IN THIS ISSUE
SOCIAL
4 | ROAR’s James Bond Gala
4 | Girlspring Winter Party
6 | Hoover Service Club
6 | Engaged: Miss Bennett Daye to Mr. Austin Cret Shamblin.
6 | Magic Moments Magic Show
8 | VIVA Vestavia Hills
8 | Dance Connections in New York City GIVING TREE
9 | Ascension Episcopal Backpack Blessings
9 | Pink Palace Casino Night
9 | A Night of Wishes and Wonder ABOUT TOWN
10 | Things to do, people to see and hear COMMUNITY
12 | Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston announces his retirement.
VALENTINE’S GIFT GUIDE
14 | Hurry now, and be speedy, Buy a gift for your sweetie.
LIFE
16 | Audrey Atkins uses her heart attack to help educate others.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
18 | From the hearts of Jemmie Clements’ 4th Grade Class at Deer Valley Elementary School
PROFILE
20 | Jim and Jayne Pool’s joyful journey SPORTS
24 | Vestavia basketball player Sarah Gordon surpasses 2,000 points.
23 | Homewood’s Emma Levering wins the Gatorade Cross Country Award.
23 | Vestavia Senior Adam Barksdale is Montevallo bound.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JO U RNA L February 6, 2025
Publisher & Executive Editor: Lee Hurley
Editor: Barry Wise Smith
Designer: Claire Cormany
Photographer: Jordan Wald
Contributors: Tally Reynolds Dettling, Rubin Grant, Anne Ruisi
Account Executives:
Julie Trammell Edwards, Gail Kidd
Vol. 34, No. 13
Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $44 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at mwald@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2024 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.
Love is in the Air
And love is in the pages of the Over the Mountain Journal too! Specifically, in Tally Reynold Dettling’s charming In Their Own Words piece on page 18. Tally asked 18 adorable fourth graders at Deer Valley Elementary School in Hoover to tell us what love means to them, and their answers might be meant as lessons for all of us. It doesn’t hurt that they’re so stinking cute! And if you’re struggling with finding just the right thing for your love, check out our Valentine’s Gift Guide on page 14 for some suggestions.
And despite all the Valentine’s talk above (not to mention the mountainous displays of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and greeting cards in seemingly every store), there is more to February than just Valentine’s Day. February is also American Heart Month, so our story on Audrey Atkins (page 16), who survived a heart attack in her 50s and tirelessly advocates for women’s cardiovascular health, is perfectly timed. Not to mention, National Wear Red Day is February 7th
So whatever February means to you, here’s wishing you get all the chocolate you want and lots of love!
–BARRY WISE SMITH
| OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS |
MOUNTAIN BROOK CLASS OF 1975 REUNION
Mountain Brook High School’s Class of 1975 is holding its 50th reunion on April 4th at Seibels Cottage in Homewood and April 5th at Mountain Brook Club. Organizers want to make sure all their classmates know about the party. If you haven’t heard the details, email MBHSclassof75@gmail.com to get an invitation.
Announce your engagement and tell your wedding story in OTMJ! Email lhurley@otmj.com for details.
This Vestavia buck was photographed by Will Rushin at the corner of Christopher Drive and Green Valley Road.
On January 25, 2025, The Club in Birmingham hosted the 14th Annual James Bond Gala, presented by Radiation Oncology Accelerated Research (ROAR), honoring Barry Buckner, a local businessman and cancer survivor. The event successfully raised over half a million dollars to support the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology’s research initiatives, which are matched dollar for dollar by the Department. Attendees enjoyed an elegant evening featuring dinner, dancing and auctions, all contributing to advancements in cancer treatment and patient care. OTMJ
ROAR’s James Bond Gala
GIRLSPRING WINTER PARTY
The Girlspring Winter Party, held in the beautiful AEIVA building on UAB’s campus and hosted by the Girlspring Women’s Committee in honor of former board president Rupa Kitchens, was a night to celebrate supporters and the group’s Springboarders. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, live music, and a silent auction while hearing from Girlspring participants and staff. Girlspring, a local nonprofit founded by philanthropist and social activist Jane Stephens Comer in 2010, provides a safe online community and in-school programs for girls 13-18 so they can share and express themselves through creative content and build supportive community. OTMJ
John Collier and Pennie Alliston Jim and Sharon Sasser and Ameila and Blair Voltz Angela King and Nik Layman
Jeh Jeh Pruitt, Shasta Brock, Tony Petelos, Julie Kim, Shawna Lee and Patsy Johnson
Gena Casey and Dustin Rozas Julie and Robert Kim and Barry Buckner and Sybil Howell
Gayle Douglas, Grace Murphy and Kate Meriwether Jason Comer, Taylor Pursell and Chris Still Rebecca Morris, Tarika Bhuta and Elizabeth Koleszar
Embry Pounds and Alys Comer
Dave and Rupa Kitchens Wardah Naim, Mahi Shah, Lexie Beard and Jaina Burrell
Hoover Service Club Luncheon Meeting
The Hoover Service Club kicked off 2025 with its first luncheon meeting of the year on Thursday, January 9th. Michael Fitts from the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama was the guest speaker. Members and guests brought supplies and monetary donations for much needed and requested feminine products for “Bundles of Hope.” The next Hoover Service Club luncheon meeting and program will be February 13 and include a State of the City address by Honorable Mayor Frank Brocato. OTMJ
Mrs. Anna Kendrick Lowery and Mr. David Ross Searcy announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Bennett Daye to Mr. Austin Cret Shamblin Both parents are from Birmingham.
Mr. Shamblin is the son of Mrs. Monique Gibson of Pace, Florida, and Mr. Cret Shamblin of Northport, Alabama.
The wedding is planned for March 1, 2025 at The Club in Birmingham.
Miss Searcy is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Leland Kendrick of Birmingham and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Killough Searcy of Birmingham.
Miss Searcy attended Auburn University and was presented at the Poinsettia Ball.
Mr. Shamblin is the grandson of the Rev. Sandy Felkins and Mr. Rod Lanier. Mr. Robert Shamblin and the late Mrs. Donna Shamblin.
