[VIDEO] Hillside High School Legacy Weekend Luncheon Celebration Highlights

Durham, NC – SS Renaissance Corporation hosted the Hillside High School (HHS) Legacy Weekend Luncheon as a part of a weekend of events  in memory of John H. Gattis and Mr. G’s Swing School. The weekend of February 15 – 17 kicked off with a semi-formal Pre-Show Reception and the opening of “Hallelujah! Swing School” – an adaptation produced and directed by Wendell Tabb, Hillside High School Performing Arts Department Chair.

The Legacy Luncheon was held on Saturday and recognized many notable alumni. Sunday’s Celebrity Night, presented by Lesleigh Mausi of The DOME Group, honored Andre Leon Talley, other celebrities and included a screening of “The Gospel According To Andre” – a documentary by Kim Novack.

The nonprofit organization was formed in May 2017 with an initial goal of encouraging and supporting the Hillside Drama Department in bringing back “Swing School”…hence the name SS Renaissance Corporation, which stands for Swing School Renaissance. With that in mind, the organization planned a Legacy Luncheon to honor Mr. Gattis, who brought “Broadway” to Durham in the early 1940s through his annual presentation of “Mr. G’s Swing School.” Had he lived, Mr. Gattis would have been 100 years old July 4, 2018. His last “Swing School” presentation was in 1972.

At the Legacy Luncheon on Saturday, SS Renaissance Corp. shared the outstanding honor roll of Hillside High School graduates who have made contributions throughout the world, nation, state, and locally, many of whom were trailblazers in their professional areas. Some of the honorees were Biff Henderson, Charles Beck, Kevin Wilson, Shirley Caesar, April Parker Jones, Grady Tate, Lauren Banks, Jeanne Lucas, and Ervin Hester. The organization produced Study Guides to include information on these Hillside graduates and made them available to teachers and students in Durham Public Schools.

The highlight of the Legacy Luncheon was the renaming of HHS Theatre to The John H. Gattis – Wendell Tabb Theatre. The theater’s stage was named The Wendell Tabb Stage.

SS Renaissance Corporation Officers:

Julia A. Fairley, President (Class of 1964)

Ferne Thorpe Dixon, Vice President (Class of 1959)

Audrey Fairley Boykin, Recording Secretary (Class of 1959)

Claudine Daye Lewis, Corresponding Secretary (Class of 1961)

George A. Scott, Treasurer (Class of 1957)

Photos/Video: Phyllis Coley