Past Reunions

45 Year Class Reunion

45 Year Reunion Recap

Our 45 Year reunion was held on September 10, 2022 at the NZone Social Venue. Charlie McLaughlin and Dianne Mazo Jones organized the event. Patricia Speers Cave assisted with the decoration Boris Garrett helped with the photography, and Keith Adams coordinated the evening's entertainment.

The 45 Year Reunion had the lowest turnout compared to previous reunion due to a number of factors. About 50 of us gathered for an enjoyable day. We started on Saturday morning with a Meet and Greet Brunch from 11am - 3pm at the NZone Social Venue. About 30 classmates and guest attended and spent a few hours together reconnecting over brunch.

The evening activities began with a social hour from 6-7pm before taking a class picture and dinner. After a few welcoming remarks by Charlie, Doug Jolley offered a blessing for the food. Toward the end of dinner, entertainer Chifon Dion performed a few song selections (Clean Up Woman, Give Me One Reason to Stay Here, I'll Take You There, If Loving You Is Wrong and Thank You Lord).

After Chifon's performance, Charlie announced that he was informed by the evening's DJ, Jimmie Green, a 71st Class of 1976, alum that his sister Penny Green Roberson a 71st Class of 1977 alum was in hospice care and had exceeded the life expectancy that the doctors had given her (She SOARED two days after the reunion on Sep 12, 2022). The announcement was followed by a presentation honoring the 52 Class of 1977 classmates who have SOARED over the last 45 years (see "We Honor You 45 Years Later" memorial presentation link below). Following the presentation Doug Jolley offered a prayer for Penny, her family and the 52 alumni who have gone on before us.

Dianne recited a poem she had written regarding considerations when planning for reunions. (See poem below: Poem by Dianne link).

Charlie shared a presentation titled "Remember When" (see Remember When presentation below) which reminded the group how we in our younger years planned to do things that we have yet to do. With us getting older, losing loved ones and friends and life getting shorter, we should take time to complete that bucket list, enjoy the company of friends, family and classmates and do some of the things we may regret that we may not get to do. The presentation ended with a picture of all alumni attending the reunion surrounding alum Penny Green Roberson.

Coleen Crespo led the group in the School Song followed by an entertaining Tina Turner performance by the evening's entertainer, Chifon Dion singing What's Love Got to Do With It and Proud Mary. Alum Debbie Young joined Chifon during her performance.

DJ Jimmie Green finished the evenings activities keeping energetic classmates on the dance floor until close to midnight.

45 Year Meet and Greet Brunch

45 Year Dinner

45 Year Entertainment

We Honor You 45 Years Later

Poem By Dianne

Remember When Presentation

45 Year, DJ and Dancing

35 Year Class Reunion

35 Year Reunion Recap

Our 35 year reunion was held at the Holiday Inn I95 on Friday September 21 and Saturday September 22, 2012. We had 124 attendees (85 alumni and 39 guest). The reunion planning team included Charlie McLaughlin, Dianne Mazo Jones, Coleen (Crespo) Elliott. John Ray produced the promotional video and assisted Boris Garrett with the photography.

On Friday night, the Hospitality Suite opened at 6pm for the Friday night Meet and Greet. Alumni from the Class of 77 and a few from other classes joined in the fun time of fellowship, food, drinks and music. Several classmates joined the Meet and Greet after attending a 71st High School home game. Our time together to get reacquainted continued until 1am.

On Saturday evening, we started the night at 5:30 with a social hour to further reconnect those that were not able to join on the Friday night Meet and Greet. Alumni picked up their name tags and continue to socialize until about 6:30 when we gathered to take the class pictures before starting dinner.

Around 7, we headed to the ballroom and after everyone had settled, a brief welcome and grace was provided before enjoying our meal.

After dinner, we took a few moments to honor our Fellow Alumni brethren who have soared ahead of us. A "Gone Too Soon" memorial presentation produced by Charlie McLaughlin was shown followed by a moment of silence (see Gone Too Soon Memorial Presentation link below).

The night was filled with a number of activities to include a Happy 50th Birthday Class of 77 Celebration since we were unable to celebrate our 50th birthday together and were approaching the age of Senior Citizenship, a presentation of the pre-reunion cruise that a few class members joined, and the Not So Newlywed Game that a few of our alumni participated in.