Mr. Shamblin is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Both the Bride and Groom are employed in Birmingham.
Sunday Funday at the Magic Moments Magic Show
As seen on Penn & Teller: Fool Us! world-class magician, David Garrard brought his special brand of magic to Birmingham’s Historic Lyric Theatre in January. The Magic Show also featured an appearance by David’s friend and fellow magician, Tommy Ellison. The children experienced face painting, a photo booth, balloon animals, up-close magic, and a few special guests all the way from Disney World. Magic Moments is dedicated to children in Alabama with chronic life-threatening medical conditions.
Tim, Braylyn, Ashley and Charlee Peterson
Stephanie Bell, Magician David Garrard and Rachel Rounsaville
Liles, Virginia and Cooper Carter
Casey, Claire, Collin and Carson McFarling
Joy Madden and John Dantzler
Collier, Steadman, Allen and Lundy Williams
Leisa Pitts, Susette Clark-Walker, Kacy Wood Peacock and Barbara Henry
Betty Moulton, Lindsay Gray and Lori Heglas
Donna Bishop, Jean Ingram, Stephanie McClinton, Lois Taylor and Cathy Barker
Elaine Thompson and Leann Sherer
For more than 20 years, the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce has been celebrating the city’s restaurants, caterers, beverage retailers, and more at the highly anticipated Viva Vestavia Hills. This popular annual event in the Ballroom of the Vestavia Hills Civic Center gives Vestavia Hills foodies the opportunity to sample delicious sips and bites from over 20 local restaurants, bakeries, beverage companies, and caterers.
Attendees enjoyed live music, fantastic food and drink and a silent auction. Awards are presented to the vendor with the Best Food and Best Presentation.
This year’s winners were Miss Astrid’s Tavern for Best Food and Cookie Fix for Best Presentation. Proceeds from Viva Vestavia Hills benefit the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Foundation that provides scholarships to two deserving Vestavia Hills High School seniors. OTMJ
Viva Vestavia Hills
DANCE CONNECTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY
Dance Connections took a group of 13 talented dancers from the Over-theMountain area to New York City in December 2024. The dancers represented 7 different schools and 6 different dance studios and ranged in age from 7–15. Part of the mission of Dance Connections is to connect dancers to the wonderful world of dance. They fulfilled that mission as the dancers and family members embarked on an unforgettable trip filled with amazing opportunities and lifelong memories. OTMJ
Matt and Keri Bates
Melanie Herbert and Debra Leo Kecia Elrod and Carey Wheeles
Lauren Curwick and Amanda Fang
Paige Harris, Kim Lowe and Brandi Hathorn
Donnie and Lynne Dobbins
The Dance Connections dancers had the opportunity to perform on Broadway. The stage show took place in the New Amsterdam Theatre, home to Aladdin, and was hosted by Broadway star, Jelani Remy.
Radio City Rockettes as part of the Rockette Experience.
The dancers practiced only a handful of times before leaving Birmingham for the bright lights of New York City. The performed “Oh Santa” to a sold-out audience on the first morning of the trip.
Studios from across the country joined together to perform in Times Square.
The New Amsterdam Theatre, home to Aladdin, was an exciting place to showcase the talented Dance Connections dancers.
The Dance Connections dancers were joined by owner, Lindsey Hull, after their incredible Times Square performance on the final morning of the trip.
Ascension Episcopal Backpack Blessings
Through weekly deliveries to three Vestavia Hills City Schools, Ascension Episcopal Church meets the needs of approximately 41 students facing food insecurity on weekends. On Fridays, nutritious, prepackaged foods are discreetly placed by school counselors into the backpacks of students who receive free or reduced-cost lunches. Ascension volunteers currently deliver to Cahaba Heights Elementary, Dolly Ridge Elementary, and Vestavia East Elementary. (Southminster Presbyterian currently serves the students of Vestavia West.) The goal is to eventually be able to serve at-risk middle and high school students as well. On May 8, 2025, Ascension will host its annual Food Truck Festival. Proceeds from the event will help continue to support programs including the Weekend Backpack Program. All are invited to attend. For more information or to donate, contact Associate Rector Emily Collette at 256-714-9493.
PINK PALACE CASINO NIGHT
Support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama while enjoying Las Vegas-style fun at the 17th annual Pink Palace Casino Night on Saturday March 1st! The evening will feature charity casino gaming featuring $500 in gaming money to play poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and slot machines. Enjoy live music from II Da Maxx, bid on a variety of items in the silent auction, win prizes and nibble on heavy hors d’oeuvres by Kathy G. & Co. All proceeds benefit breast cancer research in Alabama. For tickets, silent auction information, and full event details, PinkPalaceCasinoNight.com or call 205-413-4600.
WHEN: 7-10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Soiree Event Gallery, Hoover
A Night of Wishes and Wonder
Make-A-Wish Alabama is thrilled to announce that the 2025 Wish Night in Birmingham, presented by Magna, is moving to a bigger and more iconic venue than ever before! Mark your calendars for Friday, March 7, 2025, at 6 p.m. at The Club for an unforgettable night of fun, excitement and celebration. Treat yourself to a gourmet dinner, bid on exclusive live and silent auction experiences, dance the night away to top-notch live entertainment and take part in the ever-popular bourbon pull—your chance to win premium bottles of bourbon in a unique way. Plus, be inspired by powerful stories of hope and transformation as we work together to transform lives, one wish at a time. For sponsorship, table, and ticket information, visit alabamawishnight.org or contact Jodie James at jjames@alabama.wish.org.
The Rev. Emily Collette and The Rev. Jack Alvey
Feb. 6-9
DEARLY BELOVED
An over-the-top wedding, three feuding sisters and a church full of small-town eccentrics. What could possibly go wrong? Find out in this fast-paced comedy.
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Homewood Theatre
Feb. 6-16
STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S ASSASSINS
Assassins is a stunning and darkly comic journey into the minds of history’s most famous (and infamous) assassins!
