What’s the SCRAPBOOK? Here’s where you get to provide a "remember when", a memory from days at the Pines. Like, "Remember when Geneva lost the music to the Beatitudes during the final Pine Forge choir concert?" Or, "Remember when we had to wear uniforms on our class trip to New York?" Or, "Remember when Big Palm didn’t allow us to go to Oakwood, the ONLY class in the history of Pine Forge who got to go to COLUMBIA UNION COLLEGE instead?" Stuff like that. E-mail your info (and pictures, if you have them) to GENEVA. Be careful, I'm not editing anything, just posting what I get!!!! (smiles)

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ALSO...
Visit our new MESSAGE BOARD. You never know who might answer.

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COMING SOON...
A One-Stop GALLERY of all the 'people' images available on PFA65.COM.

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Here's the 411 on Bobbie Matthews!

In June 1996, after living in Sacramento, California for 19 years, I went to Korea as a volunteer missionary to teach conversational English and Bible at the SDA Korean Language Institute. I enjoyed teaching the students, and enjoyed my friendship ministry with them, as well. Added to my experience was learning to speak enough of the Korean language to function in the community, travel, shop, etc.

After living and working in Korea for two years I began to think it was time for me to return home, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do. My interest was health and pastoral counseling. A friend gave me a brochure from a place called Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital in Georgia. I liked what I read, because listed on the brochure were health and spiritual subjects of interest to me--natural remedies, massage, and the sanctuary message. The added bonus was that Wildwood is only six hours by car from Cincinnati, Ohio where my father lived.

I applied to Wildwood and was accepted for the January, 1999 program. I worked for six months, January to June, as a work scholarship student and became a regular student from June to December. I worked as a lifestyle counselor at Wildwood for two and half years. As a lifesyle counselor I gave hydrotherapy treatments (application of hot and cold water to treat disease), massage, cooking demonstrations, one lecture and various other duties.

In August, 2002 I returned to Korea for another year. In August 2003 I went to Cincinnati, Ohio where my father lived. My plans were to stay there as long as he lived; he died a month after I got there. I stayed in Cincinnati until December 6, 2004 when Jesus called me to return to Wildwood.

Presently, I am a student at Wildwood to further my education in the use of natural remedies to treat and heal the sick.

Yup, Gary Hillyer visits Allon Chapel, Lincoln, Nebraska

Gary Hillyer outside the Allon Chapel SDA Church, Lincoln, Nebraska

On Sabbath, February 26, Gary Hillyer called me. He had a listing of our class members and remembered I live in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 20 miles outside of Lincoln, on his way to Salt Lake City, and wanted to go to church somewhere. He parked his lovely truck just inside the city limits, I picked him up, and we went to my church, Allon Chapel, right here in Lincoln. I hadn't seen him since 1965, when we graduated. He and his wife, the former Rene' Thompson, reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Geneva Simons Kitching

CHECK OUT THESE BABES!

Left to right: Barbara Wooding, Gloria Thomas, Juanita Williams, Virginia Lester, and Ernestine Fenison

Here's a picture of some of the '65 beauties at the 20-year Pine Forge reunion--don't they look good? Thanks to Juanita Williams Reynolds for the picture, and Juanita, sorry it took so long to post!

About Samuel H. Turner, Sr.

A proud member of the Mighty Class of '65

Samuel H. Turner, Sr., presently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee, Kansas. Mr. Turner has nearly 20 years experience in the industry having served as a health care consultant as well as a hospital executive.

His career began with a position as General Attorney at Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in Pittsburgh, PA. After eight years in that position, he decided to enter the health care arena. Mr. Turner became the General Vice President at Hyde Park Hospital in Chicago, Ill. Within several years, he was recruited to be a Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Lakeshore Health System, Inc., in East Chicago, Indiana. In 1993, Mr. Turner became President and Chief Executive Officer at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. From there, he entered private law practice offering consulting for physicians and hospitals. Mr. Turner also started his own company, Custom Title and Settlement, Inc. during that time. He joined Shawnee Mission Medical Center in 2000.

Mr. Turner received his bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University in 1974, and three years later earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Mr. Turner served in the United States Army from 1969 – 1971 and received a Bronze Star for Valor and a Bronze Star for Merit during his tour in Vietnam.

Mr. Turner is active in the community serving on various boards including the American Heart Association, Center for Practical Bioethics, Country Club Bank, the Johnson County Community College Found, Kansas City’s public television station, KCPT, Kansas City Metropolitan Healthcare Council, Leawood, Kansas Parks and Recreation, Mid-America Coalition on Healthcare, Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce, Union College, United Way of Johnson County, and the US Dream Academy.

He is also a member of the Overland Park Rotary Club and the Johnson County Chapter of the NAACP.

And, most important, Mr. Turner is a proud graduate of Pine Forge Institute, The Mighty Class of 1965, and former NPFAAA President from 1981 to 1986.

He and his wife, Sharon, reside in Leawood, Kansas. They have a son, Samuel H. Turner II, a daughter-in-law, Rosalia D. Turner, one grandson, Samuel H. Turner, III and a grand-daughter, Hannah Alexis-Rose Turner.

