Mike Parker: These Eagles are still soaring

This coming weekend, an exceptional group of Eagles will land in Kinston. The Savannah High School Alumni and Friends Association will hold its meeting beginning on Sept. 2, 2022. Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, the association will host a meet-and-greet at the Community Council for the Arts.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Eagles will have brunch, a business meeting, and an election of officers at the CCA. Later Saturday, at 6 p.m., the Eagles will roost at the CCA for a banquet, dance, and photos. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, the Eagles will gather to worship together at Savannah Church. The meeting will close Sunday with a picnic at the Georgia Battle Center scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

From 1953 through 1970, eighteen classes attended Savannah High School. In 1971, the SHS Eagles transferred to North Lenoir High when the Lenoir County Schools integrated. Those who switched schools continued to refer to themselves as Eagles – and they still do today – in honor of their Savannah roots.

A particular focus of this year’s reunion will be honoring the classes of 1969 and 1970.

Rufus L. Flanagan served as the school’s principal from 1952, the year after the Adkin Walk-out, until 1970, when Savannah became a junior high school and later a middle school. Today, the building that once housed the school is an auto parts store in Hugo.

But Savannah School’s history predates the 1950 high school. In 1915, the original Savannah School stood as a wooden frame building next to Savannah Baptist Church. The school served African American students in grades one through seven.

Later the building was moved to the present site of the Savannah campus and added more rooms to accommodate the growing student body. That structure was eventually removed from the campus.

In 1950 a two-story brick structure with 11 classrooms, an agricultural shop, a home economics laboratory, and a cafeteria was constructed. Savannah became a union, or consolidated, school serving the needs of students in grades one through 12. In addition to the Savannah students, students from Heath, Gilbert, Mewborne, Whites, Jericho, Bright, and Grifton became part of the student body.

Increased school enrollment added another story with 17 classrooms in 1953. The school experienced another addition in 1956:  four more classrooms and a gymnatorium. In 1965, a metal building provided nine more classrooms. At one time, four mobile units were added to alleviate crowding.

Savannah High School ended when 1970 brought a county-wide school reorganization to desegregate the schools. In 1971, the school became Savannah Junior High School. During the 1981-82 school year, Savannah became a middle school. Junior high students in Savannah’s ninth grade then attended North Lenoir High School, and the middle school served the needs of students from grades six through eight.

Although the school went through many changes, the affection and dedication of Savannah High School graduates never changed. In 1980, what became the Savannah High School Alumni and Friends Association (SHSAFA) was born.

The association strives to enrich the educational and social life of the communities in which these alumni and friends reside. They aim to promote love, peace, progress, and prosperity by setting examples for today’s young people to follow.

The SHSAFA encourages educational achievements by granting scholarships to deserving and qualified high school graduates, GED recipients, and early college students.

The motto of these Eagles is: “Not Forgetting What Is Behind Us, But Soaring Towards What Is Ahead.” The first line of the Savannah High School alma mater rings just as true today in their hearts as it did from 1952 through 1970:

“How we love this dear school.”

True then – and true today.

This year marks the association’s 22nd Bi-Annual Reunion. One of the flyers advertising the reunion revealed some Eagle insider information.

“If you bleed ‘Black and Gold’ and have rested ‘beneath the oakes and pines’ and have any idea of who we called ‘Rat’ –

“Or if you have had to clean up your basketball shoes before a game because you had to practice and play on a dirt court because Lenoir County did not afford you a gym, or maybe you were one of us who had your commencement ceremony at the church because there was no auditorium available …

“Your attendance and support are greatly appreciated by all of the Savannah High/North Lenoir Eagles and Friends and the Kinston and Lenoir County community that supports SHSAFA efforts in giving scholarships each year to serving students.”

I hope the Eagles have a great reunion, reignite friendships, and bask in fond memories of those years at Savannah High.

Keep remembering those things behind – and keep soaring toward the things ahead.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.