Reporters Note: A few weeks ago, I received a call here at the office from Mrs. Jane Caudle, a retired school teacher here in the community. A lifetime resident of Valdosta, Mrs. Caudle now lives in the Langdale House, and she called me in hopes that I could stop by and speak with her and some others who live in the city about their days of primary school.

Still in the spirit of a teacher, Mrs. Caudle arranged everything around the meeting — she called a number of old friends, she prepped them beforehand with possible questions, and upon arriving, I found them each wearing name tags she made, so that I could recall them better for my story.

As most in the group talked of their days at the Georgia State Woman’s College, where they were taught by young women who were studying to be teachers in what was known as the training school, there really was no need to ask questions. As they spoke of their memories, together, they told the story themselves.

VALDOSTA — The most beautiful thing about memories is the essence of life they bring about. And then, when a group of people gather and share the same memories, of the same day and time, it’s like that day is there in the midst of them. It’s like that day is lived all over again.

On Tuesday, I saw a group of youngsters — all friends from grammar school actually — share in a celebration together. Together, there at the Langdale House, I listened as they sat and shared memories of the Georgia State Woman’s College (now Valdosta State University) and the training school there during their elementary years. And right there in that room, those days of old became today as they talked of the May Day celebrations at the college and training school, that still keep them smiling today, even now, nearly 80 years later.

“Seventy-four years is a long time to remember. . .” said Mrs. Virginia Culpepper, not long after coming into the room and greeting everyone there by name. “Hello. Hello. Oh, I know you — Jack, and Mitchell. . . and Lou Nelle, and I think I’ve seen you before. And Frank Christian, well I haven’t seen you in ages, how are you doing?”

As she entered the room and took a seat among the others, Mrs. Culpepper, still carried the grace and poise of a May Queen.

She was crowned 74 years ago while a senior at GSWC, she said. She was only 20 then, and today, at 94, she recalls the details of the day just the same.

“I was probably the only May Queen that they had twice,” Mrs. Culpepper said. “We always had it on a Thursday afternoon and we got all ready, and ironed, and I had my crown and bouquet of roses, and got in the sedan chair, which was carried by six or eight college girls...and then, the rains came down. And it rained and it rained.”

The rains of that Thursday caused May Day to be postponed that year, but the crowd would return on that Saturday, to see the queen crowned once again before the full celebration.

“Well, on Saturday, we all gathered again with fresh roses, and the dress, pressed again, and we had to press the train that I borrowed from somebody,” said Culpepper. “It was a tradition to borrow that green train. Someone had worn it to bow before the Queen of England.“

For everyone in the room, May Day seemed to bring back some of the brightest and vivid memories. Even for those who at the time were no older than 7 or 6. Those were students of the GSWC training school.

“They chose a different theme for it each year and it was one big event for the college and training school,” said Mrs. Jane Caudle, 83, youngest member of the bunch. “The year I was in first grade, the theme was nursery rhymes and I was Goldie Locks.”

Even as they all recalled different years of the event and called the names of people I’d never know, I couldn’t help but conjure a sight of it all myself, especially as the gentlemen there told the boys’ tale.