Academic EXCELLENCE | Personal ACHIEVEMENT | SUMMER 2015
A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS AND FRIENDS
In this issue: Girls Helping Girls | Girls Meet World | Alumnae Class News | and more!
What if
you become the living manifestation of the mission of Saint Mary’s School: embracing the spirit of connection with others, and what if you choose, at every opportunity, to view other women as a sisterhood as opposed to competitors? - Dr. Mary Hinton '88HS
Board of Trustees 2015-2016 Theodore D. Bratton, Chair Martin H. Brinkley, Vice Chair Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Secretary William C. Monk Jr., Treasurer Members At-Large Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Raleigh, N.C. Anna Neal Blanchard ’76HS, Raleigh, N.C. Martin M. Boney, Raleigh, N.C. Theodore D. Bratton, Raleigh, N.C. Martin H. Brinkley, Raleigh, N.C. Barbara Eagleson Cain ’65C, Wilmington, N.C. Caren Threshie Camp ’71HS, Alexandria, Va. Eric W. Evans, Raleigh, N.C. Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Owings Mills, Md. Sallie Harris Glover ’81HS ’83C, Raleigh, N.C. R. Gordon Grubb, Raleigh, N.C. Hubert B. Haywood III, Raleigh, N.C. Kenneth B. Howard, Raleigh, N.C. Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C, Rocky Mount, N.C. Burns Jones, Greensboro, N.C. W. Scott Mahoney, Raleigh, N.C. William C. Monk Jr., Greenville, N.C. Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Raleigh, N.C. Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Charlotte, N.C. Sallie Shuping Russell ’75C, Chapel Hill, N.C. F. Jefferson Stocks, Raleigh, N.C. Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, Greenville, N.C. Jeffrey M. Szyperski, Irvington, Va. Nancy Kerr Thomason ’73HS ’75C, Dunwoody, Ga. Margaret Longley White ’79C, Greensboro, N.C. Student Representative to the Board Andy Smithey ’16, SGA President
Mission Statement Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life. Founded in 1842 in the Episcopal tradition, Saint Mary’s School is an independent, college-preparatory, girls boarding and day school dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement for grades 9-12. Saint Mary’s School admits high school girls of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin. Administration Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School Jeannie Norris, Interim Director of Development Laura Novia, Director of Marketing and Communications Scott Orvis, Interim Dean of Teaching and Learning, Director of College Counseling Jennifer Rundles, Interim Dean of Students Kim Slade, Director of Admission Sally Woods, Chief Financial Officer Saint Mary’s School Magazine Published by Saint Mary’s School 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603-1689 919-424-4000 www.sms.edu Editor Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Director of Public Relations and Publications mvswain@sms.edu Class News Editor Emory Rogers Church ’74C Contributors: Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS; Caroline Costello; Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D.; Heath Hilliker; Mary Hinton ’88HS, Ph.D.; Margaret McGlohon ’81C; Laura Novia; Scott Orvis; Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Design: Heath Hilliker, Senior Marketing Coordinator Printing: Metro Productions, Raleigh, N.C.
SUMMER 2015 | VOLUME 100, NUMBER 2
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS Head of School Message
FEATURES
2
Academic Excellence
22
Personal Achievement
24
Athletics
26
Calendar of Events
28
Event Photos
30
Milestones
36
Class News
38
Blue Ribbon Commencement Day
4
Mary Hinton '88HS, Ph.D., president of the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., delivered the 2015 commencement address in the Grove, May 17, 2015. (Cover photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)
Girls Helping Girls
12
Girls Meet World
16
Six Imperatives of the Strategic Plan 20
MESSAGE from the Head of School Empowering girls to serve and shape their world By Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School
“I can do it myself.” “It’s my decision.” “Don’t worry. I got this.” Taken at face value, these statements and others like them convey confidence, autonomy, and independence – all things we would wish for our children and for our students. Why then, can these declarations cause such concern for a parent, teacher or mentor when they come from a teenage girl? Perhaps it is because we, as adults, are anxious that they may stumble, fail or make a “wrong” decision. The instinct to protect our children and students from hardship is powerful. Yet, we know that in order for young people to enter adulthood, they must experience success along with hardship, disappointment, and even failure, for how else will they develop the resilience and courage, the strong inner life and sense of self, that will guide them throughout their lives? In Good Influence: Teaching the Wisdom of Adulthood, Daniel Heischman reminds us, “No matter how sophisticated and accomplished our children or students can be, their inner life still needs to be nurtured and developed.” At Saint Mary’s School, we have long recognized the importance of nurturing the inner life of girls as central, not only to teaching girls to make wise decisions but also to fulfilling our mission to prepare girls for college and life. Our faculty and staff strive daily to provide an environment where students can test their independence, safely take risks, stumble and perhaps even fall, so each girl may strengthen her inner core and learn to navigate her life with purpose and integrity. The articles featured in this magazine demonstrate the incredible power of providing girls with such an environment – one that empowers and inspires confidence and independence. In his article about college counseling, Interim Dean of Teaching and Learning and Director of College Counseling Scott Orvis describes how our girls have agency in their college process. Our college counselors facilitate this autonomy by “asking questions and reflecting back to students the feedback the girls provide.” Using this approach, our students are able to listen to their own voice and draw upon their inner core. True to our mission, each girl is learning to shape her future through the choices she makes. Sometimes the most powerful way we, the adults, can meet the needs of our students and cultivate their inner core is through our absence. Our students must have the time and space to build their skills and confidence away from the adults in their lives. Heischman writes, “Although in a world of ‘being there’ for others, such a value may seem heretical.” He adds, “In fact, young people need our absence as much as our presence: otherwise the
2
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
voices we seek to instill in them and the images we want them to carry from us will not have a chance to flourish.” Through Girls Helping Girls, our peer-helper group, students develop their sense of self and confidence by listening to her own voice and helping others to do the same. With appropriate support from school counselors who respect and value the place for “absence,” Girls Helping Girls is another way Saint Mary’s empowers girls to make life decisions for themselves. In her inspiring commencement address, Dr. Mary Hinton ’88HS, asked the Class of 2015, “What if you listen to the story whispering to you in your spirit as opposed to trying to live the life others want to prescribe for you?” A compelling question and one that attests to the need for a strong sense of self and clear inner voice. As exemplified by Dr. Hinton’s personal journey, shared by her on commencement day, Saint Mary’s School is a transformational experience for girls. With courage and confidence, our students and graduates build on the foundation they are given at Saint Mary’s to become the leaders of their own lives, empowered to serve and shape their world.
Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D. Head of School
3
Saint Mary’s
Blue Ribbon Commencement Day
The sights and sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance” filled the Grove Sunday morning, May 17, 2015, as 73 seniors graduated from Saint Mary’s School. Head of School Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., presided over the commencement exercises. The weather cooperated beautifully, and it was a glorious Saint Mary’s blue ribbon commencement day in the Grove, as the graduates turned their tassels and Saint Mary’s rings. Alumna Mary Hinton ’88HS, Ph.D., president of the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., delivered the 2015 commencement address and gave a touching and inspirational speech that included stories of how Saint Mary’s impacted her life as a young woman. When others tried to close doors to her, Saint Mary’s opened doors to a world of possibilities. Her "what if" theme resonated with all. Excerpts from her speech are featured on the pages that follow.
4
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
>>> Bettie White Cooper ’63C, left, and Dr. Mary Hinton ’88HS, right, at Saint Mary’s 2015 commencement exercises in the Grove. In her commencement address, Dr. Hinton spoke of how her personal hero, “Bettie White Cooper ’63C, asked, ‘What if we support the potential of a young woman? What if we grant someone an opportunity?’”
5
What If? Saint Mary’s School 2015 Commencement Address By Mary Hinton '88HS, Ph.D., President of the College of Saint Benedict
6
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
am, undoubtedly, the person most surprised to find myself standing here, delivering your commencement speech. In 1988, long before you were even born, I sat where you sit today. Of the many questions, hopes, and aspirations that crossed my mind that day, none even began to approach the fact that one day – far into the future – I would be granted the privilege and opportunity to return to Saint Mary’s and offer you words of encouragement. Thank you, Dr. Gillespie, for extending this opportunity to me. My topic today is, “what if?” Two very small words. Words that as young children I’m sure you asked all the time. We all did. Yet words we somehow stop asking as we get older. A bit of curiosity we allowed to linger and then dissipate in our spirits. Words that have the power to transform us if we allow them, but we rarely entertain them because of the danger of their power. Because of the need to be vulnerable to the answer that may arise.
You see, I am an example of what happens if you allow yourself to ask, and are then vulnerable to the answer of, what if? Allow me to share a few examples of the importance of asking what if. I will start here at Smedes. One of my clearest memories at Saint Mary’s was when I did not get accepted into my first choice college. If I remember correctly, said school had asked me to retake a standardized test. I did and I was certain I was going to get in. I had visions of myself walking across that storied quad, living in those fancy dorms and proudly telling the world of my excellent college choice. It was, in my mind, the perfect place. But that April, despite getting accepted into several schools, I didn’t get in there. I was heartbroken. I remember Barbara Bunch, Saint Mary’s guidance counselor, gently counseling me and saying that the world was not, in fact, ending. She gave very good advice, pointed out my successes. She shared a quote from the Bible. She did all the right things. I remember going into my tiny little room in Smedes and crying for three days.
7
>>> What if attending
Saint Mary’s connected you to others in remarkable ways? Bettie White Cooper ’63C, left, opened a door of possibilities to Dr. Mary Hinton ’88HS, center, who now leads the College of Saint Benedict, where Gini Todd ’12, right, is a rising junior.
At that point it felt terrible. I didn’t know to ask the question, “What if?” What if that college wasn’t right for me? What if I couldn’t have gone there and walked into my destiny? What if Helen Keller was right when she wrote: “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” When things don’t proceed as you want them to – or as you think you want them to – ask yourself what if you need to amend your perspective. Perhaps resettle your gaze elsewhere to locate your happiness. I share that story because in hindsight it wasn’t the right place for me. As you go through life, graduates, and things don’t unfold as you plan, pause and allow yourself to ask, “what if?” If all you are seeing is a closed door, resettle your gaze. What if you just looked elsewhere? I know some are thinking that merely asking what if is not sufficient. That you have to work hard on attaining success. That there are major moments in life that change your trajectory. And you are
8
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
not wrong. You do have to work hard, never discount that. I know, though, that given your success this far you are not strangers to hard work. But I will say, graduates, that you should ask yourself what if transformation is not a major flashpoint resulting from your efforts but what if it’s a series of small events? Or, what if it is out of adversity that you change your life? You see, the most transformative moment in my life came equally out of one of the most cruel acts of a person and then one of the most generous acts of a person. Allow me to share a story. Before I arrived at Saint Mary’s, I attended a school in my hometown. Times were somewhat different then and when I went to see my guidance counselor she tried to use her very narrow worldview to constrain my future. (Believe me, this woman had no idea about “what if.”) It was the coarse and hateful words of this one woman nearly 30 years ago - telling me that I couldn’t go to college because of my race – that resulted in my being here now. Her efforts to diminish me resulted in Bettie White
Cooper, Saint Mary’s College class of 1963 and my personal hero, stepping forward and providing twice as much good as this woman did hate by providing me an opportunity to attend Saint Mary’s. Bettie Cooper asked “what if we support the potential of a young woman?” “What if we grant someone an opportunity?” I have come to realize that those two acts, one born out of hate and the other out of profound love, were probably the two most transformative moments in my life. You see, graduates, moments of transformation don’t announce themselves. They, instead, sneak up on you. They sometimes occur in moments of joy, but just as often transformation is born in discomfort, pain and tears. You see, had one person not tried to destroy my hopes and my dreams, and another used the power of what if to create an opportunity, I would not have landed at Saint Mary’s.
>>> What if these graduates return years from now to give a You, too, will have moments of beauty and moments commencement address? What personal story will they have to tell? of pain. Transformation will embrace you if you allow it to. Khalil Gibran wrote: “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to encounter learning and you as by the attitude you bring to knowledge in a new way? life; not so much by what happens What if I risk the safety to you as by the way your mind of a perfect grade for the looks at what happens.” You see, freedom of true learning?" life may not always bring you what you want. But it will, without Or, what if by simply you become the living fail, bring you more than what you asking those two words need. What if you choose how to manifestation of the mission of you enlarge your impact interpret what life offers you? on the world? The College Saint Mary’s School: embracing of Saint Benedict was There are a number of quick the spirit of connection with founded by the Sisters of “what ifs” I feel I should share. the Order of Saint Benedict What if you become the living others and what if you choose, and I am fortunate to serve manifestation of the mission of with many of the sisters still at every opportunity, to view Saint Mary’s School: embracing working with the college. the spirit of connection with other women as a sisterhood as One, Sr. Mara Falkner, others? What if you choose, a renowned author, has opposed to competitors? at every opportunity, to view also been pondering what other women as a sisterhood if recently. She recently as opposed to competitors and wrote: “The ‘What if’ recognize that the success of question gives birth to your sisters only enhances you? every work of art, story, scientific discovery and maybe What if you intentionally choose to lift another creation itself. It makes us partners with our daring, hopeful woman up and encourage her? God.” What if, by pondering those two little words, you Perhaps you can ask yourself, as you choose your become a collaborator with God? And, as God’s collaborator, courses during college registration, “what if I choose what if you are called to greet those who may appear as your a course that may not result in an A, but that will enemies as your friends? What if, even when you are tired stretch and challenge me? That will allow me to of educating another, tired of answering the call to do the
What if
9
Today my story is as a college president in Central Minnesota. Each and every day I have to reconcile and embrace my story and determine how I would like it to unfold on that day.
What if
you think of and live into your story each and every day?
Commencement 2015
Photo Gallery Scan here to see all the Commencement 2015 photos on our website!
10
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
right thing, exhausted from explaining your voice, what if you think of yourself as God’s collaborator, called to educate those who surround you?
