"Old times there are not forgotten"
WWHS CLASS of 1958
MONTHLY BULLETIN
June 25, 2009
We lost one of our brightest stars when Joyce Shumate-Phipps died on June 12. Joyce moved to MacArthur from Wyoming County and attended eighth grade at Hollywood School. Then she attended one year at BJHS and three years at WWHS. Joyce accomplished her college education in separate parts while starting a family. She achieved her Bachelor of Education with two years at West Virginia University and two years at Concord. Two and one half years into teaching Joyce made a career change and entered social work with the State of West Virginia. She pursued and achieved a Masters degree in Social Work spending 25 of her 31 years of state service in supervisory positions.
Joyce’s most important work may have come after her initial retirement. She became involved with Head Start Programs locally and nationally. Joyce served on panels that reviewed Head Start Programs across the nation. Some of her work continues to benefit children from sea to shining sea. A look at Joyce’s Classmate Profile will demonstrate how accomplished a young Beckley girl from the class of 1958 could become.
Joyce stayed away from class functions until our Pizza Party in 2005. Our class website attracted her. At the party, she wanted to discuss where the class was headed and Joyce became involved wherever she could help. She joined the planning effort for the 50th Class Reunion and I believe, attended every meeting. Joyce was one of nine classmates who pledged enough money to insure that the Class Scholarship Fund would become a reality before the next (50th) class reunion. She served on the inaugural Class Scholarship Committee and presented the first scholarship awarded under our program. During this period, 2005 to 2009 a person who I did not know during high school (we were a pretty large group) became one of the best friends I ever had. She wrote one of the most beautiful thank you notes I received for our August 2008 Brunch. We will miss her smiling face and extraordinary talents in the future.
Phyllis Holdren-Killmyer has added a few words to our story in the form of a Classmate Profile. Thanks, Phyllis, it is really good to be in touch again and to learn what you have been up to these years on the path of life.
A few of us are getting together at the Willis home in Winchester, Virginia on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day and Bobbie Jean Snyder-Sharp’s birthday. Since Bobbie Jean will not likely be present, I will have to eat her piece of birthday cake to keep it from going stale. The things I do for my friends! If you are close enough to join us, you will be welcome. Contact Lynda, Larry or me and you will be added to the list.
July Celebrations:
Birthdays
Larry Belcher – July 2
Roberta Jean Snyder-Sharp – July 4
Sandra Kay Reed-Mitchell – July 5
Dr. Sharon Louise Coleman-Estrada – July 19
Keith Lucille Cooke-Rutherford – July 24
Mary Ellen Thorpe-States – July 24
Sandra Lee Goodall-Gunter – July 25
Sue Ellen Redden-Walters – July 29
Anniversary
Florence Thomas-Denny (John Denny) – July 6, 1958
That is 51 years, folks. Please allow me to place John Denny’s name in nomination for sainthood! Do I hear a second?
Our clergy message for the month is from Rev. N. Richard Meadows. He addresses God’s Plan of Salvation.
Class Items
*****
From: Rosemary Amato Chase
Date: 06.19.09, 2009 11:56 PM
Re: Saddened
Hi Jim,
I was really saddened to hear about Joyce Shumate Phipps. Joyce moved to MacArthur when she was still in elementary. I remember her in the eighth grade. She was really an asset to our class, and I've always thought highly of her. I knew her family and I liked them all really well.
I was home visiting my mom last month, I went up the hill where the Shumates lived, hoping that they were still there, but I knew they weren't. Thanks for letting me know. I did send a card to her family.
Rosemary
*****
Warmest regards to my oldest friends,
“P.A.”