SPRING 2020
Stories from the Front PAGE 13
What's in a name? Everything. Rising rankings, growing classes, great headlines. Piedmont has been capturing a Lion’s Share of good news. For the college to continue to grow, we need the collective, united support of our alumni and friends. The new name of our annual giving campaign reflects our common identity, and unites the Piedmont Family in a culture of philanthropy.
Lions Share. A N N UA L G I V I N G C A M PA I G N
For our most ardent supporters – those who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more -- we enthusiastically embrace a name that is inspired by the beauty of nearby Mount Yonah and for 100 years has served as the name of the college yearbook.
The Yonahian Society. YOH-NEE-UHN Support our Lions Share campaign by giving to Piedmont. Those who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more by June 30 will become charter members of the Yonahian Society, hold an honored place in Piedmont’s philanthropic history, and be celebrated at an upcoming gala.
Ways to Give: • Gift • Pledge • Stock • Monthly check draft • Matching gift by employer
Give online at piedmont.edu/giving
Contents
JOURNAL
SPRING 2020
09
ON THE COVER Justine Clay ’12, an emergency room nurse at Wellstar Kennestone, graces the cover of the Journal.
18
20
Features 04
06
22
Educating Educators
A Mentor to Many
Celebrating a Centurion
Sewell Center for Teacher Education to open in Fall
Celebrating the life and career of Dr. Ed Taylor
The Yonahian turns 100
13
26
Piedmont and the Pandemic
Finding her People
Our Alumni and the War and Against COVD-19
Katie Deal ’02: your New Alumni Engagement & Development Director
02 A word from the President
12 A note from Hobbs
27 In Memory
03 Letter from the Editor
24 Class News & Notes
05 Dope with Lime A modern twist on the legacy of Lillian E. Smith
The Journal is published for alumni and friends of Piedmont College by the Office of Institutional Advancement. Correspondence may be directed to journal@piedmont.edu.
Trustee Chairman Thomas A. Arrendale, III President James F. Mellichamp Vice President of Institutional Advancement Craig Rogers
Editor/Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications John Roberts Design Manager Regina M. McCormick ’08 Campus Photographer Kasey Brookshire
Project Manager Adam Martin Contributing writers David Harrell E. Lane Gresham ’10 Ron Wagner Terrie Ellerbee ’95 Class Notes Editor Laura Briggs ’16 Katie Deal ’02
Send address changes to: Piedmont College Institutional Advancement or piedmont.edu/updateinfo Piedmont College @PiedmontGA @PiedmontCollege
On Piedmont's personality and perseverance
E
ach
ways during March and April. In just one week, our
spring,
faculty completely reimagined their courses for remote
Piedmont
learning and launched them successfully. Our information
hosts a disaster
technology folks worked feverishly to implement systems
drill. The exercise
for online learning. Piedmont’s student services staff put in
was originally
incredibly long hours helping student residents to safely
developed to
relocate their belongings and address other concerns.
help train nursing
Everyone in every department had some role
students but has
to play. Of course, Piedmont was not alone. Many
evolved into
other institutions were grappling with similar issues.
an event that
But we were doing it in our unique way.
includes students
Like some colleges and universities, Piedmont hosts
from each of
an event each year to celebrate the academic work
the college’s
of our students. This year, we planned for a day-long
four schools.
celebration that would have included poster presentations,
Theatre students,
musical performances, and student-led lectures.
for example,
When campuses began shuttering in March,
use the mock drill to hone their skill as actors by playing
many colleges and universities that had planned
the role of victims. And our mass communications students
research days simply shelved them. Our faculty took
create a real-life press response covering the disaster.
a different approach. In just a few short weeks they
The annual exercise also involves city, county,
developed an interactive website to host the event and
and state first responders and law enforcement
rallied together remotely to make it work. Nearly 140
officers. Last year, the emergency was a fire at the
students participated in the live event on April 15.
Swanson Center. In recent memory, Piedmont has also game-planned for a bombing and a tornado. Ironically, this year’s drill, a mass shooting, was cancelled due to a real-life disaster: COVID-19. And no amount of training or drilling could have prepared us for the weeks ahead. Like everyone else, the college’s administration, faculty, and staff
Another example is Chris Kelly, a professor and Chair of Piedmont’s Art Department. He found a way to use the college’s 3-D printers to manufacture face shields for first responders. To date, we have donated more than 500 homemade shields to the Habersham Emergency Management Agency. The Piedmont College family has revealed itself to
were bewildered by the dizzying speed of unfolding
be resilient, creative, kind, and committed to ensuring
events. In just a few weeks we moved from cancelling
our students have every opportunity to advance toward
some study away trips to closing campus.
their degrees, despite the current circumstances. As we
There are many quotes about crises. One of my
look to the future with optimism and plan to welcome
favorites is by Denis Leary, an actor and writer. He
students back to campus this fall, these past few months
writes: “Crisis does not create character it reveals it.”
serve as a reminder that sometimes it takes the worst
On our website and in our publications are
thing to happen to bring out the best in all of us.
messages that speak to Piedmont’s personal nature and our passionate commitment to students. That personality and character were revealed in many remarkable
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James F. Mellichamp, President
a Word from your Editor
F
rom start to finish, publishing a magazine is a five-tosix month process. First you gather story ideas, and assign writers to develop those stories. Then you imagine creative ways to tell those stories on the page and begin to collect images. After that are many stages of layout, approvals, proofing, and printing, which can take three weeks. As COVID-19 grew from a concern to a full-blown crisis in less than two weeks, we were about halfway through this process. As Northeast Georgia shut down, we had to shelve some stories for many different reasons. Getting professional photographs was a big concern. So, some of the images in these pages do not sparkle. Some were taken in quarantine with phones by friends and spouses. We make no apologies and simply did the best we could. For many days, our group discussed how we might represent the coronavirus in these pages. Ultimately, we decided to let our alumni tell their stories. We connected with some heroic ones who were fighting on the front lines against the disease. Somehow, amid the chaos, they found time to speak with our writers. To a person, all acknowledged the gravity of the fight. But they were hopeful, even optimistic for the future. At the time of this writing, all were in fullbattle mode. The image on the cover reflects that grit. Thanks to all of them for sharing their stories. I know we are better for reading them.
John Roberts, Editor
In praise of Ayers feature I really enjoyed reading the recent Journal article by John Roberts on my great Uncle “Doc” Ayers. Doc is the brother of my dad’s mom. It’s one of the best written articles I have read on him. I am proud to say that my father, Gary, is a member of Piedmont’s Class of 1969. Below is an image of him as a child with Uncle Doc (in the Navy uniform) and his Uncle Bill Ayers (Doc’s brother). – David G. Stephenson, Ph.D.
Through the years of my husband’s (Howard “Doc” Ayers) wonderful coaching career, he has had many articles written about him. However, I want to thank you for the outstanding article that appeared in the Fall 2019 edition of Piedmont College Journal, “A Beloved Legend.” So many of his family and good friends saw the article and contacted us to say how much they enjoyed reading it. This was very special to Doc. There was so much information about his career, as well as his family. Doc, after reading it, said it brought back so many wonderful memories. On behalf of Doc, his family and friends, thank you so much.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS We welcome letters on any topic covered in the Journal. They should be limited to 150 words, refer to a subject from the most recent issue, and include the writer’s name, city/state, and class year/degree (if applicable). Your notes may be emailed to Journal@piedmont.edu. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for length and clarity.