I will send you off with one final “what if.” What if you listen to the story whispering to you in your spirit as opposed to trying to live the life others want to prescribe for you? Now, there will be many situations in the next days and weeks in which you will be asked questions about what’s next. Your loved ones and friends are anxious to hear of your plans and aspirations and you may feel some pressure to have a perfect response. Yet some of you are questioning the major you said you would study in college. Others are wondering if you have to fulfill the family legacy when you really want to major in art. Some are trying to discern if they can live into their dreams or if they have to fulfill the dreams of others. There are, I am certain, as many questions today as there are answers. But what if you spend a few moments, instead of explaining your choices, listening to your choices. What if you explore your heart and confirm what you want out of life instead of trying to live into the destiny others may have for you? Parker Palmer wrote, “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” What if you stop explaining and start listening to yourself? Take a few minutes and ask, "what if I listened to my spirit?" It’s so easy not to listen.
There are literally millions of distractions we can pursue as opposed to listening to our spirit’s whisper. And it requires great vulnerability to listen, a willingness to explore our interiors. I don’t have words strong enough to tell you to listen to your heart and craft your own story. I watch the choices, sometimes destructive choices, students can make and so often it’s because they have an untold story that they are trying to quiet. Maya Angelou warned, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Listen to your story. Live into your story. You see, for a long time I didn’t share my story, and it was painful trying to keep it to myself. Because I was too afraid to ask “what if?” What if my story wanted to enlarge me as opposed to constrain me? What if the start of my story is what uniquely equipped me for what is next? What if my experience at Saint Mary's built the capacity to lead a college for women? What if, instead of not being college material as that one counselor suggested, I have the potential to lead a college? You see, my story began as the daughter of a woman who was born 89 years ago in rural North Carolina. Her birth was unrecorded as it – like many other births at that time – was deemed to have no value. Today my story is as a college president in Central Minnesota. Each and every day I have to reconcile and embrace my story and determine how I would like it to unfold on that day. What if you think of and live into your story each and every day? It has been a privilege to have our stories intersect in the Grove today.
2015 Commencement Awards
Cynthia L’Engle Boney ’15 The Georgia Lee Kinsey Award
Sarah Christine Blelloch ’15 The Marian Drane Graham Award
Carson Elizabeth Clay ’15 The Cooper Medal
Anna-Gray Stallings ’15 The Catherine Ruth Proctor Award
Gabrielle Danasia Johnson ’15 The King Medal
Abigail Margaret Ueland ’15 The Margaret and Ann Highsmith Medal
Grayson Elle Rodriguez ’15 Valedictorian | The Niles Medal
Madeline Coker Joslin ’15 Student-Elected Senior Commencement Speaker
11
GIRLS HELPING GIRLS By Caroline Costello, Saint Mary’s School Counselor 12
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Peer-helping assists adolescents in feeling capable, understood and responsible Studies have shown that adolescents often feel safer venting their frustrations and concerns to their peers, rather than to adults. Aware of the research and informed by personal observation and experience, staff and students launched the first peer-helper group at Saint Mary’s in 2005. Last fall it was reorganized and revitalized as Girls Helping Girls. Adolescents want to help each other, yet they often do not know how to respond. Peer-helpers are coached and supervised by school counselors to provide a listening ear, to support and to be role models and mentors for their peers. They are trained in decision-making assistance, mediation and conflict resolution, as well as in how and when to make referrals to adults on campus. Peer-helping assists adolescents in feeling capable, understood and responsible and allows them, through mentoring others, to strengthen their own life skills and better navigate choice and decision-making for themselves. The roles of students in Girls Helping Girls include working as agents of dignity, respecting the privacy and worth of every human being, acting as buddies to younger students and working with adults to design creative programs.
13
In the spirit of servant leadership, Girls Helping Girls mentors choose to lead quietly and behind the scenes, impacting their community and the individuals in it in positive and farreaching ways. This spring Girls Helping Girls member, Hannah Groover ’15, organized a “Lunch and Love Your Body” session, in which girls ate lunch together and talked about ways to overcome negative body image. Emma Kelly ’16 and Sam Berlin ’16 organized informal, student-led group talks on topics such as peer pressure and decision making that provided a safe place where girls could share, listen, be present and know they are understood and valued.
to take the pledge and unplug for the National Day of Unplugging. Girls Helping Girls mentors encouraged their teachers and peers to be mindful of their weekend, unplug their devices, if only for an hour, and pledge why they wanted to do so. These gestures, although not grand, have the potential to inspire small changes that promote wellness and support in the school community. Lots of small changes eventually add up.
Often, a random act of kindness in the form of an encouraging email or text can make anyone’s day a bit brighter.
Often, a random act of kindness in the form of an encouraging email or text can make anyone’s day a bit brighter. Alex Nolley ’16 frequently emails a group of peers, just to check in and let them know that she is thinking about them and is always available for support.
Girls Helping Girls members also have a keen sense of community as demonstrated this past March when the group encouraged the school
File photos
14
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
In the coming year, Sara Nderitu ’16 and Kaitlyn Buffaloe ’16 plan to offer Frisbee on the Quad, cookies in Lower Smedes and play sessions with puppies for students feeling stressed. Emma Kelley ’16 hopes to use fun activities, such as art, baking and group sports, to provide a break from study, and all peer helpers look forward to encouraging their peers to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things such as sports, theatre and dance. Girls helping girls – such a simple concept. The result, however, is something quite remarkable – a community rich in connection and understanding.
“I ASKED WHY ,
AND DISCOVERED A
WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES. Shelby H., 11th grade
”
It takes courage to think for yourself. Shelby explored new ideas and found out what mattered most to her — in and out of the classroom. At Saint Mary’s, we empower girls to ask questions, seek answers and grow as young women of intellect and purpose. That’s why we offer honors and AP courses, three languages, 11 sports, a renowned arts program and real-life experiences. Endless possibilities are yours for the taking.
WHERE WILL YOU FIND YOUR COURAGE? ADMISSION OVERNIGHT & VISITATION DAYS November 8 - 9 and January 18 - 19 ADMISSION DAY STUDENT SHADOW DAYS October 12 and December 4 To register for one of these events or to schedule a campus visit, call the Admission Office at 919.424.4100. FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
Serving girls, grades 9-12, boarding and day. 900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603-1689 919.424.4100 admission@sms.edu
www.sms.edu
15
16
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
GIRLS MEET WORLD Empowering girls to make the big college decision Saint Mary’s School prepares girls to make effective life decisions and grow as leaders of their own lives, and some of the first major decisions girls make are related to college admission. Scott Orvis, Saint Mary’s director of college counseling and interim dean of teaching and learning, reflects on this process and the philosophy that frames how Saint Mary’s assists our students in building the skills they need to navigate their futures with confidence, courage and purpose. By Scott Orvis
Each school year, as the college and university admission cycle comes to a close and the seniors have made their final college choices, I take time to reflect on the process and on student outcomes as well as my role in the profession. And, I recall what many of our girls would call “glums and glows.” The good news is that after nine years at Saint Mary’s and nearly a quarter century in the college admission counseling profession, I have learned that the glows far outnumber the glums. I believe the success of our students resides within the value of effective decisionmaking that Saint Mary’s School instills in the girls who attend the school. As an educational community, we have committed to the necessary and enviable work of developing within our girls important habits of lifelong learning which include character,
critical thinking and communication. Because these habits are tied to the academic program in meaningful ways, they have become integral to the college counseling and decision-making process our girls undertake each year. I mention this intersection of process and habits because one of the first significant decisions girls make about their future is the choice of where to attend college. Let’s keep in mind, however, that there is no one perfect college for any student. Given the abundance of domestic and international institutions of higher education available to our girls, it is easy to recognize there are many college and university communities that can serve each student well. See Frank Bruni’s recently published book, “Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be,” or Jennifer Delahunty’s still refreshing
17
6
On average, seniors applied to six institutions and, overall, 69 percent of applications were approved for admission.
Suggested Reading • “I’m Going to College – Not You!,” by Jennifer Delahunty • “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning,” by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III and Mark A. McDaniel • “Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be,” by Frank Bruni • “Fiske Guide to Colleges 2015,” by Edward B. Fiske • “Colleges That Change Lives,” by Loren Pope (author), Hilary Masell Oswald (editor)
100%
of Saint Mary’s seniors who applied were admitted to a selective four-year college or university. Five students are pursuing full-year gap experiences and two will pursue one-semester gap experiences before starting post-secondary studies.
18
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
>>> “As an educational community, Saint Mary’s is committed to the necessary and enviable work of developing within our girls important habits of lifelong learning which include character, critical thinking and communication. Because these habits are tied to the academic program in meaningful ways, they have become integral to the college counseling and decision-making process our girls undertake each year.” (file photos)
>>> Left to right: Graduating seniors Aurelia Monk, Sophia Wilfong, Grayson Rodriguez, Madeline Joslin, Alice Gaddis on college decision day.
collection of essays in “I’m Going to College – Not You!,” if you need reassurance about college choice.
THE COLlege admissions process is but one aspect of any student’s Saint Mary’s career, and the most important outcome is that she feel prepared to move on to the next stage of her life, confidently owning her decisions and making informed choices.
The reality is that in a time when we hear endlessly about increases annually in applications, the tracking of demonstrated interest, and the continual rise in college admission selectivity the ability of each student to be discerning about information in the context of determining the best college match becomes significant. Through careful analysis and consideration about individual goals, interests and values, our girls are able to inform their decision-making.
In an effort to assist Saint Mary’s girls in the process – whether it is in building a research list, whittling down the actual application list or arriving at the final college choice – asking questions and reflecting back to students the feedback they provide allows them to better understand the details and preferences they are sharing in conversation. Factors in the college choice range from curriculum and size and location of the campus to available support services, technology and reputation. Financial considerations are a reality for
many students, too. Regardless of which one factor or combination of factors is most important to a student, it is in the response to questions that clarity can be found.
The college admission climate can be a great source of anxiety and stress for students across the country and internationally. It is difficult for some students – and parents – to avoid what I refer to as “chatter” about scores, grade point averages, who is applying where, what strategy is best and just the general nature of selective college admission. It is understandable given the media attention on the process, which is often sensationalized and focused on a small number of uber-selective institutions. I encourage girls to think deeply about criteria and options, dive deep into the information available and ask questions – and then ask more questions. The college admission process is but one aspect of a student’s Saint Mary’s career, and the most important outcome is a girl feeling prepared to move on to the next stage of her life, confident that she has made an informed choice about where to continue her education and comfortable owning her decision.
19
Saint Mary’s School:
Six Imperatives of the
Strategic Plan
By Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Trustee Chair, Strategic Planning Committee 20
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
ver the fall and winter months of the 2014-2015 school year, a Strategic Planning Committee comprised of 26 members representing every constituency of Saint Mary’s School (Board of Trustees, faculty, administrative staff, students, alumnae, and parents) met to envision the school’s future. The Committee gathered voluminous amounts of data, surveyed constituents and studied trends impacting independent schools today. In meetings that represented a collective investment of over 500 hundred hours, the Committee identified the strategic issues facing the school and confirmed the importance of six areas of focus. On behalf of the Strategic Planning Committee, I thank everyone for their participation in the strategic planning process. The input the committee received from faculty, staff, students, parents, alumnae and trustees was invaluable and guided the committee’s work in creating six imperatives that are aligned with the school’s core values and mission and that will inform Saint Mary’s work for the next three to five years. Those imperatives are, in no particular order: • Cultivate an environment where girls thrive, experience joy and discover their own balance. • Ensure the financial vitality of the school by maximizing sources of revenue, generating robust philanthropy and managing expenses responsibly. • Grow enrollment to 325 students, with boarding at 5155 percent majority, creating a more vibrant and diverse community and richer experience for all students. • Create a more diverse school and deepen the culture of inclusivity throughout our school community. • For the benefit of our girls, invest in our most valuable asset – our people, targeting resources for our faculty, staff, alumnae and parents. • Enrich the educational program with mission-aligned integration of traditional and innovative approaches and technology to teaching and learning. In the months ahead the strategic imperatives will guide the school’s leadership, faculty and staff in setting the goals and strategies that will frame the strategic plan itself and in determining the initiatives that will make the plan actionable. Indeed, our work together last year will chart the course for the school over the next three to five years. Stay tuned for more updates this fall. Thank you again to everyone who participated in this process and a special thank you to the members of the Strategic Planning Committee who so generously gave of their time and talent. It has been an exciting journey and I am confident that the key imperatives we established together will lead Saint Mary’s School to an inspiring future.
21
ACADEMIC excellence
Thinking outside the box - inside
the BetaBox By Mary Virginia Swain '77C, Director of Public Relations and Publications
22
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
BetaBox prototyping lab visited Saint Mary’s School for three days this winter. As part of Saint Mary’s School’s STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), the school hosted a BetaBox prototyping lab for students to engage in hands-on learning and design thinking using the latest technology. BetaBox is a custom prototyping lab built inside of a shipping container. BetaBox is a “maker space,” the term for a collection of resources and technology in an appealing space designed to inspire students to exercise creativity and innovation in problem solving. Every BetaBox lab comes with rapid prototyping equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, 3D scanners and speed of thought materials. But it’s not just about having the latest rapid prototyping equipment; it’s about creating a culture of creativity and entrepreneurial thinking. Among the projects, the girls designed and created prototypes of eyewear for professionals in various career fields. They sent their design from the 3D printer to the laser cutter in the BetaBox, and a pair of eyeglass frames were made. They also designed rockets and measured the trajectory of the rockets launched from the BetaBox. Student work in the BetaBox and in Kenan Library was facilitated by both Saint Mary’s School faculty and BetaBox staff, who collaborated for months to design the learning experiences for students. “At Saint Mary’s School, we know that hands-on opportunities to use cutting-edge technology are good for girls,” says longtime faculty member Jennifer Rundles. “In addition, experiences with developing their own designs and building prototypes for problem solving help girls develop real-world skills that will benefit them in college and life.” Use the barcode to view a news feature about the BetaBox at Saint Mary’s on WRAL news.
>>> Saint Mary’s students work in the BetaBox and in Kenan Library designing and producing prototypes of eyewear as well as creating, launching and measuring the trajectory of small rockets.
