Piper School
The Piper School was located on Nickajack Road north of the Graveltown community. This
one room school had average enrollment of 40-50 students. The teacher was responsible
for eight grades. Something was done here that is prohibited now as each school day was
opened with Bible reading and a prayer. This school was closed over 50 years ago when
all the small schools in Smith County were consolidated into the larger ones.
These Photos courtesy of Roy Gregory.
Piper School 1932-33 Term
L-R, row 1: Junior Taylor, Bonnell Sloan, James Gordon Gregory, Draper Shoulders, Ray Gregory, Mack Williams,
I. H. Wilmore, William Thomas Earps, Elgie Oldham, Rome Wilmore, Odie B. Gregory, Burnace Reece, Ernest Reece.
row 2, Beulah Mai Taylor, Ruth Gregory, Thelma Gregory, Odie Mai Taylor, Dorothy Piper, Helen Wilmore, Mildred
Gammons, Geraldean Shoulders, Majorlene Gregory, Christine Earps, Dallas Gregory, Gene Shoulders, J. B. Wilmore.
row 3, James Taylor, Clarence Benton Taylor, Willie Reece, Fred Piper, Estell Gregory, Katherine Dillehay,
Ruth Grigg, teacher, Lurlie Sloan, Maymie Lee Dillehay, Era Mai Gregory and Beatrice Gregory.
This information was published in the Carthage Courier and provided by Marilyn Wilmore Johnson.
2nd row - Thomas Earps, Beulah Smith-Teacher, Mack Beasley, Odie Mai Taylor,
Piper School 1937
Front row L to R: Emma Jean Gregory, Joyce Taylor, Gordon Gregory, Ruth Gregory,
June Shoulders(little girl in front), Bonell Sloan (back a little), Beulah Mae Taylor,
Mildren Gregory, J.B. Wilmore, Kenneth Shoulders, Gene Shoulders.
Geraldine Shoulders, Blanely Smith, Dorothy Piper, Ray Gregory, J.B. Gregory.
Piper School 1940
L - R, Row 1:Joyce Taylor, Robbie Earps, June Shoulders, Jerry Dale Gregory.
Row 2: Rex Shoulders, Elizabeth Pulley, unknown, Gene Shoulders, Kenneth
Shoulders, Lowell Smith, unknown, Jolly Taylor, teacher, Elizabeth Yancy,
Row 3: Beulah Mai Taylor, unknown, Mildred Gregory, Ruth Gregory, Blanch Smith,
unknown (perhaps Draper Shoulders), Majorlene Gregory, unknown, and Agnes Earps.
Ruby Earps Davis and Agnes Earps Wilmore provided the names of these students.