Marchman as an educator, but so many others as
well.
“She was my 4th grade teacher,” said Quieta
Persall Brock. “I am afraid I gave her a few gray
hairs—the time when I found a rock and used
it as a weapon in my purse during recess on an
aggravating boy stands out the most. “
Brock described her former teacher as soft
spoken—but not a pushover.
“In the 1960s, at Jones Chapel School, our
classes contained 30 or more children. We
weren’t controlled by Ritalin or Adderal; we
were controlled by the fear of writing sentenc-
es, missing out on play period, or a trip to the
principal’s office where we had a meeting with
the board,” she said.
The respect Harbison commanded over her
young charges carries into adulthood. Brock said
she has a hard time referring to Harbison or any
other teacher by their first names.
“Even though I am now on adult terms with
them and I am friends with several former
teachers on social media,” she said. “I remember
trying so hard to imitate Mrs. Harbison’s perfect
cursive handwriting—a lost art for sure nowa-
days! I have many fond memories of her, and my
fourth grade year, because she taught lessons I
will always keep with me—I think she was the
first teacher to make me realize that teachers are
people too.
“My best friend and I were so full of ourselves
when we learned the words to ‘Glory Hallelu-
jah, it’s ending of the school,’ we recited it to
her one day before summer break. Although I
have forgotten the childish words to the song,
I have always remembered the one she wrote
to recite back to us: ‘We teachers all are happy
it’s the ending of the school, no more naughty
little children always breaking every rule, no
more biting, screaming, yelling, and this awful
tattle-telling, thank Goodness we will get some
rest!’”
Brock ended her statement with a direct
quote to Harbison saying, “Bless you, Mrs.
Harbison for your many years of helping to
shape developing minds, for your devotion and
22 | SUMMER 2020
Alice Harbison showed off some of the awards she won for
her teaching and writing.
service—I sincerely hope you are enjoying your
retirement.”
Enjoying her retirement would be the accu-
rate statement. She loves spending time with her
family, attending church, and continuing her
writing as much as possible.
“I do miss my students, but I love being able
to spend time with my family,” she said. “I am
blessed that my own daughter, Amy Harbison
Makwana, decided to follow in my footsteps and
become a teacher as well.”
Her daughter Amy also said her mother has
always been an inspiration to her.
“Honestly, it’s funny too, because absolutely
no one calls my mom by her first name,” she
said. “Even at church some of her former stu-
dents see her and say ‘Mrs. Harbison.’ If I am
ever out on the town with her and I hear her
full name, I can pretty much bet it’s one of her
school kids.”
CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE