NATCHEZ &8212; Reliving high school memories and enjoying fellowship while giving thanks were the only goals for this weekend&8217;s fifth Sadie V. Thompson Era Reunion.

In 1994 a tradition was started bringing former students from Sadie V. Thompson, Natchez College and St. Francis High School together every three years. The former students attended the schools between the years of 1954-70, and this year the classes of 1971 and 1972 were also included, reunion attendee Elijah Hawkins said.

&8220;It has been absolutely wonderful and I am absolutely elated everyone is happy and it&8217;s just been a real experience,&8221; reunion organizer and 1966 class member Bettye Washington said. &8220;It&8217;s been wonderful and I have had a wonderful time and more time together will just top the event off.&8221;

The reunion, which began Friday, opened with registration followed with a &8220;re-acquaintance&8221; where former students who had not seen each other in years had the opportunity to catch up.

&8220;It&8217;s been great. I&8217;ve seen people I haven&8217;t seen in 40 years,&8221; 1966 class member Paul Johnson said. &8220;You make friends in high school that you never forget and just don&8217;t seem to make friends like that again.&8221;

Saturday&8217;s events began with a motorcade, the first motorcade ever for the event, and included about 60 cars marked with yellow flags. The flags displayed logos of the three schools participating in the event, class of 1964 and motorcade organizer Eva Dunkley said.

&8220;We&8217;ve been trying to get a motorcade for 12 years and today we finally got it,&8221; she said. &8220;I&8217;m proud of the event and that I have remained very close with my classmates.&8221;

The motorcade, beginning at Sadie V. Thompson and traveling to the Natchez Convention Center, took attendees out of the heat and into the center to enjoy an afternoon of food and fellowship, Hawkins said.

&8220;We do this to honor neighbors, friends, relatives and anyone else who was instrumental in preparing us for our years after school,&8221; he said.

Today will begin with a worship service and is the highlight of the event, Hawkins said. The service begins at 3 p.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church and will be followed with a luau at the Convention center. Monday the reunion activities will come to a close with a banquet at the convention center at 7:30 p.m.