Scan here to watch a news clip about the BetaBox experience on WRAL. 23
PERSONAL achievement Molly Paul ’16 represents Jane Goodall Institute at Youth Summit in Costa Rica As a member of the Roots and Shoots National Youth Leadership Council, rising senior Molly Paul ’16 was invited to present about Google Community Mapping at the Education First Global Student Leaders Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica. Paul was trained in the use of community mapping when she was invited to the Google campus last August. The Roots and Shoots National Youth Leadership Council members are recognized as the top voices of youth for the U.S.A. Jane Goodall Institute. Summit attendees included 500 students and teachers from around the globe. Special guests at the summit included Dame Jane Goodall, with whom Paul had the chance to spend some time. Dr. Jane Goodall, left, and Molly Paul ’16
Saint Mary’s students sweep National History Day Competition Saint Mary’s students swept honors at both the regional and state National History Day competitions this spring. Juliette Ellis ’17 won first place in the state competition for her essay, “Leadership and Legacy in History: the Multifaceted Impact of Madame de Pompadour’s Influence.” Jane Brown ’17 earned second place honors in the state contest for her essay, “Paul of Tarsus’ Impact on Christianity.” Left to right: National History Day participants Juliette Ellis ’17, Jordan Gelber ’16, Megan Blelloch ’15, Gracie Yao ’16 (not pictured: Jane Brown ’17)
Jordan Gelber ’16 represented the school with her essay, “Lucy Stone: Her Legacy as an Activist in the Nineteenth Century.” Ellis and Brown will represent Saint Mary’s School and the state of North Carolina in the senior research paper category at the national competition this summer, to be held at the University of Maryland in College Park. As a result of the superior quality of her research paper, Ellis has been selected by the North Carolina History Day Committee to attend the National Endowment for the Humanities breakfast on Capitol Hill. At this event, Ellis will meet with members of Congress to discuss her work. Saint Mary’s swept the first three places at the regional competition, held in March at UNC-Greensboro. At the regionals, Jane Brown won first place; Juliette Ellis won second place; and Jordan Gelber placed third, for the aforementioned papers. Megan Blelloch ’15 and Gracie Yao ’16 also participated.
Sophia Buehrer ’15 named National Merit Finalist Congratulations to Sophia Buehrer '15 for being named a finalist for a National Merit scholarship. The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. National Merit Scholarship Finalist Sophia Buehrer ’15
24
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
NEWS briefs Vickie Posey, Laura Stark, Steve Esthimer, from left to right, at their retirement celebration in Smedes Hall.
Beloved faculty members retire It was standing room only in Smedes-Emory Parlor Sunday afternoon, April 26, at the retirement celebration for three of Saint Mary's beloved veteran faculty members. The honorees were Steven W. Esthimer, Ph.D. (36 years), Vickie Posey, M.A. (23 years) and Laura Stark, M.A.T. (21 years), who have a collective total of 80 years of service to Saint Mary's. The celebration – complete with special tributes, laughter and tears was well attended by families, friends, students, alumnae, Saint Mary’s parents and colleagues past and present. It was like a homecoming for many who have worked together over the past decades at our beloved school. Thank you to these three distinguished faculty members for your years of dedicated service and excellence in teaching. They have taught, guided, encouraged, challenged, mentored and touched the lives of thousands of Saint Mary's girls. “You will be dearly missed and never replaced,” said one staff member.
Saint Mary’s Trustee Martin Brinkley named dean of UNC Law School Saint Mary's School congratulates trustee Martin Brinkley on his appointment as the 14th dean of the Law School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brinkley is the father of Saint Mary’s alumnae, Caroline Brinkley ’13 and Eliza Brinkley ’11, and the brother of Melanie Brinkley Ferlito ’88C. He has served on the Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees since 2013.
25
ATHLETICS
Saints soccer star, Kendall Hamilton ’15, number 24 in white, in action on Nimocks Field.
Kendall Hamilton ’15
to play soccer at Howard University Saint Mary’s School soccer star and team captain Kendall Hamilton, has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play soccer at Howard University, where she will enroll as a freshman in the fall of 2015. Miss Hamilton is the daughter of Kathy and Steve Hamilton of Raleigh. Miss Hamilton has earned Triangle Independent School Athletic Conference (TISAC) all-conference honors for four years; was named to the 2013, 2014 and 2015 North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association all-region teams; and was the MVP of the 2014 and 2015 Saint Mary’s varsity team. She has also played in the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL). Miss Hamilton was the 2015 Saint Mary’s Senior Athlete of the Year.
26
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Off the field, Miss Hamilton was an honor student at Saint Mary’s, a member of the Beacon honorary leadership society, a volunteer with Special Olympics and Helping Horse therapeutic riding program and a member of the Holy Cross Church youth group. About Howard University: Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university in Washington, D.C., comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s varsity sports competing in five conferences. The women’s soccer team competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and was the 2014 SWAC champion.
Saints lacrosse star, Sarah Blelloch ’15, center, with her father and mother, seated, and sister, Megan Blelloch ’15, at the celebration of her college commitment.
Sarah Blelloch ’15
to play lacrosse at Dickinson College Saint Mary’s School lacrosse star Sarah Blelloch ’15, has committed to play lacrosse at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where she will enroll as a freshman in the fall of 2015. Miss Blelloch is the daughter of Lynda and Lawrence Blelloch of Raleigh and sister of senior Megan Blelloch ’15. Miss Blelloch was Saint Mary’s varsity lacrosse team captain and MVP in 2014 and 2015; earned Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) all-conference honors 2013-2015 and NCISAA All-State honors in 2015; a member of the All-Saints Team and received the TISAC sportsmanship award in 2012. She has also played Carolina Fever lacrosse from 2010-2014, and was a member of the North Carolina U-15 National Tournament team in 2012 and the North Carolina U-19 National Tournament team in 2013.
Miss Blelloch has been an honor student at Saint Mary’s and was vice president of the senior class. She is also been a volunteer with Note in the Pocket, a Raleigh non-profit that provides clothing to impoverished and homeless children in Wake County. About Dickinson College: Chartered in 1783, just days after the conclusion of the American Revolution, Dickinson’s founder envisioned the college offering a distinctively original form of American education— one that was rigorously rooted in the traditional liberal arts and was also ultimately useful. As we face the challenges and complexities of the 21st century, Dickinson continues to seek direction from this revolutionary heritage within a contemporary context. The Dickinson College Red Devils compete in the NCAA’s Centennial Conference, one of the nation's elite Division III conferences
27
2015 - 2016 CALENDAR of events
2015-2016
Save the dates and join us for these special school year! events for the Chorale Music Theatre Revue
Orchesis Fall Concert
Alumnae Council Fall Meeting
35th Annual Lighting O’ the Grove
Board of Visitors Event
Christmas Eucharist Chapel
Wake County Alumnae Event
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
October 1
October 2
Smedes Parlor Concert Series: Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival September 19 | 7 p.m. Wrightsville Beach alumnae gathering June 27
Nags Head alumnae gathering July 10
October 9
October 14
Eucharist Chapel
November 3 | 11 a.m.
Fall Theatre Production Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” adapted for the stage by Helen Jerome November 6-7 | 7 p.m.
Admission Fall Overnight Visitation November 8-9
Classes begin for the 174th session August 17
Parents Weekend September 11-12
Smedes Parlor Concert Series September 19 | 7 p.m.
Eucharist Chapel
September 22 | 11 a.m.
Triangle Admission Brunch September 24
28
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Eucharist Chapel September 22 | 11 a.m.
December 4-5
December 6 | 7 p.m.
December 8 | 11 a.m.
January 18
Admissions Winter Overnight Visitation January 18-19
Alumnae Council Winter Meeting February 5
Granddaughters Club Luncheon February 19
Eucharist Chapel
February 23 | 11 a.m. The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple visits Saint Mary’s Chapel
Wake County Alumnae Event October 14
Spring Musical “Legally Blonde,” music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe March 4-5 | 7 p.m.
Admission Special Invitation Event March 20-21
Chorale performs in Carnegie Hall, New York City
Chorale Spring Concert
Easter Eucharist
Reunion Weekend 2016 Classes ending in “1” and “6”
March 28
April 12
Grandparents and Grandfriends Day April 15
April 21
April 29-30
Closing Eucharist May 10
Saint Mary’s 174th birthday
Commencement for the 174th session May 22 | 10:30 a.m.
For a complete calendar of events throughout the school year, visit www.sms.edu. Regional alumnae events will be added to the Alumnae web page, as they are scheduled. Events are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances, and changes will be announced as soon as possible.
May 12
35th Annual Lighting O’ the Grove December 6 | 7 p.m.
29
EVENTS
15TH ANNUAL AUCTION GALA March 6, 2015 At the Angus Barn Pavilions
· Sell-out crowd of more than 340 parents, alumnae, friends, faculty and staff · Raised more than $160,000 · Record-setting Fund-aStudent drive - $37,312 · Chairs: Claire Lashley Bryant, Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C, Heather Clark Warren ’89HS ’91C, and Acquisitions Chair Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C
Heather Clark Warren ’89HS ’91C, Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C, Claire Lashley Bryant, Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C
Hannah Taft Sigmon, Rachel Cecil ’15, Ruth Taft Cecil ’84C
Dan Cahill, Sallie Thorpe Cahill ’87HS ’89C, Elizabeth Allen Womack ’87HS ’89C, Clark Womack
30
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Auction co-chairs: Claire Lashley Bryant, Heather Clark Warren ’89HS ’91C, Head of School Dr. Monica Gillespie, Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C
Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, left, and her mother, honorary auction chair Gray Proctor Clark ’52HS ’54C
Emory Rogers Church ’74C, John Church, Betsy Church ’09, Luke Garrison
Blanche Williamson ’76HS, left, and Frances Schultz ’76HS ’78C
31
EVENTS
FLORIDA
March 2015 Jacksonville and Palm Beach
Left to right: Carolyn Burt Hilton ’78C, Dr. Monica Gillespie, Lawson Armes ’87HS ’89C, Missy Boney, Dianne Blanton Cannon ’59HS ’61C, Harriett Jeffress Moulton ’65C
This picture includes left to right: Elizabeth Twohy ’87C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Catherine Church ’57-’58, Mary Ann Powell Everett ’59C, Flossie Dossenbach Parks ’90C, Grace Brown ’79HS ’81C, Nancy Gilliam Spruill ’66HS ’68C, Marjorie Bryan Buckley ’60C, Dr. Monica Gillespie
TEXAS April 2015 Austin Swift's Attic
From left to right: Anne Kenan Barnard ’02, former Head of School Theo Coonrod, Dr. Monica Gillespie, Arden Piacenza ’06, Hanna Johns ’07
32
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
GREENVILLE
North Carolina January 28, 2015 The Martinsborough
Marian Green Carson ’79C, Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, Penny Gillam Sermons ’70C
Kempton Dunn ’99, Betsy Kempton Dunn ’74C, Jane Darden Brown ’71C, Elizabeth Grine Blount ’85HS ’87C
Allison Wilkes Thomas ’93HS ’95C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C
Carol Brown Nash ’77HS, Ann Barwick Whichard ’75HS ’77C, Nancy Armstrong Murray ’73C
Chelsea Ward ’09, Carson Gombatz ’09, Dr. Monica Gillespie
Adam Zipf and Jillana Lamm ’02
33
EVENTS
REUNION WEEKEND April 24-25, 2015 Saint Mary's School
Hannah Jones ’16, Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C and Holden Corcoran
Members of the Class of 2005 gather on the steps of Smedes Hall
The High School Class of 1975 class party
Alumnae mother-daughter Liza Wooten ’10 and Missy Underwood Miller ’80C
34
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Members of the High School Class of 1985
Margaret McGlohon ’81C and Patty Starr Willis ’50C
Anne Sigmon McDonald ’79HS ’81C and Margie Johnson Springer ’79HS at the Alumnae Bazaar
Class of 2005 class party
Alumnae Chapel service
Frankie Strosnider DuBose ’50C, center, surrounded by her family at the Distinguished Alumnae Award presentation
Valinda DuBose Coates ’79HS ’81C, Anna DuBose Doughton ’72HS ’74C, Distinguished Alumna Frankie Strosnider DuBose ’50C and Nancy DuBose Greenway ’83HS
Scotty Kent Gallamore ’50C, left, and Head of School Dr. Monica Gillespie
Friday night event at Smedes Hall
35
MILESTONES
IN MEMORIAM Helen Dean Frazelle Marchese ’31C, May 13, 2015
Kathryn Fulton Alston ’46C, March 10, 2015
Carolyn Seyffert Hatt ’55C, February 1, 2015
Rebecca Hinsdale Kraus ’35C, April 25, 2015
Virginia Leila Werlein Geck ’47C, February 5, 2015
Jeanne Smith Alexander ’56C, April 18, 2015
Erwin Gant Burhoe ’38HS ’40C, January 3, 2015
Josephine Gaither Jones ’48HS ’50C, February 3, 2015
Mary Lampman Gault ’38C, December 27, 2014
Carol Mahon Tate ’49HS, May 22, 2015
Jackie Baublitz Woolfolk ’60HS ‘62C, May 19, 2015
Katharine Withers Hancock ’38C, February 2, 2014
Caro Davis Ealy ’49C, January 19, 2015
Harriet Elizabeth “Libba” Ruffin Roberson ’39C, Anne Midyette Brownlee ’49C, January 29, 2015 May 11, 2013 Margaret “Phyllis” Hollowell Shepherd ’40C, August 30, 2014
Margaret Wood Story Haywood ’49C, January 15, 2015
Dorothy Louise Harris Montgomery ’41HS, March 5, 2015
Virginia Page Max ’49C, November 5, 2014
Beth Raborg Watters ’41HS, January 7, 2015
Mildred Montague “Monty” Redd Englelove ’50C, April 20, 2015
Mable Hochenedel Allen ’41C, April 29, 2015
Laura Hays Frazier ’50HS ’52C, April 11, 2015
Dorothy “Tink” McDowell Morton ’41C, January 16, 2015
Anne Adams Robertson Massie ’50C, February 8, 2015
Loulie Murchison Eggleston ’41C, December 27, 2014
Elizabeth Roe Lineberger ’50C, December 7, 2014
Janet McNeil Kelly Bryan ’42C, March 5, 2015
Juliette Fulghum Newcomb ’51C, December 16, 2013
Ann Bruce “Brucie” Mauldin Faircloth ’44HS, April 7, 2015
Dorothy “Dot” Pugh Spence ’51C, August 2, 2013
Frances Rylander Bowen ’44C, August 19, 2014
Libby Patman Clark ’52HS ’54C, May 6, 2015
Mary Darden “Dardie” Quinerly Longino ’44C, January 28, 2015
Vandelia Drew Smith Mann ’53HS ’55C, February 7, 2015
Lillian Love Cullum ’44HS ’45C, April 26, 2015
Nancy Booth Pfeiffer ’53C, January 29, 2015
Betty Anne Cooper Trotter ’45HS ’47C, January 4, 2015
Jean Moseley Henry Long ’53C, May 8, 2015
Ruth Gay Hodges ’45C, February 1, 2015
Carolyn Elizabeth “Betty” Ebener Wood ’54C March 22, 2015
36
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Ruth Mills Cobb ’61C, April 22, 2015 Frances Gordon ’67HS ’69C, March 9, 2015 Elizabeth Smith Wilkinson ’67C, February 27, 2015 Elizabeth Madrey “Beth” Miller ’94HS March 24, 2015 Margie Johnson, former staff member, December 22, 2014 Alice Hunter, former staff member, December 26, 2014 Bill Partin, former Kenan Library staff member, January 22, 2015 W. Trent Ragland, Jr. March 1, 2015 William M. Ragland, former trustee, March 31, 2015
MARRIAGES Cameron Brownlow ’87HS ’89C to David Fields, April 10, 2015
Suzanne Parker Bulakowski ’98HS, a son, April 4, 2015 Elizabeth Andrews Preyer ’01, a daughter, September 7, 2014
Kimberly Hayez ’02 to Christopher Steed, September 9, 2014
Travis Manning Berk ’01, a daughter, December 29, 2014
Frances Crawford ’03 to Aiden Spencer, April 12, 2015
Katie Monaghan Nisbet ’01, a son, March 4, 2015
Katharine McEnery ’03 to Stewart Pittman, October 7, 2014 Taty Sharoubim ’03 to Chad Stewart, November 4, 2014 *Louisa Walker ’03 to Perry Edward Trouche, Jr., April 11, 2015
Mary Katherine Perry Phillips ’07 on her wedding day with Saint Mary’s bridesmaids Cathleen Beal ’07, Parke Montague ’07 and Ellie Cosgrove ’07.
