NEW ALUMNI OFFICERS—President, The Rev. Bailey Jones, West End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Vir
ginia; vice president, Mrs. Beatrice E. Spivey, Winton, N. C.; secretary, Mrs. Glenn Benthall, Rt. 3,
Ahoskie, N. C.; treasurer, Mr. Edgar Parker, 204 Chestnut Street, Franklin, Virginia; v^^ere elected at
a recent meeting held on May Day, May 5. The Rsv. Bailey Jones is the first man to serve as presi
dent of the Alumni Association. Last year Rev. Jones served in a commendable v^^ay as vice-
president.
Alumni Elects First Male President
Alumni Association
Elects Its New Officers
“Girls they’ve gone and ruin-
ed our Alumnae (oops, Alum
ni) Association by electing a
man as president! How can a
man appreciate the hallowed
traditions passed down from
such presidents as Miss Jose
phine Vann, Miss Essie Wynn,
Miss Madge Conwell, Miss Ren
nie Spivey, Mrs. C. C. Hoggard,
Miss Eunice McDowell, Mrs.
J. L. Josey, Miss Una White,
Miss Ethel Britt, Mrs. Ralph
Mason, Mrs. Edwin Brown,
Mrs. Julian Porter, Miss Addie
Mae Cooke, Mrs. Grady
Bridgers, and Mrs. Harry Un
derwood.
This certainly was not the
attitude displayed at the an
nual Chowan College Alumni
Association meeting May 5
when Rev. C. Bailey Jones was
elected the first male president
of the Association. Mrs. Harry
Underwood passed on the honor
and responsibility with the as
surance that the new president
would uphold the tradition with
dignity and success.
There is reason to be con
cerned that the tradition will
be upheld, for it is a noble tra
dition which belongs to the
Alumni Association. From the
beginning, the graduates of
Chowan were influential in the
ongoing life of the college, and
after the turn of the twentieth
century an Alumnae Associa
tion was formed so that the
graduates could do more for
their school.
A loan fund was established
by the Association in the early
years to enable worthy girls to
attend Chowan. Then, in 1921
the president of the Association
suggested that they make a de
termined effort to enlarge the
library. As a result of their la
bors, the library was of such a
quality several years later that
the College was recognized as
a standard four year coUege by
the North Carolina Department
of Education.
When the school needed mon
ey in the '20’s and ’30’s the
girls responded by contributing
to the endowment fund, and
many of the graduates of Cho
wan were very influential in
the reopening of the school in
the 1940’s.
Today it is the same. A drive
is currently underway to raise
$900,000 for a new classroom-
administration building and li
brary. The alumni have decided
to contribute to this not only as
individuals but also through
their Association. All money
sent to the Alumni Loyalty
Fund goes to the campaign.
Mr. Jones is an alumnus
worthy and capable of main-
College Given
Chowan College is grateful
for the gift of a Concert Grand
Baldwin Piano presented by
Miss D. Emily Barnes of New
soms, Virginia. This gift by
Miss Barnes is in memory of
her late sister, Mrs. Cristie
Barnes Saunders, an alumna
of Chowan.
Miss Barnes by this gilt and
in other ways has not only
demonstrated her love and
loyalty to her sister, but her
appreciation for Chowan Col
lege, which she did not herself
attend. Her grandfather, Je-
taining these traditions. He
graduated from Chowan in the
early 1940’s and did further
work at the University of Rich
mond and Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. His
church is one of the leading
churches in Suffolk, and he is
a respected leader in all phases
of our denominational work.
Presently he is serving on the
Foreign Mission Board of the
Southern Baptist Convention.
We need have no fear that
the Chowan College Alumni
Association will do anything but
move forward under the admin
istration of its new president.
Baldwin Piano
thro W. Barnes, was one of the
founding and long-time trustees
of Chowan.
This gift will add to and
strengthen the Daniel School
of Music. It will be used for
many, many years to enhance
the program and cultural of
ferings of Chowan to present
and future student generations
and to this entire area.
In behalf of Chowan College,
Miss Emily, I salute and thank
you. We love and appreciate
you.
