COVINGTON, Ga. — It was a warm spring evening on April 29, 2023, and the air was filled with excitement and nostalgia as former students of R.L. Cousins High School gathered — post pandemic — to share a meal, fellowship and commemorate the closing of their beloved school over 50 years ago.
The event was held at Hampton Inn in Covington. The room was adorned with the school colors of maroon and gold that brought back fond memories of their time at RLC.
As they entered the room, the former students were filled with a sense of pride and camaraderie. They hugged and caught up on old times, reminiscing about their favorite teachers and the fun they had as teenagers and young adults.
The dinner was catered by Boyd’s Catering. Former students dined on delectable yet familiar dishes of southern fried chicken, herb baked chicken, baked ham, baked tilapia and rice, mac and cheese, sautéed green beans, plain green beans, honey glazed carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy, tossed green salad, rolls, tea and lemonade. All this was complemented with pound cake and peach cobbler for dessert, while listening to smooth R&B and Soul sounds from the 60s and 70s.
Prior to dinner, recognition was given to classmates who have passed. In fact, this event was inspired by the most recent passing of a classmate, Mr. Harvey Belcher; who silently sent a clarion call to all to reach out and touch one another, more frequently. Afterwards, the floor was open for comments, thoughts, and appreciations. Most importantly, the group unanimously agreed to gather annually to break bread and fellowship.
As the evening drew to a close, there were tears and hugs and lots of photo taking as they said their goodbyes, each carrying with them a renewed sense of community and the memories of their beloved school and principal, Mr. Robert L. Stewart, who guided the school from 1957-1970. At that moment, they knew that even though R.L. Cousins High School was now just a memory, the bonds they had formed and the culture they generated there, from 1966-1970, would last a lifetime.
