All people associated with the Sarepta High School from 1923 until the consolidation of Webster Parish Schools in 2011 were invited to “A Celebration of Friends” on October 5, at the Sarepta Community Center, 210 Vines Street in Sarepta.
Classmates, teachers, and workers from far and near gathered to visit and reconnect. Harold Dean (class of 1956) and several others formed this organization to keep in touch with fellow Sarepta High School administrators and friends and to contribute in various ways to the community. Throughout the years this group has held fundraising events and donated thousands of dollars for such things as the Webster Parish Junior High School display sign. They have also found and restored all the graduating high school class photographs and hung them in the Community Center.
This caring body has an ongoing fund to assist Josh Branton who was disabled while participating in a Sarepta High School Football game. It takes many hard-working, generous members and the public to keep supporting these and other endeavors. Gerald Holland (class of 1957), 41 Stonehenge Drive, Bentonville, AR 72712, is the volunteer treasurer. Any donations to the “Hornet Fund” may be sent to him.
Dale and Frances Johnston (class of 1956) Haley deserve special recognition for all the long hours and personal funds they gave while compiling the information and pictures of every class from 1923 to1995 and for printing the “REUNION” book that was sold. These proceeds went to The Hornet Fund. This talented couple also have restored and refinished an upright piano donated by the Dean Family and have built two display cabinets that house the salvageable Sarepta School trophies. These items are in the Sarepta Community Center.
During the program, Mr. Dean presented gift card awards to Nell Slack Bice (class of 1952) who traveled the farthest from her home in Idaho to attend and to the oldest teacher and the oldest student, Tope Dean Colvin (class of 1951). The youngest student was from the class of 2003, Josh Branton.
The Sarepta Celebration of Friends will next meet on October 4, 2025, at the Sarepta Community Center.