Southern Normal School Historical Site

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2008 Founder's Day Celebration
2009 Founder's Day Celebration
2009 Founder's Day Parade in Brewton, Alabama
2009 Meet & Greet Kick-Off
2010 Founder's Day Celebration
2010 Keynote Speaker
2010 Founder's Day Parade in Brewton, Alabama
2010 Alumni Picnic at Sportsman Park (Brewton Alabama)
2010 Black & White Social
2010 Meet & Greet Kick- Off
2010 Teacher's Appreciation Banquet
2011 Founder's Day Celebration
2011 Keynote Speaker
2011 Alumni Parade/Festival
2011 Teacher's Appreciation Banquet
2011 Band Reunion/Social
Class of 1955 Celebrates 40 Yrs!
Class of 1969 Reunion
Class of 1969-1970 Grand Reunion
Class of 1984 Celebrates 26 Years!
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Looking back!

During the 1950’s Southern Normal High School experienced two major accomplishments;

* Completed construction of  Bergen Memorial Chapel, 1950
* Graduated its largest class, 1955 (consisting of 50 students)

At the peak of educational segregation, Southern Normal became a channel of hope, faith and academic prosperity for many black students. Members of the Class of 1955, "credit the success of the school to the dedicated directors and teachers who focused on developing the student’s character as well their academic intellect".

Many of these graduates have made their mark in various careers/professions from educators to skilled workers for over 40 years!  

More importantly, some of these students are now living in the local area and are members of the Southern Normal Alumni Association Inc., working to preserve the history of this great school.

Class of 1955
Celebrates its 40th Year Reunion in 1995!

Reunions/CO1955.JPG
Pictured: Members of C/o 1955 and Ms. Ida B. Hollingerm

School Director
Ms. Marie J. Lewis

Homeroom/English Teacher

Ms. Ida Mae Hollinger

Math Teacher

Mr. Snowden

Class motto

“One step at a time, but always forward"


Memorial Wall

Teachers

Ms. Ida Mae Hollinger

Mr. B. Snowden

Students
Johnny Davis*
Gloria Hall*

Note:  This memorial is inclusive to all deceased members listed and unlisted*.


Memorial Dedication....


Go Down, Death

Weep not, weep not,
She is not dead;
She's resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heart-broken husband--weep no more;
Grief-stricken son--weep no more;
Left-lonesome daughter --weep no more;
She only just gone home.

Day before yesterday morning,
God was looking down from his great, high heaven,
Looking down on all his children,
And his eye fell of Sister Caroline,
Tossing on her bed of pain.
And God's big heart was touched with pity,
With the everlasting pity.

And God sat back on his throne,
And he commanded that tall, bright angel standing at his right hand:
Call me Death!
And that tall, bright angel cried in a voice
That broke like a clap of thunder:
Call Death!--Call Death!
And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven
Till it reached away back to that shadowy place,
Where Death waits with his pale, white horses.

And Death heard the summons,
And he leaped on his fastest horse,
Pale as a sheet in the moonlight.
Up the golden street Death galloped,
And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold,
But they didn't make no sound.
Up Death rode to the Great White Throne,
And waited for God's command.

And God said: Go down, Death, go down,
Go down to Savannah, Georgia,
Down in Yamacraw,
And find Sister Caroline.
She's borne the burden and heat of the day,
She's labored long in my vineyard,
And she's tired--
She's weary--
Go down, Death, and bring her to me.

And Death didn't say a word,
But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse,
And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides,
And out and down he rode,
Through heaven's pearly gates,
Past suns and moons and stars;
on Death rode,
Leaving the lightning's flash behind;
Straight down he came.

While we were watching round her bed,
She turned her eyes and looked away,
She saw what we couldn't see;
She saw Old Death. She saw Old Death
Coming like a falling star.
But Death didn't frighten Sister Caroline;
He looked to her like a welcome friend.
And she whispered to us: I'm going home,
And she smiled and closed her eyes.

And Death took her up like a baby,
And she lay in his icy arms,
But she didn't feel no chill.
And death began to ride again--
Up beyond the evening star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On to the Great White Throne.
And there he laid Sister Caroline
On the loving breast of Jesus.

And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from her face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked her in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.

Weep not--weep not,
She is not dead;
She's resting in the bosom of Jesus.

By
James Weldon Johnson




Class information submitted by: Bob Pryor

Brewton Alabama * US * 36426