ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602230003
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
MEMO: also ran in Current Feb. 25, 1996
"A couple of years ago you were my teacher at Monroe," began the note Nell Wilbourne received in a Christmas card.
Puzzled, she continued to read: "The items in the envelope I have kept for a while. I thought maybe your children or grandchildren may like to keep them for a while. Every time I sew, I think of you. Have a good season. Fondly, Betty McCormick."
Inside the envelope were yellowed clippings of Wilbourne's 1944 wedding.
Wilbourne had to stop and think hard to remember Betty - Betty Bauman, a shy, quiet little girl in her sixth-grade home economics class at the old Monroe Elementary School.
Wilbourne had taught in Pulaski, but after getting engaged she returned home to Roanoke, where she planned to be married after World War II ended. The 1943-44 term was the only year she taught in Roanoke.
It also marked the last year of her teaching career.
Her wartime wedding came earlier than expected.
At that time, newspapers gave weddings the full treatment, including accounts of showers and other celebrations, complete with pictures. The clippings Wilbourne received during Christmas brought back many memories.
"When I met Harvey, I was at Farmville State Teachers' College and he was at VPI," Wilbourne said of her husband. "He enlisted in the Air Force in 1942, his sophomore year."
In July 1943, Harvey was assigned to duty as a fighter pilot in India. Before boarding ship in San Francisco, he proposed by telephone and mailed her a ring with a card that read, "I'm coming back for you."
Thirteen months later, in August 1944, with a two-week leave and a month of rest and recreation ahead, he wired, "Please announce wedding plans."
Wilbourne's twin sister, Louise, had just announced her engagement, and their mother had made her wedding dress. Realizing Nell's need for a hasty wedding, her sister agreed that Nell should wear the dress first.
On Sept. 9, 1944, Nell Hall and Harvey Wilbourne were married at Raleigh Court United Methodist Church.
The newlyweds took a sleeper train to New York City, and after a short stay at Hotel Lincoln, enjoyed the last two weeks of Harvey's R&R in Miami Beach. Harvey was then assigned to Pinellas Air Force Base in St. Petersburg.
"After the armistice in 1945, we came home," Nell said, "with a baby girl - Susan."
Accepted at Virginia Tech, Harvey graduated in 1948, then went to work at Norfolk and Western Railway, where he ultimately became director of automotive and mechanical equipment. He retired 15 years ago.
During his career, the Wilbournes moved eight times, often more than once to the same town. In Virginia, they lived in Crewe and Petersburg but they also lived in Iaeger, W.Va., and Pittsburgh.
"I did some substitute teaching after I was married," Wilbourne said, "but I didn't go back full time."
Most of her time was spent rearing two daughters: Susan W. Gardiner, who lives in Arlington, and Martha W. Cummings, who lives in Virginia Beach.
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Wilbournes "re-enacted" their 4:30 p.m. wedding at Raleigh Court Methodist Church. Betty Bauman McCormick saw the newspaper announcement and remembered the clippings in her scrapbook.
"Some children have fantasies," McCormick said. "I fantasized about my teachers. I thought weddings were so romantic - like a fairy tale. I kept clippings about other teachers, too, but I really kept up with Miss Hall. I had newspaper clippings of her daughter with the airline [where she worked], and her daughter's wedding. I had friends on her street and knew where she lived. "
In school, "I used to look forward to her class because she had a voice that made me feel comfortable and loved. She made a real impression on a little girl," she said.
McCormick's life took many turns during the 52 years she kept up with her teacher.
After Monroe, she attended Lee Junior High School. An eye problem forced her to drop out of Jefferson High School in the 10th grade.
She married Donald McCormick, a Clover Creamery employee, shortly after leaving school, and they had one child, Julie.
McCormick has lived with her unmarried daughter since Don's death 14 years ago. She has worked all of her life.
"In 1957, I took a course in hairdressing, and I'm still licensed in Virginia," she said. But hairdressing soon became a sideline.
Her job in a salon was short-lived. The hours - and her boss - were too demanding, so She worked at the Roanoke Box Plant several years before going into cafeteria work for the Roanoke City Schools at William Fleming and Westside Elementary.
McCormick received her GED in 1974, shortly after her daughter graduated from Cornett Business College. Today, both she and Julie work as aides in the cafeteria at Westside Elementary School.
Once she sent the clippings to Wilbourne, McCormick didn't try to contact her former teacher.
"I just left it up to her, if she wanted it to go any further," McCormick said.
Although Wilbourne did not track down her former student, she showed the clippings and told the story to many people, including one who contacted the Neighbors section of the Roanoke Times.
McCormick called Wilbourne to talk about the clips after talking to a reporter. "I wanted her to understand I was not after publicity," McCormick said.
McCormick and Wilbourne met for the first time in 52 years to have their picture taken at Westside.
"It was a real reunion," McCormick said.
"Miss Hall - I still call her Miss Hall - and her husband came early, before the photographer," McCormick said.
"She hadn't changed a bit - that was the same voice. I gave her a silver rose pin. Red roses mean love, but you have to throw them away. And she brought me a teapot - with a lid like a sewing machine."
McCormick also confessed that she kept one clipping as a souvenir - the picture from the 50th anniversary that prompted the reunion.
LENGTH: Long : 115 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. Nell Wilbourne (left) shows herby CNBbridal portrait and Betty McCormick holds up some newspaper
clippings about Wilbourne during their recent reunion at Westside
Elementary School, where McCormick is employed. color.