By CAROLYN CARY

Contributing Writer

“Fayette Portraits” is a publication of the Fayette County High School and is in its 11th year of publication. Each year a copy of Fayette Portraits is made to each one interviewed in a special Reception.

Mrs. Becky Lewis is the originator of the booklet and patterned it after “Fox Fire”, a publication in North Georgia dedicated to preserving information on local people and historic sites.

This issue was filled with family connections, mothers and sons were interviewed, inlaws also, as well as three grandmothers and two grandfathers of the Portrait staff members.

A current cheerleader, Jennifer Edens, got the idea to interview prior cheerleaders and chose Margaret Gilbert Turner, who graduated in 1949 and Mary Ward Mitchell, who graduated in 1971.

Mrs. Turner related that their uniforms were homemade and the skirts were long, running the risk of stepping on the hem and having it hang down for the rest of the sports event. “They were cumbersome...(but) they probably wouldn't have let us wear them any shorter.”

Twenty-two years later, cheerleaders were going to a camp at Mercer University each year, according to Mrs. Ward. “Try-outs were at the end of the school year ... and judges outside the school that didn't know anybody would come in.”

Other Fayette Countians interviewed was native Lester Bray, know for his good works and his good gardens.

When presented his copy he stated “I'm proud of these bright school kids, and the dedicated teachers. Every generation leaves a footprint and you will leave a footprint - make sure it points in the right direction.”

A mother and son were in two of the articles, Mrs. Geraldine Adams Stinchcomb, the first public health nurse in Fayette County, and her son, Jerry Stinchcomb, who served as Superintendent of the Fayette County schools in the early 1980's.

The Portrait class consisted of 25 students and stated Mrs. Lewis, “not only am I proud of them for the outstanding work they did with their interviews, but every one of the 25 will be attending college.”

“Fayette Portraits” is available, along with all the past publications, at Fayette Book Shop, behind the Waffle House.

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