BABIES
Janna Neisler ’03 to Doug William Myers, April 25, 2015
Jennifer Ormsby Caplain ’94HS ’96C, a son, May 31, 2015
Braz Shabrell ’03 to Liz Gatewood, September 14, 2014
Julie Johnson Babb ’95HS, a daughter, May 8, 2015
Kelly Prak ’05 to Dave Ford, May 30, 2015
Tracy Tranguch McAvoy ’96C, a daughter, January 8, 2015
Spencer Busby ’06 to Kenny Menzel, May 30, 2015
Mika Lanier Rogers ’96C, a son, February 4, 2015
*Hannah Allen ’07 to Evan Scott Myers, June 20, 2015 Mary Katherine Perry ’07 to Chip Phillips, June 13, 2015 Christina Nasuti ’08 to Brian Phillips, May 16, 2015 Jodi Von Jess ’08 to Carson Matthews, May 9, 2015
Austin Nash Coley ’01, a son, April 28, 2015 Cori Samuels Nadeau ’01, a daughter, May, 12, 2015 Tatyana Sharoubim-Stewart ’03, a son, January 17, 2015 Hunter Snell Schenk ’03, a son, March 7, 2015 Creecy Silver Richardson ‘05, a son, January 14, 2015 Lindsay Cutting Ryals ’05, a daughter, February 25, 2015 Morgan Hollowell ’05, a daughter, May 5, 2015 Dean Parker Bulakowski, son of Neill and Suzanne Parker Bulakowski ’98HS, born April 4, 2015
Macky Wingo ’08 to Daniel Trotter, April 4, 2015 Caroline Mayberry ’09 to Wyatt Stephens, May 30, 2015 Kirsten Stavie Thompson ’10 to Matthew Edward Patrick, May 2, 2015 Libby Farrell ’10 to Zach Ducey, May 2, 2015 *Married in the Saint Mary’s Chapel
These milestones were compiled based on information received by the school by June 1, 2015. Every effort is made to include everyone for whom we have official confirmation by press time. If we missed you or your loved one, please send an official announcement to mvswain@sms.edu, or mail to Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, Saint Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, for inclusion in the winter 2016 magazine.
37
CLASS news Class News It’s all here – the latest and greatest news from alumnae in odd-year classes. Saint Mary’s extends a special thanks to the dedicated class secretaries who compiled and crafted these class newsletters, many who have served for decades. Even-year classes will be featured in the winter 2016 magazine. Alumnae in these classes will receive information to facilitate the reporting of news to class secretaries or directly to the school.
Class News Policies Due to the uncertain nature of certain types of news, Saint Mary’s does not publish news of wedding engagements or pregnancies. We publish news of marriages, births, adoptions or deaths, based on published news reports or direct phone or email contact with the Alumnae Office from the parties or immediate families. Please remember to include Saint Mary’s in your wedding announcement in the newspaper and please send birth announcements to the Alumnae Office for inclusion in the milestones section.
1939
HIGH SCHOOL Sarah Woodruff Korn writes from Cockeysville, Md., “I’ve lived in a retirement community for 19 years, never dreaming I would live so long. Thanks to family, I still travel a bit with them. I’m not as active as I used to be, but I do get out and enjoy life.” Sarah retired as an associate professor of nursing.
1940
HIGH SCHOOL Catherine Gant Powell writes from Washington, N.C., “I’m having lunch today with a bunch of youngsters, also Saint Mary’s alums, Agnes Burhoe Powell, Mary Burhoe Gillam ’67HS ’69C, Clarine Pollock Powell ’67C and Sterling Bryan Taylor.” Catherine Kitty Sigmon Hunter ’40C enjoyed Clarine’s daughter’s wedding last June in Sewanee and is looking forward to another family wedding in Charleston, S.C., in November. “My 11 grandchildren make me proud.”
Saint Mary’s Class Notes are published for each class once each year. Due to the extended nature of the production schedule for the magazine, class news is meant to be a once-a-year general update of your news for the previous year. We cannot guarantee the exact timeliness of your news, so please keep our advance deadlines in mind when submitting news. Saint Mary’s School reserves the right to edit class news for content, length and timeliness. Photographs may be submitted for consideration for the class news to mvswain@sms.edu or Mary Virginia Swain, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Photos must be high-quality prints or digital .jpeg photo files of at least 300 dpi. Group shots should include Saint Mary’s alumnae (and spouses and children) only and must include a detailed listing of everyone pictured, including full names and class years.
38
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Class of 1945HS & C (left to right): Barbara Smith Cooley, Randy Gardner Newcomb, Clarice Woolard Kennedy, Gwen Hughes Barnes
1947 COLLEGE
Marty Hinkle Butner-Covington writes, “With my husband, Bill Covington, I moved from Winston-Salem to Cary. We moved in August 2013 to Waltonwood Independent Living. We enjoyed traveling to many countries until Bill’s death in January. I love my apartment here, with lots of new friends, prepared meals, cleaning service, bus service and a great, caring staff. I am content to spend my remaining years here. I have lost two husbands, two sons, two brothers and a sister. So I feel fortunate to have these extra years of good health and mind.”
1949
Class of 1960C (left to right): Peggy Pegues Kinney, Jo Watkins Averett Class of 1950C (left to right): Frankie Strosnider DuBose, Betty Ray McCain, Scotty Kent Gallamore, Patty Starr Willis
COLLEGE
Frances Drane Inglis writes from Edenton to say she is “still in place, chugging along!” Frances Minter Wooten is still in Charlotte, but plans to move to Raleigh soon. “When the Cardinal, a retirement home in Raleigh, is built, I will be moving to be near my daughter, Yorke Wooten Sartorio ’75C, and her family—including two greatgrandsons.” Sue Joyner Ferraro writes from Belton, Mo., “The past 1 ½ years have been a period of grievous loss but also joy. Hal and I were devastated by the death of our youngest daughter from ovarian cancer on September 25, 2013. However, six weeks later, we rejoiced at the birth of our first great-grandchild, a healthy boy, grandson of our oldest son. Then, after a period of declining health, Hal died unexpectedly in his sleep on the early morning of July 29, 2014. I am lost without him and miss him and grieve for him every day. My surviving three children have been a blessing and have helped me so much. Also, I have had much support from extended family, friends and my church family. My oldest daughter and I made a driving trip back to North Carolina last October and visited my two brothers and their families in Salisbury and Burlington,
then made a brief visit to Wilson, where we enjoyed an overnight visit with my best friend and Saint Mary’s roommate Susan Davis Lane. She looked great, and it was wonderful to see her again!” Nelle Clark Pender lives in Marietta, Ga., but enjoys spending part of the year at Fripp Island in South Carolina. Their family is increasing, with the fifth and sixth “greats” born this year. Church and family keep them busy, but with a much quieter lifestyle. She says, “The mirror doesn’t lie!” Marion Turner Hubbard writes from Greensboro, “I went on a trip to Argentina, Brazil and Chile in April and I was not the oldest person on the trip! We stayed in a hotel across from the volcano that erupted soon after we left.”
1951
HIGH SCHOOL Patsy Daniels Lindley writes that she and Jim Lindley (UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 1953) were married June 7, 2014, in Savannah, Ga. They met when she was just 16, and he was a Deke pledge with Patsy’s brother Frank. “We are having fun seeing the U.S.A. and Europe. Also enjoying family.”
1951 COLLEGE
Louise Milliken Howard ’51C It was good to hear from Virginia Gilliam Moss, even though she doesn’t have tales to tell of travels as she used to. Now more visits to doctors. Virginia is fortunate to have her two daughters nearby with her two grandchildren: Adam (13), who is becoming interested in theater, and Julia (8), who stays busy with many after school activities. Adam and Julia’s mother is president of the Actors’ Center in Washington, D.C. Virginia’s older daughter, Sally, is still teaching health and PE and trying to decide when to retire. Margaret Dunn Toms’ granddaughter is 16 and loves her new driver’s license. Margaret is still happy to be at The Cypress in Raleigh. Nancy Woodruff Broadwell keeps busy with church and community activities in Fayetteville and is in good health. Barbara-Lynn Harrell Dixon wrote from her home in Canada in April, “The snows are still around here in Saskatchewan, but summer is looming. Soon I will be busy with the garden, as we
39
CLASS news
Class of 1955HS (left to right): Coleman Jenkins Dance, Betsy Duke Seaman, Jane Walker Kerewich, Carol Biggers Dabbs
are still in our home. My latest venture is with Canadian Federation of University Women, which is a club similar to Women Graduates USA. Best wishes from the north!” Nancy Bobbitt Thompson enjoyed attending the Saint Mary's Alumnae Bazaar again this year. She is thrilled to announce the birth of her second great-grandchild. She is also rightfully proud of grandson Sam Allen Heathcote, who graduated from UNC School of Medicine. Sam and his family are moving to Wilmington for a five-year surgical residency at New Hanover Medical Center Hospital. Lastly, she was thrilled to attend the wedding of her oldest grandson in Pittsburgh, Penn. June Bullard Winston’s family continues to grow with the addition of a granddaughter-in-law and two greatgrandchildren. Jean Lang Glover reports from Chapel Hill that she changed from house living to apartment living in 2014. “Moving was difficult, but living is easier and convenient.” Last year, in an issue of the Saint Mary’s alumnae magazine, I was saddened to read in “Milestones” about the death of Pat Stonham Radisch in March of 2014. I know that many of us have fond memories of Pat during our years at Saint
40
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Class of ’55C (left to right): Patsy Moore Upton, Blanche Robertson Bacon, Jane Best Wehland
Mary’s. In July of 2014, Harry and I drove from Savannah to Southern Pines and spent several nights there and then on to Raleigh for a short visit. Through a prior phone call to Saint Mary’s, we had a wonderful tour of the campus, beautifully led by Margaret McGlohon ’81C, director of alumnae relations. Margaret left no stone unturned in our tour of the buildings, inside and out. Everything looked so fresh and up-to-date. It was very exciting to see. After our tour, Harry and I went to the North Carolina Museum of History to see its latest exhibits. That night we were entertained at dinner by my cousin, Dot Powell Andrews ’53C, who also included another cousin, Landrum Manning Butler ’57C, and her husband Frank. The next morning we attended Christ Episcopal Church where my parents were married in 1929. We were so surprised and pleased to see Margaret McGlohon singing in the choir. It was a grand 24 hours! Please send more news next year. I am sorry that we don’t have more this year. I miss you when I do not hear from you. With love to all, Louise
1953
HIGH SCHOOL Norvelle Plowden Walker reports that she still lives in Summerton, S.C. She was widowed in 2009. “I see Sister Heath Wimberly ’54HS and Mary Sumwalt Coxe occasionally. Still playing bridge!”
1953 COLLEGE
Nancy McIver Chaffe writes, “Black and I celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary, June 11, with a week at the beach in the panhandle of Florida (fondly called the "Red Neck Riviera") with our four children, their spouses and our nine grandchildren. My sister, Flora McIver Kelly '56C, will be there, with her family. We are looking forward to dinner in New Orleans with Anne Bailey Lewis and John at the end of their cruise down the Mississippi river from Memphis. I am in complete remission from lymphoma and looking to our 65th reunion in 2018.” Peggy Mitchiner Marcus writes that she is enjoying life in Morehead City,
where she has lived for 20 years. Patsy Daniels Lindley writes that she and Jim Lindley (UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 1953) were married June 7, 2014, in Savannah, Ga. They met when she was just 16, and he was a Deke pledge with Patsy’s brother Frank. “We are having fun seeing the U.S.A. and Europe! Also enjoying family!” Ann McColman Copeland and husband Jack moved to a retirement community in Charlotte two years ago. “We love living here. Help is here when we need it.”