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Virginia Samford Theatre
Fri., Feb. 7
A NIGHT WITH THE AEOLIANS Oakwood University’s student singing group, The Aeolians, perform with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Feb. 8 & 15
THE BIGGEST LITTLE HOUSE IN THE FOREST
This delightful children’s theatre adventure is geared to youngsters up to age 5.
WHEN: 2 p.m.
WHERE: Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Feb. 12-March 2
SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL
With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls,” and “Hot Stuff,” this electrifying musical is a tribute to an icon of an era.
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Red Mountain Theatre
Feb. 13
SAMFORD LEGACY LEAGUE LUNCHEON
Award-winning writer Dr. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford, is the featured speaker at the Legacy League Luncheon. The event raises scholarship funds for students with significant financial need and challenging circumstances.
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Vestavia Country Club
ABOUT TOWN
Feb. 14
BIRMINGHAM DOES BROADWAY
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra takes you down Broadway playing a Valentine’s Day-themed selection from some of your favorite musicals.
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Feb. 14-15
ART IN MOTION
Art in Motion: Valentine’s Weekend
Performances is a collaborative series between the Alabama Ballet and the Birmingham Museum of Art. This collaboration merges the timeless beauty of ballet with the inspiring ambiance of the museum’s galleries, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for audiences.
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. for cocktail hour, with the performance at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Birmingham Museum of Art
Feb. 16
MAESTRO LOVES HARLEM
The Birmingham Music Club presents a concert featuring an exciting 11-piece orchestra with four singers and Maestro Ron Bourdages singing, playing guitar and leading the band!
WHEN: 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lyric Theatre
Feb. 19-20
THE MCCRARY SISTERS
The McCrary Sisters, daughters of the late Reverend Samuel McCrary, a founding member of the legendary gospel quartet
The Fairfield Four, sing gospel that melds traditional with contemporary influences of classic soul, Americana, blues, rock and R&B music.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Hoover Library Theatre
Feb. 20-March 9
POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE
The Tony Award-nominated play concerns the efforts of seven brilliant women trying to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble during a PR nightmare spun into a global crisis.
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Terrific New Theatre
Fri., Feb. 21
SHOSTAKOVICH COFFEE CONCERT
The ASO will perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 featuring soloist Gabriel Martins.
WHEN: 11 a.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Feb. 21-22
VILLA-LOBOS + SHOSTAKOVICH
Join the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as they perform classics from Villa-Lobos, Ravel, and Shostakovich featuring soloist Gabriel Martins.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alys Stephens Center
Feb. 22 & March 1
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD BOOK?
Your favorite storybook characters come to life onstage is this show for ages 6 and older.
WHEN: 11 a.m.
WHERE: Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Feb. 28-March 2
THE DILL PICKERS
The Dill Pickers return to Virginia Samford Theatre with another great weekend of music, stories and lots of laughs. And remember—The Dill Pickers are perfect for every member of the family!
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: Virginia Samford Theatre
Fri., Feb. 28
MIDDAY MUSIC
The Ramsey High School Choir will perform a free, 30-minute concert. WHEN: Noon
WHERE: Cathedral Church of the Advent
Feb. 28-March 2, March 7-9
PETER PAN
Embark on a magical journey through the night sky to Neverland with Peter Pan, Wendy and the Lost Boys with the Alabama Ballet presentation of Christopher Stuart’s Peter Pan.
WHEN: Various showtimes
WHERE: BJCC Concert Hall
March 1
EXCEPTIONAL FOUNDATION
CHILI COOKOFF
Get ready to spice things up at the 21st Annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off! It’s the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, which will feature live music, a kid’s zone and all the chili you can eat.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
WHERE: Brookwood Village
March 1
ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
Free trees, along with crafts and story time for kids, are among the activities planned for the Arbor Day Extravaganza with the Hoover Beautification Board! Trees will be available as long as supplies last. Overflow shuttle parking will be available from the former Bed, Bath and Beyond parking lot at Riverchase Crossings. WHEN: 8-11 a.m.
WHERE: Aldridge Gardens
March 1
DINNER AND DIAMONDS
Enjoy dinner, entertainment and live and silent auctions at this fundraiser for the Vestavia Hills City School Foundation. WHEN: 7-11 p.m.
WHERE: Vestavia Country Club
March 8
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
It’s that time of year again! The Kiwanis Club of Homewood-Mountain Brook will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast. Tickets are $8 each and free for kids 5 and under. Proceeds will primarily benefit the Homewood Library. WHEN: 7-11 a.m.
WHERE: The Exceptional Foundation
The Aeolians, Oakwood University’s big choir, Feb 7
Answering the Call
Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston announces his retirement.
BY BARRY WISE SMITH PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD
Growing up in Russellville, Alabama, the son of a Baptist minister, Sam Gaston knew he wanted to do “something in service to people. “I didn’t hear the Gospel call,” Gaston says, “but I knew I wanted to serve in some way.”
“Now almost 32 years after coming to Mountain Brook as the city’s longest serving City Manager, Gaston has done just that. At the beginning of the year, Gaston announced his retirement effective end of November 2025. “I never imagined I’d be here for 32 years,” Gaston says. “But the job kept being fun! We’ve done and are doing exciting things.”
While Gaston always knew he wanted to lead a life of service, he didn’t know exactly what that looked like. When he decided to head to Auburn as a college freshmen, “I just was flipping through the catalog looking for courses that interested me,” he says. That’s when fate stepped in. “A man named Gary Roberts was hired as the city manager of Tuscumbia, near my hometown,” Gaston remembers. Gaston’s mother introduced him to Roberts, and he learned what a city manager did. “He was such an inspiration for
me,” Gaston continues. “I thought how interesting it was that you could do this type of a job. From the age of 19, I had the desire to do this.”
Gaston went on to get both his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Auburn and his master’s degree in Public Administration from Auburn University Montgomery. During college, Gaston interned with the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments under a man named Jim Price, who deepened his love for municipal government. “He [Price] was a real role model and mentor to me,” Gaston says. “That cemented my decision to pursue this as my career.”