Piedmont College and the wonderful people that represent it are very special to Doc. – Mrs. Doc (Glenda) Ayers
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News and events from our campuses in Demorest & Athens
Almost Done Sewell Center for Teacher Education will be dedicated this fall By John Roberts
W
orkers are currently putting the finishing touches on the
renovation of Nielsen Hall, which will serve as the new home for Piedmont’s School of Education.
The 17,000-square-
foot building, located on the college’s historic quad, includes eight classrooms, four seminar rooms, a technology classroom, and administrative offices. The $3 million project will be completed in July.
The building will be
dedicated as the Charles and Catherine Sewell Center for Teacher Education later this fall. A $1 million gift from the Atlanta couple paved the way for the project. Charles Sewell ’54 is a former Piedmont Trustee. The Sewells provided the naming gift for the Sewell Organ nearly two decades ago.
An architectural centerpiece of the building will be
the Tommy and Bernice Irvin Atrium, which will be located in the center of the building and named in honor of the couple’s foundation, which made a $240,000 gift to the project. Thomas Irvin, a former Piedmont Trustee, served as Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 to 2011. The Irvin Foundation was incorporated in 1997 to support
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the couple’s charitable causes. Thomas and Bernice Frady Irvin died in 2017 and 2014, respectively.
The School of Education, the college’s largest single
academic unit, includes almost 1,400 majors and is currently housed on the ground floor of the Arrendale Library. It offers the largest graduate program for teacher education in the state and is the second-highest producer of new teachers annually among all colleges and universities in Georgia.
“Since our founding in 1897, Piedmont has been
known for training teachers,” said Piedmont College President James F. Mellichamp. “This project provides a wealth of teaching and meeting spaces for our students and faculty. Education is our signature program and now it will have a home that reflects its prestige and history.”
"Dope with Lime" Podcast New podcast offers modern twist on Lillian E. Smith's vision By E. Lane Gresham ’10
T
he legacy of Lillian E. Smith is experiencing a revival through a contemporary platform.
Six episodes of “Dope with Lime,” a
new podcast hosted by Lillian E. Smith Center Director Dr. Matthew Teutsch, are now available for those intrigued about the life’s work of the accomplished author and activist.
The title is a nod to Smith’s editorial column of the same name, referring to the regional habit of adding lime juice to cut Coca-Cola’s thick sweetness.
Smith, a steadfast
advocate for social justice and racial equality, lived and worked at the former Laurel Falls Camp for Girls, now the home of the LES Center. The title is a nod to Smith’s editorial column of the same name, referring to the regional habit of adding lime juice to cut Coca-Cola’s thick
sweetness. The column ran in a literary journal coedited by Smith and partner Paula Snelling.
Teutsch said the podcast is one of several platforms he
will use to highlight and expand the mission of the LES Center. Serving as the center’s director since April of 2019, he is eager to engage others in thoughtful discourse around the still simmering conversation about racial and societal injustice.
Guests thus far, Teutsch said, have offered a scholarly
approach to Smith’s work. Academic thought leaders agree she would likely be highly engaged in current communication methodology, including social media and podcasts.
Smith was continually looking in the mirror, unafraid to
examine her identity as a white, liberal woman living in the South as she worked to change societal norms, Teutsch said.
“Because that’s the key of what’s she’s doing – she’s
The challenge, he said, is to bring Smith’s perspective
to a broader audience. Few people realize the role she played leading up to and during the Civil Rights era, supporting the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. For the next batch of episodes, scheduled for release in the fall of 2020, Teutsch plans to interview individuals who knew Smith, including former campers from Smith’s time leading the Laurel Falls Camp for Girls. He hopes to share more of the history of the individuals impacted by Smith’s mentorship. “People who knew Smith and her story,” he said.
Another goal is to bring middle and high school
students to the center for experiential learning opportunities. Teutsch is already working with local schools to host field trips in the center’s woodland oasis. Additionally, plans for professional development for educators are in the works.
A partnership with Piedmont College Mass
Communications senior Julie Adams to expand the reach of the podcast is part of the promotional plan, Teutsch said. Adams is working on podcast outreach as part of an advertising practicum.
“I have helped Dr. Teutsch
set up a structure to get the podcast on all of the podcatchers and keep a tally of that,” Adams said. “The next steps are public communications locally about the podcast and LES.” For more information, follow the LES Center on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast is available through Soundcloud and iTunes.
looking at herself,” he said. “The discussion she’s having in the mid-1930s through 1966 is still relevant.”
The 'Dope with Lime' logo was designed by Jenna Wendel, Class of 2021. PIEDMONT COLLEGE JO U RNAL
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Taylor, retiring business school dean, has changed attitudes and mentored many By John Roberts
A
ccording to some
administration division. At 29, he was put in charge
statistics, the
of the state’s entire information systems division.
average working
adult will shift careers
companies, Dura Corporation and Cowden Manufacturing.
between five and seven
In 1979, he joined Kuhlman Electric Corporation,
times during adulthood.
which manufactures distribution transformers that are sold to
That number is about
utility companies, as an information systems manager. Once
right for Dr. Ed Taylor,
there, he put the latest software technology to work and
who is retiring June 30
improved payroll, labor distribution, scheduling, production
as Dean of the Walker
management, and sales processes. His good work earned
School of Business.
him more responsibility as manager of the plant’s global
Taylor, a
supply chain. Two years later, he was named manager at
Kentucky native, has been a computer software engineer, military
the company’s Versailles plant in north-central Kentucky. Constructed in 1969, the facility was a trouble area
colonel, computer systems manager, supply chain
for Kuhlman. In 13 years, it had suffered through seven
manager, plant manager, and college professor.
managers, 12 strikes and lost money each quarter. It also
Three common threads have been woven throughout each career stop: business, management, and cultural change. The youngest of four brothers, Taylor received a healthy
logged about 250 worker grievances annually. Top brass at Kuhlman wanted Taylor to succeed where many had failed. During a time when many managerial processes were simple and linear, Taylor pushed for new thinking
dose of the first two at a very young age while clerking and
at Versailles. He had supervisors take communication
managing a grocery store in rural Bluegrass Country during
classes and installed incentives. Taylor helped factory-floor
the late 1940s and early 1950s. At that store – about
workers become advocates for the company’s product
the size of a small country church – Taylor learned basic
and brand. And he wanted everyone – from the factory
accounting, customer service, and inventory management.
floor to corner office – to understand their role in the
Graduating in 1968 from Morehead State University with a degree in business and political science, Taylor took his first job with the state of Kentucky as a computer programmer. It was a low-paying job, but
company’s success and know that all work was honorable. This cultural shift – Taylor calls it moving from compliance to commitment – took some time. But when it happened, employee morale, productivity,
Taylor took it because his academic advisor told him
and profits improved. After the third year under Taylor’s
that programmers would soon be in high demand.
guidance, the Versailles plant was meeting production
A computer system pioneer, he wrote programs
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Taylor performed similar functions at two private
quotas. It was profitable and employees were happier.
and developed systems that integrated functions
There were no strikes, and grievances sunk to one a
and improved efficiencies at the state’s finance and
month. It was a dramatic turnaround and paved the way
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Outside of his career in business and academia, Taylor served 15 years as a commander in the Kentucky Army National Guard.
for a successful initial public offering three years later. But 20 years of management had taken a toll on Taylor.
