Note from Dave Hardee

Dear Folks,

I’m sending you a clipping from our local paper which shows where our choral society donated a check to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. This was at our Christmas Concert at Cameron Art Center.

Dave

newspaper clipping

 

Miss May

The latest information that I have on Miss May is that she was moved from Wake Medical to a skilled nursing facility, Harnett Woods, last Friday.
I do not have a room number as this time.

The address is : May Marshbanks
c/o Harnett Woods Nursing Home
604 Lucas Road
Dunn, N.C.
28334
910-891-4600

I called the facility Sunday afternoon and the nurse said that she was doing fine. There is no phone in her room but the nurse said she was allowed visitors.
I am providing this information for anyone who might wish to know. Certainly she needs our prayers.

Dave

Tribute … from David Hardee

April 14th, 2007

NC Awards Committee
4601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC
27699-4601

Dear Committee :

I am writing this letter to enthusiastically support the selection of Miss May Marshbanks as a recipient of the “NC Award” for her many years of dedicated humanitarian service to the people of her community, the region, and the State of North Carolina . As she approaches her 90th birthday it is right and fitting that she be recognized for all that she has done.

I came to know Miss Marshbanks when she was my high school principal at Chapel Hill High School in the late 1950’s. I remember her kind and patient guidance through those years. Some other things that I remember about her were the multitude of talents that she possessed. A tremendous math teacher whose instructional gifts extended into every facet of our educational lives. In addition, she demonstrated by the way she led her life, the type of character that one should aspire to and she still does to this day.

Another area that Miss May excelled in was music. For a number of years she was the organist and choir director for the University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. I was in the Glee Club at that time and she suggested that I might enjoy singing in her choir. What an education I got from that! The first thing we started on was selections from the Christmas part of Handel’s Messiah. It was a revelation ! I had never sung such beautiful music and I was awed by her musical knowledge and ability. She sang with a beautiful contralto voice and played the pipe organ with great skill and virtuosity. She started me on a pathway that I still enjoy today. At age 66 I still sing in a church choir and a choral society and Miss May pointed me in a direction that has been a lifelong blessing.

After over 30 years as a teacher and administrator, Miss May retired from education but was not yet ready to end her service to the people of North Carolina. She organized the Office for the Services for the Aging there in Lillington. She once told me that she had intended to be there for only a few years but in actuality she has continued in that office for longer than she taught school. In closing let me say that I am proud to be one of the thousands of her “young’uns” as she calls us. She and I have maintained contact over the years at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and especially Mother’s Day. If you think that maybe I love her, you’re right.

Sincerely,

David R. Hardee
52 Northwood Drive
Wilmington, NC
28405

Word from David Hardee:

“I have just found out this afternoon that Miss Marshbanks is in Wake Medical Center. She is not doing well at all. She needs our prayers and concerns. It looks like she has a tough row to hoe. “

Cards, letters, notes, and flowers can be sent to Miss Marshbanks at:

Miss May Marshbanks
Wake Medical Center
Room 5C 24
3000 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27618

Update from Tom Thayer

Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:19:39 -0600

Always mindful of the best CHHS website and the opportunity to expand its contents, I submit the following picture(s) as a summertime addition.

In a way, for me at least, this is the close to last year’s reunion. It was at the reunion that David Henry suggested a get-together at this year’s Indy 500 because this race was the 100th anniversary of the race. David and Judy did all the planning and entertaining . . . a great time was had by all.

Anyway, the main picture of the four of us sitting on the tailgate of Fred’s car is the essential contribution. The text in quotes, below, goes with this picture.

Classmates (R to L) John Bagby, Fred Schnibben, David Henry and Tom Thayer tailgating breakfast at this year’s Indy 500.

“Classmates (R to L) John Bagby, Fred Schnibben, David Henry and Tom Thayer tailgating breakfast at this year’s Indy 500. (The young man at the far left is a guy named Jeff, friend of Erick Schnibben, who took the picture.) Hosts David and Judy Henry made sure we had a great time in Indianapolis and avoided many of the complications one could have at an event attended by 33 cars and half a million people fueled by ethanol.”

I’ve also included a second picture of the first car to win the Indy 500 back in 1911, if your son has room for it on the website. (I’ve included the second picture mostly to show we really did do more than drink breakfast in an open field parking lot.)

the first car to win the Indy 500 back in 1911

Finally, please extend our thanks to your son (and to you) for doing such a great job on the website. I maintain contact with a lot of our classmates, having been the person to reestablish contact in preparation for the reunion, and these folks frequently comment on the quality and extensive content of the website . . . it’s a tough act to follow.

TomT.

note from Dave Hardee:

Dear Folks, This is an online article that son Bryant wrote for a magazine in Colombia. Needless to say I’m proud of his work. Dave Hardee http://colombiareports.com/opinion/157-guests/17063-my-passion-for-colombia.html

note from Don Neville

The message below was forward by Tom Thayer

May 15, 2011

After Jan and I returned to the Villages after working on updates to the boat in Orange Beach, Al., I reinjured my back. Confined to bed, I came down with pneumonia which prevented me from seeing a neurosurgeon for a few days,  Suffering about a 60% loss of useage in my left leg, the Dr. ordered an MRI of my lower back.  I was in surgery whhithin the week where I had 4 bone grafts, two  steel rods, and miscellaneous hardware installed.  I am home but can’t do much.  I am fitted with a large backbrace which I have to wear whenever I am out of bed.I also have an electromagetic device to promote bone growth. I hope to be back to normal in a few months. The boat is sitting in Al. where some more equipment is yet to be installed.  I hope to get back aboard in July, and move it to Jacksonville, Fl in Aug.  Might have to get a captain for the trip, depending on how I progress.  Anyway, things are going OK as long as I stay on my pain meds. I am limited in how long I can sit at the computer so I might be slow in responding to emails.

Don Neville

Miss Marshbanks contact information

May   Marshbanks

phone: (910)   893-8181

 

Preferred Mail Address:

Box 65, Buie’s Creek, NC  27506

 

address:

Brookfield Retirement Center 2041 NC 210 North

Lillington  NC    27546

Catherine A. Pendergrass December 2010

I’m sad to report that our classmate Catherine Pendergrass died last Saturday, December 18 at UNC Hospital.  Judy Bowden Johnson called yesterday with the news, and told me that she had been having kidney dialysis three times a week for some time.  We were unable to locate her to include her in the reunion, but Judy told me she had been living in Mebane with a sister for a year or so.  She was also the sister of long-time Orange County sheriff Lindy Pendergrass.  The obituary in the paper today says that she worked in banking and in a law office for 40 years.  Her funeral will be held at Carrboro Methodist Church on Thursday, December 23, at 2 pm.

 

I know we’ll all be remembering Catherine as we spend time with friends and family during the next few days.

Happy December Birthdays to …

Ed Kenney,

Ann Sterling Wadsworth Beck.

CHHS’ers let me know if I missed anyone!