Alumni cheerleaders led the group in singing the school song before turning the evening over to our DJ and Class of 76 alumni DJ Jimmie Greene. Jimmy did an awesome job and kept us entertained until 1am. Overall it was a fun evening enjoyed by all.

35 Year Promotional Video

Gone Too Soon Memorial Presentation

35 Year Friday Night Meet & Greet

35 Year 71st HS Tour

35 Year Pre-Class Reunion Bahamas Cruise

Happy 50th Birthday Class of 77 Celebration

35 Year Dinner and Dancing

25 Year Class Reunion

25 Year Reunion Recap

Our 25 year reunion was celebrated on October 12, 2002 at the Radisson Prince Charles Hotel on Hay Street. Dianne Mazo, Amy Branch, and Margaret Torres worked with a reunion company to plan the event.

On Friday, Oct 11, 2002, the fun started with classmates taking a tour of the school arranged by Margaret. Later that evening, many classmates attended a home game against Scotland County High School.

Saturday's activities started with a hospitality room opening at noon. At 7:00, the doors opened to the big event. We had almost 120 alumni and guests registered for the reunion, however an additional 50 showed up at the door. This made for a very crowded, crazy situation given the ballroom could only accommodate 125 persons. We worked through the chaos and had so much fun.

The class took a group photo at 7:30 before enjoying a dinner buffet. After dinner, a program which included a memorial, fun questions for the group and cheerleaders leading the class song before the DJ started the music and got the dancing going. The party officially ended at midnight, but the visiting went on for hours for many.

25 Year Dinner Pictures

15 Year Class Reunion

15 Year Reunion Recap

The 15 Year Reunion was held on Saturday, November 28, 1992 at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux from 6:30 pm until 1am. Dianne Mazo and Amy Branch took the lead in planning the reunion.

The evening started at 6:30 with a Happy Hour where over 100 alumni were able to get caught up. Heavy hors d'oeuvres were served at 8pm.

The DJ rounded out the evening at 9:00 and kept the group in party mode until 1:00am.

If you attended the 15 Year Reunion and care to share pictures and details, please email them to Charlie McLaughlin at cmclaughlin@vfhy.org

15 Year Pictures

5 Year Class Reunion

5 Year Reunion Recap

We are not sure if there was a 5 Year Reunion (No available information). If you have any information about this reunion to Charlie McLaughlin at cmclaughlin@vfhy.org

Column

40 Year Class Reunion

40 Year Reunion Recap

Our 40 Year reunion was held on October 13 & 14, 2017 at the Ramada Plaza Bordeaux Convention Center. Charlie McLaughlin, Dianne Mazo Jones, Coleen Crespo and Annette (Mitchell) Bailey took the honor of planning and executing the 40 Year Reunion. John Ray produced the promotional video and assisted Boris Garrett with the photography.

About 120 or so of us had an enjoyable weekend together reconnecting and just having a wonder time, hugging, talking, dancing and reminiscing!! On Friday night, between 75-80 classmates attended a meet and greet where we enjoyed good food, good music and good fellowship. Though we had plenty of games available, corn hole was the popular game of the night. We enjoyed each other on Friday night until around midnight.

On Saturday evening, we continued reconnecting with a pre-dinner social hour and dinner. From 6-7, those who were not able to join us on Friday got their chance to see, reunite and have a drink with classmates.

We gathered around 7:00 to take the class pictures before starting dinner. After a few welcoming remarks by Charlie, Doug Jolley shared a few words of encouragement to the class before blessing the food.

After dinner, we took a few moments to honor those 45 brethren who have gone on to prepare for our final reunion. A presentation (see "We Honor You Tonight Memorial Presentation" link below) produced by Charlie was shown followed by a moment of silence before Andre (AC) Powell offered a few words of prayer. Michael L. Ross closed out the memorial portion of the evening with a heartfelt song "I Never Would Have Made It".

Dianne took us back to 1977 for a moment and reminded us what life was like 40 years ago: the # 1 radio hit, the price of gas, the president at the time, etc. Both Dianne and Coleen helped recognize our military, classmates with the most grandkids and great grandkids, first time attendees, and those who have attended every reunion.

