Ruth Galloway.
Most superstitious —■ Thomasine
Kirkland, Edith Whiteman.
Moat domestic—'Ida Lou Jenkins.
Most likely to succeed—Helene
Jacobs.
Class Poem
Biu ed On Class Motto:
“We Swim Though the Tide Be
Against Us.”
The sea of life is gireat,
And it waves are foamed with hate;
The mighty waters’ surge
Might wash away our urge
To leave the bay behind;
Swim the ocean; there to find,
A greater challenge confront us!
But courage is our master
Who has captained many a rafter.
Faith is the theme of our song,
And duty the vow of our strong
Ah, fain be the truth of life we seek.
We are not frightened; we are not
weak,
For we swim, though the tide be
against us!
—Edith Marie Whiteman.
CHINESE “Y” FIELD
REPRESENTATIVE GRANTS
INTERVIEW DURING VISIT
(Continued From Page One)
son and she does many good things.
However, there are women in China
who are just as potent in leader
ship as Mme. Chiang but they are
little known because they do not
have the high social status of Mme.
Chiang.”