Stone girls enjoy local legacy

JOHNSONVILLE—Diane Marsh thought she was basically through with high school athletics and such, what with her only son, Shawn, out of “higher learning” and into the business world.
It was inevitable, however, that at some time she would be called back again.

The former Diane Stone of the Vox Community, as she was known back in her high school days, was called into action for the first JHS Homecoming Parade as the Grand Marshall, an honor indeed.

Marsh, who at one time was a petite little brunette, and who now serves as Mayor-Pro-Tem for the City of Johnsonville, was color coordinated with the school “to beat the band!” She rode on a golden yellow ’55 Thunder Bird convertible belonging to Bobby Elliott of Hemingway and highlighted with black lettering. The car had not been exposed to the outside world for years, having been securely kept inside Elliott’s garage all this time.

When she participated in another parade in 1959, the late Frankie Elliott of Hemingway, also in a convertible, drove her.

In 1959, in the days before the high school had any homecoming activities, not even a football team, Diane was May Queen. This was quite an honor since with two representatives from each class for the Queen’s Honor Court; the entire student body was assembled in the gym and voted on the May Queen and Maid of Honor.

It probably didn’t surprise any of the students, since Diane’s sister, Doris, had been May Queen in 1941 and another sister, Deloris, was May Queen in 1958.

Diane has numerous other titles to her honor that she didn’t want to talk about, but her wonderful scrapbooking ability attests to the facts.

She was “Miss Tobacco Festival” in Lake City back in those days, but she’d rather think about her high school times. These girls came from a country home, but one that dearly enjoyed sports. The fact that their father, Marvin Stone, was a school trustee didn’t hurt their reputation either. They all played sports, especially basketball where Diane was a star player, helping to win several tournaments.
“Diane was an asset to our basketball team. She was small and couldn’t compare with those tall girls who shot over the goal, but she could come right under them and get the ball every time. I played, also, but I just played. Diane performed,” her oldest sister, Doris, who resides in Florida, said. “Our family was large, but Daddy always got us to practice and to the games, no matter where they were. Mama had chores at home with the younger children, but she took up the slack for us, allowing us time for our homework and sports.”

Come 1958, Diane’s sister Deloris was also May Queen. The girls never let their good looks go to their heads. Doris went to higher learning; Deloris graduated Wingate College and taught school, many years at JHS before retiring. Diane also went to higher learning, studying business and her other sister, Dora, worked in banks for many years. After Diane’s marriage to David Marsh, Jr., she became affiliated with Marsh Hardware and later Radio Shack.

There was always a jolly good time in the Stone family. Diane recalled recently about the time, after she won “County Miss FFA”, she was to go to Clemson to represent the county at state. A girl could not go without a chaperone, so her parents sent Delores. The only problem was, although the older of the two, Delores had not gotten her driver’s license. Therefore, Diane had to drive for her chaperone.
Also, Mr. Stone said, “I just don’t know if that old car will make it to Clemson and back.” Not to be outdone, and considering it an honor for a Johnsonville girl to participate in state competition, Shay Hagan, who had a new Chevrolet, offered his car to the girls. They drove “that old car” to Lake City where Shay had left his new car parked, switched cars and let “that old car” right beside the sidewalk where Shay’s car had been parked.

With a family of seven, five girls and two boys, there was never a dull moment and still is not when they all get together.

Diane has been a member of Johnsonville City Council for the past 16 years and this is her second term as mayor-pro tem. She doesn’t let those past accolades interfere with her work for the City. She works in all areas of the City’s business, but is especially interested in beautification, which includes protecting the trees, cleanup projects (litter and older, discarded homes and buildings) and planting new trees and flowering plants.