Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2019

FAMILY INTERACTIVE CENTER reliving history
CARVER HIGH SCHOOL
story by Susan Ruddiman photos courtesy of Aaron Jones Family Interactive Center
The brick and mortar that makes up the Aaron Jones Family Interactive Center (FIC) is steeped in history that is celebrated today.
A school was constructed between Skip and Tucker avenues in 1964 to house the African-American students from seventh up to 12th grades. Schools were segregated in that era.
The students who passed through
its doors became part of a close
knit community. The teachers, administrators and coaches guided their pupils to achieve their ambitions, and there was pride in the school mascot, the Hornet, and school colors of royal blue and white.
Carver High School (CHS) ceased
to exist with integration. The last graduating class was in 1970, and CHS became the Pascagoula High School Annex for 10th graders. Unfortunately during the transition, Carver High School memorabilia was destroyed.
“The items were given to the maintenance department to tear up and bust up our trophies, plaques, pictures and everything we had,” said Jackie Elly, president of the Carver High School Alumni Association.
There was a certain amount of resentment against the school district during that time of great change. Decades later, the Carver High School Alumni Association was formed, and the classmates gathered in Pascagoula every other year for reunions, resurrecting the class spirit and pride.
At one point, when the Annex was closed in the mid-1990s, there was discussion to tear down the building. It was not in use when Superintendent of Education Wayne Rodolfich conceived the FIC after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The first Super Saturday was held four years later.
“The remarkable part of all this is the relationship we’ve forged in that time. I had no idea of the history of Carver High School until I spoke to a few alumni who were coming to the center to help us,” Rodolfich said.
Elly said the alumni members are glad to see CHS once again become a special place of learning.
“The way the alumni feels about these
buildings, this was a school before integration where we came to learn, and we are glad to see it continue as
a learning center as it was originally designed, it’s teaching people to make better lives,” Elly said. “That’s how
we look at it now, and don’t have a problem coming out and volunteering.”
In the gymnasium/auditorium
there is a Wall of Fame depicting the accomplishments of outstanding CHS alumni.
“What Mr. Jackie doesn’t get to see on a daily basis are our visitors, who come from anywhere on the Gulf Coast from one state line to the other. We have parents who look at that Wall of Fame, and we get to tell their stories,” said Kelli McCorkle, director of the FIC.
Rodolfich said he wants the children to understand the history of CHS, and they learn about the great successes of past students through each poster on the Wall of Fame.
A Carver High Archives and History room has been set aside for those
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