FIRST CLASS-Llgon High School's first graduating class is pictured here for the 35th Anniversary Reunion. Along with the class, two of their former English instructors were honored guests. Pictured are: (kneeling) George Cameron, treasurer, Roman Walton, Ann Freeman Mickens, Dorothy WMams Ward, and Jesse Pope; Row t, Docenia Hammond, president; Lillian Goode Alston, secretary; Miss Maye Ligon, Mrs. Gertrude Harris, in wheelchair Laura Monroe Fuller, social co-chair Joyce McNeil Shaw, Ann Hunt Smith, Beulah Holden Shaw and Rosa Jones Baldwin. Row 2, John T. Atkins, Shirley Alston Petteway, Ruby C. Little Glenn, social cochair Hatie Mitchell Johnson, Muriel Lucas Dunn, Geraldine Camp Tinsley, Leonard Wilson and Harry E. Payne, vice president. Back Row: Earl Thorpe and Sheriff John H. Baker, Jr. Ligon’s 35th Anniversary Reunion Honors Educators For Dedication On Saturday, July 1. the Marriott Courtyard was the setting for the 35th anniversary reunion for the Ligon High School 1954 graduating class. Two of the English instructors for the class were honored guests. They were Ms. Gertrude Harris and Ms. Maye Ligon. daughter of J.YV. Ligon. a principal, for whom the high school was named. Each gave words ol thanks for being so honored. Ms. Lillian Goode Alston, secretary of the class reunion, escorted the hi.norees to and from the Courtyard and also presented each of them to the members assembled. Thirty-live years have not dented their poise, graciousness, beauty and words of eratitude Class members came Irom far and near to renew old friendships, reminisce, and inform of ac complishments and families from Waierbury. Conn.: Cincinnati. Ohio; Washington. DC: New York and the Kaleigh area. The next class reunion is scheduled lor July 1991 Many thanks to all who participated Griswold Family Celebrates 11th Reunion With Love, Unity Theme The festivities for the llth family reunion of the Griswold family began on Friday, June 30. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jeffers. Dudley, with a spaghetti supper, games and music. Members and friends of the family came from Alabama. Georgia. Florida, New York. Maryland. Virginia and Washington, D.C. to join relatives. On Saturday, July 1, the younger set met at Berkeley Park, Goldsboro, at 10 a m. to participate in softball, volleyball, horseshoes and kickball. These activities were directed by Emma Griswold. Jean Wallace and Sandra Thompson. ^ Althea Brunswick coordinated a mini-flea mairket of small items to be sold to assist the treasury for stamps and other expenses. The "Family Affair" began at noon with Lorenzo Griswold, chairman of the 1989 reunion, presiding. The theme of the reunion was “Love and Unity.” The program consisted of prayer by Verna Griswold, responsive reading by Lucille Griswold Paige, greetings by Gloria Jeffers, a song. "Lift Ev’rv Voice and Sing," the oc casion by Cleopatra G. Collins, -a memorial by Charlie and Verna Griswold, family history by Gloria G. Jeffers and family business by Loren zo Griswold. Rev. Frederick Brunswick gave the blessing and the feast followed. Austin Griswold, Althea Brunswick, Fannie Kirksey and others gave family reflections. A solo was rendered by Shirley Brunswick and Rev. Frederick Brunswick introduc ed the speaker, Rev. David Brunswick. Music was provided by the Swinsons, incuding "Stand By Me," and Cathy Griswold gave a reading. Fun time included presentations anil awards by the Jacksonville group, Elaine, Cathy, Austin, Loren zo. Everyone was given a number when they arrived. Numbers were drawn at random and about 40 lucky persons received useful gifts. Thirty two silver dollars were given to per sons in the following categories: youngest child, youngest parents, oldest person, members 65 and older, college gradutes, high-school graduates and honor roll students. A _ftlL __ PASSING THE TORCH. WASHINGTON, D.C.-The relatives of the three civil rights workers brutally slain 25 years sko in Philadelphia, Miss., came to Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the killing. They came to lobby Congress to pass a same-day voters (and lifetime) registration bill, and to "pass the torch" to a new generation of civil rights fighters in ceremonies on the Capitol steps. This after urging Presi dent Bush at the White House to seek corrective legislation to offset recent damaging Supreme Court rulings that in most cases severely narrow civil rights laws, shifting the burden of proof from the accused to the plain tiff. They failed to elicit an immediate response from the president, who is said to be awaiting a Justice Depart ment study of the situation to deter mine whether the administration will support remedial legislation. Rita Schwerner-Bender, a lawyer and mother of slain Mickey Schwerner, left the White House meeting express ing disappointment, declaring. "I believe the president doesn’t want to commit himself in the way we need a commitment to work that needs to be done to ensure the dignity of all citizens of the United States, and yes, 1 am disappointed.” She said Presi dent Bush, “I think... believes that a group of volunteers will solve the pro blem. 1 don’t.” Ms. Schwerner-Bender, Ben Chaney, brother of slain James Earl Chaney; and Ms. Carolyn Goodman, mother