Clark High, Ladonia
The following information has been compiled from a number of sources, most of which were supplied by Dorothy Harrison. Thanks Dorothy!
The Ladonia Colored public school, which was located west of town where the K of P Hall later stood, was organized in 1888. According to a history of the school compiled by Mrs. Allie Preston Ganaway, Mr. E. S. Clark erected this first colored school in Ladonia, investing his own money and buildling the schoolhouse at the end of North Wilson Street. He went to the county superintendent for permission to have the school. He enrolled more than seventy children the first year. Later the school was moved to the east part of town. The class was later taught by Miss Iceola Brown in 1936-1942, who maintained the improvement of the school. Students included Clemied McFarland, Gloria Stones,, Millie Jo Solomon and Gransville and George King. She taught until the school was moved back to the west part of town. The later school building was built with a grant by Julius Rosenwald. The school was then named the Rosenwald School. The faculty at that time was: Mrs. A. M. Dickerson; Mrs. Stennett, intermediate; Miss Allie Blair - A.P.A.; Mr. R. D. Preston - athletics; H. G. Smith, principal.
Grady Chapel, Willow Grove and New Harmony were also early learning centers for the Afro-American students of the area. Grady Chapel served as an elementary school as well as a high school. The site was in a field across from the homesite of Lawerence Pickard in Pecan Gap. Alfred Conley served as superintendent. Some of the teachers were Mrs. Mary Foster and Mrs. June Potts. Willie James (Sonny) Bagby helped out at the school as an aide to the teachers. Some of the students attending were: Velma Sears, Roy and Billy Joe McCoy, the Walford children, the Carsons, Mary Ann & Betty Jo Maxwell, Velma and Genie Gilmore, Aurdrey Bizzell, the Williams family, which included twin girls Bessie and Lessie. The school opened in 1944 and closed in 1955. The building was re-located to Ladonia and used as the Home Economics building at Clark where Mrs. Essie Adams was the instructor. Others attending Grady were Effie Dilliard, Richard Beamer and the Hearn family.
Willow Grove - INFORMATION NEEDED. Among those attending were Sgt Rathell, Mc and Luster Shelton, Roy Lee Pruitt, Artis Pruitt, James Allan Lee, Willie Lee Blair, Elbert Lee (Bud) Brown, Jim Henry Palmer and Clarence Christian Jr.
The Ladonia Colored School first became an accredited high school in the year 1946. The faculty at that time was: J. W. Askew; Alllie Preston; Gladys Walker; Idonia Kennedy; E. I. Barnes; Seletha Spighner; Bernise Palmer. The first graduating class was: Glodine Crowley (Thomas), Thelma Jean Stephens, Janie J. Robertson (Grayson) and Howard Hatcher. The first boys' basketball team was: Will Jones, Jr., Will John Fuller, Elijah Roberson, Howard Hatcher, Jimmy Carson, Charles Pruitt, Charles Stephens, Phenix Ross, Cecil Hatcher, A. V. Shaw and William Pruitt. This team was coached by Mr. J. W. Askew.
The first girls' basketball team consisted of these young ladies: Janice Roberson, Ola Mae McBeth, Odessa Jones, Nannie Lou Shaw, Vallie Mae Gray, Allie Faye McBeth, Mary Adams, Ozzie Lee Coldwell, Elveria Gray, Glodine and Faye Bell Crowley, Martha Payne, Reba Gray, Clarice Pruitt and Thelma Jean Stephens. The cheerleaders were Edna Myrl Stephesn, Norma Dell Harris, Johnnie Mae Traylor, Cloteal Griffith and the mascots were as follows: Thelma Jo Hervey and Thelma Jean Hilburn.
The Clark High School Leopards basketball team brought fame to the area, becoming a powerhouse team of the State Playoff Champions in 1958 under the tutelage of Coach H. G. Champion. The mighty Leopard hoopsters went on to the State Playoffs for two more years in 1959-60 under the coaching of J. D. Johnson. Among the many players on those teams were James Patterson, O. T. Brown, Roger Morgan, Jim Allen Brown, Donald Ray Adams, Harold Hubbard, Alton Crumb, W. M. Walford, Kenneth Herron, Michael Adams, and Claborn Jackson.
Clark School came to a close during the desegregation moves of the 1960's, and the last class to graduate from Clark High was the Class of 1966. Consolidation with Fannindel Schools was completed the following September, and the first former Clark students to graduate at Fannindel were members of the 1967 FHS Senior Class.