Saint Mary’s wants your school treasures! If you are downsizing or just uncluttering your attic and closets, Saint Mary’s would love to have any school treasures you are willing to donate to the archives, where school-related memorabilia will be kept safely for years to come. The vintage Saint Mary’s blazer was recently donated by Jackie Myers Brown ’65C, who delivered it when she arrived for Reunion Weekend. The pennant was donated by Margaret Hambrick Glaze ’87C. The needlepoint was given by Pam Evans ’78C and Vicky Evans ’78C. Contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171 to donate.
1955
HIGH SCHOOL Barry Bowen Gilmer ’55HS ’57C I am disappointed that there were so few returns on news for our letter but hope all of you are well. Please contact me at any time, and I will forward on your news to those for whom I have email addresses. I did not get to the reunion, as my husband had a fall at church and has been totally non-weight bearing for 10 weeks. He is now able to bear some weight, which is making a great positive change for us, and I am hopeful that he will soon be back to normal. I did hear from Coleman about the reunion, and I understand there were four there: Coleman Jenkins Dance, Jane Walker Kerewich, Carol Biggers Dabbs and Betsy Duke Seaman. I had heard from Mittie Crumpler Landi that she had broken her arm but was planning to try to get to Saint Mary’s for Saturday morning but apparently she was unable to do so. And Sylvia Crumpler Nash had an accident - I believe skiing— and was not able to come to the reunion. Those at the reunion did call me one night and they sounded like they were having a great time! Betsy’s husband is in assisted living but Betsy arranged to get away for some R&R. Carol Biggers Dabbs wrote that she has given her Charlotte home to her daughter Ginny and her family and Carol is now living in a condo. Her home at Pinehurst is for sale - cheap - she
says. She is still involved at the Crossnore School in the mountains, which is a school for neglected and abused children, and it has been her real passion. Carol is diligent with her water aerobics and spends most of the summer in Blowing Rock. Emily Cater Hubbard writes that she and husband Clark are still at St. Elizabeth’s in Richmond Hill, Ga., where her main ministry involves selecting and helping present several courses on Wednesday mornings, which she finds rewarding. She is grateful for the technology that enables her to keep in touch, since she doesn’t often see her family. Her granddaughter graduates from high school and will go to the University of Alabama in the fall. She and Clark had a 17-day trip planned for June to Turkey and Greece. It is called, “In the Footsteps of Paul.” Gail Edwards Dupree reports that she is spending a lot of time playing duplicate bridge at her condo at Emerald Isle and is also traveling. She took a cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong in March and is cruising with two close Rutherfordton friends on the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay in July and August.
Gail reports that she has lots of family in the Triangle area, and she enjoys her toy poodle, Jessie. Her oldest granddaughter, who was married in January, is moving with her husband to Sydney, Australia. Her three great-grandchildren live in Georgia. Gail is healthy, happy and obviously on the go! Coleman Jenkins Dance says she and Bob are fine. Bob continues to paint every day, and Coleman paints, makes jewelry and swims! Oldest grandson Russell graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill two years ago and works in Atlanta. He is going back this fall for his master’s in accounting. Elizabeth is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, in honors education. She is working this summer in Atlanta in a speech school and at the autism center. John is a rising sophomore at UNCChapel Hill and brother Hardy will be a senior at Broughton in Raleigh. Sounds busy and productive! Jane Walker Kerewich said she enjoyed the reunion and the Saint Mary’s campus looks super. She is planning a National Trust Cruise of the Great Lakes and Montreal this summer. As for my news, Barry Bowen Gilmer, I continue loving life to the fullest but maybe not quite so
41
CLASS news enthusiastically as I did a few years ago. My arthritis and back have encouraged me to cut back on hiking and gardening, but I am still enjoying my photography outings with my OLLI friends at Furman University and my Dixie Chick friends. I won enough money in the Road Scholar “Friendship Contest” to travel in Yosemite next fall for yet another photography outing. We went to Moab, Utah, last fall, and Fred and I cruised from Montreal to Boston in early fall last year. I have added three more step-grandchildren to my 18 grands and step-grands and they are all wonderful! The oldest just graduated from grad school and the youngest is 9, and in between I have three graduating from high school this year, three next year, and on and on! My best love to each of you and, please, let’s keep in touch. Saint Mary’s friendship is so very special! Barry
1955 COLLEGE
Libbie Love Vollmer and husband Jack were married in September 2012. They live in Boynton Beach, Fla. “I see lots of Saint Mary’s graduates here at Quail Ridge during the winter, but none from my class. Coleman Jenkins Dance ’55HS ’57C was here several years ago, visiting her brother, and we had dinner and a wonderful visit.” Patsy Moore Upton of Hillsborough was glad she could attend the College Class of 1955 60th reunion in April. Although only three classmates attended, they joined forces with the High School Class of 1955 to fill a table at the luncheon. “The campus is beautiful. It is always a joy to return. Many memories!” Patsy and her husband stay busy with church work and their three grandchildren (3, 6, and 7). She feels fortunate that her daughter and family live only four miles away from them. She was sorry to hear of the illness of “our faithful class secretary, Sara Walters Lowe.” Jane Best Wehland also attended the reunion. She says, “Blanche, Patsy and I held the
42
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
banner for the 60th reunion for the College Class of 1955. The High School Class of ’55 is much better about returning to Saint Mary’s. Please start planning now and thinking about returning for our 65th! Did you ever dream we would make it this far? Chuck and I are in amazingly good health, considering our ages, and have been living in Raleigh for almost 11 years. It is nice to be near our daughter and her family. Our son and family are still in Chicago—cold country!”
1957
HIGH SCHOOL Sarah Ellen White Archie and Joe moved from Raleigh to New Bern on 2014. They enjoy the convenience of living downtown and being closer to Atlantic Beach.
1957 COLLEGE
Phyllis Wall Purdy writes from Calhoun, Ga., “I have continued to travel. I took our granddaughters to Great Britain and have been to Israel and Jordan, as well as a trip down the Danube from Budapest to Prague. My husband passed away March 28, 2015. He will be greatly missed by many.”
1959
HIGH SCHOOL Amelia Yancey Bond writes from Edenton to say that she and Lin are both healthy and thankful for that. They have eight wonderful grandchildren, but because they live in Georgia and Florida, she does not see them as often as she would like. She gets to play golf in Edenton with Dickie Robinson Tyler ’56HS ’58C, who also lives there, and has had some great visits with Frankie Stutts Boyd ’59HS ’61C and Elizabeth Strong ’61C. “I have gotten my nerve up to go on a mission trip to Ecuador in
July. Include me in your prayers. I enjoyed our 55th high school reunion last year. I thought we all looked pretty good.” McNair Currie Maxwell and husband Bob have two children, Ashley and Reynolds, both of whom live in Bend, Oregon. Ashley’s daughter Avalon has been enjoying gap year programs (Europe, Bali, Australia) this year. McNair hopes that she will put her art talent to good use at college in the fall. Reynolds has two children, Rooks (8) and Moseley (6). McNair takes part in many service programs at church and tutors first grade (a big change from 20 years teaching Latin at a public high school). The Maxwells are looking forward to a river cruise this summer from Amsterdam to Budapest. McNair says that they have empty bedrooms and an ocean view at their home in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. She says, “Friends, please come visit!” Judith Crumpler Lyon writes that she is happy to report she is healthy and enjoying life in Morehead City. She says she is thankful for so many things, including the opportunity her parents provided to experience Saint Mary’s, which has been “a guiding force in my life, and I’m very grateful.” She adds, “To all ‘Saints,’ use your opportunity and enjoy the ride!”
1959 COLLEGE
Mary Ann Powell Everett writes from Wilmington, N.C., to say, “Spencer continues to be a wonderful caretaker as we continue to fight ovarian cancer. We love our new townhouse in Landfall in Wilmington. Just the right size!” The Everetts’ granddaughter, Hope Everett Voelkel ’17, is a rising junior at Saint Mary’s and loves it. Bev DuBose Patrick still lives in Greenville, S.C. Martha Ellen Miller Smith of Lexington lost her husband, R.B. Smith, suddenly, in December 2014. “We are all still reeling with the shock of it, but I am staying busy, trying to figure out the many things he took care of. I have great
family and friends who make up my support system. Even with all the support, it is still very hard, but I know it is the cycle of life.” May Eason Mills and husband Wade live on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, in Beaufort. They enjoy their grandson (12) and traveling at home and abroad. May is active in her church, Beaufort Woman’s Club and Beaufort Garden Club and book club. She reports, “Life is good!” Sarah Ellen White Archie and Joe moved from Raleigh to New Bern on 2014. They are enjoying the convenience of living downtown and being closer to Atlantic Beach. Ann Law Zalal sells fine jewelry at Belk at Crabtree in Raleigh. She enjoys her grandson (9) who lives in Greensboro and her tri-color Corgi dog. She enjoys antiques and says, “I am an antique too, but very healthy! I’m soon moving to a new house with a backyard for my grandson and the doggy.”
1961
HIGH SCHOOL Jeanne Stinnett Bullard reports that after the death of her husband, Bill Stillwell, in 2012, she remarried in 2014. She still lives in Ft. Worth, Texas.
1961 COLLEGE
Joanna Dayvault Jones writes from Atlanta. She and Glower have had an up and down year. Their son Mark passed away while Joanna was in the hospital for knee surgery. Glower had shoulder surgery in March. By spring, they were off to Highlands and St. Simons, followed by a trip to Brussels, London and Edinburgh on their own, and a cruise through the British Isles and France. Joanna’s days are filled with grandchildren, children, travel and wonderful family time in Blue Ridge.
Midge Midyette Peery writes from Charleston, S.C., “My solo show at the Greenville County Museum of Art in Greenville, S.C., was a fabulous event for me. It opened December 3, 2014 and closed February 1, 2015. There was an opening luncheon and artist talk on December 7, which was attended by many art associates, friends and family. I’m still riding high from all the positive feedback. My children are well and happy. There is a new grandson, James, who turned one on March 22 of this year. It feels good to be 74.” Gay Davis Gaston writes from Randolph, Vt., “We enjoyed a fabulous trip to Alaska last summer to celebrate our 50th anniversary. After a frigid, challenging winter in Vermont, we are hoping to sell our home and move back to the Carolinas. I recently caught up with Caroline Hamilton Ervin '59HS, and am in touch with Irene McGuirk Mayer. Looking forward to seeing more classmates once we move.” Lou Dorris O’Brien and husband Buzz are well and still in Greenville, S.C. They have four grandchildren ages 17, 18, 19 and 20. One is at Auburn and another is at East Carolina. The O’Briens enjoyed a cruise to Oregon last fall and will go to the New England islands this September. She facilitated a class called “Just Faith” this year. It is about justice and poverty—very enlightening and challenging. Lila Wolff now lives at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, a continuing care community. She enjoys it very much. In January, Lila visited a friend who has an apartment in Paris. In February, she took a wonderful two-week trip to the beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka. Arden Fobes Scott and husband Jack returned to Southern Pines in 2011 and are comfortably settled in Penick Village. “We are in a second marriage and have just celebrated 18 years together. One of the bonuses is sharing our five children, their spouses and our six grandchildren (ages 1-19). I recently reconnected with Molly Cooper Safrit, and I hope to catch up with other old friends in the near future.”
Betty Lynch Hammond writes that she enjoys Virginia Beach, Va., seeing family and friends. She recently had a fun visit in South Carolina with Becky Elmore Clement, Becky’s daughter and Hadley Morgan Hines. Molly Cooper Safrit writes from Raleigh, “I’m still selling the Carlisle Collection and love being in touch or reconnecting with Saint Mary’s friends. After four darling granddaughters, I now have a grandson!” Joyce Batchelor Parks from Greenville, S.C., has a busy summer planned - South Africa in June and in London in August with her daughter and granddaughter. She hopes to see good friends at the beach this fall. Amelia Yancey Bond writes from Edenton to say that she and Lin are both healthy and thankful for that. They have eight wonderful grandchildren but they live in Georgia and Florida, so she does not see them as often as she would like. She gets to play golf in Edenton with Dickie Robinson Tyler ’56HS ’58C, who also lives there, and has had some great visits with Frankie Stutts Boyd ’59HS ’61C and Elizabeth Strong ’61C. “I have gotten my nerve up to go on a mission trip to Ecuador in July. Include me in your prayers. I enjoyed our 55th high school reunion last year. I thought we all looked pretty good. Looking forward to our 55th college reunion. Let’s all plan to attend. I want to see you!”
1963 COLLEGE
Sue Battle Moore ’63C It was great to hear from one of my newsletter regulars, Flo McNeer Hamilton in Lake Alfred, Fla. She was excited to report that granddaughter Kayla, a recent graduate of the University of Florida, will soon finish her master’s degree program. Also, Flo’s granddaughter Emma Grace Bailey (12) will be taking a dance intensive study in Philadelphia this summer. As for Flo, she’s keeping busy serving as senior
43
Mazie Strickland Froelich ’51C Society inducts two outstanding alumnae The Saint Mary's Alumnae Council created the Mazie Strickland Froelich '51C Distinguished Alumnae Society in honor of Mazie's leadership and service to Saint Mary's School. The ultimate example of a distinguished alumna during her lifetime, the late Mrs. Froelich was the first female chair of the school’s board of trustees. Under the umbrella of the society, two outstanding alumnae awards are given annually. The Outstanding Alumna Award is given annually for outstanding service to the school through leadership, student recruitment and alumnae support, and the Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes an alumna's outstanding achievements in volunteer service and/or her professional distinctions.
The family of the late Tad Tadlock Wyman ’60C accepts the Outstanding Alumna Award on her behalf. From left to right: Hannah Jones ’16, Dr. Monica Gillespie, Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C, Board Chair Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C and Holden Corcoran.