About Eldridge Edgecombe, Class of '65 President...

A proud member of the Mighty Class of '65

Eldridge Edgecombe is a Senior Vice President at the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank and the Head of its Community Investment Group. In addition, he is a member of the FHLBank’s Management Committee. Previously, Eldridge was a Vice President and the Chief Operating Officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati’s Housing and Community Investment Department.

Eldridge has more than 20 years of affordable housing and community economic development experience. Previously, he served a three-year term as the Chief Executive Officer of an affordable housing real estate developer in Columbus, Ohio; a four-year term as the Director of the state of Ohio’s Community Development Division; and an eight-year term as the Controller for the city of Toledo, OH’s Department of Neighborhoods.

Eldridge is a Certified Public Accountant who has earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Toledo and a BSBA in Accounting from Franklin University in Columbus, OH. In addition, Eldridge has completed the Graduate School of Banking Program at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI.

And, most important, Mr. Edgecombe is a proud graduate of Pine Forge Institute, The Mighty Class of 1965, and the first NPFAAA President, in office from 1977 to 1980.

Eldridge is married to the former Iris Elaine Williams of Baton Rouge, LA.

HOW DO I BEGIN?

Geneva Simons Kitching - Daddy took this picture in 1982.

When I begin to think about Pine Forge and what it means to me, I am struck with the realization that I don’t know how to express what I feel. I do have an understanding of its impress on my soul, yet how to express it? So difficult, I’m afraid.

Memories flood—Virginia and Ersula, my first Pine Forge friends at nine years of age. Walking across the red bridge to visit Virginia. Ancient Christmas candy to be found in Elder Watson’s closet at the admin building. Wishing I was an on-campus student so that I, too, could receive “midnight” mail. Sensing that what we were sharing at Pine Forge was special, but not understanding how special. Wanting to kiss my boyfriend soooo badly, but being afraid. Spending lonely summers at the Pines, always anticipating the return of friends in the fall.

Yet there’s more. Through the years, as I’ve heard from school mates and class mates, I know that the strength of those Pine Forge friendships remains, not just in the past, but here in the present as well. I’ve listened to excitement and enthusiasm in the voices of my friends, I’ve been moved as I heard profoundly sad experiences, and cried with friends, sometimes because of my grief, sometimes because of theirs. We’ve endured the loss of Allan and Jonice, Orrie and Beverly Surrell, Connie Riley, Mary Vee and Jerry. We share a community. And the strength of that community gives me strength. Just hearing Brenda Reaves on the phone after over 25 years—so wonderful! Chatting with Lloyd Smith, and Robert Penn, and Chinky Shawell over the years—what fun! Finding out that Arvel Givens is a pastor in Virginia, and Ed Pearson is enjoying the great outdoors in California. And we've made new Pine Forge friends as well--I count Yvette Charity Peterson, who came after our class, as a dear friend.

And another thing. I share a small part in the building and maintenance of this pfa65 website. I share that responsibility with David Cato, a classmate who has become a very dear friend. And even though I’ve not yet met her, I consider Liz, his wife, a friend as well. David has rekindled in me a commitment to excellence, and for that, I am grateful and always will be.

One final thing. I’ve adopted a credo of sorts—here it is: “Passion is powerful. Nothing was ever achieved without it, and nothing can take its place. No matter what you face in life, if your passion is great enough, you will find the strength to succeed. Without passion, life has no meaning. So put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. . .This is the essence of passion. This is the secret to life.” Love you all!

Ed Pearson Says Hello from Fallbrook, California

Ed Pearson sends a shout-out to all the class of '65.

Eddie is living and working for State Parks in sunny California.

Greetings all!

It’s hard to believe that nearly forty years have passed since we walked the grounds of Pine Forge together. We won’t count the year that I went back to teach. As the gray creeps in around the edges we look back over the years replaying the good times and the bad. We look back upon those times that inspire us to take that next step when logic tells us we don’t have a chance, to stand up and be counted when our troops have fled. Who could have known as we trekked through the snow on Friday afternoon for a sack lunch, or boarded the bus to go skating at Ringing Rocks on Saturday night, or forced ourselves out of bed on Thursday morning for Mama Hartie’s pancakes, that these would be the ties that bind us?

Despite the bumps and bruises life may have thrown our way, the spirit we carried away with us has hopefully made our way just a little brighter, and in some small way contributed to our successes. It is perhaps the knowledge that we are never truly alone though thousands of miles may separate us. We are family.

I am saddened to know that some of our family members are no longer with us. Anyone who knew Orrie Chambers or Allan Johnston at all, knew that there was never a dull moment with them around. And Mary Vee Clark, who could forget her very special way of making us feel a little better about ourselves? Beverly Sue Surrell, the heart and soul of the class of ’65. Jerry Murphy’s easygoing manner and surprisingly droll sense of humor. Jonise Davis and Connie Riley, in their quiet manner left us all the richer for their presence.

I communicated with James Evans a few years ago and all was well. I can’t help but wonder where Eddie Frazier, Lucy Hurt, Shizuko Obo and Hubert Turner are and how life is treating them. No matter what your memories, for better or worse, we have a family of diverse and wonderful characters that will forever live in our hearts.

