Big weekend of fun for Washington alumni kicks off Friday

The 25th anniversary of the combined Washington High School Alumni Reunion will be celebrated here this weekend and the three-day event is packed with activities including a parade through downtown Cairo Saturday morning.
Grady County Commission Vice Chairman LaFaye Copeland, the first female county commissioner in Grady County, has been named the Grand Marshall for the parade. Commissioner Copeland is also the 2014 Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year, and president of the Washington Alumni.
The weekend kicks off with a “Meet and Greet” at the Grady Cultural Center beginning at 6 p.m., where classmates will enjoy a time of fellowship and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Washington alumni will gather and parade down Broad Street and MLK Jr. Avenue S.W. to Holder Park. Following the parade, a program will be held at the park and lunch served.
Saturday night will feature a banquet at the Grady Cultural Center that will include a surprise red carpet affair that classmates will not want to miss. The guest speaker for the evening will be the Rev. Sylvester Williams, who was the first African-American elected to serve on the Grady County Board of Commissioners.
Washington alumni will gather Sunday morning at the Grady Cultural Center for an 11 a.m. church service. Guest pastor will be the Rev. Joseph Daniels of Philadelphia, formerly of Beachton. A lunch will be served following the church service and that will conclude the 25th anniversary reunion.
The Washington alumni have returned to Cairo every two years to celebrate their school and the success of Washington High School alumni. The late Thelma Grant organized the first combined alumni reunion in 1989. The last class to graduate from Washington was the Class of 1970. In the fall of 1970, integration took place and Washington became Washington Middle School.
All local alumni are encouraged to attend and those who have not purchased a ticket to attend, still may attend since there will be tickets available for sale at the door.
Also during the weekend, a Washington Alumni Quilt that was quilted by the children of John Monds and Dr. Kathalena Monds will be raffled. Tickets for the raffle are $5 each. Proceeds over and above reunion expenses will be donated to Cairo’s Jackie Robinson Boys and Girls Club.
For more information, call 229-377-6595 or 229-378-5600.