So, nearly 30 years after enrolling as a
He worried constantly about production, margins, layoffs,
freshman at Morehead
and many other issues that keep business leaders up at night.
State, Taylor returned as
“Over time, being the person in charge just wears
a graduate student. He
on you. I was well on my way to having ulcers,” he says.
earned his MBA in 1995
“When you do that kind of work, there is a strain that
and, later, a Ph.D. from
never goes away. I never had a goal to retire, but I knew
the University of Kentucky
I wouldn’t have the constitution to take on the stresses I
after his dissertation
endured in my forties when I was sixty-something.”
on “mentoring in the
So, in mid-career, Taylor began casting about for
workplace.” He worked
another way to earn a living. To that point, his path had
two years at UK as an
been shaped by mentors. In addition to the academic
assistant professor before
advisor at Morehead, Taylor had been mentored by
joining Piedmont in 1999.
Lawrence Appley, a member of Kuhlman’s board of trustees,
On a campus
leading management and organizational theorist, and 20-
that values personal relationships, hard work, and
year president of the American Management Association.
mentoring, Taylor was a perfect fit. Well-read and
He wanted to pay those mentoring experiences forward. Teaching was the obvious choice.
studious, he was a natural academic, and his years in computer systems made him a natural in research. But he
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Waller named Dean of WSOB Dr. J. Kerry Waller, Associate Dean of Piedmont College’s Harry W. Walker School of Business, has been promoted to Dean. Waller, who has served on the faculty since 2011, emerged from a national search that attracted many strong candidates. He will begin his duties July 1. A native of New Jersey, Waller earned a B.A. in economics from Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) and a Ph.D. in economics from Clemson University. His primary area of interest is sports economics. Waller has also taught at Clemson University, Dickinson, and the University of South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, South Carolina). Waller received the Delta Mu Delta Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017 and the Alpha Sigma Pi National Society of Leadership and Success, Excellence in Teaching Award in 2014. Promoted to Associate Dean of the School of Business in 2017, he replaces Dr. Edward Taylor who is retiring. Waller has been an active member of the college’s faculty senate and has also served as chair for the Center for Teaching and Learning. 8
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Camp Hall in the Spring
brought something more to Piedmont: practical experience as a business executive and an entrepreneurial spirit. “He just knows so much about everything,” said Dr. Kerry Waller, who will succeed Taylor as dean in July. “His depth of knowledge is extraordinary.” Taylor served as department chair of the Walker School of Business for more than 10 years, director of Athens business school operations for five years, and directed the MBA program on the Demorest campus for eight years. In 2016, he was elevated to dean. Since then he has stewarded the school through a very successful assessment process and recruited faculty and guest lecturers who have practical business experience. His goal: give students the knowledge and skills they need to be job-ready after graduation while instilling ethics and humility. “I want them to know that you can be successful and still be kind,” Taylor says. “It has always impressed me that one of the two highest awards given to students at Piedmont is the kindness award.” It’s an attitude that spills out of Taylor’s office and into the building’s corridor. He makes sure the school’s lobby area is stocked with complimentary snacks and coffee. And he greets everyone with a warm smile and (if time permits) a sit-down story. “People actually come to the Walker School Business to hang out,” says Waller. “That was not always the case, and it’s because of Dr. Taylor. He has developed a very warm culture here. Everyone just loves him.”
Ibarra finished what he started after near-fatal accident By Terrie Ellerbee ’95
I
n Athens, the Georgia Bulldogs had pulled ahead of Vanderbilt 16-10, but an unanswered touchdown two minutes
into the final quarter ultimately put the Commodores in the win column. It was October 15, 2016. Piedmont College student Gilbert “Bert” Ibarra ’20 had attended the game with a couple of lacrosse teammates. Walking back to the car, another friend texted him with an invitation to
Gilbert Ibarra was a senior captain on the men's lacrosse team before a horrific ATV accident.
a bonfire at a farm in the same county as Piedmont’s
Demorest campus. Ibarra asked if he could bring his four-wheeler. Dropped back at Johnson Hall, he packed for camping, loaded the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) into his truck and headed for the farm. “We did have a fun time, but I don’t remember the bonfire,” Ibarra said. “It was like I blinked, and it was the next day. I was on the four-wheeler and everything was already packed up. I said, ‘I’ll be right back.
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types of people you want to have more of on your team.” In addition to studies and lacrosse, Ibarra held down two jobs and set aside time for family and friends.
A fighter When Ibarra woke from the coma, he couldn’t ask what had happened because he was unable to speak. “My face was blank, like
Schroeder provided cousel to Navajo native Americans in counselN
talking to a robot. I couldn’t form facial expressions or
The ATV accident left Ibarra with serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury and broken wrists.
Ibarra with his mother, Ana. Posters behind his hospital bed are signed by friends from Piedmont.
I’m going to take it for one last spin.’” He recounts what happened next from the memories of others who were there. He doesn’t remember the ATV flipping and landing on him, causing his heart to stop beating on impact. He doesn’t remember the friend of the friend at the farm who was an EMT, or the CPR and tracheotomy that he performed to bring Ibarra back to life. He was life-flighted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where he died again. Revived a second time, he fell into a coma and remained unconscious for weeks. Abbey Dondanville, Piedmont’s program director and professor of athletic training and associate dean of health sciences, remembered Ibarra before the accident as “very cool, very self-assured, very machismo—in a polite way.” Coach Tim Dunton noticed how people were drawn to him and the way he watched over his lacrosse teammates, making sure they were working hard and staying out of trouble. Ibarra was named a senior captain. “As a coach, you look for those kids who can influence your younger guys in a positive way. Gilbert was a natural choice for us because of how he handled himself off the field, in the classroom, how he handled himself in the weight room,” Dunton said. “He had that type of personality. He’s fun, willing to learn, willing to be coached. Those are the
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show emotions,” he said. “My whole right side was paralyzed. That’s what my life was like for
two or three weeks after I woke up. It was terrifying.” Back at Piedmont, lacrosse teammates and other friends held a prayer vigil on the quad. When Ibarra later continued his recovery at Shepherd Center, a facility in Atlanta that treats spinal cord and brain injuries, many of them came to visit. Photos and videos document Ibarra’s progress. There is his father, Candido, helping him eat. His first steps after the trauma were captured on video. In another, he says, “Hi,” to his mother, Ana. Ibarra’s recovery was expected to take at least a year, but by early 2017 he was back home. Once there, the even harder work began. Gone were freedoms previously taken for granted: driving, taking classes, even going outside alone. The years 2017 and 2018 seemed eternal. Ibarra retrained himself to run, which cleared his
mind and helped him get back into the weight room. “The only thing I can attribute me coming back to is I’m a fighter,” Ibarra said. “A lot of people say how driven I am after what happened to me, but I don’t see myself as special.” Finally, in the fall of 2019, he was back in class. Assistant Professor of nursing & health sciences John Koshuta taught Ibarra the same courses pre- and postaccident: cross-cultural health and health policy and law.
all need to make it work.’ We were all crying.” She said everyone who meets Ibarra can’t help but root for him. “And he’s doing it,” Dondanville said. “He passed his classes on his own merit. He did the work.”
