Celebrating 50 Years at the Smoke Rise Baptist Weekday School.
With great joy, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the SRB Weekday School on September 17, during the Sunday service at Smoke Rise Baptist Church. The program consisted of scripture readings and prayers by former and current students at the Weekday School. We recognized former and current directors, staff, teachers, students, and families. It was a wonderful service with the highlight of honoring Lisa Mixon, a deacon at Smoke Rise Baptist Church and a teacher at the Weekday School for over 30 years! She received an award marking her accomplishment and our new outdoor classroom was named The Lisa Mixon Coral Reef, in her honor.
Following the worship service, a reception was held in the church’s fellowship hall. It was a wonderful time of visiting with old friends and colleagues, of sharing memories, and of catching up on what’s new. Reverend Valerie Coe Lowder, a former Weekday School director, prayed a blessing over the gathering and the food. Next, Pat Tooke, the second Weekday School Director, told stories about the early years of the school and her time working alongside Sue Laird.
After enjoying the food prepared by many wonderful members of Smoke Rise Baptist Church, our current Assistant Director, Rebekah Edmonds, began calling administrators, staff, and students by the decade to gather for photos. Wendell and Elaine Tudor, members of Smoke Rise, did a wonderful job capturing the day through photography.
As the current Director of Smoke Rise Baptist Weekday School, I am grateful to all who served before me and to all who currently serve with me. I am especially grateful for the support that Smoke Rise Baptist Church’s staff and members give to us. It is an honor to enter these halls every day and care for the students and their families. I look forward to all God has planned for us in the future.
– Rashette Walker, Weekday School Director
