Worth repeating. Violin students from Searcy AR in the 50's.

I'm sure it wasn't the lst Methodist Church, but First Christian Church.  Most of Mrs. Ward's recitals were held there until later at lst Presbyterian.

Mrs. Ward sometimes had violinists Evelyn Thomas and Jamie Jones playing with some of us violinists....they were students of her in her early days of teaching.  Those not holding violins did not play violin but played the piano.

Back row:  Dorothy Yarnell Warden - our current History Oracle featured weekly in The Daily Citizen.  Mrs. Ward, Grace Neal, Evelyn Thomas, Jamie Jones, Bob Fuller, Jeanne Thomas (Evelyn's daughter), Mildred Taylor.

Front row:  Billy Summitt, Charlotte Neal (Grace is her mother), Julianne Rand, Carolyn Thompson, Jolene Abboud, me, Mary Kathryn VanPatten, Ann Shannon.  

Grace Neal was a very talented pianist, I think she was the official piano player of the Kiwanis Club.  I have an idea she played a duet with her daughter, Charlotte.   Of course, Jamie is the mother of one of your co-workers, Jim Baugh Jones.

Barbara, you are flaunting your poetic license by publishing my picture, again without my permission. 

It IS interesting that more of us aren't smiling.  I should be grinning from ear to ear, having FINISHED playing my piece!

This picture was taken before Bob contracted polio, so it was before l950.  The one you wrote about, Don, shows Bob with his crutches.   Also notice how much Ann Shannon has grown.

Elizabeth:  someone emailed me to ask the color of my dress.  I have NO CLUE.  Probably pink or light blue.

Can I still play the violin?  only "sorta".

I sold my original violin when we left Illinois....some years ago I got inspired to start playing again, bought me a violin, case, and music stand at Quattlebaum Music Co. in Searcy.  Got so frustrated because I couldn't just start playing..where I left off....that I quit, in a huff, and haven't played a note since.

Mary Kay (VanPatten) James and I used to play duets when we were in high school...we've said we need to get out our violins and see if we can still play together.  Maybe we could go to a nursing home to "practice"....they probably wouldn't mind.

Barbara, you get us a gig and we'll be there.

to Mary:  might you remember what Mr. and Mr.s Ward ordered daily?  Plate lunch?  Surely not hamburgers, etc. 

Now:  remember about how much their lunch bill would have been, with the l5 cent tip.  they were VERY FRUGAL, as I recall.  Mr. Ward was bookkeeper at Searcy Wholesale all his life.  Guess he learned the value of money.