Carol Ann Tadlock “Tad” Wyman – Outstanding Alumna 2015 Tad Wyman ’60C received the 2015 Outstanding Alumna Award, posthumously, and was honored during the Reunion Weekend luncheon. Carol Ann Tadlock Wyman ’60C, or Tad, as she was known by family, friends and alumnae, grew up in Greenville, N.C. She was a graduate of Saint Mary’s Junior College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While a student at Saint Mary’s, Tad was a Sigma Cheerleader, served on the “Muse” staff and was a member
44
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
of Orchesis and the Letter Club. She earned all-star status as a tumbler and dancer and served as a hall counselor during her senior year. Tad served on the staff at her alma mater for 18 years, from 1984 to 1997. For most of those years, she was alumnae director and later directed special events, worked in the bookstore and served as wedding coordinator. To this day, almost every campus event – both alumnae affairs and campus events – has her touch on it. Her attention to detail and her visionary ideas are still at the heart of the blueprints for reunion weekend, Granddaughters Club inductions, welcome to the Alumnae Association dinner, class doll presentation and commencement. As alumnae director, Tad was known for her computer-like recall of every alumna’s name – first, middle, maiden and last – as well as class year and hometown. Tad edited the alumnae magazine, oversaw all aspects of reunion weekend and other alumnae events, worked with the Alumnae Council, oversaw all alumnae chapter activities and is credited for revitalizing the Granddaughters Club and its annual induction ceremony. Under Tad’s leadership, the Alumnae Council raised funds to significantly increase the endowments of the alumnae sponsored scholarships. Tad and her cohorts, the Alumnae Association presidents, toured North Carolina and surrounding states, showing up at alumnae chapter meetings, encouraging alumnae to support their alma mater and sharing current news of the school. The vibrancy of the Alumnae Association during Tad’s tenure reached great heights. The Alumnae Council retreats to Atlantic Beach each summer during Tad’s era were legendary gatherings of a
hall of fame of alumnae leaders who rallied alumnae support far and wide. During these years, our alumnae giving percentage reached more than 40%, an award-winning number for junior colleges nationally. “Tad and I shared so many things in common – not only our love for our school, but gardening, the Episcopal Church and decorating, said Ann Campbell Fulton ’59C, Alumnae Association president from 1991-1993. “Tad is still missed every day by so many alumnae, and we are all fortunate to have worked with her. She made our alma mater a better place.” Sue Battle Moore ’63C, Alumnae Association president from 1989-1991 said, “When I think of my friend Tad certain things come instantly to mind - whirligig, energizer bunny, and Saint Mary's devotee. Tad had a steadfast, deep-seeded connection to all things Saint Mary's. Needless to say she was Saint Mary's blue, through and through! Being the alumnae director of Saint Mary's was not what Tad did for a living, but instead it was a manifestation of who she was and how she lived her life.” In retirement, and throughout her life, Tad loved gardening, became an avid artist, served as a chalice bearer and alter guild member at Christ Church and became enthralled with researching her family genealogy. Tad is survived by her daughter, Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C, son-in-law Lamar Jones, son-in-law Frank Corcoran, and six very special grandchildren including Hannah Jones ’16, a rising senior at Saint Mary’s. Tad’s daughter, the late Elizabeth Wyman Corcoran ’82HS ’84C, was also a Saint Mary’s girl.
Monica Gillespie, "Frankie" Strosnider DuBose '50C, Lane Turner Nash '72HS '74C
Anna Franke Strosnider DuBose ’50C – Distinguished Alumna Anna Franke “Frankie” Strosnider DuBose ‘50C was named the 2015 Saint Mary’s Distinguished Alumna, and was honored at the Reunion Weekend luncheon in April. Frankie grew up in Goldsboro, N.C., and graduated from Saint Mary’s and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was married for 60 years to the love of her life, Pete DuBose, and they were blessed with five children and 11 grandchildren. Frankie’s three daughters are Saint Mary’s graduates – Anna DuBose Doughton ’72HS ’74C, Valinda DuBose Coates ’79HS ’81C, and Nancy DuBose Greenway ’83HS.
major gift through a charitable remainder trust to the “Beyond Imagination Capital Campaign.” Their wish was that their gift be used where the need was greatest. Frankie’s other passions and volunteer activities include serving as the president of the Junior League of Durham, being a Stephen Minister and senior warden at St. Stephens Church in Durham, serving as the debutante ball chair and serving for more than 15 years as a volunteer at Duke Hospital.
Frankie and Pete were the guiding force behind the founding of Caring House, an adult cancer patient hospitality house in Durham. It is a home-away-fromhome for adult cancer patients and their caregivers. Frankie and five friends spent 10 years fundraising and working While a student at Saint Mary’s, Frankie was with the Duke Comprehensive Cancer secretary of her senior class, a hall counselor, Center to raise money and awareness and a member of the Glee Club, choir and and to build and create Caring House. altar guild. She was a Mu and a member Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in of the "Stagecoach" staff and swim team. 1991, and Pete and Frankie are credited Frankie has wonderful, fond memories of her for stewarding this project and never days at Saint Mary’s, in particular her lifeletting the dream die. In 2012, Frankie long friendships, the values she was taught was featured on Bill Friday’s “North and her love of the Chapel. Carolina People” program on UNC-TV, Following her days at Saint Mary’s, Frankie’s highlighting the noble work of the Caring House in Durham. Since 1992 the Caring connection to the school remained strong as she served on the Alumnae Council and was House has served thousands of patients. Frankie would say that God laid it upon president from 1981-1984. She also served her heart to provide affordable housing to as a member of the Saint Mary’s board of trustees from 1995-2004. She and Pete were Duke Cancer Institute outpatients while two of the first to step up in 2006 and make a receiving treatment.
warden at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winter Haven, Fla. In addition, the family has sold all their citrus groves, which has left Flo with the free time to play more bridge. She took four grandchildren snow skiing in Park City, Utah, last winter after a 30-year hiatus from the sport. Flo managed to walk away without breaking anything. As she says, “Another check off the bucket list.” From Charleston, S.C., Charlotte deLoach Riley reports two retirements: hers from a 26-year real estate career and husband Joe’s as the mayor of Charleston, a position he held for the past 40 years! They have two sons, Bratton and Joe, who also live in Charleston and who have “supplied” Charlotte with two delightful grandchildren. Charlotte would love to hear from any schoolmates! Kay Miller Pollard remains in Virginia Beach, Va., where she’s “still gardening, reading, learning and grandmothering to seven!” One of her grandsons, Thad Lawson, a freshman at Penn State, won the NCAA men’s gymnastics national floor title. There’s more to be proud of, as Kay’s daughter, K.C., is putting on a huge art show. Kays’ son, Garland, serves as director of communications for an Episcopal diocese in Florida, which includes more than 100 parishes. News from the Old North State starts with Flo Pitts Carter in Nebo, N.C. She’s “on the move,” having recently travelled with daughter Laura to Disney World to celebrate a 40th birthday and then on to Costa Rica. Flo and family took an Alaskan cruise in May. When she’s not travelling, Flo’s enjoying home life at Lake James, golfing and spending time with family in Burke and McDowell counties. Lea Lea Hall Ivey reports that she has designed and continues to work on creating needlepoint kneelers for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, N.C. Chapel Hill’s Diane Littlefield Rosenbluth and husband Lenny love attending UNCChapel Hill home football and basketball games, as well as the ACC Tournament. She’s still involved in real estate, while
45
CLASS news Class of 1965C: front row: Louise Clark Strauss, Joan Muchmore Roach, Barbara Ann Knight, Jane Morris Murphy, Hannah Vaughan, Kelly Watkins Painter, Johnsie Heyward Canny, Harriet Jeffress Moulton, Mary Jo Quinerly Jefferson, Jackie Myers Brown, Gretchen Fracher Hardage; second row: Audrey Wall Black, Willa McKimmon Dickens, Helen Wright Redwine, Barbara Hall Wullschleger, Perry Grimes VanDyke, Alleen Cater, Rosalie Hanley Blowe, Kris Augustine Christensen, Lisa Miravelle third row: Michelle Bratton Parker, Barbara Eagleson Cain, Livy Gilliam Randolph, Lawton Davis Kasey, Liza Parham Avery fourth row: Sandra Grizzard Brooks, Betsy Wilson Bradley, Chris Collester Volf, Lyllian Gray Scott, Margaret Jackson Weatherly, Bobbie Woodall Perry
Lenny makes talks at sports clubs and takes care of their dog, Luke. Frequent trips to Miami and Naples, Fla., allow them to visit their athletic and musical grandchildren (10-18). Susan Foy enjoys her friends at Imperial Plaza in Richmond, Va. She likes to knit sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets. Her brothers are doing well, with children and grandchildren. Four of us ’63 SMJC girls have major bragging rights, as we all have granddaughters at Saint Mary’s this year. I enjoyed visiting with Ann Farmer Barnes and Kathy Ligon James at both the Granddaughters Club induction and Grandparents Day. Gillie Leggett Church from Henderson also has a granddaughter at Saint Mary’s, Lucy Downing Church ’17, who played both tennis and lacrosse this past year. My granddaughter, Grace Battle Thompson ’18, played varsity field hockey in the fall and won the Coaches’ Award for soccer in the spring, as a freshman. And yes, she did make the Honor Roll! Finally, at the aforementioned Grandparents Day, I, as the newly “appointed” chair of the Grandparents Annual Fund, made a few remarks about the
46
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
lasting influence Saint Mary’s would have on the lives of our granddaughters. At the top of my list was a lifelong commitment to “faithful friends and comrades sure.” Nobody will ever understand you, accept you and love you like a Saint Mary’s friend. So, do yourself a favor—write, call, text, Tweet or Facebook one of your Saint Mary’s friends today. Add THAT to your bucket list! Until next time! Love, Sue
1965
HIGH SCHOOL Joan Wickham Sugg ’65HS ’67C Eight of us made it to all or part of the 50th reunion activities. Martha Crawley Gallop and husband Marshall joined Carolyn Finch Bennett, Lucille McKee Clarkson, Gilmer Edmunds, Anne Foreman Barnes and me at the party Friday night. Jean Healy Neville and Mary Anne Creech McIntire joined us Saturday for the medal presentation, chapel service, luncheon and other activities. One of the highlights for all
of us was seeing members of the College Class ’65. Margaret Stevens Lawler and her husband were attending his 50th reunion. Betty Grant Condon and her husband were in California during our reunion weekend for the christening of their grandson. They still live in Greenwich, Conn., but have moved to a co-op on the harbor. Both her boys live in California, so they get out there often. The older son is in San Francisco and has twin baby girls. The Condons spent a month in Australia and New Zealand last winter, and are sailing in the northeast this summer. She has retired but is volunteer teaching computer classes at the local senior center. Betty says she is always thrilled to see Saint Mary’s friends in N.Y.C., so if anyone is visiting there, get in touch with her! Sally James was in Italy for the May term at Mary Baldwin, and thus could not attend our reunion. She is a professor of art history at Mary Baldwin. She has a book coming out soon entitled, “Art in England from the Saxons through the Tudors: 6001603,” published by Oxbow Publishers in the United Kingdom. It represents 14 years
of work! Sally is the proud grandmother of eight beautiful and brilliant grandchildren, all of whom bring her a lot of pleasure. Laura Eutsler Arney and husband Jonathan are retiring in place in the Rochester, N.Y., area. They love being close to son Charles, daughter-in-law Mary and granddaughter Jane (2). They enjoy visiting son Jon and his wife, Laura Long, in Arizona “when winter presses down too long.” They enjoy local theater, flying Jon’s antique plane at a turf runway and the local Episcopal church. Laura is doing a volunteer research project for the diocese. Paula Simpson Jones still lives in Raleigh. Mary Anne Creech McIntire thoroughly enjoyed the reunion. She retired in June 2013 from a 40-plus year career in money management, including portfolio management and investment analysis. She enjoys having more time to travel, spend time with friends and family, work out at the gym, read, garden and invest her own portfolio. Daughter Katie lives in Manhattan Beach, Calif., where Mary Anne lived for 25 years, so it is a good excuse to visit Los Angeles several times a year. She is planning another trip to Europe in the fall. She lives in Raleigh. I hope more of us will be back to Saint Mary’s for—can you believe it—our 55th in 2020. Yours truly has a granddaughter, Brynn Theodora Davis, born September 24, 2014. I had a terrific trip to Italy in March. As I write this, I have just finished packing for my trip to Scandinavia. I thought of Mr. and Mrs. Tate when in Florence, Italy. I ran into them in the Academia when Speight and I were there in 1971. I’ll be thinking of them again when I am in Stockholm, Mrs. Tate’s hometown. Joan
1965 COLLEGE
Trudie Turner Arrington ’65C Hello Fabulous 50-Year Class! I was so sorry to miss the 50th festivities. Sounds like a wonderful gathering. Carol Wilson Brewer-Connor writes from Newport, N.C.
