Reunion draws large crowd

The ages ranged from one week to 103 at the annual Lost Cane, Whistleville, Little River and Roseland reunion held Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Manila Community Center. Kyndall Denton, the newest member of the Parks family, is one week old and Letha Veach of Corning, early settler of the Lost Cane community, is 103.

The event was created in the memory of James Lloyd Mathes, long time educator. This year's reunion was also held in memory of Ronnie Horner, one of the original committee members, who helped start the reunion and worked each year until his death in February.

Brother William Piercy held a short memorial for family and friends who had passed away since the last reunion.

Boyd Estes, reunion chairman, welcomed guests, thanked committee members and all who attend the reunion faithfully.

People attended from all over Arkansas, Michigan, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Florida.

Stories and memories were shared as people spent the morning catching up and looking over pictures from the Lost Cane School and previous reunions.

Janice Veach displayed an original surveyor's map dated 1931. She had found the map in an old trunk in an abandoned house. It was fragile and she decoupaged the map on a wooden frame to preserve it for future generations. She also displayed framed Indian arrowheads, tools, and clay marbles her husband, the late Freddy Veach, had found in the fields in the Lost Cane area.

Willie Faye Veach Dobbs had formal dresses she had worn in school plays as a child and her basketball suit.

Mrs. Dobbs shared a poem she had written for the reunion.

We saw Old Glory waving high, we saw The Statue of Liberty, we saw the rainbow in the sky, The valleys low, the mountains high, high rise buildings, the Golden Gate Bridge, the stormy skies, the ocean deep and the prairie wide. We have fought battles, won and lost. Fields of white cotton, farmers' delight, meadows of wild flowers, ball stadiums and casinos so bright, all of these appear different in each other's sight.

God has allowed us to build and destroy our ways, now it's time to do it right. Let's not forget to pray thank you, Lord, for letting us go our separate ways and meet back here together in fellowship.

Estes recognized Thelma Stotler Gulley and Cleo Gulley, former teachers who attended the reunion.

His wife, Bonnie Vassar Estes, made the table decorations.

Included in the potluck luncheon was a cake welcoming everyone to the 11th annual Lost Cane Reunion.

As the people registered, tickets were given to each one for door prizes to be given away. An original cotton boll painting by Rebecca Williams of Bay was donated as a door prize. It was won by Revis Blaylock.

Several members of the 1955 eighth grade graduates of Lost Cane School enjoyed visiting and posing for a picture. They included Joe Parks, Glenda Sutherland, Charles Hiser, Weltha Kay Mathes, Wanda Lott Roy, Lavonne Boren Schmidt, and Glenda Towels Curtwright.

"It is always great to come back together with old friends," Estes said. "A lot of the houses are gone. The school building is gone but the memories are still there."

A potluck luncheon was served and visiting continued throughout the afternoon.