A man with a message Outside of class, Ibarra holds two jobs as he did before. He is a security guard and a seasonal server. Even lacrosse is
Ibarra shared what happened with
back in his life. He
fellow students.
coaches part-time at Riverside Military
“The focus could be on himself, but
Academy (RMA) in
Gilbert chooses for it
Gainesville following
to be about finishing
a chance meeting with
what he started and
RMA’s lacrosse coach
at the same time
at one of his sister’s
potentially helping
volleyball games. “One thing led to
others understand,” Koshuta said. “We talk
another and ba-da-
about DNRs (do not
boom, I’m coaching,”
resuscitate), people’s
Ibarra said. Ibarra never
rights when they are not conscious, and
thought of himself
how people need to
as a coach or, for
have documentation
that matter, a helmet
for things like that. He’s
advocate. He now
very open and vocal
“would speak in front
about that experience.
of a thousand people”
He’s got an opportunity
about wearing one. His
to make a difference in
capstone subject was
other people’s lives.”
traumatic brain injury.
Ibarra was also in Dondanville’s research methodology
From left, Parker Ellison '15, Dale Morley '15, and Sumner Gantz '15 were among the many friends from Piedmont who visited Ibarra as he healed and rehabilitated.
class last fall. She described him as more thoughtful and purposeful now than prior to the accident. Like his fellow students, Ibarra was required to give a presentation. “He did such a great job. He was so prepared,” Dondanville said. “His classmates gave him an honestto-goodness ovation and one of his classmates, another
As Dunton said, “Unfortunately, he has that story to tell, but fortunately
for some other people, his story can go a long way.” Had he worn a helmet the day of the accident, Ibarra might have graduated as planned in 2017. He is on track to graduate this July with a degree in health care administration. “There are a lot of things that I could have done
lacrosse player (Zach Czulada), stood and said, ‘We
that I can’t do now,” Ibarra said. “Some doors closed.
love you, man. We are so proud of you for the work
Some doors opened. I don’t know why God kept me
you’ve done. If you can make this work, then we
here—twice—but you can bet I am going to find out.”
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A Note from Hobbs Your alumni house
From Pride to Participation Help us reach 1,000 gifts
I
can’t wait until the pride in philanthropy takes its place in the hearts and minds of Piedmont College alumni. That day is coming! I know our alumni are
proud of their alma mater. But as a group, many of you are not experiencing the joy and fulfillment that come from giving to this remarkable place. And we have much to be proud of. Since Piedmont’s founding in 1897, the college has helped the sons and daughters of working-class families realize the dream of a college education. It’s a mission and badge of honor that we hold dear today.
Our participation rate serves as a guidepost to other donors and foundations that support Piedmont. So, your philanthropy inspires others
Roughly 40 percent of Piedmont’s
beset with financial obligations. They have loans to repay and families to provide for. Still, they have pride in their alma mater, its mission, and how it has shaped them. As we look forward to a future with brimming optimism, I encourage our alumni to express their pride by participating in our LionsShare annual giving campaign. As a college, our annual alumni participation rate – currently about 4 percent
undergraduate population are the first
– lags behind most of our peer institutions including
in their family to attend college.
Oglethorpe (12 percent) and Berry (19 percent).
Our amazing renaissance liberal arts education is powered by personal
We can do better! Our participation rate serves as a guidepost
relationships and is delivered at an
to other donors and foundations that support
affordable price. In the classroom, on
Piedmont. So, your philanthropy inspires others to
the stage, and on the athletic field our
give. Moreover, your generosity can plant a seed,
faculty and coach mentors help shape and guide young students, equipping
helping to transform our philanthropic culture. If 1,000 of you made a gift, our alumni participation
them with the perspective and tools they
rate would rise to 12.5 percent. This would be a
need to thrive in a changing world.
great start … something we could take pride in.
The recent events of COVID-19 are a
Please help us reach this grand milestone. Be one
testament to how quickly our situation can
of the 1,000 by making a gift of your choosing (it could
change. We live in a global environment,
be $100, $50, or $25) to LionsShare. You may mail in
a time when a singular event on the other side of the planet can impact lives in Northeast Georgia.
your contribution using the enclosed envelope or process your gift online by visiting piedmont.edu/lions-share. Thank you, and stay proud.
Even before the virus ushered in a new set of challenges, many of our alumni, particularly our recent graduates, were
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Craig Rogers, Vice President of Advancement
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How does she and her colleagues
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Young’s journey has circled back to Piedmont By John Roberts
C
huck Young’s Bronx-based journey to Piedmont and back again has a bit of everything. Humor. Nostalgia. Resilience.
But it all began by happenchance. Raised in the New York City borough, Young’s
upbringing was solidly working class. His father was a laborer and his mom cleaned offices. Charles and Catherine never attended college but they wanted a better life for their son and offered to help him extend his education beyond high school. Admittedly, Chuck Young was not a great student. But that didn’t stop him from applying to colleges. He sent out nearly a dozen applications during the fall of 1966. Some were to schools nearby. One went to Piedmont, a school he heard about through a basketball coach. “I didn’t really know anything about Piedmont,” he said, “only that it was a small school and that kind of attracted me.” A few months later, the Young family had to make a choice between Howard University and Piedmont College, the only two institutions that accepted him. His mother told him he would be headed to the mountains of Northeast Georgia. So that’s how Young, who had never travelled beyond his home state’s borders, came to board an Atlanta-bound plane at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in 1966. But here the story gets even more interesting. Fresh off his first plane trip, Young spied a Piedmont Airlines counter at what was then known as Atlanta Municipal Airport. “I thought, this college must be something else. They had their own airline. So I walked up and told them I wanted to go the college,” says Young. “They said ‘what college?’ and I pointed to the Piedmont logo behind the counter. She didn’t know about Piedmont 18
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College or where Demorest was and directed me to the bus station.” The next Chuck Young in the 1968 Yonahian.
morning
I asked him how far a yonder was. I was beginning to wonder what I had gotten myself into. – Chuck Young “I asked him how far a yonder
retook and passed the algebra class. “I was not a dumb
person, but I lacked confidence,” said
was,” said Young. “I was beginning to
Young. “She gave me the courage
wonder what I had gotten myself into.”
I needed to pass those classes.”
After some time, though, Young
After graduating, Young moved
– on a
settled into the slower pace of life.
back to New York where he sold
Sunday
He moved into Wallace Hall, made
insurance and got married. Insurance
– Young boarded a 7 a.m. bus to
friends and worked as a dishwasher in
sales took him back to Georgia in
Cornelia. He was dropped near the
the school cafeteria and as a laborer
1977 where his two children were
town’s Big Red Apple late morning.
at Habersham Mills to make ends
born. Young ran his own business
With stores closed and most of the
meet. A sociology major, his biggest
for seven years and later worked for
citizenry in church, the town was
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, The Home
deserted. Young milled around a bit
Depot, and the United States Postal
and, suitcase in hand, struck out on
Service before retiring in 2016.
foot. He walked east, thinking he
Casting about for a place
might eventually run into Demorest.
to spend his golden years,
The young man didn’t get
Young felt a sense of nostalgia
more than a few hundred yards
for his college days. He hated
before a middle-aged fellow
the Atlanta traffic and yearned
in a pickup pulled alongside
for a quieter homestead.
and introduced Young to his
“I am not at a point in my
first Southern colloquialism.
life where I need the hustle and
“Where you be
bustle of city life,” he said.
headed?” the man asked.
Moving back to Demorest
Young’s immediate thoughts
was the perfect fit. The quiet
turned to grizzly executions and
town had retained its Southern
the French Revolution. Not seeing
charm. But there was more to
a guillotine on the Cornelia town
do, and it had plenty of open
square, the teenager eventually
restaurants on Sunday.
climbed in the cab. They drove silently through the countryside until the man stopped at Demorest
Big Red Apple, Cornelia, Georgia. Photo courtesy of City of Cornelia
Now single, Young lives in an apartment on Porter Street with two cats, Seamus and Katy. And
worries were finding a place to eat
you can find him at many Piedmont
Again the streets were empty,
on Sundays (the cafeteria was closed
sporting events, theatre productions,
but after some time, Young located
so he had to find transportation to the
and concerts. He has, like the alumni
a Demorest police officer and
Tastee-Freeze in Clarkesville) and math.
circle and the chiming chapel bell,
City Hall off Central Avenue.
asked for directions to the college’s
The latter nearly ended his days
become part of the campus scenery.
housing office. Once again, Southern
at Piedmont. After failing algebra
Now 72, Young is seldom tripped
speak entered the conversation.
his freshman year, Mary Griggs,
up by Southern expressions. He’s even
his academic advisor, gave him the
folded some into his vocabulary.
Pointing in the direction of the main campus, the guard told
confidence to take a trigonometry class,
him the office was “up yonder.”
which he passed. The next quarter he
“I really enjoy it here,” he said. “It’s like I moved back home.”
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Athletics accolades & accomplishments
Price puts wrap on stellar Piedmont career By Ron Wagner
F
opponents often found impossible to contain. “She’s just hungry for the basketball. She wants to win. She’s a competitor,” Piedmont coach Jamie Purdy says. “She’s probably one of the very few athletes I’ve ever seen actually doing sprint workouts on her own without being told to do so.” Purdy has been leading the Lions since 2005-06, with near-constant success. A
alling one step short of a fourth straight USA South Conference Tournament championship and the trip to the NCAA Division III tournament that
comes with it would hurt under any circumstances. Coming with a side of knowing perhaps the best player
19-9 mark last year pushed her career winning percentage to 68.2 (279-130) with six NCAA tournament appearances, and that would have been impossible without good players. Price may be her best. One of only two Lions to be named as a D3hoops.com
in school history will never wear your uniform again, however,
All-Region selection (alongside
led to more than a few extra tears when the Piedmont women’s basketball season ended March 1 with a 66-58 loss to Berea College. As had become the norm in her career, Amari Price ’20 was stellar, with 16 points, seven rounds and seven assists that left her at or near the top of every
She’s just hungry for the basketball. She wants to win. She’s a competitor. – Coach Jamie Purdy
statistical category in the Piedmont record book since the Lions joined the NCAA in 2003-04. Price finished with 1,247 points, which is first alltime. She’s also first in career assists (458) and field goals made (471) while ranking second in steals with 478 and third in free throws made (229). Her 171 assists in 2018-19 represent a single-season record as well. Perhaps the most remarkable number of all, however, is 518. That is how many rebounds Price grabbed in her career as a 5-foot-5-inch point guard. That ranks in the top four all-time at Piedmont and is a reflection of the combination of athletic ability and intense competitive drive
Sada Wheeler ’12 in 201112), Price is also Purdy’s lone USA South Player of the Year (2018-19). “When she was on the floor, there was that sense that we’re OK … Not only the players, but even myself,”
Purdy says. “I’ve put a lot on Amari in terms of play calling and that sort of thing. We’ve established a pretty strong relationship over the four years and a sense of trust.” The trust didn’t happen until Price earned it, however. Though always a ferocious individual competitor, it took a little while for her to embrace the role of being a team leader. “I think Amari had always just been one of the better ones on her team. She always knew she could outrun you (even if
During a 15-year career at Piedmont Jamie Purdy has collected eight 20win seasons, more than 300 wins, and six NCAA Tournament appearances.
she got beat), so we had to work on defensive intensity,” Purdy says. “She hasn’t always been the most vocal leader, but she led by example.” The biggest example was
Price bonded with Purdy quickly during the recruiting process and credits much of her willingness to improve to their relationship. “She was the most consistent, and she was the most welcoming coach. I thought it was the right fit,” Price, a
working on her weaknesses. In
native of Hiram, Georgia, says. “And It’s been great. I
addition to defense, Price wasn’t
feel like she’s both my coach and a mother to me kind
initially a good outside shooter
of. I’m not just playing to play. I’m playing for her.”
because she used her speed to attempt layups instead against high school competition. But she became one. “We figured out quickly – and so did Amari – that she was going to have to improve on her outside shot in order to continue to be successful in this program,” Purdy says. “So Amari put in countless hours in the gym on her own.” The results speak for themselves. After attempting only five 3-point shots as a freshman – and missing four – Price became a weapon from deep, connecting on 34.2
Piedmont failing to reach 20 wins for the first time since 2014-15 was certainly impacted by an ankle sprain Price suffered in early November. It was her first serious injury, and the Lions went 3-3 in her absence and 2-2 as she struggled to regain her form when she returned. When she did, however, Piedmont ripped off 11 straight victories until the tournament elimination game. Price, a biology major who plans to become a physician’s assistant, says playing at the D-III level has been exactly what she wanted it to be. “Division III is more tight-knit,” she says. “You
percent, 40.9 percent, and 38.6 percent of her attempts
focus a lot more on academics, but I think it’s still as
over her next three seasons to graduate as the best 3-point
much fun as it would be at a bigger school.”
shooter with more than 100 attempts in Piedmont history. PIEDMONT COLLEG E JO U RNAL
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History highlights & interesting stories
Y
onahian. How do you pronounce it? Is it “Yoh-NAHEE-ehn?”
Or maybe “Yo-HAN-ee-ehn?” It’s one of the many questions that Piedmont’s yearbook staff researched in compiling the commemorative
the 100th edition – was the first task for student staffers. The printed time capsules offered a rare peak to a different time when chapel services and long skirts for females were required. For a century the Yonahian
100-year edition of the publication
has chronicled the struggles and
that bears this fabled name. (To
triumphs of the institution as it rose
learn the answer, read on.)
from a backwoods local campus to
The original publication began in 1912 as a monthly magazine
a regional college that includes a student body representing 19 states.
called The Mountain Lantern, named
This rich history is chronicled
for a firefly that frequented Northeast
throughout the 180-page publication,
Georgia. The next year, the Lantern
which was revealed online April 20.
became the yearbook for two years.
A four-page timeline by freshman
In 1920, students picked up the baton
Sarah Bittner highlights Piedmont’s
and founded the Yonahian, borrowing
contributions to the war effort and
the name from a nearby mountain.
building dedication milestones
The name stuck. And so
including Wallace Hall (1961),
has the publication, through a
the Chapel (1970), Nielsen Hall
Depression, a World War, and
(1973), the library (1992), founding
several on-campus fires that shook
of the Athens campus (1996) and
Piedmont to its foundation.
Conservatory of Music (2019).
