Seventy-two years after their graduation, the three surviving members of the Black River High School Class of 1952 gathered to commemorate the milestone and reminisce about their shared past. The reunion, held on July 19, 2024, marked a poignant moment for the small group, who represent the final living ties to a school that has since been absorbed into the Turbeville School System.
The surviving members are Joseph Thomas (Tom) Witherspoon, 92, currently residing at Pocotaligo Rehab & Health Center; William Allen (Bill) DuBose, 91, now living at Covenant Place of Sumter; and Oscar Gerald (Jerry) Robertson, 89, who resides in Manning.
Black River High School, originally known as Gable School, began with just 11 grades and expanded to include the 12th grade around 1947, under the leadership of Superintendent F.E. DuBose. The school, located in Gable, was eventually consolidated with the Turbeville School System after the Class of 1952 graduated.
The original class of 1952 consisted of 14 members, many of whom are now deceased. The three remaining classmates have kept the memory of their school and their fellow graduates alive, remembering each with a sense of pride and nostalgia. The class president, Bobbie Jean Hodge, and other notable members, such as the class prophet Joseph Thomas Witherspoon and class poet Gerald Robertson, are among the names listed, with each one’s contributions and accomplishments fondly recalled.
At the 38th reunion, the class made a unique pact: a bottle of champagne was purchased with the intention that when only three members remained, they would toast to their school and teachers. On July 19, 2024, Jerry Robertson and Joseph Witherspoon honored that tradition by sipping from the now 34-year-old bottle. William DuBose, who had long vowed never to touch alcohol, respectfully declined.
To continue the tradition, a new bottle of champagne was purchased on July 20, and the brass tag from the original bottle was transferred to it. The group decided that the last surviving member would open the new bottle and make a final toast—unless, of course, it is Bill DuBose, who remains steadfast in his promise.
This reunion, filled with memories and a touch of bittersweet reflection, serves as a tribute to the enduring bond of friendship and the lasting legacy of a school that shaped their lives so many decades ago.