Class of 1965HS (left to right): front row: Joan Wickham Sugg, Carolyn Finch Bennett, Jean Healy Neville second row: Gilmer Edmunds, Lucile McKee Clarkson, Mary Anne Creech McIntire, Anne Foreman Barnes
She has six grandchildren and is spending as much time as possible in the mountains outside of Boone. She’s looking forward to “Camp Cici,” where all the grandchildren visit for a week – no parents allowed. Fun! Jackie Myers Brown was really looking forward to the reunion, coming from Atlanta. She sees Martha Hoot McConley and Rae Wilson Lyons for lunch from time to time. Tish Baker Okerlund shared that she and her husband are retired and spend half the year in New York State and the other half in South Carolina. They’re officially snowbirds and working on an item on their bucket list - seeing all 50 states. Gretchen Fracher Hardage writes from Raleigh about the fabulous 50th reunion. She says it was great to have Margaret Jackson Weatherly, Barbara Eagleson Cain, Chris Collester Volf, Betsy Wilson Bradley and Lawton Davis Kasey stay with her. There was lots of laughter – it was all magical. Gretchen still loves retirement, although she misses working with the Saint Mary’s girls
and their parents in the admission process. She also loves going to Winston-Salem to see her three grandchildren (6, 8 and 11). Kris Augustine Christensen writes from Raleigh saying how great it was seeing all who came to our 50th reunion. Barbara Hall Wullschleger writes from Sarasota, Fla., sharing how she loved the 50th reunion and how it doesn’t seem possible that we graduated 50 years ago. She took her grandchildren to Discovery Cove, to swim with the dolphins, and Sea World. They loved it! The twins are now 11 and the little guy is seven. So she’s off to Nantucket for the summer with plans for a fall trip to Mt. Rushmore, Custer’s Last Stand, Yellowstone National Park and Salt Lake City. Go Barbara! Margaret Jackson Weatherly says Gretchen’s reunion house party was such fun - great catching up time. “It brought back so many memories of Faculty House days our first year. We were thrilled to have eight of us attend from Faculty House. We are grateful to the committee
47
CLASS news
Saint Mary’s RINGS WANTED! Each fall, members of the junior class receive their Saint Mary’s class rings in a ceremony at the annual Junior Ring Banquet. Not every girl’s family can afford the cost of the ring, and the school does its part to make a ring available to every student. If you have a Saint Mary’s ring you no longer wear and are willing to part with, the school can put it to good use in providing a ring for a Saint Mary’s girl who may not be able to purchase one at today’s prices. Contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171 to donate a ring. for rallying a great turnout and especially to Ann Adair Calamos and husband Jeff for hosting a fabulous class party, with lots of help by Audrey Wall Black.” Margaret and Bill were look forward to heading to Little Washington for the summer. Aileen Cater says the reunion was lovely in every way. “Everyone looks great and seems happy. Our class had approximately 30 people.” Aileen also sends compliments to party chairs Ann and Audrey. “Perry Grimes Van Dyke and I (roomies) had time to catch up on too many years gone by. I heard rumors about a big celebration coming up in two years, to mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of Saint Mary's. That will be a glorious celebration indeed!” Aileen is still in Birmingham, Ala., retired from her active real estate career and pretty much retired from some of her volunteer work. She now spends lots of time in her garden or doing some family genealogy research. Her husband recently completed chemotherapy and is on the mend. Aileen says that previously, he had flunked retirement and he is now
48
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
in remedial retirement training. Seriously. Aileen adds, “Lastly, I want to encourage everyone in our class, as individuals, to give to Saint Mary's. None of Saint Mary’s excellent teaching of girls happens for free. Our school is performing miracles, but it truly does need help from every alumna. I am convinced that every dollar given is stewarded wisely, and I have seen the doors of opportunity opening widely for Saint Mary's girls. It makes me proud.” Kelly Watkins Painter is in Baltimore, Md., and involved with church and school activities. Kelly’s April was certainly memorable. She visited her daughter and family “across the pond,” where they particularly enjoyed a Seine River cruise. After that, she attended our 50th reunion, and all of her Smedes suitemates were in attendance! Louise Clark Strauss writes that she married Gordon Strauss on October 26, 2013, at her sister’s home in Beaufort, S.C. (Caroline Clark Trask ’58HS ’60C). The couple’s spouses died at about the same time and they were good friends in Princeton, N.J. They live in Charleston, S.C., and have enjoyed
seeing MeMe Ravenel Black, Kathy Hall Ravenel, Charlotte Blackwell Coleman and Jody Blackwell Anderson ’62C. Stella Hillard Moore sent regrets that she could not attend our reunion. “Fifty years is a special time. Wish I could be there but conflicts here. Can't believe that it's actually been 50 years. I went to a Kappa Kappa Gamma dinner last night and got my 50-year pin. Kinda’ hits you in the gut that we're this old. Much better than the alternative, though.” She reports that all is well in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tommy works half a day and plays lots of golf. Their boys are there and they see them often. They all spend lots of time with Tommy at their farm. Margaret and her family live in Los Angeles with Stella’s grandson (4), so they visit as often as possible. It’s so good to hear from y’all – Mary Jo Quinerly Jefferson told me about the reunion fun – so glad to hear about our special class. Are y’all wearing those special medals? Trudie
1967
HIGH SCHOOL Margaret Morrison Hamilton '67HS Demon Facebook has prevented the High School Class of ’67 from recent submissions to the Saint Mary's Bulletin. In a desperate move, I invited some of you to join a Facebook page, entitled HS 67, and now we're fighting back with the following report: Mary Burhoe Gillam ’67HS ’69C and husband Scott spend most of their time between Asheville and Lake Tahoma, near Marion. However, they do go to Wild Dunes, S.C., in February, so call if you are down that way. Their son Tom is in Saxapahaw, Ingram is in Hickory, and Frank and wife Liz and grandson Carter are in Blacksburg, Va. Mary admits to not doing very much of anything except still enjoying a party. Jane Snider Finalborgo has just retired and is loving life, with more time for yoga and visiting North Carolina. Jane and Vic have grandchild
James nearby in Southampton, N.Y. She gathers with her large extended family each summer at Figure Eight Island. Mardy Gray Choate ’67HS ’69C and husband Culver are still in Columbia, S.C., where he works for Wells Fargo and she enjoys retirement. She has taken up sewing again after many years and has a fun class that meets weekly. She also spends time with church, family, book club and garden club activities. They love being with their eight grandchildren, ages 8 to 6 months! They gather at Pawley's Island, S.C., in June for a lively and chaotic vacation, making great memories. In December, Mary Morrison Pennington Dixon ’69C, Anne Kidder Gore ’69C, Winnie Morris ’67HS ’69C, Cary Scott Battle ’67HS, and Margaret Morrison Hamilton enjoyed lunch at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington. Cary, who lives in Nichols, S.C., has become an accomplished and prolific artist in recent years. Mary Morrison has acquired one of her paintings. Cary's work will be shown in the Island Gallery at Pawley's this summer. In July 2014, an impromptu luncheon was held by Cary at her home in Nichols where Margaret Highsmith Dickson, Pridie Clark Ariail ’69C, Winnie Morris ’67HS ’69C, and Margaret Morrison Hamilton enjoyed homegrown tomatoes and a tour of Cary's backyard studio. In another Wilmingtonian moment, Winnie Morris, Winslow Cannon Leatherman and Mary Burhoe Gillam had lunch this spring. Winslow and Buddy spend many happy hours at Figure Eight and enjoy their grandchildren. Winnie's daughter has two children and lives nearby in Wilmington, so Winnie is an active and on-the spot grandmother. She went with daughter Katherine's family on a great Disney cruise in the fall and met many of her favorite characters. Son Charlie lives in Richmond, Va. Liz Bryan wrote that she and Spence spend time between the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Chapel Hill. Daughter Sophie has recently moved to Morganton. Son Macon lives in Madison County. Jeff
and I enjoy Wilmington as our home base. Caroline and husband Eric are in New York City. Son Jeffrey married Katie Dunphy in Austin, Texas, in October 2014. They live in Boston. For all of those who did not respond, get ready for next time. I expect you to show up! IT WILL BE OUR 50th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION!
1967 COLLEGE
Joan Wickham Sugg ’65HS ’67C Heads up, ladies! We have our 50th, yes, 50th, reunion coming up in two years. Hope many of you can make it. The High School Class of ’65 enjoyed seeing the College Class of ’65 at our reunion. A serious word of warning: make your reservations as soon as you get the date. Raleigh has grown and changed since graduation. I attempted to make reservations at my usual hotel (the round one on Hillsborough Street) in February. They were already booked! I had to contact five hotels before I found a room, and ended up staying in Garner. Sally James is still a professor of art history at Mary Baldwin, and has recently enjoyed frequent travel to Italy. She has a book coming out soon entitled, “Art in England from the Saxons through the Tudors: 600-1603,” published by Oxbow Publishers in the United Kingdom. It represents 14 years of work! She has an article on a series of frescoes in Orvieto, Italy, that will be published soon in “Gesta,” the premier medieval art journal. She has been asked to present a paper on the topic in Charlottesville, Va. She also has an article on Tiffany stained glass coming out in a book. Sally is the proud grandmother of eight beautiful and brilliant grandchildren, all of whom bring her a lot of pleasure. Marty Mebane Verdery still lives in Mechanicsville, Va., and she and Charlie have 15 grandchildren. Clarine Pollock Powell and Rob have had a busy year. Daughter Catherine was married in Sewanee in June 2014 and now lives in Jackson, Miss. Any Saint Mary’s alums there? Son John lives
in Charleston, S.C., as does son Graham, a lawyer. The Powells’ oldest lives near them in Greenville, N.C., where they can enjoy his three boys. Clarine is retired from East Carolina but still teaches at a local studio. Harriet Day Jett reports from Atlanta that she has a five-year-old grandson named Christian Jett Logan. Adam is an attorney and enjoys flying a small plane on weekends. Harriet enjoys babysitting grandchildren and dogs. Barbara Wall Fraser taught high school history for 23 years and notes that though she did not excel under Dr. Morrison, she loved history at Saint Mary’s and remembers the book she used. She is the proud granny of four, two boys and two girls. Husband Norm Jones also has four, so she thinks they are headed for “The Brady Bunch” numbers. She feels fortunate that they all live in the Saint Louis, Mo., area. Virginia McSwain Carson continues as president of South Georgia State College, adding new degree programs, renovating buildings and raising money, all major initiatives but rewarding endeavors. Last summer, daughter Camilla, son-in-law Lee, Elle (9) and Carson (7) went with Virginia and Francis to Paris. “With memories of Dr. Morrison very much alive for me, we went to Pere LaChaise Cemetery to pay homage at the grave of Abelard.” Lee made a pilgrimage to the grave of Jim Morrison. “There are no words to describe the Normandy excursion we made to Utah Beach, Pointe du Lac, St. Mere Eglise, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery—just so very important to see and feel.” Son Frank and wife Kristen have a son named Ricks (2) and twin boys born in November named Davis and Reed. They were recently christened wearing third-generation family christening regalia. Meredith Maynard Chase and husband Bo enjoyed a 36-day trip last fall to MumbaiGoa, Dubai-Oman and Maldives-Seychelles, ending up in Tanzania and then Cape Town (they were supposed to stop in Kenya but a bombing the week before meant no stopping there on this trip). In February, they began
49
CLASS news a 45-day trip to Tahiti-Pitcairn Island, Easter Island-Lima and Machu Picchu, and then Arequipa through Patagonia to Puntas Arenas, around the horn to Ushuaia-Buenos Aires. “Shortly after we set sail on this cruise, I was in the computer room late one evening and started talking to the only other woman in the room. Guess who? Molly Leary Rabb! We hadn’t seen each other since we left Saint Mary’s in 1967. It was great to get together again and we both made a pact to go to our 50th.” The Chases plan a trip to Lisbon and Africa this October. “I really think this love of seeing the world started with Dr. Morrison’s classes. To date, I have been to 99 countries,” says Meredith. She is semi-retired from her graphic design business, doing lots of probono work. She co-chairs a seniors program at church and enjoys gardening and yoga. Anne Harney Cox retired in June 2014, after 28 years as director of Christian Education at United Methodist Churches in Columbia, S.C. She writes, “I’m now enjoying the freedom to choose my busy-ness. I do life coaching, lead a support group and am active in interfaith activities and book clubs. All three of my adult children live in Columbia, which is a blessing.” As for me, Joan Wickham Sugg, I have scheduled trips to France in June (Provence and Burgundy) and November (Bordeaux). Very interesting in light of our spring play in 1965, “Joan of Loraine.” I still have my copy of the script and of Dr. Guerry’s sermon on the play. It was the first time Mrs. Stamey got me on stage. “You’re doing the costumes for real. Might as well play the costumer in the play,” she said. Lucille McKee Clarkson and I talked about Mrs. Stamey at the 50th high school reunion and enjoyed remembering how much she did for us. In August, I’ll be going to London for two weeks on my own before joining a tour of Scotland for a week. Buckingham Palace and Leicester (think Richard III) are on my “get there this time” list, as well as a number of others. Carol, Jeff and the kids, Hunter (5) and baby Brynn, will be coming to Beaufort for the week in July, so I’ll get to see them then. Hope to see as many of you as possible in ’17! Joan
50
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
1969
HIGH SCHOOL Amy Carr Thullen ’69HS Louisa Rogers says her latest developments are, “First, stand-up paddling, which is for me both physical and spiritual, meditation and sport. I love it. And second, collaboration. After all these years of solo training, I've started co-facilitating on a range of themes - writing, marketing, travel, business topics and creative retirement. On the recreational front, Barry and I continue to explore the West in our camper van. In July we're going to do a house-exchange in Portland, Ore. In September, we'll be bicycling around the Czech Republic.”
