Jewell Kirksey

It has been said that Jewell liked to write poetry and was quite good at it.

The following was published in the Telfair Enterprise (McRae, GA newspaper in June 1936) and attributed to Jewell Ruth Harbin. It was probably read during the graduation ceremony ( June 1, 1936)

  ALMA MATER

(Jewell Ruth Harbin)

  When the golden sun is melting, in

the purple of the night,

  There is promise of the morrow,

that it will be fair and bright.

  And now we must leave this school

so dear, and pass along the way,

  But all along we will cherish the

hope, that we will meet someday,

  So today we see the gleaming,

through regrets that we must part,

  Of the beauthy of the future, in

the hopes that fill each heart.

  And all the years we spent together,

'mid the scenes we love so well,

  Will remain as sweetest mem'ries

wrapt in youth's sweet mystic spell.

  As we journey down life's pathway, 

Still our thoughts will oft return,

  To the happy days remembered,

where we strove life's rules to learn.

  And when our high school days

are over, and our books are tossed aside,

  We will think back through years,

and wish we had harder tried.

  We will think of the sessons that

have been learned.

  And of the "battles" that we have 

fought.

  We go forth with firm endeavor, 

and a purpose ever true.

   And our motto is "Perfection in

whatever we may do."

  But though lands or seas divide us,

we will ever cherish dear,

  Our beloved Alma Mater, and her

name we will revere.