On Friday, July 30, 1999, the Homer-Mayfield School Reunion kicked off a three-day celebration beginning with a banquet at Homer City Hall. About two hundred former teachers, students, and others gathered for a meal and entertainment, recognition of former teachers and students, and to hear remarks by Mayor David Aubrey. The theme for this year's reunion was "What We Do After Here Determines Where We Go Hereafter."
It was February 1984 when Dr. W. C. West, a 1951 graduate, came up with the idea for a reunion. A meeting was held, officers were elected, and a decision was made to meet every three years on the last weekend in July.
It was sometime prior to 1926 when The Homer-Mayfield School first opened as "The Homer Normal Industrial and Bible Training School" located on the site of the present Homer Junior High School.
It was through the efforts of Reverend Roy A. Mayfield and donation from local churches and other organizations that the two story building was constructed. At that time the school offered educational courses in grades one through twelve, as well as music and Bible classes.
Mayfield was born in Vienna, LA in 1876, graduated from high school in Ruston in 1892, married Susie Pearl Legardy, taught public school in Louisiana and Arkansas, and pastored in a number of churches, beginning in 1902 with Ebenezer Baptist Church in Homer. It would be sometime after his death in February 1944 the school would be renamed Mayfield High.
The Claiborne Parish School Board purchased the building establishing the first public school for black children in Homer, holding classes from first through tenth grades. In 1926, the School Board hired the first principal, Allen Roy Rushing, a graduate of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.
Until 1942, Rushing remained principal helping rebuild after a fire destroyed the original school building and was helpful in establishing Homer Colored High.
From 1943-1944, M. M. Coleman served as principal, Lawrence Webb from 1944-1945, then Professor Reverend John S. Davis from 1945-1958. It was during Davis' administration, the school was renamed Mayfield High School in honor of Rev. Roy Mayfield. The school also added a home economic cottage, vocational arts shop, and football program.
Other principals were N. F. Harrison who served from 1958-1965 and Huey V. Fields from 1965 to the fall of 1970, when the school merged with Homer. At that time, Mayfield High School became Homer Jr. High, thus ending all projects and activities of Mayfield School.
A number of former teachers who have since retired were recognized during the banquet night. They were Huey Fields, Earlene Fields, John S. Davis, Jr., Tommy Russ, Ruthie M. Rhodes, Scott Roberson, and Lilla M. Winzer.
Also attending the reunion was the nephew of Rev. Roy Mayfield, Dr. Joseph W. Mayfield, his wife, Charlie Margaret, and daughter Margaret Mayfield Barras.
Although Mayfield High was only a memory when Mayor David Aubrey was born in 1973, he shared a few thoughts with those attending the reunion.
Aubrey told participants he wondered where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "got all that energy and drive to keep marching when it probably seemed like there was no benefit."
Today, he wants to continue to press forward to make the Town of Homer a better place, while remaining humble and giving God the credit for where we are as we approach the year 2000.
He quoted a poem by Langston Hughes entitled "I Too" (Am America). He went on to say, "It really doesn't matter about age or race--what matters most is what's in the heart."
Reunion festivities continued over the weekend with a Saturday barbecue at Mayfield Park and worship service on Sunday, August 1 at 4::00 p.m. at the Homer High School auditorium.
The next reunion will be held in July 2003.
