A guest at our recent reunion waa inspired to write a synopsis of the party in hopes of helpintg draw even more classmates and guest for our next reunion, whenever and wherever that might be. It's a great read and it only takes a couple minutes. 

Central Cabarrus High School Class of 1971

55th Class Reunion — September 27, 2026

What a wonderful evening it was as the Central Cabarrus High School Class of 1971 gathered
on September 27, 2026, to celebrate 55 years of friendship, memories, and being Vikings!

The reunion was held at Troutman’s BBQ on Church Street in Concord, NC, with a 5:00 p.m.
meet-and-greet followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. There were 28 classmates (total of 44) in
attendance, along with spouses and guests, and 12 active committee members who worked
together to make the evening such a success.

A Special Beginning

The evening began with an opening prayer led by Kathy McDaniel Benton. She ended the
prayer with words that brought many of us right back to our childhood days:

“God is great, God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed,
Give us, Lord, our daily bread.
Amen.”

It was a simple and beautiful reminder of just how many memories we share from our younger
years.

A Fabulous Feast

Karen and Joey Barbee catered a fabulous buffet that was truly “top shelf!”

The meal featured a Baked Potato Bar, complete with taco meat, Fiesta Chicken, and BBQ.
Broccoli and cheese sauce, along with slaw, added the perfect finishing touches.

The Salad Bar offered something for everyone, including lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, beets,
olives, pickles, Waldorf salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and rolls.
And, of course, dessert did not disappoint! We enjoyed a choice of Banana Pudding or Peach
Cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

There was plenty of good food, but the best part of the meal was sitting around the tables with
old friends and catching up on the lives we've lived since those high school days.

Remembering Our Vikings For Eternity

Each classmate received a special mug engraved with “Central Cabarrus High School Class of
1971 — 55th Class Reunion.” It was a wonderful keepsake to remember this special occasion.

We also received a copy of the Norland Special Edition, which honored the 50 classmates who
have left us but remain forever “Vikings For Eternity.”

Although they could not be with us in person, their memories and the impact they made on our
class remain very much a part of who we are.

Fun, Games & Lots of Laughter

One of the highlights of the evening was the Last Will and Testament game. Classmates had to
guess which classmate had written each will. The funniest part was that, when the answers
were revealed, many of us didn't even remember writing them!

It was all in good fun and provided plenty of laughs.

And then there were the stories…

There were funny stories about our school days, old friends, adventures, and things that
happened so long ago that some of us weren't quite sure whether the stories were completely
true. But that didn't matter — they were funny, and we laughed anyway!

There was lots of laughter, plenty of reminiscing, and so many wonderful memories shared
throughout the evening. For a few hours, it seemed as though we were back together in those
Central Cabarrus days again.

Thank You to the Reunion Committee

A very special thank-you goes to the 12 active committee members whose time, effort, and
dedication helped make this reunion possible:

• Larry Furr
• Cathy Garmon Jewett
• Kathy McDaniel Benton
• Kelly Morrison Bost
• Randy Edwards
• Beverly Morgan Ratcliff
• Jean Blackwelder Crabill
• Mindy Sloop Martin
• Stephanie Ferraro Delaney
• Colby Cochran
• Jerry Isenhour
• Eric Howie

Your hard work helped create an evening that our class will remember for years to come.

Until We Meet Again…

Fifty-five years have passed since we walked the halls of Central Cabarrus High School, but
friendships, memories, and laughter have a way of keeping us connected.

We may have changed a little over the years — okay, maybe more than a little! — but when we
get together, the years seem to disappear. We are still the Central Cabarrus High School Class
of 1971.

Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who helped, and everyone who shared a story, a
laugh, or a memory.

Here's to 55 years of memories, to the classmates who will always be Vikings For Eternity,
and to many more opportunities to gather together.

Until the next reunion —

Go Vikings!