of slain Andrew Goodman, participated in commemorative ceremonies in Philadelphia, Miss., Scene of the horrible crimes, on the itnniversary date of that dreadful ' day. Gov. Ray Mabus attended and so uia veteran civil rights leader Aaron Henry, president of the Mississippi State Conference of NAACP Bran ches and other civil rights activists who were involved in the fight with him for justice in Mississippi in the '60s. The ceremony was at first Union Baptist Church, the rallying point for blacks during the bitter civil rights struggle, according to Obie Clark, of Meridian, one of the organizers of the June20event. A "Freedom Caravan' of buses then began its pilgrimage to Washington, ti.C. and later continued on to New York. A delegation from the Philadelphia, Pa. Jewish Community Council traveled in the caravan. In Washington, the American-Israel Committee to Commemorate Marlin Luther King, Jr., assisted with the Capitol Hill ceremony. Lawrence Guyot, a Civil rights stalwart in the Mississippi '60s, his broad face closed like a huge clinched fist, declared, "We are passing the torch to the younger generation.” Ben Chaney brought his sisters, Julia and Bar bara Chaney. The young people wore white tee-shirts urging support of voters' rights legislation. Lewis Carter, Gregg Moore and Ron Daniels were among the organizers. That younger generation included the Children of Selma, Julianne Marley, Katrina Norris. Robert Sampson and Pam Martinez, a rain bow coalition of black, brown, red and white. They said, "We are the We' generation, but we must lei peo ple know we are not selfish.” Jesse Jackson. Jr., pinch-hitting for his dad, who is also a stem winding speechmaker, told the sweltering audience. "We stand on the shoulders of those who have given their very lives for the cause of social (See ON THE HILL, P. 18> ij special gift was presented to Robert and Gloria Jeffers for their hard work for the family reunion and a plaque was presented to Lucille G. Paige. The members were dismissed by Rev. Brunswick at 5 p.m. On Sunday, July 2, family members worshipped together at St. Matthew Presbyterian Church in Dudley. Rev. David Brunswick was the speaker. He was introduced by his father, Rev. Frederick Brunswick. His message was on “Prayer, Patience and Power.” After the service, some of the members visited sick members, Thomas Smith and Bessie Griswold. About 18 family members had dinner at the home of Robert and Gloria Jef fers. Black Authors To Meet For Autograph Party CHARLOTTE-The Afro American Cultural Center will host an autographing reception Sunday, July 9, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 401 N. Myers St. The honorees will be newly publish ed titles of two black writers in Charlotte. Connie Williams, author of “Emily's Blues,” is a high school teacher in the Union County School System. She is a poetry and prose writer and holds a degree from the University of California, Northridge. In 1989, she received her master’s degree in education from the Univer sity of North Carolina at Charlotte where she lives. "Emily's Blues” is a book of satire, a tender and tragic love story Ruben Lemuel Hines, author of Reaching Out,” according to Prof. Hastle Hailey, is doing just that and more. He is touching. Dr. Rosalyn Jacobs Jones says, "Ruben L. Hines is a gifted writer of extraordinary sensitivity and eloquence, in his •down-home’ style.” Curtis Moses Chisholm, author of "Roses and Raindrops," has publish ed three books. Unlike the previous books, which sought to relate a thought. “Roses and Raindrops” seeks only to only share feelings. “At (See AUTHORS, P. 18) N. C. Small Business Owners Say Place Lid On Campaign Spending .\early lour out of every five small business owners in the slate think campaign spending in congressional races should be limited, according to survey results announced recently by the National Federation of Indepen dent Husines.->/North Carolina iff the 2,:i:il North Carolina small business owne. s responding to the survey. 79 percent favored legislation that would place a lid on federal cam paign spending. Only 16 percent op posed spending clips, while six per cent were undecided Hie majority lavoring spending limits was slightly below the national average. Of the 96,568 respondents throughout the nation, 88 percent wanted campaign spending reined in. Susan Valauri, state director of NFIH/North Carolina, said the survey results show widespread con union* siudii-busmess owners about (he vasi sums of money being spent on political races. Since 1976, spending on Senate races, for exam ple. has risen Irom $38 million per election cycle to $179 million. Though North Carolina had no Senate elections last year, it was the site of three of the 20 most expensive congressional contests in the nation. The Fourth District race between C.S. Itep. David Price and Tom Fetzer cost $1.7 million. Spending in the Fifth District Neal-Gray battle lopped $14 million, while the Sixth District Coble-Gilmore race carried a $1.3 million pricetag. “Congressional candidates are starting to view million-dollar races as the norm, but most small-business people are appalled to see that kind of monev thrown around in a district.” Valauri said. "Eighty-two percent of