Richland Community Honors 'Miss Addie'

By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor

ESSEX - The Richland community gathered Sunday to honor, recognize, and say “thank you” to one of their favorite and most beloved daughters.

Addie Rasche grew up in the Gray Ridge community, the daughter of parents instrumental in the early days of Richland schools. And she has spent her adult life following their footsteps – giving of herself, her talents and love to the people in the Richland school district.

Miss Addie – the title she has been given by generations of Richland students and staff – retired at the end of the 2011 school year. The community gathered Sunday for a reception in her honor. Richland alumni, administrators, teachers, parents – the Rebel Nation – gathered in the gym for an afternoon of saying ‘thanks’. 

Pat Crane was the emcee for an afternoon that included stories of and presentations to Miss Addie.

Now, to listen to Jimmie Lawrence, former Richland administrator talk, Miss Addie worked for the district for 48 years. That probably came as a surprise to Miss Addie and to others, since she was celebrating retirement after 45 years of service to the district. 

But Lawrence was the Rasche’s neighbor growing up in Gray Ridge, and said he remembered her as a neighbor, student, secretary and friend.

“She graduated from high school, and I asked her if she was going to go to college,” Lawrence recalled. Miss Addie said she hadn’t planned on college. “So I just told her that I thought we needed her at the school, and that’s where she stayed for more than 48 years.”

Joining Lawrence in recognizing Rasche was another Richland superintendent, Carrell Odom.

“One thing I learned early on about Miss Addie was that she loved her family,” said Odom. “There is no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Rasche taught her things about this school system. Also, she loved to do things for other people. I’ve never met anyone who got more out of working and doing something for someone else.”

Former Richland administrators Clyde Dixon, Ken Latham, and Brenda Campbell were also on hand for the program. 

A special bronze plaque was presented to Miss Addie, honoring her years of dedicated service to the district. The plaque is identical to the two hanging in the school hallway, honoring the contributions of her parents. This new plaque will be placed adjacent to them, marking the contributions of the Rasche family to the Richland schools. 

Generations of Richland Rebels filled the gymnasium for the program and attended the reception in the school cafeteria. In the cafeteria, Miss Addie’s former colleagues placed her desk from the high school office, and it was from this familiar spot that she greeted friends. Generations of students and families filled through, giving her hugs, posing for photographs, and showing their love and affection for the longtime school secretary 

The program included music from the Wyman family, and RHS student Joe Foster played the piano as guests left the gymnasium for the reception.

Photo Above: Karen Lane (right) and daughter Michelle, stop to greet Addie Rasche during a reception in her honor at Richland Schools. Rasche has retired after more than 45 years as the RHS secretary. Karen is the librarian at Richland; Michelle an alumni of RHS. (SMT photo by Annabeth Miller)

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