Teachers, students and the general public are invited to attend the third annual reunion for Ridge Westfield Elementary School on Labor Day weekend.

On Sept. 1, at 11:30 a.m., there will be a school cookout at Ridge Westfield Elementary School on Westfield Road.

On Sept. 2, a special worship service will take place at Chestnut Ridge Progressive Primitive Baptist Church beginning at 2 p.m. The Rev. Donald Jessup will be the speaker.

According to Lizzie Penn James, reunion founder and coordinator, many of the students who attended the school went on to have successful careers. One student even had a school named after him in the Washington, D.C., area.

Ridge Westfield became the only school that served the black community in the region with students bused in from Surry and Stokes counties and sometimes even farther. It was the largest feeder school for J.J. Jones High School.

“Good moral values were instilled in us by the teachers and other staff members of Ridge Westfield for the eight years we were students there. The teachers who taught us to read, write and do math were the same teachers who taught our Sunday school class. We were taught to love, care and respect each other. We thought of each other as family,” said James. “It was a community effort. The teachers cared about the children. No child was ever allowed to belittle another child. It was important that all were seen as successful and believed that they would succeed in life.”

She said alumni are trying to raise money to replace the roof of the building, which she said is in ill repair.

The cost of the reunion is $25 per person and $12.50 for children 12 years of age and younger. To sign up to attend, send checks to Ridge Westfield School Reunion, P.O. Box 743, Pinnacle, NC 27043.

For more information, contact Lizzie Penn James at 368-1541 or lizziejames777@gmail.com.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.