Where are they now? Billie and William Begg

For this week’s segment, we go up the mountain a few miles to visit Billie Spivey Begg, the daughter of my second grade teacher at Tryon Elementary School, Mrs. Katherine Spivey. Billie graduated from Tryon High School in 1963. She was a member of the Future Teachers Club and played guard on the girl’s basketball team. Today, she and her husband, William, live in Brevard, North Carolina. Billie followed in her mother’s footsteps going into the teaching profession. She retired several years ago.

Billie enjoys reading the Tryon Daily Bulletin on the internet. She first read my column that mentioned her mother on May 23, 2006. Ironically, that date would have been her mother’s 94th birthday.

Billie has many fond memories of her days in Tryon. A favorite event of hers was the annual Halloween Carnival sponsored by Tryon Schools. She particularly remembers one year when the carnival was held in front of the present post office. After the carnival was over, Trade Street was closed off for street dancing.

It was great to hear from Billie Spivey. The Spivey’s, both mother and daughter, devoted their lives to the noble profession of teaching. I congratulate Billie and hope her friends and classmates who attended Tryon High School enjoy finding out where she is now.