In 1969, my mom and dad moved my family to Clarksburg from Huntingdon, and in December of that year I lost my dad to cancer. This new school was the first opportunity I had ever had to play a sport and be part of a team. Although I did not have a natural talent for basketball, it was an extreme honor to be a Lady Rocket. Upon graduation, I attended the University of Tennessee at Martin majoring in Business Administration and married my high school sweetheart, Dennis Stokes, who obtained a degree in Agriculture Education and a Masters in Administration. By the time I graduated from Martin, I had had my two children - Amanda (Stokes) Derryberry and Andrew Stokes. Both children married well - Amanda to Bobby Derryberry and Andrew to Melanie Holt. All four furthered their education - Amanda received a B.S. in Nursing; Bobby became a certified welder from McKenzie Tennessee College of Technical Education; besides being an ordained minister, Andrew received a Masters in Agriculture Education from Murray State University in Kentucky and became a Licensed Surveyor, and Melanie received a B.S. in Mathematics from Murray State.

Clarksburg School is now serving all seven of my seven grandchildren, and I feel certain each one of my grandchildren will receive the education they will need to succeed in their future endeavors after graduation.