Main class of 1953 meets for reunion
When Harris Benjamin Battey and Jennie Johnson Jones of Texas Valley, Doris Beedles Lanham of Rome and Laney Montgomery Stevenson of Lindale entered the first grade at their respective schools, little did they realize their high school graduating class would be making history.
The Main High School Class of 1953 was the first to graduate from the 12th grade.
Prior to that, graduation was after 11th grade. Because of changes in state standards, though, all high schools added another grade.
This was a time when the schools of Rome and Floyd County were segregated. No matter where they lived, all black students attended Rome Colored High School, later re-named Main High School.
It was here the paths of Battey, Jones, Lanham and Stevenson crossed, along with fewer than 100 more. Mr. C. Aycock served as principal then. When they graduated, Jones was class valedictorian, Stevenson was salutatorian and Battey was third honor graduate.
The Class of ’53 celebrated their 60th reunion at Jones’ home recently, with a lunch prepared by her son and niece, Jerome Jones and Katherine Battey Jackson.
Special guests were Josephine Burrell, Annie Johnson, William Mitchell, Marzella Wynn and Ruth Wesley Clark. The reminiscences included memories of classmates who no longer live in Rome: Clara Ware Kendricks, Fort Valley; Claude Ware, Griffin; and Ollie Finley Beavers, Kansas City, Mo.