Mrs. Essie Adams, Mrs. Idonia Kennedy Askew, Professor J. W. Askew, Ms. E. J. Barnes, Mr. A. W. Barr, Mrs. Arlene Barnes Brooks, Mrs. Thyra Cooksie Pease Brown, Mr. H. G. Champion, Mrs. Annie Mae Dixon, Mrs. Elizabeth Dejournett, Miss Yvonne Ewell, Mary Nell Wheeler Foston, Mrs. Allie Blair Preston Ganaway, Mrs. Violet Potts Garrett, Mrs. Myrna Stewart Gilstrap, Judge Kenneth Herron, Mrs. Evelyn Jackson, Mrs. Erma Johnson, Mr. James D. Johnson, Mrs. Lillian Jones, Mrs. Nina Jones, Mrs. Eleanor King; Mr. O. O. Luper, Mrs. Glady Walker Burcher Marbrey, Mr. Marvin Ruth Martin, Mrs. McRuffin, Mrs. Lucille Parker, Mrs. C. Polk, Ms. Pratt, Mr. R. D. Preston, Mrs. Bernice Palmer Reed, Mrs. Ruth Walker Robinson, Miss Nannie Lou Shaw, Mr. Gerald Singleton, Mr. A. T. Solomon, Ms. S. E. Spigner, Ms. Stenette, Mr. Roy Watson, Mrs. Iceola Wheeler, Mr. Jimmie O. Williams, Mrs. Linnie Wright.
The following is a list of Clark High students.
Please let us know if you have additions or corrections to this list.
1946: Howard W. Hatcher Janice James Roberson (Grayson) Thelma Jean Stephens Glodine Crowley (Thomas)1947 Billy Joe King Charles Pruitt A. V. Shaw Bill Fuller Charles Stephens William Pruitt1948-49 Clarice Pruitt Gene Patterson Charles Patterson Elvira Spencer Marlene Johnson Vallie M. Gray James Eddie Shaw Erma Jean Roberts Robert Lee Roberts Christene Gray Bobbie Johnson1950 Earnestine Shaw Delbert Crowley James H. Palmer Hoyt Fuller Eula Crowley Emma Crowley Berniece Askew George R. McFarland Neal Fuller Ralph Fuller George King Charles Pruitt James Crowley Louise Askew Alga Crowley195? Robert Lee Roberts Essie Pruitt Earnestine Shaw Earnest Collins Homer Dinkins Berbara Stevens Cecil Pruitt, Jr. Roscoe McBeth J. W. Wyatt John Andy Simms Charles Wyatt Nanie L. Shaw Hubert Maloney Ralphel Shelton Joe L. Johnson Carrie Crosby1959 Michael Adams Jim Allen Brown O. T. Brown Cherry L. Bean Bobbie Cooksie Ona Elizabeth King Pearlene Hubbard Sammy Walker Sonny Walker Dorothy Adams Lorene Brown Jada M. Patterson Billy W. Lewis James Patterson Betty Jean McBeth Jerry Shaw Christene Scott Roger Morgan1960 Donald Adams James O. McBeth Thomas Lewis Eyvonne Hart Elnora Hubbard Betty Woods Charles Doyle Doris Scott Ralph Dinkens Roy Lee Ceasar Thomas Sweet Dorothy Herron Claudie Williams Wayne Scott Betty McBeth Polly R. Dinkins Katie Scott Harold Ray Dinkins1962 Johnny H. King Velma Gilmore Charles H. King Douglas Roberson Dorothy Raye Jackson Elma Scott Norene King James King Robert Scott Johnny Frank Sweet Willie Gene Johnson Lorrie J. Askew Elizabeth Sears Jake Spencer1963 Glenda Ceasar Douglas Crowley Vernell Evans Maurice Lewis Carolyn Lewis Thurman Jackson Maryann Maxwell William Jackson Elnora Smith Larry Smith Wayne Sweet Verdell Pruitt Virginia Hart1965 Jerry Don Brown Bobby L. Ceasar Mansfield Carr Patricia Doyle Roy Lee Holloway Lois Jean Morgan Harvey Manjane Sarah A. Jackson Delmar J. Traylor Barbara Williams Decatur Evans1966 (last Clark graduating class) Francine Askew Jerry Brown Ollie L. Brown Mansfield Carr Bobby Ceaser Patricia Doyle Joan Evans Marva Fuller Roy Holloway Charles Hooker Sarah Jackson Harvey Manjane Jesse W. McKinney Lois Morgan Marvin Pruitt J. W. Scott Billy Smith Harold Woods Joyce M. Wright
