Fall Edition SEPTEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER Luther H. Foster High School Alumni Association We received five (5) Scholarship applications from graduating seniors who attended Nottoway Senior High School. All of the applicants were prepared for the interview; each student did an excellent job. As a result, all applicants received the scholarship award. The following received Luther H. Foster High School Scholarship Award: Wendy Clay (University of North Carolina), Marissa Smith (Randolph-Macon University), Trechelle Stith (Old Dominion University); the Katherine J. Miller Memorial Scholarship was awarded to: Vantwon Dodson (Old Dominion University), Erin Oliver, (Advanced Technology Institute). Inside this issue: In the Spotlight 2 Get Well Wishes 2 Sick & Bereavement 2 Wall of Fame (insert) School Tour 3 Katherine J. Miller Memorial Scholarship Alum Takes a Stroll 3 1964 Queen Crowned 3 Did You Know? 3 President s Message 3 The Fun Day celebration was held on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The day began at 10:00 a.m. with a tour of the Nottoway Intermediate School (formerly Luther H. Foster High School). Before the tour, classmates and guests gathered in the hallway of the school for prayer. Everyone was so excited to see one another. Approximately, fortyfive members toured the school. The smiles and warm embraces showed the love that was shared. The event was video taped and is available for purchase. You may contact Dick Powers at (434) 292-1155. After the tour everyone traveled to the Nottoway Civic League and continued the fellowship which included enjoying a delicious meal, games and more. The Athletic Banquet began at 6:00 p.m. at the United Virginia Methodist Center, Blackstone, Virginia. The first-half of the program was presented in the cafeteria. During the dedication ceremony, information was shared about the honored men and women whose pictures would be hung in LHF Library. The pictures dedicated were of Dr. Luther H. Foster, Sr. and his family, President Barak Obama, and Dr. Martin Luther King; and a beautiful picture donated by Mrs. Alice Birckhead, former teacher. A warm and loving presentation was delivered to honor our deceased principals and classmates. The second-half of the program was presented in the auditorium. Fifty-four athletes who played football, girls and boys basketball, baseball and track were honored for their participation in sports. The Mighty Bulldogs won championships and represented our school well. Trophies were awarded to the participants. (see page 4).
In the Spotlight! Alumnus Curtis Pritchett -Class of 1964 Curtis Pritchett is a graduate of the Class of 1964. He and his wife, Geneva have four children and one grandchild. According to the The Courier, Savannah, Tennessee, as a young man, Curtis, who stands at 6 foot, 5 inches, was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers professional basketball team. Because of a basketball contract dispute, Curtis went on to play professional basketball internationally in France, Mexico and San Paulo, Brazil. Curtis moved to Hardin County two years ago, spending his first year employed as a teacher at Harbert Hills Academy. Prior to that, he and his wife spent seven years working at Oklahoma Academy, where Curtis was the Dean of Men. Curtis says he also served in the U.S. Army and the Secret Service. Purse strap broken? Jacket torn? Shoe buckle fallen off? Anything made of leather has the potential to be repaired. Whether cowboy boots, chaps, work boots, shoes of all kinds, purses, hats, jackets or belts, the local cobbler has had the opportunity to fix them. A little over a year ago, I brought in a couple pair of shoes to be repaired at this shop, said Curtis. When I learned there was a opportunity to purchase the business at a good price, I was interested in learning the trade. After three months as a cobbler apprentice at Savannah Shoe Repair, Curtis was ready to work on his own. There are no sophisticated machines here, but they get the job done, said Curtis Pritchett, 67, manager of Savannah Shoe Repair and Sales. I m not afraid to say no if I cannot do a job, said Curtis. Your work will talk for you. I do my best. If it breaks, there s no charge to replace it. Having return customers speaks for your skills and customers keep coming back. When Curtis and his wife Geneva bought into the family-owned business in April 2010, they wanted it to also be a ministry to the community. Right away we found out about Soles4Souls which led us to see the spiritual connection, said Curtis. We became a part of that ministry. Soles4Souls is a shoe charity that collects gently worn shoes and monies to provide shoes to those in need. There s wonderful parallels, God says come as you are, ragged and your sins as filthy rags, said Curtis. Shoes can come in dirty and torn. When I m replacing the soles, I think about God covering sin and making a person s soul fresh and new. When I recently read about a missionary in India, William Carey, who cobbled shoes, it confirmed that this job is for me, said Curtis. For Carey and for me, shoe repair is to earn a livelihood, but the real business is to preach the gospel. By Linda Folkerts The COURIER, Savannah, Tennessee GET WELL WISHES We extend heartfelt well wishes to all of our members who are working through health and other issues. May God continue to bless you! If you know someone who should be on the sick or deceased list, please contact Lanette Harris, Sick & Bereavement chair, at 434-292-3048 or email lutherhfoster@gmail.com IN MEMORIAM We extend heartfelt condolences to the families of : Clarence Blackwell 59 James Harris, 62 Hazel Booker Harris, 67 Romans 10:9-10, KJV
