Nobody Went to Jail and Nobody Went to Yale

What do these fifteen people shown in the photo below have in common?

For starters they all spent either all or some of their formative years in Reynolds, Georgia. More specifically, those formative years were spent within a pitching wedge of each other on Macon Street in Reynolds, GA. Actually we probably did not know it was Macon Street in those days because there were no street signs.

This group, which includes a couple of medical doctors, a veterinarian, a couple of pharmacists, a minister, a couple of undertakers, several teachers, several airline attendants, a few entrepreneurs and business people and who knows what else - actually did all right in life. And although it took a funeral in the neighborhood to get them all together, they never lost track of each other over the years.

Their parents were intimate friends. And the friendships continued into the next generation. And each individual in this photo has an incredible number of memories of a very rich childhood. The bonds that connect them are very strong.

Someone made a comment as this picture was being taken, “Nobody went to jail and nobody went to Yale.”

But for one brief shining moment they all were together in the place where it all started on Tuesday. I can report there were more kisses, hugs, laughs, smiles and tears that you could shake a stick at. I am also convinced that there is no way to even begin to measure the value of friendships such as these.

Definitely a priceless moment.


Front row L-R Caroline Brady Tilley, Lynda Whatley Armona, Jill Whatley Wilson, Nancy Whatley Oliver, Lamar (Brer) Russell, Donna Whatley Lindley, Debbie Whatley Hyla, Suzy Whatley Marlatt. Back Row L-R Kikky Goddard Williams, Michael Whatley, Bruce Goddard, Jim Whatley, Mac Goddard, Fern Beachamp, George Goddard.