Miles -Lee, for the first time in
26 years, won’t be on hand when
the Riverside Elementary school
resumes classes this year.
However, the retired Negro jani
tor is by no means forgotten.
Every child there will feel a lit
tle sad. To them, he was perfec
tion personified, and to tell the
truth you’d have to search rather
diligently to find a serious flaw in
his make-up.
Permanently handicapped as the
result of a hip fracture years ago,
he wasn’t one to dodge work. It is
doubtful that any employee in the
history of New Bern’s public
schools has been as dependable
and as anxious to render service
beyond the call of duty.
Although he lives across Trent
river, in James City, he could be
counted on to report for work
ahead of time in fair weather or
foul. In fact, on particularly cold
mornings he bailed out of bed as
early as three o’clock to make sure
that there would be sufficient heat
when his beloved bevy of juvenile
friends arrivell.
His great love for the white chil
dren who attend the Riverside
school has been an inspiring thing.
As for the kids, their deep affec
tion for Miles bordered on hero
worship. For that matter, the teach
ers at Riverside will readily tell
you that the faithful janitor was
deserving of the love that the pu
pils accorded him.
When it was announced at the
school that he was retiring, it was
a foregone conclusion that the
youngsters w^ould want to stage a
Miles Lee Day. Encouraged by
grateful and approving parents,
they almost smothered him with an
outpouring of gifts that included
groceries, clothes and money.
It was a sight to behold, and by
far the biggest event of the school
year. From it, if they didn’t al
ready know, the boys and girls
learned the marvelous lesson of
bringing happiness to yourself by
giving to someone else.
Lee stayed busy at his chores
during his more than a quarter of
a century in the public school sys
tern. However, in his few spare
moments on the job he watched
over the children like a hen. guard
ing her biddies.
With the kindly Negro around,
the kids felt a measure of extra
security. And in their moments of
trouble, they turned to him for
comfort and counsel. It was a
touching relationship that never
faltered through the years.
We partichlarly like one story
told us by Howard Barnes, super
intendent of maintenance for the
City schools. One day he and Miles
were riding through Riverside en-
route to another school, after the
classes had been turned out.
They were passing a residence
where several kids were rather
overdoing their exuberance in a
porch swing. ’The swing broke, and
through the air they sailed, out in
to the yard.
They took quite a tumble, and
were badly shaken up. Before they
had a chance to whimper over
their assorted hurts. Miles was out
of the truck and by their side.
Bruised though they were, and
rather dazed, they recognized him
instantly. They grinned in unison,
and just as unanimously yelled,
“Hey, Miles!’’ There wasn’t any
need to cry, with Miles around. His
very presence made the mishap
seem minor.
Staying away from the Riverside
school is going to be a trying ex
perience for Lee. It’s as close to
his heart as the church he at
tends, and sooner or later he’ll go
limping back for a visit. To do
less would probably put him in a
grave well ahead of his time.
The kids will be quick to spy
him, and come rushing with shouts
of jubilation. Ask any boy or girl
(Continuad on back page)
The NEW BERN
WEEKLY
VOLUME 2
NEW BERN, N. C., AUGUST 7, 1959
NUMBER 19
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH—There’s nothing put on about
Jim Mooree’s pleasure as he discovers a pr«ty girl to talk
to while advertising a local movie—“The Big Circus.” This
delightful scene was snapped on Middle street the other
day. The charming but slightly startled miss is Sara Cara
way, 1«, a rising Junior at New Bern High school.—Photo
by Billy Benners.
Jeannine Gets Our Ballot for
City's FirstGraderof the Year
School hasn’t taken in yet, but
our nomination for New Bern’s
first grader of the year will most
certainly be Jeannine Langston,
who celebrated her sixth birthday
on June 3rd.
Picking her ahead of time is
peculiarly appropriate, seeing as
how the vivacious young blonde
has a habit of jumping the gun
herself. In fact, she insisted on
being born 15 weeks ahead of
schedule.
This didn’t present much of a
problem for the Stork. After all,
hauling a heavenly bundle that
weighed just two poupd, three
ounces upon arrival at Kafer Me
morial hospital could hardly be
termed back-breaking.
For quite a spell it appeared that
the little lady had been too eager
for her own good. Dr. Ernest Rich
ardson ushered her into the world,
when she insisted on it, and then
Dr. Graham A. Barden, Jr., took
over.
Jeannine probably expected to
have her premature fling in the
wide open spaces, but she had an
other think coming. Instead of
whooping it up in unconfined ecsta
sy, she was consigned to an incu
bator and remained there for three
exasperating months.
Babies born too soon usually
sleep constantly. They have to be
awakened for feeding, and then re
turn to their incessant slumber
ing. Not so with the Langston tot.
When she got hungry, which was
often, she woke up. In fact, the
only thing big about her was her
appetite, and her tremendous de
termination to fool everybody and
live.
Jeannine wasn’t by herself when i for their first opportunity to even
it' came to feeling exasperated. Her touch, much less cuddle their child,
p^-ents, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Lang- And in the end a humorous situ-
stpj, Jr., had the unhappy expert- ation developed. Mrs. Langston
e^pe of waiting month after month I (Peggy) had appendicitis just be
JEANNINE LANGSTON
fore the baby was due to come
home. She underwent surgery at
Kafer Memorial, and when she was
dismissed from the hospital, Jean
nine came home with her. “I got
kidded a lot,” says Peggy, “about
going to the hospital for an appen
dectomy and coming back with an
infant daughter.”
You need not be told that a case
like Jeannine’s is rare in medical
annals. Not only is her survival a
tribute to her own will to live and
do well but an indication,,of the
excellent care she received from
Dr. Barden and the nurses who
fairly worshipped her.
She weighed all of five pounds
when she was three months old. At
that time it was considered advisa
ble to give her blood transfusions.
However, she had O negative blood,
a type that isn’t very common
among mortals.
A call for volunteer donors went
out to the Cherry Point Marine
Corps Air Station. Three lady ma
rines immediately responded, and
Jeannine got a deserved boost from
the gift that flowed into her veins.
You would never know today
that the youngster had two strikes
against her at birth. She has been
exceptionally healthy, and tips the
scales at an impressive 50 pounds.
As for her appetite, it’s still well
nigh astounding. “Our only prob
lem is filling her up,” says Peggy.
“Last week we went down to More-
head City for a seafood dinner, and
ordered a 75-cent plate for her.
Before it was over, she had eaten
two re-fills.”
Most little girls love dolls, but
Jeannine always had a craze for
(Continued on back page}