The Holly Grove Homecoming Club was founded in 1962 by Holly Grove native Sarah Lee Foster. Co-founder of the Holly Grove Homecoming Club is Rev. E. Lewis Branch.
Foster, who now resides in Denver, Colo., graduated from Holly Grove Vocational High School and then attended Shorter College and Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock. In 1953, she graduated from Bonnie Beauty School. Foster has broad experience in working with people and organizations. She has volunteered her skills to a variety of civic causes in her continued efforts to make valuable and meaningful contributions to society.
Branch was born in Holly Grove and now resides in San Francisco. After finishing high school, he attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, UCLA, San Francisco State College, Chicago University, ministerial training at Berkeley Baptist Divinity School, and Urban Training School in Chicago. He holds a BA of Religious Education, Master of Theology and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. His pastoral work has included California, Washington, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Nevada. He has a total of 15 years in ministerial work, 18 years as a pastor and 35 year as presiding elder in Missouri and Kansas.
(from an article in the June 22-24, 2007, Central Delta Argus-Sun)
The Holly Grove Homecoming Club will hold their 46th homecoming celebration June 29 through July 1.
The Holly Grove Homecoming Club, founded in 1962 by Holly Grove native Sarah Lee Foster, makes an effort to instill pride in their home community.
Foster, who now resides in Denver, graduated from Holly Grove Vocational High School and then attended Shorter College and Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. In 1953, she graduated from Bonnie Beauty School. Foster has broad experience in working with people and organizations. She has volunteered her skills to a variety of civic causes in her continued efforts to make valuable and meaningful contributions to society.
The Holly Grove Homecoming Club encourages those living away from their hometown to return every Fourth of July for the annual celebration. Foster will attend this year's celebration.
This year's events will begin with a prayer breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 29, at the Foster-Branch Building. A board meeting will be held at the same location at 11 a.m. At 2 p.m. the annual President's Luncheon will be held at the Foster-Branch Building. Speaker at the luncheon will be local author Carrie Keaton. The day's events will conclude with the king and queen contest at 7 p.m. at the Foster-Branch Building.
A welcome assembly will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at the Foster-Branch Building, followed by the homecoming parade at noon, which will begin at the middle school grounds, with Bertha Johnson as grand marshal. The community picnic will be held at 2 p.m. at the Foster-Branch Building, and the annual dance will conclude the day's events at 9 p.m. at the same location.
On Sunday, July 1, a vesper service will be held at 5 p.m. at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church, with the Rev. Larry Strong as guest speaker.
Homecoming events will conclude at 7 p.m. with a post board meeting at the Foster-Branch Building.
The Holly Grove Homecoming Club has developed an eight-acre park and purchased a community building, both of which are operational and debt free. Clubs are located in Denver, West Helena, Little Rock, Chicacgo, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Holly Grove.