The annual Chowan College
Alumni Association meeting
was held on Saturday, May 5,
in conjunction with the annual
May Day program.
Alumni president, Mrs. R. H.
(Ethleen) Underwood of Mur
freesboro was in charge of the
Alumni meeting and luncheon.
Miss Mary C. Smith, a former
Chowanian, delivered the main
address. Miss Smith is Associ
ate Editor of The Trust Bul
letin of the American Barker’s
Association. A native of Smith-
field, she makes her home in
New York City.
Other Alumni program per
sonnel were: M. E. Valentine,
Sr., Raleigh; Walter R. Dudley,
Red Springs; Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker, president of the col
lege; Miss Francis White, Pro
fessor of Religion at Chowan;
Mrs. Rhodes Pratt, Secretary
of the Alumni Association, Mer
ry Hill; the Reverand J. Bailey
Jones, Suffolk, Virginia; Mrs.
Gay Flyther, Conway; and
J. M. “Piggie” Jenkins,
Murfreesboro.
The college-community Ora
torio group gave a concert at
the Chowan College auditorium
on Friday, May 4, at 8:00 p.m.
The group is under the direc
tion of Mr. James M. Cham-
blee. Chairman of the Daniel
School of Music at Chowan.
The program opened with a
chorus from The Creation by
Haydn entitled “The Heavens
Are Telling”. The second part
was a metet by the 19th century
Russian composer, Moussorg-
sky entitled Joshua. This work
portrays the biblical account of
Dear Chowanians:
After serving two years as
your Alumni secretary, and
three as your president, I now
‘bow out’ to our first male
president., the Rev. J. Bailey
Jones (of whom you’ll learn
more about in this issue), un
der whom I feel our associa
tion will become greater and
stronger than ever. I’m sure
you will support him in the
same splendid manner you
supported the past officers
and for this I want to express
my deepest appreciation. Your
letters of encouragement, ac
knowledgement, and pure
friendships have been a source
of great strength and joy to
me.
Joshua and the battle of Jeri
cho. The third part was another
metet by the 19th century
French composer, Gounod. It
is entitled Gallia and deals with
the Easter Theme.
As a featured work of the
program the group renderer
the cantata, “The Seven Last
Words of Christ On The Cross”
by Dubois.
Soloists for the performance
were Judy Joyner, Pete Owens,
George Seymour, Betsy Boone
and Professor Chamblee. The
accompanist was Mrs. Carla
Chamblee.
Miss Anna Belle Crouch gave
her special rendition of “The
Sound of Music.” Miss Crouch
is Assistant Dean of Women at
Chowan.
The 1962 May Day was under
the direction of Mrs. Jill Barr,
Director of Athletics for
women at the coUege. The
theme for the May Day pro-
gram was “A Royal
Presentation”.
★ ★ ★
“Whenever you are angry, be
assured that it is not only pres
ent evil, but that you have in
creased a habit”—Ephictetus.
* * «
If you can’t be thankful for
what you receive, be thankful
for what you escape.
♦ * ♦
For some reason, the future
seems to get here faster than
it used to!
* * *
Accuracy is our watchword—
we never make misteaks.
Especially do I want those
of you who wrote to me so
promptly, and with such sym
pathy, when I lost my beloved
son last July 7th, to know how
deeply I was touched. Your
prayers and loving concern
have helped me bear this great
loss with more Christian for
titude, I’m sure. I have saved
each letter, and one day, when
(if ever) the edge of grief is
less cutting, I shall write to
each of you and try to express
how much your letters have
helped a broken heart.
With best personal wishes to
each of you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ethleen Underwood
CHOWAN DEDICATES CONCERT GRAND-Miss D. Emily Barnes
plays the Concert Grand Baldwin piano, which she recently gave
to Chowan in memory of her late sister, Mrs. Christie Barnes
Saunders, a former alumna.
MRS. R. H. (ETHLEEN) UNDERWOOD
Alumni Officer ‘Bows Out’
FOR APRIL-MAY, 1962