Gaston started his career as a planner in Decatur, Alabama, before serving in other municipal positions in Gulf Shores and Anniston. “I started in planning but wanted to do more big picture work,” Gaston says. That led him to Powder Springs, Georgia, where he was serving as City Manager when the Mountain Brook job became available.
On a 3-2 vote of the City Council, Gaston was hired, and his first day on the job in Mountain Brook was Flag Day, June 14, 1993
(this June marks Gaston’s 32nd year as Mountain Brook’s Manager). “To have been here this long, honestly it feels a lot shorter,” Gaston says. “Because we’ve had such a good time. The mayors and councilors I’ve worked with have been wonderful, the citizens appreciate us, and the staff here is the best. Mountain Brook is such a forward-thinking city.”
As the administrative head of the city, Gaston oversees staffing decisions and handles issues and complaints from citizens, while also supervising the city’s departments and department heads, preparing Council agendas and meetings, and shepherding the budget process. “It’s a lot of interaction with people—both citizens and staff—and helping the council to establish effective policies and implement those policies successfully,” Gaston says. “In this job, not a whole lot of days are the same, which makes it exciting and interesting. It stays fresh.”
Gaston also works with the city’s department heads and finance director to create a budget that is proposed to the City Council and Mayor. “We have an exhaustive budget process to ensure that the budget is what we need and what the city can afford,” Gaston says. A Finance Committee made up of community members and one council member also reviews the budget and provides input. “It’s good to look at things from another perspective,” Gaston says.
When asked the things that he is most proud of, Gaston is more focused on what’s still left to do rather than what’s already done. But at the top of his accomplishments list are the Cahaba Village and Lane Parke commercial developments. “They have added much-needed tax revenues to the city and expanded the shopping opportunities in our community for residents and visitors,” Gaston says. Also “building the outstanding staff we have here and our fantastic department heads.”
marker in front of Charles Zukowski’s house on Old Leeds Road. “Mr. Zukowski was the first mayor of Mountain Brook and advocated for a city manager, which no one down here had heard of,” Gaston says. Mountain Brook was the first Alabama city to have a city manager with the system implemented in 1942.
For all the success, Gaston is quick to credit others who have been there with him in service.
“I give great credit to the mayors (Gaston has worked with three mayors: William Matthews IV, Terry Odum, and Stewart Welch) and councilors who have been so supportive of me and the vision we have for the city.”
In addition to his work at City Manager, Gaston has been highly involved in both civic organizations and professional associations.
“That’s sort of been my hobby,” he says. Gaston has served as President of the Alabama City/County Management Association and the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association. He served on the Executive Board of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) from 2005-2008 and served as ICMA President from 2011 to 2012. He has served as the president of three Kiwanis Clubs—the Anniston Sunrisers Kiwanis Club and the Homewood/Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club and is currently President of the Indian Springs Village Kiwanis Club.
As he edges toward retirement, Gaston has no plans to slow down. Maybe shift focus is a better description. “My goals in retirement are to play Pickleball and take up hiking,” Gaston says. “I play golf four or five times a year, and I’m a terrible golfer. But I’ve been taking lessons and want to golf more. I have a longbow I’ve shot maybe twice, so I look forward to doing that more.” He has also recently joined the board of the North Shelby County Library and is open to the possibility
“In this job, not a whole lot of days are the same, which makes it exciting and interesting. It stays fresh.”
–sam gaston
Under Gaston’s watch, the city is up to 48 miles of sidewalks (over 50 by this time next year) making Mountain Brook one of the most walkable cities in the state. Gaston was one of the initial proponents of founding the city’s Chamber of Commerce and has served on the Chamber board from the beginning. “Since my wife is a former chamber director, this was a big one for me,” Gaston says. There’s also the upgrade in city buildings and recreational facilities. And finally, “I’m very proud of the relationship we have with the school system,” Gaston says. “We are in this together, and it’s been a great partnership.” The city’s school system in consistently ranked highly both statewide and nationally.
In the still-to-be-checked-off category, Gaston is looking forward to completing redevelopment plans for Alabama Veteran’s Memorial Park and Overton Park; finishing the new roundabouts on Cahaba Road near the Zoo; completing the Locksley Drive and Pine Ridge Road sidewalk projects; wrapping up two bridge projects; and adding a historical
of teaching a class or two, sharing his vast knowledge and experience with future city managers. “I do like to stay busy,” he says with a laugh.
Gaston also looks forward to reading and traveling more, particularly with his wife Debby, with whom he’ll celebrate his 44th anniversary in May. “Debby has been instrumental in the success I’ve been able to have in my career,” Gaston says. “We moved around a lot in my early career, and she chose to stay home to care for our family.”
Gaston is also excited to spend more time with his children—daughter Bethany Sheffield (Brad) and his son Hayden Gaston (Whitney)— and his grandchildren: Bethany’s 12-year-old daughter Avery and 9-year-old son Landon and Hayden’s 20-month-old daughter Eva. “I’m looking forward to lots more time with my grandkids,” Gaston says enthusiastically. But he’ll always treasure his days in Mountain Brook. “It’s been an amazing experience,” he says. “I could never express how grateful I am to have served this city.” OTMJ
Dazzling 14k gold diamond heart pendants. Starting at $169 each. Shay’s Jewelers, 205-978-5880
Eye-catching cabochon turquoise ring with diamonds in 18k gold, $2850. JB & Co, 205-478-0455
Theatre tickets are always the perfect gift! Join us for our Starlet Season. Tickets are available at redmountaintheatre.org. Red Mountain Theatre, 205-324-2424
Delicate Double Heart Box by Herend, smooth white porcelain that is hand painted in Hungary with 24k gold. $180. Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276.
VALENTINE Be my
Hurry now, and be speedy, Buy a gift for your sweetie.
Precious sheep figurines, $7. Attic Antiques, 205-991-6887.
Bake something sweet for your sweetheart with this heart-shaped cake pan made by USA Pan. $26. The Cook Store, 205-879-5277
A nice bottle of wine for two is a great way to enjoy a Valentine’s Day celebration.