Sifting through the dusty pages of past yearbooks – and trying to imagine
22
how that history might be reflected in
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“We went through all of the yearbooks and tried to really
focus on the big news and highlights for the timeline,” said Bittner. The theme of the publication, “Illuminate the past, Ignite the future” considers the college’s gritty optimism and triumph over past conflagrations. The cover depicts a fiery-maned lion against a dark, smoky backdrop. Flames and smoke are also depicted on some interior pages. Images from the past, including those from athletic contests and student events, are sprinkled liberally throughout the book, a pervading nod to Piedmont’s past. Short histories of each of Piedmont’s schools – arts
Four-page timeline designed by freshman Sarah Bittner.
and sciences, Walker School of
stories, some with encrypted messages
best practices. They developed a
Business, education, and the R.H.
that only students would understand.
branding style guide, launched a
Daniel School of Nursing and
Many read like a diary – or a love
yearbook website (yonahian.com)
Health Sciences are also featured.
letter – to the college experience.
and began tracking analytics.
A touching letter from David S. Adams ’61, a past co-editor of the
Technology was a game changer. With the emergence of digital design
And when COVID-19 nixed the much-anticipated launch party, the
Yonahian, to
and imagery
students regrouped and developed
the current staff
software,
a virtual launch on Zoom.
also graces its
Emmett said,
pages. Adams,
yearbooks
student staff is motivation and time
a native of
evolved. They
management,” she said. “This is a very
Samford,
became more
large, year-long project. There are
Connecticut,
magazine-like
deadlines, and it can become stressful.
and his late
– polished and
With the in-person launch party
wife, Estella
professional.
cancelled, the ending was bittersweet.
’61, met at Piedmont
And faculty Yonahian.com
College. Shepherding the project from
“The biggest struggle with
But the students can take tremendous
advisors,
satisfaction in the final product.”
including
And they also set the record
Piedmont’s Dr. Melissa Tingle,
straight on the pronunciation
concept to culmination was Alyssa
began to use yearbooks as a
of the yearbook.
Emmett ’20. To help place the
teaching tool. Taking over as
commemoration in context, Emmett
advisor in 2018, Tingle, a mass
former editor), and checked other
did a deep dive into the history of
communications professor, helped
source material. It’s yoh-NEE-uhn.
college yearbooks and the role they
the students embrace professional
Staffers asked Adams (the
So, write it down.
played in chronicling college life in America. With an ever-changing student staff, most college yearbooks vary from year to year depending upon the interest of students. In general, though, many of the publications throughout the 20th century were a hodgepodge collection of images and personal L to R: Alyssa Gibson, Brittany Gowen, Marnika Walker, Sage Shirley, Alyssa Emmett, Dr. Melissa Tingle, Nathan Blackburn, Sarah Bittner, and Savannah Richards
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News&Notes CLASS
2
1
2000s Edward Bell ’04, Art, was recently promoted to Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Aon PLC. Aon PLC is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, England.
3
3
Rhani Lott ’05 successfully defended her dissertation April 6 and will be receiving her Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia in May. (Rhani Lott appears second from the right in the front row).
1
Stefanie Couch ’07 was named 2020 ProSales Four Under 40 for her work with Boise Cascade. In January of 2019, Couch was promoted to millwork marketing manager. She focuses on the areas of digital marketing, sales, social media, and business growth strategies, to name a few. Because of her outstanding work, Couch was pegged as one of the future leaders of the company shortly after graduating from Boise Cascade’s Future of Leadership program. 2
Saul Olvera ‘06, ’08 has taken a new job as a UniServ Director Representative for the Western Region of the North Carolina Association of Educators-Asheville Office. The NCAE is the state affiliate of the National Education Association; the largest labor union in America.
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Dr. John Smith ’05, ‘07 coauthored The Phenomenological Heart of Teaching and Learning, which was published by Routledge in January. The book was written with members of the University of Tennessee Transdisciplinary Phenomenology Research Group.
4
Dr. Ayanna Cooper ’04 was recently selected by the U.S. Department of State for a four-week English Language Specialist project focusing on secondary English language curriculum in Kuwait at the Ministry of Education. Dr. Cooper is one of approximately 80 citizens selected each year to serve on an English Language Specialist assignment.
5
6
4
Lauren Armour Talley ’08, ‘10 found joy amidst the COVID-19 quarantine by marrying Robert Talley at the Hall County Courthouse Annex in Gainesville, Georgia, on April 2.
2010s
7
8
6
Dr. Brandon Roberts (School of Arts & Sciences) and family announced the birth of their son, Michael Lee Roberts. Born August 7, 2019, Michael weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 21 inches long. 7
5
Lexi Narducci '16 recently passed the North Carolina Bar Exam after graduating from Washington and Lee University School of Law. She is now happily employed with Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, North Carolina. She works in finance, primarily with the aircraft and railcar industries. Fonda Smith ’18 completed her certification with The National Society of Leadership and Success in November.
Megan Hatfield Myers ’16, ’18 married Marshall Myers in Colbert, Georgia, on October 12, 2019. In January, Megan was promoted to a Senior Human Resources Consultant at the University of Georgia.
9
8
Michael Barry ‘11 and Ashley Barry ‘12 welcomed their daughter, Amara Danielle Barry, into the world on Friday, November 8.
9
Barry Lollis ’14 was promoted to director of Savannah Classical Academy in March of 2019 and was also named to Georgia’s Charter Advisory Committee.
Matt Stephens ’15, MBA ’17 and Taylor Cramsey ’17 were married August 24.
Send us your Class Notes! classnotes@piedmont.edu
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News&Notes CLASS
Double Take: twin nurses help deliver twins by Terrie Ellerbee ’95
T
ori Howard ’15 and Tara Drinkard ’15, are well
Deal found herself and her ‘people’ at Piedmont by Terrie Ellerbee ’95
known at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital for the cutest
P
possible reason. The identical twins work as nurses and
by coincidence were together in the operating room when twin girls were delivered by C-section on September 25.
and producing her own theatrical concerts. The singer and self-
sister about the twins.
taught musician found herself,
Drinkard had just started her role in labor and delivery at the
her “people,” and her niche
hospital. As she finished up with one patient and prepared for the
in the theatre department at
next, she realized it would be the mom of the twins her sister had The unexpected operating room reunion resulted in celebrity in Atlanta, stories in USA Today and on the websites of CNN, “Good Morning America” and “Inside Edition,” among others. “The Kelly Clarkson Show called us,” Drinkard said. “It was an ordeal.” For a while after, as they made small talk with patients, someone would recognize one of them as the “twin from the news” and ask about the other. “I always tell them, ‘My sister, Tori, works in the NICU, but I hope you don’t have to meet her,’” Drinkard said. There is another twist to this story. One of the news outlets asked for newborn pictures of the twin nurses. In one of the photos they found, the nurse holding them is Brigitte Plant, who still works at Piedmont Athens Regional.
