Organizer Janice Marika, left, and Jeannie Mareka plant a big wet one on former basketball and football Coach Tuney Brooks.

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Ruffin McNeill Sr., a former teacher, enjoys lunch with two other attendees.

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Attendees line-danced to music provided by the Gold Rush Band during lunch and the Craig Woolard Band during the dance.

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John Ranke, left, and Clayton McIntyre mingle with the crowd of classmates, some who traveled from as far as Las Vegas and Colorado.

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Lumberton High School 70s reunion attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing on March 26 at teh Southeastern Agricultural Center. More than 600 people attended.

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Classmates reminisced and caught up at the reunion, which brought together classes from the entire decade of the 70s.

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LUMBERTON — More than 600 Lumberton High School graduates from the 1970s reunited on March 26 for food, fun and dancing at the Southeastern Agriculture Center.

“It would appear we were all a part of something quite magical on Saturday,” said Carson Hilburn, an attendee.

Some of the attendees traveled long distances to be re-acquainted with their classmates. Pam Allen, from the class of 1973, came from Colorado, and Phillip Hall, from the class of 1978, came from Las Vegas.

“The reunion of the 70s was such a huge success because our classmates took time out of their busy lives to attend,” said Donna Stephens Smith, one of the organizers. “Without them, it would have been nothing.”

Even faculty members joined in, including Coach and Mrs. Finley Read, Coach Tuney Brooks, Mary Virginia Guy, Jean Alford, Colleen Brown, Judy DeFrancis, Ruffin McNeil Sr., Marion Thompson, Drina Hedgpeth, Henry Meares and Patsy Ellen.

The reunion was originally planned for three classes, but when the word spread on Facebook, more classes were invited.

Planning committee members were: Janice Mareka; Donna S. Smith; Craig Lovette; Greg Price; Gina P. Melvin; Nancy C. Pittman; Joanne Brown; Sherry C. Jacobs; Pat H. Bullard; Katherine C. Martin; and Carson and Annette Hilburn.

A memorial was set up for 210 classmates who had passed away.