Members of class of 1937 gather for reunion

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By Melanie Ruberti - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Audrey Cason Matthews keeps her memories of Way Station High School in an album. But it doesn't take much to transport her back in time when Ford car founder, Henry Ford, opened the school. "Mr. Ford had just taken us on as children, I think,"Audrey remembered," We had the first soup kitchen in the state of Georgia. He supplied us with lunch every day."

They're memories she's now sharing with one of her best friends, and classmates, Julia Witt, at an impromptu high school reunion. Of the thirteen graduates from Way Station High School in 1937, only four are still alive. "Audrey and I were more like sisters. We spent a lot of time dancing and going out," Witt said.

"Since we're all in our 90s, or approaching 90, I thought it would be unique if the four of us survivors could get together, " Matthews said.

Only Witt and Matthews could make it, but it didn't take long for the two to catch up. Matthews was the valedictorian of her class, Witt was the salutatorian. Matthews still has the original speech she gave at graduation. For their hard work, Matthews and Witt were the honored guests of Henry Ford at his plantation in Dearborn, Mich. "This is a picture of all of us when we left to go be a guest of his," Matthews said as she pointed to a picture in her album.

Witt and Matthews also took dance lessons and remember dancing to a live band, in what used to be the ballroom of Johnny Harris.

They're memories Matthews's daughter, Rose Mary, was glad she got another chance to share. "You should never put off tomorrow what you can do today," she said, "Because none of us know what tomorrow is going to bring. I very much wanted her to have this opportunity to get back with her classmates before it was too late. Before something happened to one of them."

Both women went on to the South Georgia Teaching College, now known as Georgia Southern University. They both got married and went their separate ways. But they vow never to forget the school in Bryan County, which shaped their minds, and their lives, forever. "All good memories," Matthews exclaimed.

The Way Station school later burned down. Another school was built in its place, in the city now known as Richmond Hill.