Piggly Wiggly wine experts like Saint Cosme Cotes-duRhone Rouge, Gosset Champagne and Domaine Fontsainte Gris de Gris Rosé.
Stunning 18k yellow gold and diamond initial charm (chain not included), $550. Honeybee Collection, 404-915-2738
This blanket is beyond perfect for any sweet baby or toddler! A keepsake to hold onto for years! 100% polyester starting at $29.99. George’s inside Snoozy’s Kids, 205-871-2662
Beautiful 14k yellow gold puff heart pendant on an 18-inch yellow gold diamond cut cable chain, $340. Southeastern Jewelers, 205-980-9030
This timeless set of two crystalline glass and platinum Michael Wainwright Martini Glasses makes an impressionable gift or an enjoyable self-purchase. $195 for set. Gus Mayer, 205-870-3300
Stunning Michele two-tone Deco Sport watch with croco-pattern silicone strap, $395. Barton-Clay Fine Jewelers, 205-871-7060
For the art enthusiast, original Frank Fleming “Bisque Calla Lilies and Eggs.” Roman Brantley Art & Antiques, 205-460-1224
The Golden Goose Ballstar sneaker, made with white leather and pink and red suede, is a stylish gift for the shoe lover in your life. Available both in-store and online at shopetcjewelry.com. $585. Jewelry, Accessories, Etc., 205-871-6747
Beautiful Estate Jewelry: 14k Diamond Pendant, $1895; 18k Diamond & Ruby Ring, $1850; 14k Diamond & Ruby Ring, $1495. Hanna Antiques, 205-323-6036
Luxe Bamboo PJs for men and women—they’re cozy and so soft, but lightweight and breathable enough that you won’t get hot sleeping. Tasc Performance, (659) 599-9240.
Get your “Honey Do List” Ready! TruBlue Home Services Ally will come into your home for 2-3 hours of professional help to knock out your list. $250. TruBlue Home Services Ally, 205-839-3818
From the Heart
Audrey Atkins uses her heart attack to help educate others.
BY BARRY WISE SMITH
PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD
On October 10, 2023, less than a month after her 54th birthday, Audrey Atkins was enjoying her morning coffee with her husband Ricky while visiting her brother Father John McDonald at his home in Anniston. “I started having heartburn-like pain, and I was thinking ‘what kind of cheap coffee did my brother buy that gave me heartburn that fast,’” Atkins says. But when the pain started radiating up Atkin’s left arm, she knew something more than heartburn was happening. “I had watched enough television shows to know that was a sign of something bad,” she says.
THINGS I LEARNED FROM AUDREY ATKINS:
• Listen to your body!
• Ask questions and advocate for yourself—the doctors are working for you not the other way around.
• Record or write down the answers to your questions so you can go over them later.
• Find a doctor you trust who gives you sound advice—even if that means seeing a couple of different doctors until you find the right one.
• Be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack—nausea, vomiting, an indigestion/heartburn sensation. Women’s symptoms can be much different from men’s.
Soon Atkins started feeling nauseous and began vomiting, and Ricky called 911. “Things went from good to bad very fast,” Atkins remembers. The ambulance took Atkins to Regional Medical Center in Anniston, where after a bevy of tests, it was determined that Atkins had a heart attack.
Atkins knew that the males in her family had a history of cardiovascular disease. Her father had triple bypass surgery when he was 56, and her father’s twin brother and his son (Atkin’s uncle and first cousin) both died of massive heart attacks in their mid-40s. “I just never expected it would happen to me,” she says.
Atkins remained in the hospital for two days undergoing numerous test that revealed she didn’t have blocked arteries or any other
months, then it was two years,” Atkins says. By the day she had her heart attack, Atkins had walked for 1,011 straight days. “My doctor said that all the walking made my heart stronger than it would have been if I hadn’t been walking,” Atkins says.
While 2024 was a year of healing and recovery for Atkins, she has gone back to her daily walks and adheres to a healthy diet—without being too strict—and tries to eliminate stressors in her life whenever possible. “I’ve developed better coping mechanisms and do breathing exercises,” Atkins says. “I try not to let little things blow up into big things, and I do things that I enjoy.”
She also shares her story through her writing so that she can help others. “I don’t take my life for granted, and if by telling my
“Pay attention to your body! You know better than anyone if something doesn’t feel right. You only have one heart, and you have to take care of it!”
–audrey atkins
typical signs of cardiovascular disease. Upon her release, Atkins was treated by cardiologist Dr. Spencer Gaskin and underwent cardia rehab at UAB. “Luckily, I was reasonably healthy, and Ricky reacted quickly, so the damage to my heart wasn’t that bad,” Atkins says. But, unfortunately no one could give Atkins a definitive cause of her heart attack. “It was scary at first to not know, but over time, that has faded,” she says.
Atkins health level at the time of her heart attack is likely one of the main reasons she didn’t suffer more catastrophic damage. On January 1, 2021, amid the Covid 19 pandemic, Atkins, inspired by her friend Javacia Harris Bowser, began to walk daily. “I started, and it was one month, then two months, then six
story, I can help someone else, then that’s what I want to do,” she says. “Women tend to put everyone else in front of themselves, but you can’t care for your family or anyone else if you aren’t here. You have to take things seriously. Whether it’s a pain you’ve been ignoring or that lump you’ve delayed having checked, don’t wait, go take care of it.”
During her rehabilitation, her doctors found an undiagnosed heart defect called Myocardial Bridging, which is not uncommon. “The doctors don’t think that had anything to do with my heart attack,” she says.
In the end, the most valuable lesson Atkins learned was this, “Pay attention to your body! You know better than anyone if something doesn’t feel right. You only have one heart, and you have to take care of it!” OTMJ
From the hearts of Jemmie Clements’ 4th Grade Class at Deer Valley Elementary School
BY TALLY REYNOLDS DETTLING PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD
What is LOVE?
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some of the students in Mrs. Clements 4th Grade Class shared what love means to them.
