Our slogan: Preserve the legacy and Prepare the future of the community that produced us; clearly states our mission and primary objectives. The organization has become a full-time and full-service 501(c) 3 charitable corporation. We have no paid employees but talented volunteers dedicated to our purpose and excellence. Without monetary compensation, they work tirelessly to improve our community, preserve our heritage, and enact the best possible reunions biennially. While contributing their time and skills, most of them generously contribute financially as well. See their backgrounds and responsibilities listed below. Feel free to contact anyone with questions, suggestions, or issues within their area of concern. We invite you to join us by contributing personally and financially.
The Fair St-Butler High School Alumni Association, Inc. has changed in many ways. We are now a 501(c) (3) corporation that supports the Gainesville-Hall County area in many ways. The Reunions are smaller than the first one as membership decreases and ages. However, younger people like Patience Lyle Jackson, Cynthia Randolph, Angela Hughey, Gwenell Brown, Terrence Watson and Barese Watkins-Hope serve on the BOD. They encourage those who did not attend the historically Black High Schools to help keep the flame burning.
THOMAS HAILEY
Parliamentarian
I began as a student at Beulah Rucker School. After completion, I attended Fair Street Elementary School and am an E. E. Butler High School graduate. Upon graduation, I entered the U S Army. I worked for the Norton Company for 20+ years. I was one of the first board members of the FSBH Alumni. I have served in various capacities, including President for two terms and Vice-President of the organization. I enjoy giving back to others and helping preserve our heritage and legacy for future generations.
DOROTHY LIPSCOMB WEAVER
Assistant Director of Fundraising Fair Street School
The Fair Street Butler High, FSBH, Alumni Association gives me an awesome opportunity to serve others with a fantastic group of hardworking, talented people I admire dearly. Contributing to the Fundraising Committee and previously as Vice President is my way of saying thank you to the Gainesville and the Hall County community that nurtured, educated, and prepared me for a successful career in management, sales awards, and career counseling with youth.
THERESA ANDERSON PURYEAR
Chief Operating Officer & Business Manager
I attended Green Hunter Nursery. I also attended Fair Street Elementary and E E Butler High School. I am a 1967 graduate. I attended Clark (now Clark Atlanta University). I became the first Black teller with Home Federal S & L Association and worked in various areas within the banking field. I worked for the Mead Corporation under the Mead Packaging and Mead Containerboard Divisions as a Personnel Assistant and was promoted to Human Resource Manager for 25+ years. I also worked for Aeroquip Inonac for 3+ years as the Human Resource Manager until the company relocated back to Japan. I became a member of the FSBH in 2006 and served as Secretary, Business Manager, and presently COO of the organization. It is with great pleasure that I work within this organization with a great group of men and women who all give their time and dedication to maintain and preserve the legacy and heritage of our great community.
FRANK SIMS
Vice Chairman
I am a graduate of E.E. Butler High (68) school and attend Northwestern elementary school and Fair St. School. I worked for 37 years in the corporate world and retired as a Corp. Vice-President with Cargill, Inc. I think it is important that we maintain the legacy and history of the aforementioned schools; this alumni association has played a vital role in that regard.
REV. J. DOUGLAS CHILDERS
Director of Religious & Spiritual Enrichment
I attended Northwestern Elementary school for first grade, Fair Street Elementary for grades two through seven, and graduated from E. E. Butler High School and Gainesville College. I attended North Georgia College and Gwinnett-Hall Bible College. I graduated from Brenau College with a degree in Criminal Justice and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University with a Master of Divinity degree. I received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the American Bible University. I am currently enrolled and a candidate for a Doctor of Ministry Degree at Columbia Theological Seminary. I am a veteran of the United States Army and served as an Infantryman with the 2/12 Infantry-25 Infantry Division in Vietnam, where I received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Service Ribbon with two bronze stars. After completing my tour of service, I was employed by the Gainesville Police Department, initially serving as a Patrolman, and later promoted to Crime Prevention Officer. I worked for the Youth Development Center, Hall County Juvenile Court–as a Probation Officer, and for a short time with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 1988 I became a candidate for ministry with the United Methodist Church and was ordained an Elder in 1990. I served several churches of the North Georgia Conference until my retirement in June of 2016. My service with the FSBH Alumni began after an invitation to serve was offered to me. I support the vision of the alumni, and I enjoy serving as it allows me to give back to the community that nurtured me in my youth.
JOHN W. HARRIS
President & Chairman
I am honored to serve as President and Chairman of the Board. Because I was in the first class at Green Hunter Nursery, then Northwestern (1st shift), Fair St., and graduated with the 1965 class of E.E. Butler. After serving in Germany & Vietnam as an NCO in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, I sold, managed, and consulted for IBM for 15 years. As a consulting firm partner, I worked with companies like IBM, Microsoft, HP, Siebel, and Amdocs until retirement. My high school girlfriend and now wife, Mary, and I came to FSBH Alumni Reunion in 2005 and stayed to help improve our community. With a talented and dedicated team of winners, our re-purposed organization strives to Preserve the legacy & Prepare the future of the community that produced us. We have accomplished much through scholarships, community & charitable projects. Still, the best is yet to come with the cooperation of skilled board members, dedicated alumni, and generous friends and sponsors collaborating to achieve our purpose. Join us!
BERNICE HARBIN WIMPYE
Director of Membership &
Events Registration
I am a 1965 graduate of E E Butler High School. My specific duty is registration. Being an FSBH Board Member is a pleasure, and I enjoy the planning and the end product of uniting classmates, families, and friends, which all make the work worthwhile. I feel that we are continually adding to our history and preserving the legacy of our school in an ever-changing world. We are contributing to one of Gainesville’s long-lasting traditions and hope to do so for many more years to come.
BOBBY R. STEPHENS
SR.
Vice President
I attended Mount Zion Elementary School in the Oakwood and Flowery Branch communities. I attended Fair Street High School and graduated in the class of 1960. I also graduated from Gainesville Community College and North Georgia College with degrees in Criminal Justice. In 1970, I was one of the first three blacks hired as Deputy Sheriff in Hall County and served three years as an Investigator. I spent 26 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman and a CID Special Agent. I also served 29 years as a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and retired in 2002. I became a member of the FSBH Board in 2009 and served as Vice President and as President for two terms. I also served as <1960 Class Ambassador for communication and scholarship fundraising efforts since 2009. It has been my greatest pleasure to serve in an organization in the effort to maintain and preserve the legacy and heritage, which played a significant role in every accomplishment I have achieved.
Retired: GBI Special Agent
Retired: CW05 / USACIDC
DEBORAH KEITH MACK
President Emeritus
I am a 1963 graduate of E.E. Butler (first graduating class) and a founding member of the Fair Street-Butler High Reunion committee. We came together to have this reunion because many of our classmates had moved away. We wanted to see them come home to reunite friendships, introduce family members and reminisce about our school day experiences. I have enjoyed working with this board and seeing the excitement of everyone. Every reunion gets more precious as we remember the past and make lasting memories. We want to give back to the community that nurtured us and provide a legacy that our unity remains strong.
CYNTHIA RANDOLPH
Event Coordinator
Gainesville
I am participating in the FSBH Board because I enjoy being part of something positive and great. It requires a lot of work, but at the end of the day, it’s rewarding to see old friends and the smiles on their faces.
PEGGYE ROBERTSON DAVENPORT
Corporate Secretary
I am a third honor graduate of the 1968 E. E. Butler High School Business and Education Career Track class! I am also an accomplished administrative expert with over twenty-five years of diverse experience in office management and business administration. I have had the opportunity to work with several company executives in local and global industries, where I managed businesses and Executive Suites; turned around failing administrative structures; improved customer retention; overhauled entire business operations to tighten focus; facilitated exceptional onboarding assistance; supervised personnel, interns, and volunteers; created a new client orientation program, and provided excellent customer service. Additionally, I established positive relationships with vendors and contractors that consistently resulted in substantial discounts! I have volunteered on the Fair Street Butler High Schools Alumni Association, Inc. organization for many years and designed several Souvenir Programs, Registration Forms, Flyers, and Raffle Tickets. I currently serve as the Corporate/Recording Secretary.
NATHANIEL SHELTON
Chief Financial Officer
& Treasurer
I was a Science teacher at E.E. Butler High School until closing. It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors of the Fair Street Butler High Schools Alumni Association as Treasurer for many years and now as CFO. I have received numerous local, state, and national awards and honors. They include: Citizen of the Year, Marva Collins Education Award, State School Social Worker of the Year, National Science Foundation Fellowship, Southern Regional Council for Outstanding Achievement, and several others. Working with the dedicated, determined people on the Fair Street Butler High Board of Directors has been an honor.
GWENELL WILLIAMS BROWN
Director of Communication
I attended Fair Street Elementary School 1st – 6th grade and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1976. I was an educator for 40 years and retired from Fair Street as the Principal on June 30, 2022. I love the Gainesville – Hall county community. I have worked with the Newtown Florist Club and served as Treasurer. I am a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in Gainesville with the Lambda Iota Omega Chapter. I serve as the Epistoleus on the Scholarship Committee and the Chaplain Committee. I am a member of the Grady Young Foundation, serving as Assistant Chairman, working on the Scholarship Committee, and serving as Chairperson for the Memorial Weekend. I am also a member of the Fair Street /Butler High Alumni Association, where I serve as Communication Chairperson and work on the Scholarship Committee. I love working with children and enjoy serving in the community. I would love to see our community continue with the legacy and history of our black community. Our children and young people need to know their worth in our community. I plan to continue to serve and volunteer in Gainesville/Hall County community.
BARESE WATKINS-HOPE
Assistant Financial Director and Event Coordinator
I am usually known as “Doby!” I have worked in several industries and have been a Visionary Operations Expert with solid experience managing all levels of multiple projects. I really like participating on the Board of Directors and especially enjoy delivering fun, enjoyable, entertainment activities during the events. My education includes: two years of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Secretarial Science at Gainesville State College and Lanier Area Vocational School in Oakwood, GA. Using my bookkeeping expertise, I have also provided financial record-keeping assistance to the organization.
LINDA RUCKER HUTCHENS
Protector of History,
Legacy & Memorabilia
I attended Northwestern and Fair Street Elementary schools. In June of 1966, I graduated from E.E. Butler High School on my birthday. Two years later, in June of 1968, I became the first African American to graduate from Gainesville Jr. College (now the University of North Georgia) with an Associate in Science degree. I transferred to the University of Georgia and received a B.S. degree in Education in June of 1970 and a Master’s degree in Education from North Georgia College (currently the University of North Georgia) in 1977. My career as an educator spanned over thirty years. I taught sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Fair Street and Gainesville Middle School. I’ve also served as a GED and an Adult ESL teacher. My tenure with the FSBH Alumni Association began in 1991. Throughout the years of its existence, I have served several intermittent terms. I am presently serving as the caretaker of our memorabilia. I consider it a privilege and a pleasure to be entrusted with preserving these treasured items, which reflect our rich history and heritage.
ANGELA HUGHEY, ED.S.
Director of Education
And Training
I graduated from Gainesville High School in 1968 after attending Northwestern, Fair Street, and E.E. Butler High. I graduated from Morris Brown College after attending Clark Atlanta University and Lincoln Memorial University. I taught Science at Frederick Douglass High School for 38 years and served as the Academic and Research Coordinator for the Upward Bound Trio Programs at Morehouse College from 1980-2019. I joined the FSBH Alumni Board in 2019 to help increase reunion participation from the class of 1968. Because I want to help children reach their l potential, the Scholarship Committee was a natural fit, and presently, I lead that team renamed The Education & Training Team. My background as an Educator assists me in preparing high school students to excel and attain their life goals via post-secondary education or training. Our purpose of preserving our legacy and preparing for our community’s future motivates us to implement a Mentoring/Tutoring Program at Fair Street School in 2022-2023. We are awarding scholarships annually and establishing an Endowment Fund that will provide annual scholarships in perpetuity. The Education and Training team is a beautiful group of Alumni committed to completing the many tasks before us. I especially appreciate the positive responses from each of you and thank you for all your help.
REV. EUGENE WHELCHEL
Spiritual & Religious Leadership
Rev. Eugene Harrison Whelchel was born in Hall County. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at 19 years old at Hickory Grove CME Church in Dahlonega, Georgia. At 25 years of age, he accepted his call into the ministry, and a new title was added to his name…Reverend. He served in the Elberton-Gainesville District for over 30 years. His second pastoral assignment was on the Royston Circuit; his third charge was on the Toccoa Circuit, and his last charge was in Hartwell, Georgia. He continues to preach at his home church and consistently and faithfully continues to serve the community. Rev. Whelchel is happily married to Mrs. Lena Asberry Whelchel with four loving children, ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. As a Christian disciple, he continues to be a role model for those around him.
REV. MARY HARRISON-MANGRUM
Spiritual & Religious Leadership
I attended Beulah Rucker Industrial School, Fair Street Elementary School, and E.E. Butler High School. As a self-employed seamstress and custom designer, my 1st annual Fashion Show was in Gainesville. While a certified Customer Service Specialist, I attended Lanier Area Technical School Fashion and Tailoring. I was a member of The Housewives League of Gainesville-Hall County, along with Dorothy B. Rucker and Carre Bailey. I served in the jail ministry of The Veterans & Community Outreach Program and have been an agent with Primerica since 2012. I received an Able Ministers Diploma, a Certificate of License; a Certificate of Ordination; a Diploma of Ministry, and a Diploma of Biblical Studies. It is with great pleasure that I work within FSBHSAA, a great group of men and women who all give their time and are dedicated to maintaining and preserving our great community’s legacy and heritage. I am married to James B. Mangrum (aka Clarence Daniels). We are the proud parents of 4 boys, two girls, and a host of grand and great-grandchildren.
PATIENCE LYLES JACKSON
Event Coordinator
Attended Fair Street Elementary School from 1963-1968. A 1974 graduate of Gainesville High School. After completing high school, I attended Nursing School at North GA Vocational and Technical School in Clarksville, GA, and graduated in 1978. I worked at North East GA Medical Center for five years, moved to Atlanta, GA, and worked at Crawford W Long, which is now Emory University Hospital @ Midtown. I retired in 2018, rewarding a remarkable career as an LPN nurse. I was asked to join the FSBH Alumni Board. I have enjoyed being an FSBH alumni member for ten-plus years, which has been a very gratifying experience. I served as an event team member, and it has been a pleasure to work with such a diverse, fantastic, hardworking team! Being a member of this outstanding team allowed us to give back to the community by providing scholarships to students in the Gainesville metro community and having fundraisers. My most rewarding experiences are seeing the hugs, excitement, and love shown as families reunite back home for our annual and biannual reunions to continue our legacy and heritage. Several years later, I’m looking forward to this year’s gathering, knowing it will be one of the best!
MARY MOON GLENN
Event Coordinator
I was in the first set of triplets born in Lula, GA! I went to school in a small building under the guidance of Mrs. Nancy Stephens. From there I went to Fair Street School in Gainesville and graduated from E. E. Butler High School. Later, I attended Lanier Tech. After Lanier Tech, I started working at Ethicon in Habersham as a Technical Operator and retired in 2010. I have been working with the Fair Street Butler High Alumni Association for many years. I am on the Event Coordinators Committee. I also served on the Decorating Committee and with the Ambassadors of Fun. I have enjoyed working with the Association and hope the legacy of the school continue
List of Board of Directors
| Name | Office | Director Responsibilty | Email Address |
| John W.Harris | President & Chairman | Leadership & Fundraising | |
| Deborah Keith Mack | President Emeritus | Education & Training | |
| Frank Sims | Vice Chairman | Education & Training | |
| Bobby R. Stephens, Sr, | Vice President | Fundraising | |
| Theresa Anderson Puryear | Chief Operating Officer & Business Manager | Business Issues & Events | |
| Nathaniel Shelton | Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer | Financial & Education and Training | |
| Thomas Hailey | Parliamentarian | Fundraising | |
| Peggye Robertson Davenport | Corporate Secretary | Communications | |
| Rev. Dr. J. Douglas Childers | Director of Religious & Spiritual Enrichment | Spiritual Matters & Caregiving | |
| Angela Hughey | Director of Education & Training | Education & Training | |
| Gwenell Brown | Director of Communications | Communications and Education & Training | |
| Barese Watkins-Hope | Assistant Financial Director and Event Coordinator | Financial & Communications | |
| Pastor Eugene Whelchel | Director | Spiritual Leadership & Issues | |
| Pastor Mary Harrison Mangrum | Director | Spiritual Leadership & Issues | |
| Bernice Harbin Wimpye | Director | Membership & Registration Coordinator | |
| Cynthia Randolph | Director | Events Coordinator | |
| Patience Lyle Jackson | Director | Events Coordinator | |
| Mary Moon Glenn | Director | Events Coordinator | |
| Linda Rucker Hutchens | Volunteer | Protector of History, Legacy & Memorabilia | |
| BOD general communications |