Lexington Senior High Class of 1976 to Celebrate 50th Reunion While Honoring Beloved Class President
The Lexington Senior High School Class of 1976 will gather this fall to celebrate a milestone 50th class reunion, an evening that will be filled with memories, laughter, and heartfelt remembrance.
Senior Photo of Karen Grogan-Kimberly/Contributed Photo
The reunion is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Sapona Ridge Country Club.
While classmates look forward to reconnecting after five decades, this year's reunion will also mark the first without longtime class president Karen Grogan-Kimberly, who passed away in December 2023.
For nearly 50 years, Grogan-Kimberly served as the driving force behind the class reunions, helping classmates remain connected long after graduation. From maintaining alumni records and coordinating venues to communicating with classmates through changing technology, friends say her commitment ensured the Class of 1976 remained more than just names in a yearbook.
A graduate of Lexington Senior High, Grogan-Kimberly was a member of the school's tennis team before attending Randolph-Macon Woman's College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in religion. She later completed a master's degree in liberal studies at Wake Forest University.
Grogan-Kimberly/Contributed Photo
Classmate Sheila Frazier reflected on Grogan-Kimberly's lasting impact in a tribute prepared for the reunion.
"When we elected Karen as our class president, we knew we were choosing a leader," Frazier wrote. "What we did not realize was that we were asking her to make a lifelong commitment."
Frazier noted that while classmates built careers, raised families, and moved across the country, Grogan-Kimberly remained the person who kept everyone connected.
"Karen quietly held the map that helped us always find our way back to one another," she wrote.
According to Frazier, Grogan-Kimberly embraced the work of organizing reunions through decades of changing technology, from landline telephones and mailed letters to email and social media. More importantly, she worked to preserve friendships that began in the classrooms and hallways of Lexington Senior High.
"It was never just about event planning and logistics," Frazier wrote. "For Karen, it was about preserving the bond we formed as children so it would not be lost to time. Because of her dedication, our class did not become a distant memory in a yearbook. We stayed connected."
Frazier described Grogan-Kimberly as "the keeper of our history, the anchor of our friendships, and the heartbeat of the Class of 1976."
As classmates gather in September, they will celebrate not only 50 years since graduation, but also the legacy of a woman whose quiet leadership helped ensure that the bonds formed at Lexington Senior High endured for generations.
Shelia Frasier/ Contributed Photo
Those planning to attend the reunion are encouraged to stay connected with fellow classmates and reunion organizers for additional event information. The price is $75 per person. Class members can register via payment through Venmo @marianne-stenborg. Checks and money orders can be mailed to the Class fund via Monette Hinson-Frye, 110 Sawgrass Lane North, Lexington, NC 27295. The deadline is Wednesday, August 26th. For more information email Lexshsclassof1976@gmail.com.
