HUGULEY, Ala. — Continuing a family legacy as an educator has made Mary Alsobrook a good neighbor to many families in the Greater Valley Area.

“Both my parents and my husband were long-time educators, and I taught school for 34 years,” she said.

Her father, the late C.M. Reeves was the first principal at Huguley Elementary School. He was there when the school opened in 1938 until his retirement in 1957. Her mother, the late Mattie Reeves, was a third grade teacher at Huguley.

“My mother was my teacher when I was in the third grade at Huguley,” Mary said. “That was really special for both of us.”

Her dad loved to interact with the students.

“Every child in the school knew how to spell Chattahoochee,” she said. “He would get them to learn it in syllables: Chat-ta-HOO-chee. It was easier to learn that way. He also played games like Wig Wag and May I? with the students. We all loved that.”

Mary graduated from Lanett High in 1956 and from Auburn University in 1960. She married Jimmy Alsobrook, who was a principal and counselor for many years with the Chambers County School District.

“He was a good man,” Mary said. “He died two years ago. I will always miss him.”

Jimmy battled cerebral palsy for many years, but it didn’t defeat his love of education and for helping young people.

“I had three very good examples to follow in life,” said Mary. “My parents and my husband touched people’s lives in so many ways. I learned so much from them. I will never forget them.”

Mary stays in contact with her fellow teachers as an active member of the Chambers County Education Retirees Association. She was fortunate to be able to teach at two of her alma maters. She started out as a classroom teacher at Huguley before transferring to the Lanett City System. Altogether she taught for 34 years.