“I think that love is something between people that everyone has. Love can be kindness or even love can be sweetness. Love is saying ‘I love you!’ to your family, and that means you care about them, so love means to care to me.” —LUCY
or
and
“Love makes you feel like you are cared about. Like, if you have family and your parents get mad at you. That doesn’t mean they don’t love you, because love lasts forever, and it will never end. You are loved!”
“Love
“Love is the opposite of hate. Hate is not good, love is great.” —RHETT
“I think that love is being kind, maybe sharing a
or just showing someone that you care about them.”
“Love is family and friends because they give me love and take care of me. My family takes me to places. My friends make me not feel lonely. My family checks if I am ok. That is what I think is love.”
“Love is respect.” —BECKETT
“Love is that happy joy and smile on your face.” —RUHAN
“Love is video games!” —TAYLOR
“Love is my family and things I like to do.” —MATTHEW
“Love is mom, dad, my siblings, my dog Boss, my house, and God.” —LUKE
“Love could be a friend
a stuffed animal or book. For me, love is my friend, family, softball, and cooking. We can like the same stuff, but can also like different stuff,
that’s okay.” —ARLEE
“I love games. I love fame.” —SUBHAN
“My love is my family, because they always care about me.” —YUSHA
smile
—JULIANNA
“I think love is an emotion. The thing I love is my mom, grandfather, grandmother, birthday, and Christmas.” PHOENIX
“I think love is family and fun.” —PARKER
—JORDYN
PROFILE
DISCERNMENT
Jim and Jayne Pool’s joyful journey
BY LEE HURLEY
When Kirby Pool was very young, she asked her mother, Saint Mark’s Episcopal priest Jayne Pool, what God was like. Jayne answered, “God is like everything.” And so began Kirby’s upbringing as a child of spiritual, intellectual and musical parents. Jim and Jayne Pool met in high school, he being older by two years. Jayne saw Jim getting out of his Opal with a guitar case in his hand and knew right away that she needed to know him better. They became friends through Canterbury United Methodist Church’s youth program (MYF) with its caring leader Leon Precise. Jim and Jayne (and many others) were touched by Precise’s conviction, his sense of humor and the musical spirituality
of MYF, and that experience set the stage for their own spiritual journey.
Jim left Mountain Brook for Davidson College in North Carolina in the mid-seventies, and he kept in touch with Jayne through the ancient art of letters. Both were contemplating some sort of spiritual vocation, but neither was certain what that meant or how that fit each other.
Through stops and starts—including a transfer to Birmingham-Southern where Jayne was studying religion—Jim applied and was accepted to Yale’s Divinity School. “I went sight unseen,” Jim says. “And from day one it felt like home.” And so Jayne followed suit. Jim adds, “Yale had several students like us with all kinds of questions, not sure what was going to come next. We had no master plan.”
TRUE NORTH
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
–NELSON HENDERSON
After graduating from Yale and moving back to Birmingham, Jayne was ordained in the Methodist church, yet she recalls, “I was in the process of discerning, convinced I could do ministry, but I did not see myself as a preacher.” In those days, there were very few female role models, so ordained women were mostly deacons or elders in the church. Both Jayne and Jim ended up back at Canterbury, and as Jim puts it, “when a husband and a wife are both working in the same ministry, your world can get small really quick.” Jim spent two years at Canterbury
Both Jim and Jayne were contemplating some sort of spiritual vocation, but neither was certain what that meant or how that fit each other.
and while there read a book that changed his perspective, and his calling. Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis describes the 1964 Supreme Court ruling that decided criminal defendants have the right to an attorney even if they can’t afford one. “In the book, the lawyer is using research and writing to help someone else, and I realized that was a better fit for me,” Jim says.
Having married in 1981 and established themselves in Birmingham, Jim commuted to the University of Alabama for three years until graduating law school. His interests took him in the direction of healthcare regulatory issues and tax exempt organizations. “That sounds arcane,” he says, “but I’m really just talking to people, helping them work through things. I’m not fighting for one side or the other. I’m just helping people who are trying to do the right thing.” Jim has been doing the right thing for the last 35 years at Maynard Nexsen, one of Birmingham’s top law firms.
THE ROAD TO SAINT MARKS
“Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
–LUKE 12:32
When Jayne was pregnant with their daughter Kirby, she and Jim decided to visit Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church on the Highlands, and just like Yale, “it felt like home.” That was the beginning of a nearly two-decade-long connection to the church with Rector’s Rusty Goldsmith and later Huey Gardner. As Jayne worked in the church, her supporters would often suggest that she would be good in the pulpit. So as a joke, and by way of encouragement, Jim bought Jayne a clergy shirt on clearance sale at the Advent bookstore. While it was a joke, Jayne was unable to get rid of it. “I put it up on the shelf in my closet. Then we moved to a different house, and I took it there too and put it on the shelf in that closet. Why wouldn’t I give it away to Goodwill or somebody?”
Jayne, who was in the Episcopal church and received her Doctor of Ministry from Sewanee, was about to turn 50 and realized, “If I’m ever going to find my own church, I better do it now.” She heard about an opening at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church on Dennison Ave. St. Mark’s was established
Jim and Jayne Pool
in 1891 as a Black Episcopal Congregation and a year later as a school with seven grades and 47 students. The church has been through many iterations led by spiritual, educational and civic leaders, and today Reverend Jayne ministers to a small group of devoted parishioners.
THE GUITARIST
“Can’t you feel that sun a-shinin’?”
–BOB DYLAN
Jim Pool fell in love with the guitar at the age of seven. His mother was from the mountains of southwest Virginia, and his family spent time there each summer visiting antique stores. That’s where his parents bought Jim his first Harmony guitar for seven dollars. Jim’s earliest influences were the finger picking styles of Peter Yarrow and Paul Stokey of Peter Paul and Mary, and while Jim’s brother gravitated to electric guitar, Jim continued to hone his acoustic chops, ending up in the Alabama School of Fine Arts where well-known instructor and player David Walbert became a consistent and valued teacher. Jim has never used his music to make money, but it’s always been at the center of his spiritual life both as a writer and a player. His original instrumentals and playing style are in the Windom Hill, Leo Kottke vein. “One of the great pleasures of playing an instrument is discovering something new,” he says. “That’s where I find joy.”
