We're excited to be able to celebrate with all of our family members, near and far, in Pinetops and Tarboro, NC for our August 2016 reunion.
On Friday night, we will be getting together at the Carver Elementary School Gymnasium.
The George Washington Carver High School was established in October 1941. The school was named in honor of George Washington Carver, the acclaimed agricultural scientist. Carver himself was a symbol of extensive education, and the high school, so appropriately named, became a token of education. It was built on the southern end of Edgecombe County, just within the city limits of Pinetops. Carver’s first newsletter was named the “Peep.” The mascot was the “Eagle”, and the school colors, burgundy and gold, as it remains today. The first principal, Mr. Samuel Alexander Gilliam, was born January 29, 1912, in Portsmouth, VA. His parents were Julius and Carrie Gilliam. He received his undergraduate degree from Shaw University and his graduate degree from North Carolina College for Negroes in Durham.
From 1941-1976, Carver had only one principal. Mr. Gilliam was in the Army from January 1943 to September 1946. During this time, the school was under the leadership of Mr. C. M. Caraway. Upon returning from military duties, Mr. Gilliam continued to serve as principal until his retirement in 1976.
The school began with a staff of nine: three elementary teachers and six high school teachers. The physical plant has greatly enlarged. In 1941, there was one brick building containing nine classrooms, the library, and the home economics department. One framed building used for agricultural classes was replaced in 1957 by a modern brick agricultural building. In 1952, the high school building and gym were completed. In 1960, a six classroom primary building was added. The cafeteria was occupied in October 1964, serving hot lunches to approximately 850 students daily. Before the cafeteria, soup and sandwiches were made in the home economics department and sold on the hall for 10 cents and punch cost a nickel. Fifteen cents would buy your lunch.
Carver became an elementary school due to integration in 1971. The last senior class graduated on June 4, 1971. The 1971-72 school year brought with it a completely new program in Carver’s history, total integration that was made smoothly and without sacrifice to the structural program for the students. The Edgecombe County Board of Education developed plans to reorganize schools in the southern end of the county after the merger of South and West Edgecombe high schools. In March 1978, fire destroyed the original building that was constructed in 1941. The loss of this building speeded up the plans to move grades 5-8 to South Edgecombe School, leaving only K-4 at Carver. The board closed Living Hope Primary School at the end of the 1981-82 school year.
Carver Elementary School currently has approximately 900 students and 102 teachers and staff. Grades taught include PreK thru 5. In 2007, the latest addition was the 5thgrade wing (6 class rooms). The principal, Mr. William S. Ellis, commented about Carver:
“G. W. Carver is a valuable asset to our community. It continues to be the top elementary school in the county. It is a wonderful place to work, with a family atmosphere; and, where parents and students feel welcome.”
To learn more about GW Carver, click here.
Remember "We are Family" and we'll see you all August 5-6, 2016. If you have any questions, please email us at vinesbarnes2016@gmail.com.
On Friday night, we will be getting together at the Carver Elementary School Gymnasium.
The George Washington Carver High School was established in October 1941. The school was named in honor of George Washington Carver, the acclaimed agricultural scientist. Carver himself was a symbol of extensive education, and the high school, so appropriately named, became a token of education. It was built on the southern end of Edgecombe County, just within the city limits of Pinetops. Carver’s first newsletter was named the “Peep.” The mascot was the “Eagle”, and the school colors, burgundy and gold, as it remains today. The first principal, Mr. Samuel Alexander Gilliam, was born January 29, 1912, in Portsmouth, VA. His parents were Julius and Carrie Gilliam. He received his undergraduate degree from Shaw University and his graduate degree from North Carolina College for Negroes in Durham.
From 1941-1976, Carver had only one principal. Mr. Gilliam was in the Army from January 1943 to September 1946. During this time, the school was under the leadership of Mr. C. M. Caraway. Upon returning from military duties, Mr. Gilliam continued to serve as principal until his retirement in 1976.
The school began with a staff of nine: three elementary teachers and six high school teachers. The physical plant has greatly enlarged. In 1941, there was one brick building containing nine classrooms, the library, and the home economics department. One framed building used for agricultural classes was replaced in 1957 by a modern brick agricultural building. In 1952, the high school building and gym were completed. In 1960, a six classroom primary building was added. The cafeteria was occupied in October 1964, serving hot lunches to approximately 850 students daily. Before the cafeteria, soup and sandwiches were made in the home economics department and sold on the hall for 10 cents and punch cost a nickel. Fifteen cents would buy your lunch.
Carver became an elementary school due to integration in 1971. The last senior class graduated on June 4, 1971. The 1971-72 school year brought with it a completely new program in Carver’s history, total integration that was made smoothly and without sacrifice to the structural program for the students. The Edgecombe County Board of Education developed plans to reorganize schools in the southern end of the county after the merger of South and West Edgecombe high schools. In March 1978, fire destroyed the original building that was constructed in 1941. The loss of this building speeded up the plans to move grades 5-8 to South Edgecombe School, leaving only K-4 at Carver. The board closed Living Hope Primary School at the end of the 1981-82 school year.
Carver Elementary School currently has approximately 900 students and 102 teachers and staff. Grades taught include PreK thru 5. In 2007, the latest addition was the 5thgrade wing (6 class rooms). The principal, Mr. William S. Ellis, commented about Carver:
“G. W. Carver is a valuable asset to our community. It continues to be the top elementary school in the county. It is a wonderful place to work, with a family atmosphere; and, where parents and students feel welcome.”
To learn more about GW Carver, click here.
Remember "We are Family" and we'll see you all August 5-6, 2016. If you have any questions, please email us at vinesbarnes2016@gmail.com.
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