Barnwell High Class of 1993 to reunite October 14

The Barnwell High School Class of 1993 is not only having a 30th Class Reunion with great music, food, and dancing on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Sweetwater Country Club in Barnwell, but they are giving back to the community and need more classmates to join them.

Cindy Lisbon, chair of the BHS Class of 1993 Reunion Committee, said, “The committee, comprised of eight BHS alumni, have been working tirelessly since December (of 2022) to ensure the 30th reunion is 'Anything but Typical,' per our class motto. I am proud of the team effort, but even prouder of the overall excitement of reconnecting after 30 years!"

Lisbon is now a retired, U.S. Army, Military Police Sergeant Major with 26 years of honorable service, has a husband, and is the mother of four daughters. By the way, at least three other leaders of the committee have had military leadership in some capacity.

After earning a master’s in education from Penn State, Lisbon achieved the academic rank of Assistant Professor.

In fact, academics are still important to the BHS Class of 1993 overall. For example, the BHS Class of 1993 is giving a donation to BHS in memory of a late, beloved Guinyard-Butler Middle School English Language Arts teacher, Dorothea Carter Perry. Her son, Russell Perry, was a part of the class of 1993, and his mother passed away in 2019.

Perry, who is a reunion committee member, currently resides in Williston with his wife, Star, and their two children, Chase and Jondalyn. He is a production manager for The Carlstar Group and owns The Sandwich Shop in Williston with his wife.

Perry said, among many memorable things about Mrs. Perry, “My mother had one saying, ‘Do your part.’”

According to several students, Mrs. Perry assigned creative work such as having students do illustrated book reports, had a vibrant classroom, and more. Most of the Class of 1993 and others who had her will remember how she led each class with either, “Good morning, class” or “Good afternoon, class.” To this, all or at least most students replied, “Good morning, Mrs. Perry” or “Good afternoon, Mrs. Perry.” If all did not answer, she would simply repeat this until she received the answer she wanted.

During this time in the Class of 1993’s lives, Mrs. Perry’s students may have been wearing jean jackets affixed with buttons with all sorts of slogans or band names or wearing various other fashion fads or faux pas.

They saw the following through the years: jean fads and fashion fads of all kinds, even bellbottoms during the first five years of their lives; the start and growth of personal computing; multiple media formats for music; and more.

In fact, some have even talked about not only wearing casual Warhorse attire during the reunion but bringing in some throw-backs to 90s attire such as ballooning Hammer pants and then some.

Many discussions such as these have happened within social media Zoom meetings of the BHS Class of 1993 Reunion Committee. In addition, returning back home after accomplishing much has been one of the topics of discussion. Perhaps unlike what Thomas Wolfe thought, one can go home again or like what Dorothy from M.G.M.’s “The Wizard of Oz” said, “There’s no place like home.”

Speaking on this topic, committee member Benjamin Wilkinson said, "Thirty years ago, I ventured forth from Barnwell, South Carolina with a full scholarship to Howard University lighting my path. Today, I return as a proud husband, innovative RF Engineer, and distinguished member of the Screen Actors Guild. Yet amidst all the accolades and achievements, nothing brings warmth to my heart quite like donning the proud title of a WARHORSE once more! It’s a glorious homecoming, back to where the journey began."

Next, John Terry Poole is also on the committee and has helped with catering and entertainment. Poole is now a general dentist who practices at Oakbrook Family Dentistry in Summerville, has a wife, and is the father to two young adults. After he finished dental school at MUSC in Charleston, he served in the U.S. Navy for five years. He was honorably discharged from the Navy as a Lieutenant.

Poole said, “Our dining and entertainment at the reunion will be provided by Barnwell High School graduates! We will have classmate Brad Myrick as our DJ, and our caterers will be Steve Walling and family of Steve’s Caterers. Walling graduated from BHS but not in the Class of 1993.”

BHS Class of 1993 alumnus Brad Myrick had a garage band and played electric guitar as well as a synthesizer in high school. He also majored and graduated in media arts at U.S.C. with decades of musical knowledge and experience under his belt. By the way, Myrick is also an accomplished businessman who has owned Myrick Wireless, Inc., a business he grew through many years.

Next, as the Class of 1993 has approached middle-age, first and foremost on their minds may be food. Steve’s Catering of Barnwell will be serving up the following delicious menu for the reunion: chilled shrimp cocktail, pork sliders, baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, garden salad, a variety of fruit, a variety of vegetables, and sweet tea. Any other beverages are BYOB.

Finally, the venue for the 30th Class Reunion of the BHS Class of 1993 will be the Sweetwater Country Club at 57 Club House Lane in Barnwell. If some did not play golf there, perhaps they remembered attending dances there before, playing flashlight tag out at the greens at night, living around the greens, or visiting a friend’s house there.

Attire is informal/casual with suggestions being blue jeans and school colors.

Only members of the BHS Class of 1993 and their guests are invited.

More attendees are still needed, and plans are for those who are coming to the reunion to attend the Homecoming game on Friday evening, Oct. 13.

Again, the reunion itself is at the aforementioned location on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $45 per person, and payment may be sent via CashApp at $BHSClassof1993 or via Zelle at bhswarhorse1993@gmail.com.

Other committee members not previously mentioned include: Anita Galloway, Rodney McCutcheon, Melinda Hallingquest, and Meredith Beasley.

For more information, email bhswarhorse1993@gmail.com.