Ersula's Photo Gallery

In 1965

Some years ago I organized my photo albums and found that I had a number of pictures from the PFI days. I managed to scan a few and include them here for your enjoyment. I will continue to add pictures as time permits.

Some of the pictures were taken while I was on vacation in Bermuda; others are hit and miss of some alumni reunions; some come from the photo archives of Elder Donald Simons and others simply fell from the sky.

Please join me in adding more richness to this website by sharing your memories in photos and stories. It is only through our joint efforts that we can begin to repay the hard work, long planning and design hours, and ingenius brain child of David and Geneva.

Here's the GALLERY

By the way, I found a great photo of my uncle: Lloyd Roger Watson, Dean of Men at PFI, 1952-55. Brother to Dr. Ercell I. Watson. Take a look here: L.R. Watson.

JOHN REYNOLDS SPEAKS. . .

One of the first things I remember at Pine Forge was singing for Mr. Anthony, and him asking me to sing the first Sabbath of the school year. I was aware of how critical Pine Forge could be. So when I got up to sing, my right leg began to shake uncontrollably. I shifted the weight to my left leg and it began to shake as well. Now I'm REALLY nervous, and both legs are now shaking, and as I continue to try to control the movement in my legs, the shaking continued up my body all the way up to my voice. Somehow I made it through the song, and became one of Pine Forge's soloists. People like Bernell Mapp, Raymond and Wayne Humphrey, Bernard Johnston, Sam Turner had great voices and I just wanted to be like them! Also, all the ladies were very nice, especially the beautiful Juanita Williams who became Juanita Reynolds - and still is, by the way. And, yes, I'm STILL singing.

HEY JUANITA!

My first GOOD memory of Pine Forge is the first time I heard the choir sing. Michael Jones, Raymond Humphrey, Walter Pearson, Wayne Humphrey, Clifton Davis, and others were singing “Salvation is Created.” Boy! I hadn’t heard kids sing like that before (and really haven’t since). My first BAD memory of Pine Forge was the food and the living quarters. Flummoxed by this phenomena, I decided I’d been sent there to die. But things started looking up, especially when I met John Reynolds – the indubitable love of my life. I got into trouble doing various things that the “Johnson Family,” led by Geraldine Johnson, got me into (i.e., going into the boy’s dorm in broad daylight). John was pretty much a straight man (or at least that’s what I thought). The choir and choir tours were my best experiences. And for those choir members who believe that I messed up the Brazilian Psalm in Washington, D.C. IT WASN’T ME! I decided not to sing!! (I’ve always wanted to say that). God bless you – and above all else – don’t grow old gracefully! “Fix” whatever you can!

Ersula speaks out. So what's new! (Smile)

Ersula Ivanette Watson (Class of 1965)

I REMEMBER...Every moment spent singing; Janet and I getting caught at 11:30 p.m.(by Ms. Thomas) in the walk-in cafeteria freezer with a huge bag of freshly popped pop-corn...all ready to take back to the dorm; stealing then wrecking my Mother's car with (who else?) Janet and Barbara in tow, then having to kneel over a bed as Mrs. McGrew dispensed "Doctor Brown," at my Father's request; sneaking out of the dorm after mid-night; throwing Janet (less than fully clothed) into the vestibule of Kimbrough Hall while the boys played golf on the lawn in front of Ad building; all the times spent in the chemistry room with Penn singing "Duke of Earl;" All my girlfriends: Hazel, Janet, Geneva, Virginia, Brenda, Juanita, Barb, Gloria, Geraldine, and that Crazee Marilyn ("the Deep, Deep Sound of the Doo-Doo Bird") and all those lovely young men, who were gentle, intelligent, funny and in love with all of the young women who adored them. Boy! Those were the dayz! Ersula

An Army of One!

I send a big "hello" to all of you! God bless!

And good health and wealth. . .

Penn

Remember. . .

our freshman class, 1961? Anybody remember Huck Brown and Gregory Booker?

This is DAVE, trying to be cool!

The WEBDUDE in the flesh!

Well, the site is live and being updated regularly. DO YOU CHECK IN? A LOT? Well, you should. Afterall, that's what the Class of 1965 is all about. Keeping on it!

And we do that well. We did it in 65 and 2003 is certainly no different. We're all older. But we're also wiser. Our power has increased and we now know how to wield it with precision.

It's been an amazing journey, creating the PFA65.COM site. Thanks to Geneva for her constant support. As the Brits would say, "She's a bit of awright, she is!"

Keep it going. Send photos of you, your family, our 1965 life at the Pines, anything and everything. I want there to be reason for you to come back again and again. Send your friends and anyone you can find that interested in Pine Forge INSTITUTE er-a Academy. (Dude, give it a rest...times changed!)

So, this is me now. I'll post a side-by-side later so you can compare. I've changed quite a bit and not at all. Know what I mean?

We're planning a number of surprises for the site. Keep us real. Let us know how we're doing. Send in those memories. Hey, get everyone to put in entry in our DIRECTORY. They don't have to be a member of our graduating class.