We Still Do

Top left: Mark, ’76, and Rebecca Harbison, ’77. Top middle: Donn, ’89, and Lynette Harrison, ’88. Top right: Rob, ’84, and Kim Stoll Caldwell, ’82. Above: Rev. O’Neal addresses congregation in vow renewal ceremony. Right: The Alexanders’ original wedding photo. Bottom left: Rev. David Kerr, ’67, and Marsha Kahler Kerr, ’69. Bottom middle: Emma, ’18, and Parker Johnson, ’17. Bottom right: Rick, ’03, and Shelby Alexander, ’97.

Alumni Couples Renew Vows At Homecoming Ceremony

They came from near and far, yet their diverse stories share a common denominator: Central Methodist. Nineteen couples participated October 9 in a Homecoming wedding vow renewal ceremony at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church.

For Rick, ’03, and Shelby, ’97, Alexander, renewing their vows at Central “just made sense, because the ceremony fell on our actual anniversary,” said Shelby, a member of the board of trustees.

The Alexanders, who have been married 23 years, have a daughter, Virginia Claire, attending CMU. They met at Central as part of a Janaway trip to Greece. A ride up the elevator together started it all.

“This was such a nice ceremony,” said Shelby, who with her husband cut the cake Sunday for all the attendees. “Because everyone has a common story and kind of started out in the same place.”

Parker, ’17, and Emma Johnson, ‘18, were the youngest couple among the 19 who participated. They traveled from Nashville to Fayette for Homecoming just for the ceremony.

And there were three couples who were married in 1965— celebrating 57 years: Mary, ’64, and Don Armitage, ‘64; Nick, ’65, and Krisi Auer ‘67; and E.C. , ’66, and Ann Core Walker, ‘67. The couple traveling the longest distance was Gary, ’72, and Venatta Stephens, ‘73, from Chesapeake, Virginia.

The ceremony was the brainchild of Rev. Bill O’Neal, pastor at Linn Memorial.

“It was just a way to help people elevate the love they have for one another and be more aware of their marriage and what it means,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal said the genesis of the ceremony comes from the fact that he has met and discovered so many alumni who met their spouses at Central.

“It’s astounding,” said O’Neal, who participated in a vow renewal ceremony with his wife, Dawn, several years ago. “There are close to 800 living couples that we know of who either met or got married at Central Methodist.”

Participants received a frameable alumni vow renewal certificate. Cake and punch was served after the ceremony.