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Mrs. Woods - Submitted photo.
ZEBULON - Class of 1969 Commencement Exercises for the Pike County Consolidated High School in Concord, Georgia were held on March 3, 2018 in the Pike County Auditorium. Students who were excluded from graduation in 1969 were finally honored with their high school diplomas. It was a long time coming!
Back in 1969, some black students and teachers from the Pike County Consolidated High School in Concord were combined with the Pike County High School in Zebulon to satisfy a mandate from the state of Georgia on desegregation. But many of the students from Concord remained and were not allowed to graduate due to a high number of absences due to marches and demonstrations.
Mrs. Geneva P. Woods was one of the teachers who was chosen to teach at Pike County High School and transferred there in 1968. She spent 38 years of her life teaching students in the school system but never forgot her students who did not receive their diplomas. It was her goal to ensure that these students received their high school diplomas.
March 3 was a day of smiles and memories. Senior Spokesperson Ms. Mildred Favors Dixon gave God the glory and said that they had to go out and make their mark on the world, but they had to do that without their diplomas. She said that she had no regrets then or now. She said that "faith was a sustaining factor for us all these years" and she called on her classmates to continue to hold fast to faith, love the Lord with all their hearts, love each other, and do what is right.
Graduation students included (* In Memorial): Larry Alexander*, Oscar Alexander*, Daisy Marie Anderson, Charles Ballard*, Ann Rose Blackburn, Charles Britt*, Milton Clowers, Laura Colquitt*, Mary Helen Colquitt, Charles Davis, John Lee Dickerson, Marie Dozier, Robert Driver, Vickie Driver, Milton Favors, Patricia Ford, Roger Gates*, Earnest Grier, Dorothy Harris, Ida Bell Horton, Robert Horton, Willie Frank Jones, Sarah King, Kenneth Leeks*, Emmet Mack, Willie "D.D." McDowell*, Raymond Miller, Linda Mitchell, William Mitchell*, Gary Pate*, Dorothy G. Reid, Annie Bell Riggins, Mary Love Sanford*, Samuel Starks, Mary Pearl Traylor, Ernestine Tysinger, Milton Walker, Robert James Walker*, Travis Wellmaker, Johnny Weston, Elijah Williams*, John Horace Williamson, and Maebell Willis.
Pastor Janet Ware gave the Address to the Class of 1969 and talked about a "seven mile stroll" that denied these students what should have been their right. She said that with this graduation, history is being made. She told the class that "what you did 49 years ago has gone around the world and the world is celebrating what the Lord has called you to do."
She told them that because of what you did, our schools were integrated. "Love has brought us here and we say thank you," she said. "Though God delayed the blessing, He did not deny the blessing." She ended by thanking Mrs. Woods for "being our Esther."
Dr. Michael Duncan, Superintendent of Pike County Schools, thanked Mrs. Woods for being her students' champion and being a living example that the best teachers never stop caring about their students. He said that she was "instrumental" is all that has taken place today. He thanked her for her example and thanked her for her example for those who came behind her. He then addressed the students and said, "You are our inspiration. Thank you for this opportunity and congratulations!"
Mrs. Geneva Woods told students that it has been a privilege to have gone this journey with you. She praised them and said that they had become productive citizens even without a diploma. She thanked Dr. Duncan and the Board of Education for making this day happen.
Ms. Beulah Owens was a 1958 graduate of the Pike County Consolidated High School who told the class that she was fortunate to be able to come back to her home town to become a science teacher and a coach. "This is home," she said. She thanked Dr. Duncan and the Board of Education and praised Mrs. Woods saying that "she has always been the caring person that she is today." She commended students for acting upon their convictions and praised them because the denial of their diplomas did not stop them from being good citizens and role models.
Pastor Fred Blackmon said that there was no opposition from the Board of Education and said that all came to the understanding that this was a long time coming!
Reverend Alfred Davis gave thanks of the behalf of the Class of 1969 and said, "Look what God has done for this group!" He praised the inspiration of Mrs. Woods and the effort that she put forth to make today happen. "Fate doesn't wait for things to happen. It makes things happen!" He encouraged graduations to get involved in PTA meetings and Board of Education meetings as well as reaching out to one another and loving one another.
Dr. D.F. Glover was the principal of the Pike County Consolidated High School in 1969. His youngest son Dennis spoke on the behalf of his father. Dennis said that his father would be proud and amazed at how many people have been touched.
Mr. Samuel Starks spoke on the appreciation for the class. Many thanks were given to the School Board and Dr. Duncan. So much love was showered on Mrs. Woods. And he told those listening that they walked out of the school that day to protest injustice. "We didn't tell our parents that day, we stepped out in silence and nobody said a word" as they marched seven miles into town. "We left united and are still united."
He also said that we always talk about black history, but we don't know the history in our own county. He said that Lisa Starks died at nine years old in a house fire. He also said that "We were living in a society where we had no voice." There were no black commissioners and no blacks in banks or law enforcement. "We have so much history," he said.
He closed by thanking those who walked with them and protected them. "We appreciate everyone who supported us black and white."
The class motto was "A winner never quits and a quitter never wins."
There were many cameras from out of town news media to commemorate this historical moment. Congratulations to the Class of 1969!