We brought back a class favorite from 10 years ago, "Falcon Jeopardy". Yvonne McClaine and her team narrowly edging out Doug Jolley and his team and were named the "Least Forgetful" until our next Falcon Jeopardy challenge.

Coleen, Debbie (Kapp) Gordon and Libby (Mason) Ramsey rounded out the program with the school song before turning the remainder of the evening over to our DJ and Class of 76 alum Tommy King who did an awesome job keeping us entertained until 1am.

40 Year Promotional Video

40 Year Friday Night Meet and Greet

40 Year Dinner

40 Year Dancing

We Honor You Tonight Memorial Presentation

30 Year Class Reunion

30 Year Reunion Recap

Our 30 year reunion was held at the Holiday Inn I95 on Friday September 21 and Saturday September 22, 2007. The reunion planning team included Charlie McLaughlin, Dianne Mazo Jones, Coleen (Crespo) Elliott and Keith Adams. The 71st Class of 1977 Alumni Facebook Page and Alumni Website (71stclassof77.com) was created while planning the 30 Year Reunion. The site helps better keep alum connected and helps memorialize current and future fellow Falcons who have soared.

On Friday night, Class of 1977 alumni and several other class alum met at the hotel's Hospitality Suite to reconnect, enjoy each others company, have a few drinks, laugh, dance and have a fun evening together.

71st had an away game at Cape Fear and several alum attended the game before attending the Friday Night Meet & Greet. We hung out until about midnight.

On Saturday evening, we started at 6:00 with a Happy Hour. Alumni were able to reunite, and socialize with fellow classmates while catching up on life events since graduation or the last 5 years for some and collect their name badges before dinner.

The ballroom opened at 7:00 and dinner was served around 7:30 after a brief welcome by Dianne and a grace by Doug Jolley.

The evening's scheduled program activities began around 8:30. The program started with an acknowledgement by Dianne of those that played a part in making the 30 Year Reunion a reality and promoting the class website at 71stclassof77.com website to keep us connected.

Coleen (Crespo) Elliott recognized those who "came the farthest", had the youngest child", "had the most grandchildren", and recognized our military veterans and college educated alumni.

Charlie McLaughlin introduced an alumni knowledge game called "Falcon Jeopardy" where two teams of alumni are challenged to respond to questions about events and people from our 1975-1977 high school years.

Margaret (Torres) Jones produced and presented a memorial presentation ("Let us Pause a Moment To Remember" see below link) followed by a moment of silence to honor the fellow class alumni who have passed on.

After the dinner activities, Dianne provided closing remarks and Doug ended the formal portion of the evening with a closing prayer.

We all sang the school song led by Coleen and other cheerleaders. We gather for group pictures before turning the remainder of the evening to our DJ for music enjoyment and dancing until 1am.

Let Us Pause A Moment To Remember Memorial Presentation

30 Year Dinner Pictures

20 Year Class Reunion

20 Year Reunion Recap

The 20 Year Reunion was held on Saturday, November 15, 1997 at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux from 6:30 until 1:00am. Dianne Mazo and Amy Branch took the lead in planning the reunion.

On Saturday evening, from 6:30 - 7:45, pre-dinner cocktails were served while over 120 classmates began to get caught up on life happenings since prior meetings.

A group picture was taken between 7:45 - 8:00 before the dinner program began at 8:00. The dinner and activities (recognition, memorial of passing classmates and open mike) started at 8:00 and continued until 10:00 when cheerleaders led the group in singing the school song. pm. DJ Tommy King closed out the evening with music which reminded us of the "fun times of the 70s" to the latest hits of the 90's. The group had fun and danced the night away until 1am.

20 Year Pictures

10 Year Class Reunion

10 Year Reunion Recap

The 10 Year Reunion was held on Saturday, June 13, 1987 at the Holiday Inn I-95 and Cedar Creek Road. Janet Gibson planned the 10 Year Reunion with the assistance of others who assisted in contacted other alum.

The evening started around 8pm with hor d'oeuvres followed by reunion activities until 9pm. DJ and dancing started at 9pm until 1am.

We currently do not have a detailed recap of the 10 Year Reunion or many pictures and solicit alumni feedback and pictures to post on the website.

Please provide comments and pictures to Charlie McLaughlin at cmclaughlin@vfhy.org

10 Year Pictures