A few years ago, Jim took a course called “The Yoga of Guitar” from an online musician
named Josh Brill, a onetime Berkelee School of Music instructor. “Brill’s all about the spirituality of music, and of vibrations, Jim says, “so I started working with him.” Brill was supportive of Jim’s music and encouraged him to record his originals. Last year, Jayne was asked to officiate a wedding in Golden, Colorado, not too far from where Brill lives. Jim made the logical decision to record in Brill’s home studio, and the result of that collaboration is an album called Springtime with 12 instrumentals written by Jim and played on Brill’s Lowden 12 fret acoustic guitar. The album is on Spotify and Apple Music. The title track, “Springtime” was written when Pool was 16, and it’s meant to express
the joy of spring and of being young, alive and full of life. “Spring in Alabama is an incredibly wonderful yet short season,” Jim says “Titling this album Springtime kind of expresses both that fleeting idea of time and joy, so I just thought that was the right thing to name it.”
ENDLESS GRACE
“What is good is difficult, and what is difficult is rare.”
–ROBERT CAPON
When Kirby was young, she asked her dad, “Would you be mad if I was not an Episcoplian when I grow up?” Jim responded, “of course
not Kirby, but you’d be an Episcopalian.” And so Kirby Pool sums it up with a gift from her parents, “They taught me to give endless grace, because we never know what battles others might be facing.” Words to live by. OTMJ
“I don’t have as many guitars as some but I certainly have more than I need. The album cover (above) for Springtime shows my guitar made by Tony Vines, a wonderful luthier from Tennessee.” –Jim Pool
above, left: Jayne in her vestments. left: Sermon Notes
above: Phil Garrett and Jayne helping
Oyster like me now?
BY CHAD MCCOWAN
Is it me or is there a culinary resurgence of the maligned oyster, a delicacy today shipped from all parts of the cold northern waters to a fine dinner table in our restaurant-savvy town? With all due respect to Dusty’s of Panama City, where the Apalachicola’s are shucked by the billion and are entirely wonderful, fancy me a dozen of the smaller Prince Edward Bay’s any day or better yet Bayou La Batres Murder Point’s. The shift in sentiment over the years does intrigue though. I have ‘shucker’ in my job history (that was the actual job title), sometime close to 1982 at a local pub on the curb in Homewood called
The Station. A cozy beer joint that served sandwiches mostly and had an actual train running around the entire establishment just above the reach of regulars. It was a young boys dream, except for the shucking. Every Friday night was fresh oyster night, and a high school boy and I would shuck bushels for hours until our hands were blue from cold and bloody from scrapes. What a gig….and I was scarred for years I guess, as there was no shucking going on or oysters of any style until I met my future wife’s family during Christmas holidays. Christmas Eve was the traditional fare with
beef and lots of sides, all the talk though was of the next day’s oyster roast, a real fire oyster roast indeed. Extended family would gather in the dozens as the fire blazed and the burlap sacks soaked in salt-water preparation. Whole oysters are dumped over the burlap covered fires and left to sizzle until the flat shell just pops from the cup. Then drizzled with drawn butter and maybe parmesan and a hot sauce dash and you have yourself an oyster roast. Add some uncles and cousins who are very apt at guitar playing, and you have yourself a wonderful family tradition. Not to mention I didn’t shuck a shuck, the fire does this for you…perfect! They never taught me such at The Station! I have tried to replicate this at home on a smaller version, to some luck. The more natural the better is my takeaway for a true oyster roast but otherwise using an oven or grill can provide a very nice afternoon treat. The oysters of today are indeed more likeable.
Grab a shucker, a dry towel, put on some music, and give it a try. The world is your oyster my friends.
Ninety-five percent of oysters consumed today are farm raised, selected for breeding to minimize the risk of infection and regulations have increased, all good things. Raw oysters are still a risk, not even recommended by the FDA apparently for consumption (your oyster, your choice). But the trade has made many strides to improve the product and reputation, and for that I am thankful. And a roasting is such a wonderful alternative for the less adventurous. Which brings me to why I thought to write this oyster of a story. I happened to be reading Stanley Tucci’s What I Ate in One Year over the holidays, who in a long early spring weekend took his family to the Bordeaux coast region to enjoy a small inn there. The first morning was filled with a visit to the western coast of France, and a long a row of oyster shacks where they gathered a bushel of varietals for the weekend. I literally cannot think of a more enjoyable morning. Literally. And then in midst of writing this oyster homage, our Mobile, Alabama friends shipped us a small bushel of Murder Points, a perfect gesture.
And so today, the oyster appears to be back among the culinary elite, and I for one welcome the movement. Many of our favorite Birmingham spots today feature freshly shucked oysters, Automatic and the new Armour House (both near downtown) just being two. Wonderfully prepared to order with harvest locations options aplenty to explore. Most have baked and roasted options as well. So, the New Year’s challenge is this…venture out a bit and try one these spots famous for their food (and oysters), or visit one of our local fresh seafood markets and get yourself a few dozen. Grab a shucker, a dry towel, put on some music, and give it a try. The world is your oyster my friends. Go make some memories.
Cheers. OTMJ
Homewood’s Levering Joins Select Company with Gatorade Cross Country Award
BY RUBIN E. GRANT
Homewood senior Emma Brooke Levering was aware that she had a chance to be in select company. So, when word came that she had become the third Homewood distance runner to earn multiple Gatorade Alabama Cross Country Player of the Year honors, she reveled in the accomplishment.
Gatorade announced in January that Levering had been chosen the 2024-25 Gatorade Alabama Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. It’s the second straight year she has been so honored, becoming the second girl from Homewood to earn the award twice. Former Homewood runner Lainey Phelps received the award in 2016 and 2019. On the boys side, former Homewood runner Will Stone was chosen the Gatorade Alabama Cross Country Runner of the Year three times (2016, 2017 and 2018).
