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Notes from/about our Classmates Before 2008 Dear
1956 Central Classmates,
There is some good news and some bad news to report since our reunion. First, the good news: Billie (Thomson) and Sammie McMillan, were recently pictured in the Commercial Appeal celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Honey (Lipman) Saltzman and hubby, Steve, also joined the slim ranks of those together for half a century. And the very sad news: We have learned that six of our classmates have recently passed on:. Myrna Gold Drake and Cleveland Johnson both, came to the reunion knowing the seriousness of their respective illnesses. Unfortunately, Arthur Prince could not come to the reunion, but sent his best greetings. Their obituaries fare below. We extend our sympathy to each classmate’s family. We will remember them as good friends. I am sorry to now report that a fourth classmate also died this year – Barbara Hanna Raburn. James
Cleveland Johnson
James
Cleveland “Cleve” Johnson, 69, of Collierville,
died September 9, 2006. Mr. Johnson was a longtime member of First
Baptist Church in Collierville, a board member of the Ronnie Tullos
Evangelistic Association, and a member of Gideon’s International.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, D’Anne Johnson; one
daughter, Leigh Ann Paxson of Collierville; one son, Jimmy Johnson
of Collierville; two sisters, Rebecca Fitzmorris of Gambrills, Maryland
and Jane Adkins of Memphis; one brother, David Johnson of Little
Rock, AR; and six grandchildren, Ashley Johnson, Brandon Johnson,
Reilly Johnson, Cooper Johnson, Alex Paxson, and Mackenzie Paxson
all of Collierville. Myrna
G. Drake, 67, of Memphis, died Friday, September 1, 2006
at her home. She was owner of East Memphis Electrolysis. She was
a lifelong Memphis resident, founder of the Memphis Chapter of PFLAG.
gifted performer, singer and artist. She was a wonderful mother,
grandmother and wife with a wonderful ability to listen and blessed
with a strong sense of humor. She is preceded in death by her sister,
Sondra Alabaster and survived by her husband, Dr. Arnold Drake of
Memphis; a son, Dr. Stanley David Drake of Washington, DC; a daughter,
Dr. Alison Drake Barrack of Atlanta, GA; two brothers, Samuel Brooks
Gold of West Palm Beach, FL, and Paul Gold of Wachung, NJ; two grandchildren,
Anna Rose and Benjamin Drake Barrack; and a host of extended family
and friends. Dr. Arthur H. Prince, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was born August 30, 1938 to Phillip and Rebecca Prince. He attended Baron Hirsch Congregation, services were held at the Baron Hirsch cemetery on Sept. 4. Dr. Prince was a 1956 graduate of Central High School in Memphis and had a Bachelor of Arts degree (1970) from The University of Memphis. He had a Master of Arts in Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee (1987). In 1996, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Prince served as an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Sociology and taught medical ethics at the Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences in Memphis. He previously taught at Dyersburg State College where he was honored as an adjunct faculty member during the years 1998-2000. He also taught and was honored in 2002 at the Christian Brothers University. Previously Dr. Prince taught at the University of Memphis and also at the Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, Arkansas. Dr. Prince had trained at the National Crisis Prevention Institute and counseled people in emotional distress during the late 1980s. He worked as a geriatric clinician at the northeast Mental Health Center, also in the 1980s. Dr. Prince was on the board of the University of Memphis Alumni Association. He had been honored by Ned R. McWherter on two occasions. As speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. McWherter bestowed upon Dr. Prince the Honorary Sergeant at Arms of the Tennessee House of Representatives for outstanding service to the state of Tennessee (8/5/77). On May 29, 1990, as governor of the state of Tennessee, Mr. McWherter bestowed upon Dr. Prince the Colonel Aide de Camp for his patriotism, valor and fidelity. Dr. Prince was included by the American Biographical Institute in the 1976-1977 community leaders and noteworthy Americans. Dr, Prince, who was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Rebecca Prince, is survived by his sister Ida Prince-Schechtman and her husband, Dr. Jay Schechtman; his two nieces, Malka T. Schechtman-Adelman and her husband Eric Adelman of New York City, Ilana S. Schechtman of New York City; a nephew, Phillip Schechtman and his wife, Jada; and a great-niece, Whitney Schechtman; and a great-nephew, Alex Schechtman. Dr. Prince was a dearly loved and caring son, brother, uncle, friend and teacher. Barbara Hanna Raburn Barbara Hanna Raburn, 68 of Memphis, passed away September 25, 2006 at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis after a long illness. Barbara graduated from Central High School and attended Southwestern University. She was a beautiful pianist and was organist at Macon Road Presbyterian Church for 19 years, where she was a member. She was a current member at Advent Presbyterian Church. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Crawford and is survived by her husband of 49 years, Jerry Raburn; three daughters, Jenny Overbey Oswalt, Lori Wade and Jeri Weaver; six grandchildren, Sam Overbey, Zac Overbey, Neal Thompson, Emily Thompson, Kyle Wade, and Shelby Wade, all of Memphis. Mary Miller Arnold Kathie and Don Cavette Emailed us that Mary Miller Arnold died after a brief illness on November 28, 2006. Mary leaves one son, one daughter, and her husband of 48 years, Al Arnold. The members on the Central Class of 1956 send our sympathy to Al and his family. Helen Avergis Knight Ralph Gray and Anita Burns Spragg notified us, sadly, on the death of classmate, Helen Avergis Knight, as reported in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on 3/5/07: Helen Avergis Knight passed away March 3, 2007.Ms. Knight was preceded in death by her son, Robert Knight, and her parents, Andrew and Sophia Avgeris. She is survived by one brother, John A. Avgeris of Memphis and two sisters, Georgia Scarmoutsos of Germantown and Athena Fox of McKinney, TX. Also
take a look at our Class
Biographies which will contains biographies
that your classmates have shared with us. Class Notes will be continually updated as people share the latest events/activities in their lives. Please feel free to write a short message or email them to Billy Schaeffer, wwsgoat@aol.com . We would also like to receive your photographs, hear about your offspring (probably grandchildren) and what is going on in your life. Also , being realistic, please share the bad news with us, too. It's inevitable and is a source of concern and interest to all. Class Notes will be continually updated as people share the latest events/activities in their lives. Please feel free to write a short message or email them to Billy Schaeffer, wwsgoat@aol.com . We would also like to receive your photographs, hear about your offspring (probably grandchildren) and what is going on in your life. Also , being realistic, please share the bad news with us, too. It's inevitable
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