Oak Ridge Class of 1945

Class Pages:

In these pages I have collected information, photos and memorabilia from the classes that I have been able to secure from students and social media. If you have materials from your class, please contact me. I will happily add items to the page. My email is oakes@physics.utexas.edu.

I am unable to find a graduation picture for this class which was the last to graduate at Oak Ridge. Thanks to Billy King Pennington for providing the names of the graduates.

Hope King (Joyner), Mattie Mae Johnson (?), Mary Louise Hall (Rutland) Christine Pierce (Sims) William Hamilton (Jr) '46

Four of the graduates can be seen in their eighth grade photo in 1941. Their names are in bold in the caption.

Eighth Grade: Front Row: **Mattie Mae Johnson**, Geneva McMarar, **Christine Pierce**, John Scott "Skippie" Cole
Back Row: **Mary Louise Hall**, Emma Mae McBroom, Mrs. Knox Austin–Sponsor, **Hope King**, C. T. Smithhart
Class Members Unassigned in Photo: J. W. Hearn missing from photo. (identification from Billy King Pennington.)

Oak Ridge Obituaries of deceased members of Class of 1944

Gone But Not Forgotton

Mary Louise Hall Rutland

Birth: June 18, 1926
Jackson, Rankin County, Mississippi, USA
Death: May 13, 2001
Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA

She is buried in Church of Christ Cemetery, Ballground, MS

She married Willard Edward Rutland before 1950. He was born June 8, 1925 in Wesson, Copiah, MS and died December 19, 2004 in Vicksburg, MS. His parents were William Edward and Mamie A. Herring Rutland.

Her parents were Daniel Armajor Hall (1884–1958) and Lena May Hall (1901–1986). Below is a photo of Lena May Hall and her parents.

Leon Henderson Hall, Florence Mc Broom Hall & children, Vera Clyde Hall and Lena May Hall (mother of Mary Louise Hall) ca. 1904.

Hope King Joyner

November 30, 1927 - May 8, 2023

Hope King Joyner passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023. She was 95 years old.

She was a 1945 graduate of Oak Ridge High School in Warren County, MS.

Mrs. Joyner worked for Western Union, South Central Bell and also for Grand Gulf Park. She had lived in Port Gibson, MS most of her life. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was introduced to her husband, Atley, by his sister who was a co-worker at the telephone company. Atley was a returning U. S. Navy veteran having served four years 1941-1945. He was assigned to the USS Croatan, CVE-25. They were married in 1946 in Port Gibson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Atley Howard Joyner Jr. (1922-1989). She is survived by her daughter, Judy Hynum (Sidney), son Gene Casey Joyner (Sheryl), brother, Cecil King, sister, Billy Pennington, 3 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be Monday, May 15, 2023, at 11:00 am at Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson, MS. Rev. Michael Herrin will be officiating.