💜💛 Cheers to 40 Years!<>>

And just like that, our reunion weekend is in the books! Ninety-two—yes, 92—classmates came together for football, fellowship, the Downtown Sip & Stroll, and an unforgettable Reunion Celebration.

There were smiles, laughter, heartfelt hugs, and memories we’ll carry with us for years to come. This weekend was truly special—and one that will be hard to top.

From the entire Planning Committee, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up, reconnecting, celebrating, and making our 40th reunion one we’ll never forget.

As we close out this incredible weekend, we’d like to share a few heartfelt words from Tracie Mayo and Joe Estes about the lasting impact this reunion had on those who were there.

From Tracie Mayo

I’m still smiling thinking about last night.

Although, in fairness, starting a 40th high school reunion with a tequila shot probably tells you everything you need to know about the Class of ’86. Apparently, maturity has its limits. Thank you Ann Marie Blackmon.

But what got me more than anything was the sound of the room.

All those voices. Those accents. Our accents. Speaking of accents, Donna Lyon Hammond, you make me want to move to the low country just so that I can hear those accents every day.

I didn’t realize how much I missed hearing people speak in our native tongue until I was surrounded by it again. There is something so comforting about hearing the voices of home. For a few hours, it didn’t feel like 40 years had passed. It felt like we had all just wandered back into the same place we left — only with better clothes, more expensive glasses, a few replacement parts, and significantly more interesting pharmaceutical histories.

And what a beautiful group of people we’ve become.

I loved seeing who everyone grew up to be. I loved the hugs, the stories, the laughter, the memories and those moments when you looked at someone and could suddenly see the 17-year-old you remembered underneath the person standing in front of you.

My biggest regret is that I had to leave early. There were so many people I didn’t get to talk to, so many stories I didn’t get to hear, and so many hugs I missed. I truly hated leaving and missing the rest of the night.

And to the organizers, thank you. Thank you for bringing us together and giving us the opportunity to remember where we came from and the people who were there when so much of our story was just beginning. Joe Estes, Mandi Johnson Donald, Inga Hawfield Kish, Ann Marie, Regina, and anyone else I forgot to tag … Bravo!! Excellent job of bringing together a lot of people from all over this beautiful country. Back to our hometown. Back to our roots. It makes me miss this beautiful state even more. 

Forty years is a hell of a long time.

And somehow, after one tequila shot, a few hugs, and hearing those hometown accents again…

it didn’t feel like it at all.

Class of ’86, I absolutely loved seeing you.

Next time, though, somebody needs to schedule this thing earlier in the day. We are not the people we were in 1986.

From Joe Estes

My 40th High School Reunion was this past weekend. When I graduated high school, I swore I would never attend one of these and I darn sure would never have predicted that I would be on the planning committee for my 40th. I am confident that none of my classmates would have predicted that either. My high school years weren't a lot of fun and I had no intention of ever going back. The only reason I attended our 10th reunion was to show off my smoking hot girlfriend (now wife). I can't remember why I went to our 20th, but I was glad that I did. Everyone had grown up, including me. By then we were all adults and we enjoyed reconnecting for a weekend. The 30th reunion was the same.

A few months ago I was wondering if our class would have a 40th reunion. Then my old friend, Regina Norris, reached out to me through this platform to ask if I would be willing to be on the planning committee that she was putting together. Honestly, I was a reluctant yes. Like most of you, I have a busy life and it felt like one more thing. But I am so glad that Regina asked me and that I said yes. I've had a wonderful time reconnecting with old classmates on the committee. I built new relationships with old friends and lamented the fact that I missed out on being closer with these people this entire time. It was a lot of work, but the result this past weekend made it all worth our efforts.

At the first meeting, we discussed the fact that we wanted every single classmate to know about it and we wanted every single one of them to know that we wanted them there. Then we started the work of tracking as many people down as possible and encouraging them to attend. We were unapologetically obnoxious about it at times.

Our efforts paid off. We had an incredible turnout this past weekend. We saw people that we haven't seen since 1986. Classmates that had never attended before. Everyone in the same place again for the first time since graduation. It was all smiles, hugs, laughter, and love. We hugged each other like we meant it...because we did. It was good for my soul and I know that many of you feel the same way.

Thank you to everyone that made it out this weekend. For those that were unable to make it, we missed you. If I have anything to do with it, we'll do this again in 5 years instead of waiting 10.

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