By Donna Taylor

It was all about love Friday night at the annual North Panola Cougars Homecoming with a huge difference this year: The former classes from North Panola gathered for a tailgate party that was beautiful, everyone attending walked away with a greater feeling of pride. This was one of the largest gatherings of classes in one place that I have ever seen. There were hundreds and hundreds of people from all over the country who came “home” for Homecoming. The comraderie between the seemingly never-ending sea of former students of North Panola was breath-taking. 

As I walked towards the vast number of tailgaters, I started to feel euphoric. The sight of classmates dating back to the early 70’s and up was mind blowing. I knew that some were planning to join their respective classes and tailgate but I never figured it would be as enormous as it was. People were calling my name and all I could do was stand there and gawk and get filled with that Cougar Pride. 

The next day social media was all abuzz with the most successful and well enjoyed Homecoming to date. All comments were positive. Everyone, including those not on social media, discussed the great vibes they felt as they observed the number of former graduates that night. With all of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of attendees, all agreed there was never a cross word passed between anyone! It was as if they all were on the same page and telling the “bad guys” they were clearly outnumbered.

Some people were saying that they think the turn out was so huge because the former graduates wanted to show solidarity and let the world know that we are not enemies, we love each other. The Sardis-Como feud never existed between us. That unfortunate shooting on Aug. 23 was terrible and the former students showed up in record breaking numbers to support our current North Panola family.

It was also a plus that our Cougars won the game handily and all is well at North Panola. I would like to extend my personal thanks to all of the North Panola family, past and present, for representing so well and for a beautiful, love-filled night.

Peace y’all!