Congratulations 2011 Luther H. Foster High School Wall of Fame Athletes Fifty-Four Inducted 1951 Willliams, John (Football) 1952 Black, Sr., George (Football) Maxwell, Ilean (Basketball) Fitzgerald, Samuel (Football) Ingram, Frankie (Basketball) 1953 Fitzgerald, Geneva (Basketball) 1954 Ludvick, Rebecca (Basketball) Taylor, Emmitt (Football) Harris, Lawrence V. (Baseball) 1956 Lewis, Garland (Football) Williams, Clarence (Baseball) 1957 Branch, Robert (Football) Boyd, Horace (Football) Dyson, James (Football) 1958 Allen, Clarence (Football) Easterling, Christine (Basketball) Hurt, Willie (Basketball) Lewis, Thurman (Football) Smith, Shirley (Basketball) 1959 Carter, Charles (Baseball) Jones, Irby (Football) 1960 Jefferson, Jr., John (Football) Lewis, Terry, (Football) 1961 Jennings, Thomas (Football) 1962 Bridgeforth, Allen (Football) Daniels, Charles (Football) Eppes, David (Football) Epps, Lillian (Basketball) Irby, William (Baseball) Lewis, Gwendolyn (Basketball) Lee, James (Football) 1963 Marshall, Stanley (Football) Oliver, Warren (Football) 1964 Pouncey, Jeanette (Basketball) Booth, Richard (Football) 1965 Bridgeforth, James (Football) Cousins, John (Football) Greenhill, Simon (Track) Hobbs, Samuel (Football) Lewis, Thomas (Football) Ligon, Tyrone (Baseball) Thomas, Alvin (Baseball) 1966 Carter, William (Football) Eppes, Jennie (Basketball) Eppes, Roger (Baseball) Evans, Meriwether (Basketball) Greenhill, Harriet (Basketball) Hawkes, Susan (Basketball) King, Jessie (Football) Vaughter, John (Football) 1967 Hobbs, Colonel L. (Basketball) Johnson, Ronald (Football) 1968 Branch, Sr., Ralph (Baseball) 1970 Pettis, John (Football) Robertson, Frank (Basketball) **Several participants were absent when picture was taken.
Pictured above are the members who toured the Nottoway Intermediate School (formerly Luther H. Foster High School. Everyone enjoyed the tour. Katherine J. Miller Memorial Scholarship We thank you Rodney Miller, Class of 1963, for your annual scholarship donation in the memory of your dear mother, Katherine J. Miller! Your generosity makes an immediate difference in the lives of graduating seniors. You continue to make a difference!. Did You Know? Elizabeth Duncan Koontz (1919-1989) was an educational leader who devoted her life s work to building a better quality of life for children through schooling and the support of women, their primary caregivers. Koontz gain firsthand experience teaching in the classrooms of North Carolina for a number of years before becoming the first black president of the National Education Association in 1965. In later years, she served in the U.S. Department of Labor in the Women s Bureau. Her advocacy established a role model that endures today, as new generations continue to work for the betterment of society through a focus on early education. Alice Lee Branch, Class of 53 Takes a Stroll Alice Lee Branch wards off the sizzling sunshine as she strolls along North 2nd Street in Downtown. A fresh round of baking heat is on the way. Forecast: Highs around 92 Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures 90 Degrees or higher expected through next week. Summer officially arrives Tuesday, June 21. Jerome Reid, Richmond Free Press Class of 1964 The Queen Crowned On Saturday, June 11, 2011, the Luther H. Foster High School, Class of 1964, presented its First Annual Prom. The theme was Memory Lane. The evening was marvelous, and everyone enjoyed the affair. The guests looked like glamour magazine models, beautiful and elegant. The highlight of the affair was the crowning of Josephine Booth Forrest as our prom Queen. There was not a dull moment all evening. Our DJ was Hot/HOT. Our 2nd Annual Prom will be held June 16, 2012. To everyone who attended, thank you for making this event a memorable occasion. We look forward to seeing you next year. By Florine Shelton
L. H. Foster High School Alumni P.O. Box 34 Crewe, Virginia 23930 Email address: lutherhfoster@gmail.com Phone: 434-645-7962 Sandra Branch, Editor Officers Sandra Branch, President Stanley Marshall, Vice President Bernice Bea Brito-Mayo, Secretary Maude Lee, Assistant secretary Jessie King, Treasurer Ralph Branch, Sr., Asst. Treasurer Dear Friends, I hope you enjoyed the hot summer days. I did because it is my kind of weather. It is our ongoing efforts to provide enj oyable and memorable affairs for you, as well as, to give graduating seniors an opportunity to further their education. Thank you for your dedication and loyalty to our alma mater. The Civic League welcomes your donations and greatly appreciates what you have donated in the past. Because of the dedication and Greetings From the President commitment of the COMMITTEE and YOU, our Annual Fun Day was a huge success. The Athletic Banquet held on Saturday evening brought back a lot of memories of high school days. This was the first year that we had an evening event on our (annual) one day affair. We hope that you will enjoy our Alumnus of the Quarter in this newsletter. WHO WILL BE THE NEXT FEATURED ALUM? If you would like to share, please send in your information. As always, we welcome your input regarding this and all other planned activities. Tell us what kind of activities you would like for us to provide on the Annual Fun Day, which will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2012. We would love to hear from you. Love, Sandra Ephesians 1:16, KJV Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers