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Around 200 people gathered in the gym of Lockerman Middle School on Friday, July 26, to honor a milestone nearly a century in the making. The Lockerman Alumni Association usually hosts an annual reunion celebration, but this year’s event marked something especially meaningful: the 95th anniversary of the historic Lockerman school.
With the theme “Capturing our history, preserving our legacy, and advancing our future,” the alumni, local leaders, and supporters came together to reflect on Lockerman’s past. Historical presentations with various pieces of Lockerman's legacy lined the walls of the gymnasium for guests to peruse.
Lockerman School was named for Joseph Harrison Lockerman, a Black educator born and raised in Caroline County. The first Lockerman school was established in 1930, and over the decades, its campus has housed several educational institutions. Lockerman served as an all-Black high school until 1966. Today, the site is home to Lockerman Middle School, serving students in northern Caroline County. The Lockerman Alumni Association “encompasses anyone who went to Lockerman,” said Janet Fountain, an officer of the Association.
Included in the attendees were generations of alumni, Caroline County community members, County Commissioners Larry Porter and Frank Bartz, Board of Education President Michele Wayman, and representatives from Chesapeake Heartland, a regional African American history initiative. The Chesapeake Heartland team brought historic materials and recorded oral history interviews to add to their digital archive.
The celebration opened with a moving performance of “Tell Me Why,” a song rich in meaning for Lockerman alumni. Rev. Dr. Ruth Cain Evans gave the invocation, followed by a historical overview by Yolanda Acree. Lockerman Alumni Association President William Brown addressed the crowd, and association officers handed out awards to individuals recognized for their service to the community and to Lockerman’s legacy. And a catered lunch was served, giving old classmates and friends time to connect.
Lockerman Alumna Wanda Molock said she was most enjoying “the celebratory aspect, because the 95th is a special occasion. Lockerman has maintained and survived for 95 years.” She also said the event is “a chance to meet and hear some of the stories.”
The Lockerman gym was filled with laughter, hugs, shared memories, and an obvious sense of pride as the attendees reunited.
