Lifestyles


The Meridian Star 
Sunday, August 16, 1998

A day of memories
..."Complete" with friends, family and rememberances
 of the past


Community comes together to share past


By Ida Brown 
The Meridian Star

Karlen Walker Bagley said it best when describing the

annual Complete reunion.

"It’s like a church supper, a family reunion with

nostalgic talks and feelings and fellowship," said

Bagley, who is one of the founders of the yearly

homecoming.

Saturday’s Sixth Annual Complete Reunion at Highland

Park included all of those qualities and more. While


walking through the Frank Cochran Center, a wealth of

stories could be heard as men and women reflected on

good times in the old neighborhood.

"It was the most wonderful community that ever was,"

said Doris Raley who still lives in the area. "the

people were lovely, good God-fearing people and we all

loved each other.

"Complete was a great neighborhood, where everyone

looked out for one another, said Rep Howard Sanderford,

who now resides in Huntsville, AL. "All the kids in the

neighborhood played together and attended the same

school, families worshiped together and we even had our
own football team."

An estimated 200 former residents and their families

returned to Complete (pronounced "Kawm-plete") for the

day-long celebration that, in addition to plenty of 

nostalgia, featured a potluck luncheon and other

activities.
  
   "We have folks here from the late 1800s, as well as

 the ‘70s and ‘80s.   That’s what makes this such a

unique   gathering," said Meridian Councilman Barbara

Henson, who also still lives in the community.

Henson’s lineage with  the community dates back to 1888.


Highland Park is chosen as the setting for the

reunion because it is considered by Complete’s residents

as "our   playground," said Bagley. "We all grew up in

this area and Highland Park is in  the middle of

Complete."

After registration and a brief visitation, a program was

held that included a proclamation presentation by Mayor

  John Robert Smith.  Before his presentation,  Smith

told the group, "Good things are happening in your

hometown."  Bonita Lakes Mall and the Union Station

Multi-Model Transportation Center were among the new

attractions he noted.

Smith, who has attended several Complete reunions

described the annual event as "family, extended family

coming back together, sharing their roots and heritage

- especially with the younger members of the family."

According to Lauderdale County records, Complete existed

from Sept. 24, 1891, to May 9, 1940, as a village that

stretched from what is now Eighth Street to 26th

Street. In 1896, a post office opened in the small

town, which even had its own bus that ran into Meridian

The community was located where  the Light and Railway

Company Line once ended, with its line retracing its

route back to the left to Beeson College, and to the

right past Highland Park and Highland School, returning

to downtown Meridian.

Lifelong friendships developed in the tightly-knit

village.  Several years ago, two old neighborhood

friends --  Bill Jones, who now resides in Hickory, and

Richard Walker, now residing in  Petal—caught up in a

discussion  about the good ol’ days longed for the

return of that community harmony.

The two men were in Jones’ office when he (Jones)

suggested that the former residents get together. Jones

made the same suggestion to Jimmie Walker (Richard’s

brother who lives in Madden) and then Jere Skelton. It

wasn’t long before Skelton had called everyone about a

meeting at the home of Barbara Henson.

And though the community has changed the area where the

old streetcar used to run is now paved, with streets

traveled by automobiles. Complete continues to hold a

special place in the hearts of those who lived there.

"It’s unfortunate to see how the neighborhood has

changed, some areas have gone down," said Sanderford.

  "But change is inevitable with time. It’s just great to

see everyone get back together this way and to

reminisce."