& Development
a side gig: songwriting, acting,
every c-section delivery. She knew she would be there and told her
status for the sisters. There was a live interview with the NBC affiliate
Alumni Engagement
Director Katie Deal ’02 has
Howard works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Athens, Georgia, hospital. An NICU nurse must be present at
mentioned.
iedmont College
Piedmont College. After high school, Deal “got lost” at the University of Georgia in Athens and then “floated along” at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. In the summer of 2000, her sister, Mary Emily, was about to begin teaching theatre at Piedmont. Their mother encouraged Deal to give the school a look. Driving around the campus during spring break, Deal fell in love with Piedmont and started classes that summer. The theatre department’s chair at the time, Dr. Betsey Blakeslee, saw Deal’s potential as an entertainer and convinced her to audition. Deal soon was cast as Gwendolen in the “Importance of Being Earnest.” Comfortable around her professor-sister and her “people” in theatre, Deal bloomed. While still a student at Piedmont, Deal auditioned at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and accepted an internship in Memphis at Playhouse on the Square, where she auditioned for the lead role in “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.” Though the lead already had been cast, she was tapped as the understudy and later landed roles as country singers in other productions. “That show launched my entire career, which has taken me all over the U.S. and Canada. And I found out through theatre that I was a country music singer,” Deal said. “I feel lucky to have found my way to Piedmont because it helped me find my place in theatre. That’s the neat thing about Piedmont is that you can find your group and stay in your little circle or you can branch out because it’s small enough that you can get to know
Tara Drinkard and Tori Howard at commencement (left) and holding newborn twin girls, Addison and Emma Williams.
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virtually everybody on campus.” Deal returned to Piedmont in her current role in January.
In Memory FRIENDS AND HONOREES Rev. Dr. Lloyd M. Hall Jr., DL h.c. ’01 of Waterford, Michigan, passed away on October 22, 2018, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Hannah Hall, and their three children. Hall served for more than 40 years as an ordained minister in churches of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. He was a committed member of Kiwanis and served as a regional leader for the Boy Scouts of America for 30 years. Hall served on the Board of Trustees for Piedmont College from 1994-2009. James “Gene” Sutherland of Jonesboro, Georgia, passed away on March 6, 2019. He was the son of the late Andrew Washington and Lucy English Sutherland. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Joan Miller Sutherland, and son, Andrew. He is survived by three daughters and one son. Sutherland served on the Board of Trustees for Piedmont College from 2009-2016. From 1947 until his passing, he worked in the family business, Sutherland Produce. Sutherland was inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2011 and was a leader in the poultry and egg industry. Dr. Franklin “Frank” Lester Edge of Hull, Georgia, passed away on August 19, 2019. He had served as an Associate Professor of Math in the School of Arts & Sciences at Piedmont College since 2007. Grant Stannard of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on August 28, 2019, at the age of 95. He was the son of the late Grant and Faye Stannard of Lincoln, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie Stannard, and is survived by their two daughters. His ties to the
Plymouth Congregational Church and his commitment to service led him to serve on the Board of Trustees for Piedmont College from 1993-2001. Stannard was an avid sports fan and loved giving back through his leadership and financial contributions. Dr. Betty L. Siegel, DL h.c. ’10 of Kennesaw, Georgia, passed away on February 11, 2020, at the age of 89. She was preceded in death in 2019 by her husband and fellow educator, Dr. Joel Herbert Siegel. Siegel served as president of Kennesaw State University from 1981 until retiring in 2006. She was the longest-serving female president of a public university in the U.S. and was the first woman to lead an institution within the University System of Georgia. She taught English literature throughout her career and was an educational icon in the state of Georgia. She served as Trustee Emeritus for Piedmont College.
ALUMNI Judge Handsel Grady Morgan Sr. ’42 of Buford, Georgia, passed away on February 29, 2020, at the age of 98. He was the son of the late Henry Grady Morgan and Eva Benson Morgan. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Joy King Morgan, and is survived by their three children. After graduating from Piedmont College, Morgan went on to obtain a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He earned his law degree while teaching at Buford High School by attending night classes at John Marshall Law School. Morgan served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was deployed in several allied invasions. Morgan served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1959-1965 and is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the American Legion. He served as Judge of the City
Court of Buford and was Gwinnett County’s first Juvenile Court Judge. Madeline Goodlett ’45 of Tucker, Georgia, passed away on March 24, 2019, at the age of 95. She was the daughter of the late Plumer and Vivian McFarlin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert William “Bob” Goodlett Jr., and is survived by two daughters. After graduating from Piedmont College, she went on to earn a master’s degree from Georgia State University. Goodlett taught high school English and was a member of the Disciples of Christ. Jo Jordan French ’49 of Young Harris, Georgia, passed away on March 17, 2019, at the age of 90. She was the daughter of the late Roy and Sue Smith Jordan. She was preceded in death by her husband, John French. She taught school in Atlanta, Australia, and Alaska. French was a gifted musician who enjoyed entertaining family and friends. Ollie Jo Nix ’49 of Columbus, Georgia, passed away on September 22, 2019, at the age of 89. She was the daughter of the late Karl Eugene and Sophie Felton Randall Maret of Lavonia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Garland A. Nix, and is survived by their three children. She taught high school chemistry and physical education and coached girls’ basketball in Summerville. Later in life, she assisted her husband with their family business, Nix Discount Supply. She was an excellent baker, proficient seamstress, and an avid sports fan. Nix played basketball for Piedmont and was crowned May Queen. Rev. Lloyd Edward Free ’50 of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on February 9, 2020, at the age of 92. He
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was the son of the late Martin and Vadie Woodall Free. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Clarice Cantrell Free, and their three daughters. After graduating from Piedmont, Free obtained numerous graduate degrees from the University of Georgia. He served as an educator in Northeast Georgia for 42 years. Free worked with the State Board of Education for 11 years and taught developmental studies at Lanier Tech. He was a bivocational Baptist minister and served as pastor for several local churches. Aubrey Moore Finch ’51 of Lexington, Georgia, passed away on December 17, 2019, at the age of 88. He was the son of the late Marshal Alexander and Annabelle Moore Finch. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kate Maxwell Finch, and their four children. He graduated as the valedictorian of Union Point High School in 1948 before attending Piedmont. He would later earn his Master of Education and Education Specialist degrees from the University of Georgia. Finch served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He taught physical education and coached basketball before serving as principal in several high schools. Finch was inducted into the Piedmont College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and received the Piedmont College Alumni Service Award in 2008. He also served on the Piedmont College Alumni Association Board from 2000-2006. Ruby Ash Nix ’52 of Cleveland, Georgia, passed away on March 6, 2019, at the age of 97. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Marion Ash and Ila Mae Young Ash. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Jack Phillip Nix, Dr. h.c. ’67, and is survived by their two children. Nix volunteered with the Girl Scouts of America and was active in the Shallowford Garden Club. She attended Piedmont from 1951-1952 as a transfer student from Young Harris. She graduated with a Bachelor of