“I really wasn’t expecting it, but I felt I had a good chance of winning it,” Levering says. “It’s a great award to have because it shows all of my hard work pays off. I am really grateful to win it twice. We’ve had some other runners from our school win the cross country award more than once, so it’s exciting to be a part of that group of people, being a part of that history.”
This is Gatorade’s 40th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, celebrating their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
The 5-foot-2 Levering broke the tape at the 2024 AHSAA Class 6A state meet in November
BY JORDAN WALD
with a time of 17:47.0, winning by 28 seconds and leading the Patriots to second place as a team. Levering also finished 22nd at the RunningLane Championships in 17:48.3, the top performance by an Alabama girl.
As the state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, Levering won six of her 11 starts last fall, including the Black & Gold Classic in a seasonbest 17:43.7.
“Emma Brooke Levering’s domination continued as she emerged unbeaten against in-state rivals while posting most of the top times in Alabama this past season,” says Rich Gonzalez
of PrepCalTrack. “She impressed the most when faced with her biggest challenges and enjoyed a number of wide victory margins to close out her prep distance career.”
Also a tenor saxophone in the Homewood Patriot marching band, Levering has volunteered locally with Peer Helpers, which promotes drug and alcohol use prevention. She also has donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through her church and through the National Beta Club in addition to working with Best Buddies, mentoring special needs students.
Levering has maintained a weighted 4.28 GPA in
the classroom and has signed to run cross country and track at Penn State University in the fall where she plans to study bio-medical engineering. “I love Penn State and the town of State College,” Levering says. “I love all aspects of it, not just the athletics. I told my parents it’s a school I would have liked to go to even if it wasn’t for track.”
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports—football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field—and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Levering joins recent Gatorade Alabama Girls Cross Country Players of the Year Reagan Riley (2022-23, Mountain Brook) and Crawford West (2021-22 & 2020-21, Vestavia Hills), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every player of the year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations. OTMJ
spotlight: Adam Barksdale
Adam Barksdale is a six-foot-five senior guard for Vestavia Hills High School and is signed to play college basketball at the University of Montevallo. An excellent outside shooter, Barksdale had five three-pointers in Vestavia’s victory over Oak Mountain on January 24, and he finished the game with 23 points. His junior year stats of 12.3
PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 1.4 APG, earned him a spot on the All Area Team. He’s also showcased his skills at the Ultimate Club Championship in Las Vegas. “Adam is a relentless worker and it shows,” says VHHS Head Basketball Coach Patrick Davis. “His game has grown due to the hours he puts in outside of what is required. He cares a great deal about his team and his teammates. At the end of the day, Adam wants to win. He works so he can be better and help his team win.” OTMJ
PHOTO
PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD
Gordon Becomes Second Vestavia Hills Girls Basketball Player to Surpass 2,000 Points
BY RUBIN E. GRANT
PHOTO BY JORDAN WALD
When Sarah Gordon was a freshman, Vestavia Hills High School girls basketball coach John David Smelser had to beg her to shoot. Obviously, Gordon heeded his request.
On Jan. 3, Gordon, now a 5-foot-11-inch senior forward, scored 17 points in a 41-26 victory against Hartselle to surpass 2,000 points for her high school career.
She became just the second Vestavia Hills girls player to reach the milestone, joining Emma Smith, who accomplished the feat while playing for the Rebels from 2017-2022. Smith is now a junior guard at the University of Denver. “I am thankful that the Lord blessed me with the love for basketball and my accomplishments would not be possible without Him,” Gordon says. “Surpassing 2,000
points and becoming the all-time leading scorer in program history would not have been possible without my teammates and coaches. I am thankful for such an amazing team and the bond that we all have.”
Gordon entered the final week of January with 2,076 career points. She was averaging 20 points a game this season, while shooting 44 percent from three-point range. She also was collecting 7.4 rebounds per game. “This is an incredible achievement for Sarah,” Smelser says. “She is playing the best basketball she has played in her career. I am most proud of the way she plays the game. She is tough and plays extremely hard. She takes good shots and is unselfish.”
Smelser continues, “She has great teammates who have been able to get her the ball and create opportunities for her to score. This is more than an individual accomplishment. I
would be willing to bet that over 75 percent of those points came off of an assist from someone. She has been fortunate to play alongside some really good players.”
Gordon has a knack for scoring, Smelser adds, “Sarah has a quick release and a deep range. She is also 5-11, which helps her shoot over people. She understands spacing and how to get open and make herself available. She is one of the best shooters in our state, if not the best. But she can also score inside. She has a high field goal percentage from just about everywhere on the court. She scores a lot with her back to the basket in the post. She can also score slashing to the rim. Her ability to offensive rebound has generated even more points for her. She is a complete player.”
Gordon helped the Rebels post a 24-2 record, entering the final week of the regular season. She can’t believe her high school
“She is playing the best basketball she has played in her career. I am most proud of the way she plays the game. She is tough and plays extremely hard. She takes good shots and is unselfish.”
–coach john david smelser
career is winding down. “My senior year has been going good,” Gordon says. “It’s going by very fast so I’m trying to take in every moment, especially with it being near the end of basketball season.”
Gordon is headed to the University of Pennsylvania to play in college. “I was blessed to receive an offer to go to Penn last summer,” she says. “My decision to go to Penn was difficult because of how far away it is from home, but I felt the offer was too great to pass up because of the amazing education I will get as well.” She continues, “Coach (Mike) McLaughlin and the whole staff made me feel at home, and I am excited to become a part of their family. My parents have been very supportive of me and none of this would have happened without them.”
Smelser believes the Quakers are getting a player with a bright future. “Penn is getting a weapon,” he says. “Her ability to stretch the floor is something that is invaluable at the college level. She will thrive in their system. But Sarah is much more than basketball. She is a great kid. She comes from a great family. She is always respectful and knows what hard work looks like. She is a competitor and a winner. She is the type of player/person who will change a program immediately.” OTMJ