The Laurinburg Institute Alumni will kick off the Memorial Day weekend with its annual reunion.
The three-day event, which begins Friday, will include dinners, a Gospel concert, receptions and a general meeting.
Cleveland Leggett is also expected to speak to Laurinburg Institute and Friends Alumni Reunion on Saturday. Leggett, a member of the Class of 1950, is retired from the United State Government Printing Office, Composing Section, and the Maryland Public Schools system.
June Harrell, an organizer for the reunion, said the group hopes to attract more than just alumni of the historic African American preparatory school.
“We want as many people as possible to take part this weekend,” said Harrell, a former Institute teacher. “That why it is called alumni and friends.”
Harrell said she was unsure the exact number of years the event has been held, but she the reunion “has been going a very long time.”
“We have a great time,” she said. “I really love the meet-and-greet when you get a chance to see everyone and get reacquainted.”
Harrell moved to Scotland County to teach business at the Laurinburg Institute. After five years there, she taught at R.B. Dean and Maxton High School in Maxton until 1983, teaching at Purnell Swett in Pembroke until her retirement in 1996.
Her late husband, Anzell Harrell, also has ties to the school. He was president of the Laurinburg Alumni group for several years. He also served as a teacher at Shaw and I. Ellis Johnson before becoming an assistant principal and driver education instructor at Scotland High School.
“We didn’t attend Laurinburg Institute, but it has meant a lot to us,” Harrell said.
Proceeds from the reunion will go to a scholarship at the school, which was founded in 1904 by Emmanuel Monty and Tinny McDuffie at the request of Booker T. Washington.
Most of the weekend’s events will be based out of the Comfort Inn, off U.S.401 South in Laurinburg.
The reunion will begin with registration at Comfort Inn Friday from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The schedules is as follows:
Friday
4 to 6 p.m. - Meet-and-Greet
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.- Evening entertainment
Saturday
1 to 3 p.m.- Luncheon at Clinton Inn with guest speaker
7 to 9 p.m.- Class of 1950 Concert, Psalms and Gospel at Storytelling Arts Center
Sunday
11 a.m. Morning worship at Spring Branch Missionary Baptist Church, Wagram
6 p.m.: General Meeting at Clinton Inn, Hospitality Suite
Monday
9 a.m.: Farewell Breakfast at Clinton Inn, Hospitality Suite
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