Marcella Claire Crump, 93, died November 14, 2009. A memorial service will be held Friday, November 20 at 11 a.m. in the Trippeer Chapel at Idlewild Presbyterian Church where she had been a member for more than sixty years. Visitation will follow the memorial service in the T. K. Young Room. There will be a private burial at Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown at 10 a.m. Friday. She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews... She was born in Amory, Mississippi, but her family returned to Memphis soon after that. She attended Rozelle Elementary School, Bellevue Junior High School and Central High School. After graduating from West Tennessee State Teachers College, now the University of Memphis, she began her teaching career at Bellevue Junior High School. She later taught at Central High School and was on the original staff when East High School opened. She received her Master's Degree from the University of Georgia where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving her Master's Degree in Library Science at George Peabody College, she spent a year in Los Alamos, New Mexico as librarian of the High School. She later returned to Central High School to serve as librarian until she retired... After retiring, she traveled extensively in England, Scotland, Europe, the Scandinavian Countries, Japan, China, Panama, South America and Russia. She enjoyed gardening, was and avid bridge player and reader and did extensive volunteer work... In lieu of flowers the family requests any memorials be sent to Idlewild Presbyterian Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Youth Villages or a charity of the donor’s choice. Canale Funeral Directors 901-452-6400. (From the Commercial Appeal, November 17, 2009).

Charles O. Barrett Sr. 82 of Memphis, affectionately known by some as "Big Daddy" and a profile of courage by friends and family. Charles was a retired Master Sergant and retired ROTC instructor for the Memphis Board of Education passed away Peacefully on April 30, 2009 at Memphis Veterans Medical Center. Mr. Barrett began his teaching Career in 1968 at Carver High, Central, White Staion and retired from Overton High school in 1991. He was a Korean War Veteran and served his country in the Army for 21 years. He was an active member of Greater Middle Baptist Church for over 39 years under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin L. Hook where he was a Sunday School Teacher President of City,State and Local Usher Board, a Trustee and Deacon. He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his homegoing; six sons; Jerome Barrett, Charles Barrett, Edward Barrett, Michael Barrett, Currie Barrett, Tarus Bounds; three daughters; Phyllis Barrett-Johnson, Gwendolyn Barrett-Lewis, and Candace Barrett; one sister, Bernice Barrett-Booth. He also leaves 27 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Arrangements entrusted to R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home 374 Vance Avenue, Memphis. The family will recieve friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, at R.S. Lewis Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at Greater Middle Baptist Church 4982 Road, at 12 Noon, Friday May 8, 2009 with Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks officiating. Interment will be in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. (From the Commercial Appeal, May 6, 2009).

Martha Lucille (Whitehead) Long, age 75, of Memphis, formerly of West Helena, Arkansas, died at her residence on Wednesday, January 28 (2009). She was a teacher in the Memphis City Schools for 31 years, the last 17 years she taught honors English and Journalism at Central High School. She was the faculty advisor for numerous award-winning publications, including yearbooks, literary magazines and was the advisor for 15 years of the Central High "Warrior" newspaper, which consistently won top honors in state and national competitions. After retiring, she taught English at Memphis State University for 4 years.

She was a Realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors since 1990. She graduated as valedictorian from Central High School in Helena, Arkansas in 1951. She received her BA degree in Journalism, from the University of Arkansas, at Fayetteville in 1956, where she was a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, journalism honor society, as well as Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She received her MA in English and Education from Memphis State University in 1960, and her EdD in English Education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1971. Having an avid interest in historical homes, she and her family lived for 25 years in the historical Vance-Norfleet home on S. Belvedere. In 1983 she and her family bought and restored the historical Abraham Lowenstein home on N. Waldran, making it into a bed and breakfast, and offering it for weddings and receptions. She leaves three sons: Eddie, Carl, and Walter, all of Memphis, and two grandchildren, Dominey Long and Will Long.

Born in Tishomingo, Mississippi on May 5, 1921. Passed away on August 30, 2008 in Germantown.
Coach Mac received his Bachelor’s Degree at Mississippi State. He completed his Master’s Degree at Memphis State. At Tishomingo, Mississippi High School he was All State in Basketball for three years. At Mississippi State he lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track, serving as Captain of the Basketball team for two years and received the SEC Sportsmanship Award. He was inducted into the Mississippi State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as the last four sports letterman.
Coach Mac was a Teacher, Coach and Administrator in the Memphis City Schools at Treadwell High School from 1954 to 1957. He coached at Central High School from 1946 to 1953 and from 1958 to 1984. He served as the West Tennessee Representative on the Board of Control for Track from 1949 to 1980. He also assisted the Executive Secretary to write the Track rules for the state of Tennessee. His teams won city championships in Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track with State Championships in Football, Baseball and Track. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II.

Advanced Mathematics teacher, and faculty sponsor of Mu Alpha Theta.
Former coach.
Mr. Pennington was a member of the CHS Class of 1954.
He passed away on October 19, 2003 in Southaven, Mississippi.