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Science degree in Elementary Education in 1952. She then taught elementary school from 1952 until retiring in 1977. Elsie Ilene “Jackie” Burrell Brady ’52 of Kitzmiller, Maryland, passed away on January 26, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Fitzhugh L. and Edna O. Shank Burrell. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Elzie Brady, and is survived by their four children. Except for her time at Piedmont College, Brady lived her entire life in her hometown of Kitzmiller, where she taught elementary school. She became one of the first women to serve on the Garrett County Board of Education. She was a member of the Kitzmiller Empowerment Group, as well as other service organizations. She was also the founder and curator of the Kitzmiller Coal Heritage Museum. Celeste Durham Thornton Wilson ’53 of Thomasville, Georgia, passed away on April 9, 2019, at the age of 86. She was the daughter of the late Merle and Fletcher Durham. She was preceded in death in 2018 by her husband, Wesley Allen Wilson, and is survived by two daughters. While a student at Piedmont College, Wilson became a cheerleader to overcome her shyness and joined the Drama Club. After graduating from Piedmont, Wilson went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and later became a Reading Specialist. She was a teacher and librarian for more than 35 years. She co-authored three children’s books and wrote a memoir of her late Piedmont colleague, Jean Banks Caudell ’53. Wilson served as a director of the Piedmont College Alumni Association Board for three years and received the Alumni Service Award in 2002 for her service to the college. James Daniel Smallwood Jr. ’53 of Greenville, South Carolina, passed away on February 8, 2020, at the age of 95. Smallwood was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Daniel Smallwood Sr. He is survived by his wife of 76 years, Runette Taylor Smallwood, and their daughter. Smallwood served
in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and fought in World War II, including during the Normandy invasion. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture until his retirement. Following his passing, he received a Quilt of Valor for his service. William Glenn “Bill” McClure ’55 of Tiger, Georgia, passed away on February 15, 2019, at the age of 88. He was the son of the late Larry Porter Sr. and Mertice Burrell McClure. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna June McClure, and daughter, Gigi. He is survived by four daughters and three sons. McClure attended Piedmont College on a basketball scholarship. He was inducted into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame in 1982. McClure served in the U.S. Air Force, after which he played minor league baseball. He is credited with starting Duluth High School’s first football program. He taught mathematics and coached basketball and football before selling real estate. McClure was also a noted musician and songwriter. Joseph “Joe” C. Roane ’58 of Carnesville, Georgia, passed away on April 12, 2019, at the age of 84. He was the son of the late Lewis Edward “Ed” and Martha Elizabeth Justus Roane. He was preceded in death by his wife, alumna Julianne Hall Roane ’59, and is survived by their two sons. After graduating from Piedmont College, he went on to receive his master’s degree at the University of Georgia. Roane taught high school classes for the Cumming, Stephens County, and Franklin County school systems, as well as the Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute. He worked for Toccoa Ford and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for many years. Byard Monroe Roper Jr. ’58 of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 88. He was the son of the late Byard M. Roper Sr. and the late Julia Landers Roper. He was preceded in death in 2015 by his wife of 64 years, Doris Stonecypher Roper. He is survived by their three children. Roper served in the U.S. Navy
during the Korean Conflict and worked in various positions at Fieldale Farms for 39 years. He served as a deacon at Bethlehem Baptist Church and volunteered with many community organizations. Polly Ann Whitmire Snyder ’59 of Toccoa, Georgia, passed away on February 12, 2019, at the age of 81. She was the daughter of the late Yoda J. and Pearl Davis Whitmire. She was preceded in death by her husband, alumnus Lynn Snyder ’61, and is survived by their daughter. Snyder was a graduate of Toccoa High School and taught elementary school in Stephens County for 30 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Toccoa, as well as the Ladies Auxiliary of Toccoa Elks Club. S.Y. “Woody” Woodall ’63 of Valdosta, Georgia, passed away on October 26, 2019, at the age of 83. He was the son of the late Lawrence and Lula Denny Woodall. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Edwards Woodall, and son, Victor. He was preceded in death by his son, Bradley. Woodall served in the U.S. Army and received a master’s degree from Valdosta State University after graduating from Piedmont College. He served as director of the evening classes at Val-Tech and was involved in Distributive Education in Albany. Woodall enjoyed golf and Georgia football. Morris Edward “Eddie” Ashurst Jr. ’65 of Eatonton, Georgia, passed away in St. Simons on February 5, 2019, at the age of 75. He was the son of the late Morris and Louise Stanley Ashurst. It was at Piedmont College that he met his wife of 53 years, alumna Janice Wallace Ashurst. He is survived by her and their two children. Ashurst was inducted into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame in 1987, and he received the Piedmont College Alumni Service Award in 1989 for his outstanding service to the college.
Linda Marie Coley ’66 of Dallas, Georgia, passed away on September 30, 2019, at the age of 74. She was the daughter of the late Leonard Earl and Hazel Coley. She taught math at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens and served as an advisor for the Student Council for many years until retiring. Coley was a past president of the ADK Fidelius NU Society and was recognized by Who’s Who of American Educators for her leadership in education. She enjoyed reading, singing, gardening, and doting on her pets. John Albinus “Al” Chambers ‘69 of Toccoa, Georgia, passed away on April 10, 2020, at the age of 72. He was the son of the late Howard and Lillian Chambers. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Greer Chambers, and their three children. Chambers graduated from Toccoa High School before attending Piedmont. He served in the U.S. Air Force, worked at Milliken, and retired from Coats & Clark in Toccoa. Chambers was influential in establishing the ToccoaStephens County Humane Shelter. He loved fishing, golfing, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Toccoa. Candice “Candy” Raye Herron ’74 of Clemson, South Carolina, passed away on April 27, 2019, at the age of 66. She was the daughter of the late Bill and Tyna Hamilton Herron. She worked as a librarian at Clemson University for many years. Claude D. Godfrey Jr. ’75 of Sugar Hill, Georgia, passed away on February 2, 2019, at the age of 69. Godfrey was the son of the late Claude Sr. and Inie Godfrey. He was a 1967 graduate of North Gwinnett High School and served in the U.S. Army. He worked as an accountant. Michael William Carroll ’91 of Alto, Georgia, passed away on February 26, 2020, at the age of 79. He was the son of the late Stanley J. and Mae Lou Cox Carroll. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Pam Brooks Carroll. He was the Lay Liturgist Coordinator for five years and taught the Good News Sunday
School Class at Clarkesville First United Methodist Church. Carroll worked at Mountain Resources as a specialist until retiring and served as an instructor with Lee Arrendale Prison for two years. Michael Lonnie Burns ’03 of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on October 14, 2019, at the age of 40. He was the son of Phyllis Franklin Burns ‘67 and the late Lonnie Ronald Burns ‘70. He graduated from Habersham Central High School in 1997, where he was a member of the Raider golf team. Encouraged by a long legacy of alumni, he chose to earn a degree in Business Administration from Piedmont. He used that degree to own and operate Anytime Fitness Gym in Gainesville. Julie Marie Shanahan Burke, M. Ed ’04 of Buford, Georgia, passed away on February 11, 2020, at the age of 41. Burke was the daughter of George and Mary Anne Shanahan of Fernandina Beach, Florida. She is survived by her husband, alumnus James “Eric” Burke ‘96, and their two sons. Burke graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2000 before obtaining her Master of Education degree from Piedmont College. She was a teacher at Rock Springs Elementary School for 15 years. Following her career as an educator, she worked in business development for Armor Lock & Security. Burke enjoyed being involved in various networking groups. She was a lifelong athlete, completing two Half-Ironman races, among others. Burke was a devoted mother, entertainer, and outdoor enthusiast. Alexandra Nicole Faerber ‘15 of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on April 8, 2020, at the age of 27. She was the daughter of Febby and Craig Faerber. Faerber graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Piedmont and was a dedicated nurse. The Faerber family has created the Alexandra Faerber Nursing Scholarship through Piedmont College to honor her devotion to the industry. The fund will assist nursing students with financial aid.
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Piedmont Rainbow "Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time," said Piedmont College Diversity Recruiter Gabe Gutierrez '18, who captured this image in February 2020.