1969 COLLEGE
Liz Burleson Hudson ’69C So glad to hear from you who responded. Wish I had heard from a few more as I miss the Class of ’69 news! Bonnie Bowen Banks wrote that last year, she lost her mother, who attended Saint Mary’s 70 years ago. She found in her mother’s things some wonderful small, silver Saint Mary’s pins and wondered if anyone knew what they were for. She had her annual retreat with the Holt Group (Katherine Hunter Bratton, Cille Keedwell Allen, Debbie Boyd Pearson and Kerr Blackwell Tallberg) again this year and says they never run out of things to say! Katherine Hunter Bratton writes that she, too, enjoys their little get together of the second floor Holt Group. She says, “Nothing like 45 years of loyal friendship and support that all began with the luck of the draw, room assignments at Saint Mary’s! Who would have thought?” Katherine’s mother, Katherine Sigmon Hunter ’40C lives in Raleigh at Springmoor and will be celebrating her 75th Saint Mary’s reunion this year. Katherine’s son Hunter (28) works for the family business, Wake Stone Corporation. Ann Sebrell
Ehringhaus is now an author! After running her bed and breakfast on Ocracoke Island for 30 years, she has written a book about her experiences. Be sure to pick up a copy of “Ten Thousand Breakfasts and a Tale of Wonder.” She loves doing the readings and book signings in North Carolina and Virginia. She also continues to teach Reiki and to practice Chinese acupressure and Rosen method Emotional Bodywork on the island and in Carrboro in the winter. In the last year she has seen Farley Wallace, Bacot Wright, Kathryn Shelton Heath, Paula Carrington Edmunds and Sarah Colton. Big Fun! Nancy Helms had a wonderful month recently with her daughter in Tennessee. Nancy enjoys playing with grandchildren Beatrix and Conrad (both 2). Nancy moved back to Raleigh last summer and is enjoying it. She is retired, but keeps busy teaching a couple of courses at Wake Tech in Raleigh. She plays bridge with Susan Foltz Deyton, Julie Badger Moore and Kay Wetmore Stallings. She took a course on Mary Queen of Scots in Oxford, England, last summer and reports, “It was fun getting back into the classroom as a student, learning something new.” Cille Keedwell Allen writes that life is great! She has four grandchildren (4,3,2 and 1), three girls and one boy. They keep Cille busy and on her toes. She still plays tennis and does volunteer work with the DAR and the Garden Club. Cille and husband Mike had a wonderful 11-day trip to Spain. Cille also says she had a great time at the Saint Mary’s 45th reunion last year and always looks forward to the Holt Group reunion. Sue Willingham Upchurch says life is good. She’s kept busy with her grandson’s graduation from high school and volunteering for Relay for Life. Sue teaches environmental education classes at UMC and loves it. For me, Elizabeth Burleson Hudson, it has been a real up and down year. We have decided to retire to the mountains of North Carolina! My husband, Walt, and I bought a lot in a development near Lenoir and have been trying to get a
Class of 1970C (left to right): front row: Marsh Pully Mebane, Anne Doster, Mary Austin Adkins, Anne Barnwell Harshaw second row: Markay Farmer Carter, Stannie Farish Brewer, Macky Dixon Ayers, Betsy Wharton third row: Adelaide Horton, Jane Wood Youngblood, Sweetie Seifart Stewart, Kack Harrison Hardin, Woody Bobbitt Lawson fourth row: Walker Holmes Haigh, Boyd Gregory Harris, Harriet Dill Thorpe, Mary Stewart Stokes
house started for the last four months. It has been one issue after another, but we hope to break ground this summer. I look forward to being back closer to Saint Mary’s and all my classmates in North Carolina. Hope we can get an Ashville-area lunch bunch going! My retirement is July 1, and I am looking forward to it, but also wondering what I will do with my time. I loved working at Capital One all these years. My mother, Eleanor Jackson Burleson ’37C turned 97 this year, and still enjoys life at Goodwin House Retirement House in Alexandria, Va. I hope everyone had a good year and I‘m looking forward to hearing from ALL of you next year! Liz
1971
HIGH SCHOOL Harriett Cowper Bobbitt ’71HS Caren Threshie Camp and husband John downsized six months ago to a smaller house , moving eight blocks but staying in Alexandria, Va. The new house is one block from the Potomac River, which their dogs (and Caren and John) love for daily walks.
Class of 1970HS (left to right): Peaches Rankin, Dell Parker Paschal, Emily Dockery Carlson
She is still working at HelmsBriscoe, doing meetings all over the world for her clients. She has been with the company for 15 years and loves it. She travels approximately once per month. John enjoys his work for a Chicago leverage buyout firm and travels weekly. Webb (29) is moving to Arizona and starting a new job in water conservation. Jack (25) works in real estate leasing in Arlington, Va. They had a wonderful trip last summer with the boys to Ireland and Scotland. This summer, they will spend time on the Chesapeake Bay. They are planning a five-day bike trip to Puglia, Italy, in September, with some historic stops before and after. Caren is still doing long-distance biking when she can. She has just agreed to serve on Saint Mary’s School Board of Trustees and is looking forward to spending some more time in Raleigh. “We will celebrate our 39th anniversary this summer! We are healthy and happy and grateful!” Janet Burhoe-Jones’ daughter Janny teaches sailing and recruits at Outward Bound, NOLS and a private school. Daughter Josie has two children and recently moved to New Bern, where husband Hoyt Doak, son of Lucy Bratton Doak ’72HS, is a
urologist. Lind Coppage Graves says life is good in "Little" Washington, and she loves being the grandmother of four! Harriett Cowper Bobbitt’s daughter Julia and son-in-law, Sam Thompson, are with the State Department in Tbilisi, Georgia. They plan to return to the U.S. in August for three months. Son Bill is with Move Loot, a company he and three friends started in San Francisco. The Bobbitts love visiting him in sunny California! Harriett and Bo are in Raleigh, but are moving to Fearrington Village in Pittsboro in early 2016. Come to see us there. We love company! Harriett
1971 COLLEGE
Betty Anne Queen Bush ’71C Greetings Ladies! I do hope this finds each of you well. I so look forward to compiling all this and big hugs to you who found time to write. I have just moved again and literally pitched the last box into our garage. Moving has a way of forcing you to decide what is really important. I have been purging heavy items, but did decide
51
CLASS news to keep my Champion Juicer (could be a boat anchor), as well as my crockpot though! More on me later. Lots of happenings within our class since I last wrote. Some sweet, some just not. If you have kept up with our Facebook page you were heartbroken over Pat Pollard Schroeder’s recent loss to pancreatic cancer. I talked to Linda Glass Hyslop this week about it. She went up to Lancaster, Penn., to Pat’s funeral and saw Laura Beckman Rhodes there. Our sweet Saint Mary’s hymn was played at both the Lancaster service, as well as her memorial in Fayetteville. I weep singing that even on happy days. Needless to say, there were more tears. Truly, our days here are precious. Anne McElwee Herschler lost her husband this past year to cancer as well. Her beautiful taste is so evident in Printer’s Alley, my favorite fabric and more shop. I know some of you are searching for a wonderful summer read! Helen Pruden Kaufmann’s “White Gloves and Collards” should be on your list! It’s a winner! A wonderful summer read for sure. I was sick I could not attend her book signing in Charlotte but heard that Chip Dodd as well as Kate Ballagh Young were there. “Blessed in later life,” is how Julie Boatwright Pettee described her romance with childhood friend Robert Pettee. They are now married and busy restoring her circa 1767 family home in Wilmington. Ahhh! And, she’s a Realtor with Intracoastal just in case any of you are interested in moving down to our beautiful coast. Betsy Blee is down at the coast as well, and has taken retirement to a new level. Her newest venture is on her “Encore,” giving tours and providing history and pleasure cruises around the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Of course there are concierge trips to and from Bald Head. Betsy, her sister Jane Blee ’73, and Lee Quinn Stroud all had a great time in England and Greece. Barbara Bear Jamison visited Southport for some art lessons and, lo and behold, painted Betsy’s house! Barbara then gifted Betsy with the piece. It is truly a cherished piece. Mona Franks Knight is not too far away in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Mona loves cruises and recently traveled to the Baltics and
52
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
on their first river cruise in France. She is in Raleigh often, visiting their granddaughter. Susan Carroll Alexander is enjoying a new grandchild. Alexander Weston Dodd was born in April to Susan’s daughter Mary Carroll and son-in-law Griffin Dodd. Susan’s husband John is enjoying serving in the state legislature. Melissa Collins Williams has retired from Aetna and loves her time spent with grandsons Austin (4) and Grayson (2). Husband Curt still teaches high school and coaches the boy’s golf team. Melissa commented about our Facebook page and how it is so nice keeping up with classmates. Our FB address is: SMJC 1971 College. Winston Cobb Green is always in the middle of something, and it seems her home recently had a facelift due to a major fire in their basement. She would not recommend it for redecorating purposes - ha! But it’s sure nice now. She and Roger have recently retired from running Benchmark Systems and love their more flexible lives. And there is a new baby girl in the family: Rebecca Winston - don’t ya’ just love it? Well, I put our home on the market with Katie Jo Lawrence Redhead ’71HS ’73C last spring and it sold the next day. That was great - but the buyers wanted to move in immediately. So Bill and I moved up to Lake Hickory. It was a great respite for summer but now we are back. We love our new spot in High Point, just a few miles down the road. And I just passed the North Carolina realtors exam, so I’m totally pumped for this next season in life. After helping people redo their landscapes and then interiors, well, I thought, why not the whole package! Linda Glass Hyslop reminded me of the words at the end of one of the Saint Mary’s hymn verses, “to journey with us to the end.” We most likely have fewer days left than the ones we have filled. Savor the moments. Our time here is truly a journey. Let’s make it count. I cherish my time at Saint Mary’s knowing you. Love to you and yours. Queenie
1973
HIGH SCHOOL Barbara Egerton Tillery ’73HS Martha Woodard Pearlman lives in Thornton, Penn., near Philadelphia. Her husband, Paul, works in Wilmington, Del., and she works in New Jersey. She has two children. Son Alex (31) works at a credit union, and daughter Anne (27) is a patent/ IP lawyer who works in D.C. Martha is a Latin teacher at Clearview Regional High School and has enjoyed teaching for the past 20-plus years. She was awarded "Teacher of the Year" for 2014-2015. Way to go, Martha! She has 140 students in Latin I-IV and serves as state chair of the New Jersey Junior Classical League. She is going back to Italy this summer to work on an archaeological excavation at Genzano, excavating at the Villa of the Antonines. Ellison Ainsworth Parker and husband Mike live and work in Wilmington. She has been a nurse for 38 years, but is thinking it's about time to retire! She now works just two days a week at a same-day surgery center. The rest of the time, she is usually busy with grandchildren. They are expecting their fourth and fifth grandchildren this year. Their youngest daughter lives in Denver, Colo. When time allows, Ellison says she loves the beach, gardening, attempting to play golf, and tennis - anything outdoors. She says she would love to hear from anyone who visits Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach, and if anyone wants to go to the beach, just call her and come on down! Van Eure writes that she is still running the Angus Barn. She and husband Steve have also opened and are running two wedding/ private event spaces, one in Raleigh and one in Durham. Her son, Chris, attends William Peace University (formerly Peace College) and works at the restaurants. Her daughter Ali is a year-round national volleyball player (a great use of her height at 6'3")! Van and Steve also have a mini rescue farm for horses, dogs, cats, pot bellied pigs, miniature
donkeys and more, which they take care of. She claims the animals provide her sanity! Hunter Stephenson Bretzius says she is closing in on her eighth year as editor of “The Gaston Gazette,” and riding the waves of the many changes in the newspaper industry. She is still painting, and this spring was part of a fundraising effort for the North Carolina Symphony by painting a violin. The violins are on exhibit now and will eventually be sold in the fall to benefit the symphony. She and husband Jim recently celebrated their 30th anniversary with a trip to Paris in May. Hunter added that Saint Mary's has been quite a topic lately since her niece, Anne Patterson Buresh, will enter the ninth-grade this fall. Jaynie Milligan Spector sent a brief note saying, "I loved seeing Susanne Owens Logan and my old roomie, Susan Rogers Cassedy, at my art gallery, Dog & Horse Fine Art in Charleston, S.C. Y'all come and see me! Loved our reunion. Let's do it again!" Catherine Phillips Winslow reports that she is still a teacher assistant with Wake County Schools, but after three years at Poe Elementary, she was displaced last spring. She now works at Sycamore Creek Elementary in a K-2 autistic class, which she absolutely loves. Sycamore Creek is a year-round school, so it's nine weeks on and three weeks off, and she loves that too. She is still doing wine demos at Costco. Catherine's sons are 26 and 24; one works for Lamborghini Carolinas in Greensboro, and the other works in Raleigh. She lives with her parents in Raleigh, who are very active at 87 and 84. She points out that she mostly "manages" for them, rather than caregives. Gina Doty DeMarsh writes that she continues to be involved in a prayer shawl ministry and her part-time work at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in Raleigh. She travelled to Williamsburg last year and has recently spent some time in Wilmington. She enjoys baking bread in her spare time. She reports that her husband passed away four years ago. Susanne Owens Logan writes that she has stepdaughters who are college age - one at
Georgia State and one at Georgia Tech. Both are smart, beautiful and self-aware. She says her husband had his girls a little later in life, so no, she did not marry a younger man! At the time of this writing, they were all headed to the mountains for a long weekend before they embarked on their summer activities. Susanne has recently taken up paddle boarding and is having fun with it. She is still practicing law full time, which interferes with her personal life; however, she says she feels very blessed! JoAnn Nance Small wrote that she enjoyed her Saint Mary's 40th college reunion weekend in April (for her College Class of '75), which included '73 high school classmates Susan Rogers Cassedy, Bettie Henderson Goodwin, Leslie Sloan Nichols, Sugar Cheshire McOwen, Anna Johnson Smith and Nancy Kerr Thomason. They enjoyed a lovely cocktail party on the terrace of Smedes Friday night, and then afterward had a little more fun at the “PR.” The Saturday luncheon was a touching tribute, which reminded them that it is “our turn” to take care of “that special place.” She says, “It was good for the soul to reconnect with these beautiful women. We all lead busy lives, but we picked right up where we left off, sometimes from the last reunion, but many of us have stayed connected over the years. Now most of us are Facebook friends, which makes it easier than ever to stay connected.” JoAnn adds that she still lives on the coast of North Carolina, is a retired educator and enjoys travel with her husband, especially to visit children scattered across the country. No grandchildren yet. As for me, Barbara Egerton Tillery, I was hoping to make it to Rome, Italy, in June to celebrate my 60th birthday (I believe most of us are crossing that milestone this year!), but we just couldn't work it out. My daughter Laura (29) has been working in Rome since the beginning of March for the United Nations, but she got accepted to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University for an MBA in human resources. She is moving to Chicago,
so my husband Tim and I decided to go the 64th National Square Dance Convention in Springfield, Mass., at the end of June. We attended the convention in Little Rock, Ark., last summer and had a blast with over 4,000 dancers from all over the world! We will then take a few days to explore New England. I guess we'll have to figure out another time to get to Italy. Here's hoping all of us have a wonderful year ahead! Barbara
1973 COLLEGE
Lynn Johnson Titchener ’73C Hello ladies-some of whom we haven’t seen in a long time! Thanks to all who like to see their name in print, and too bad, so sad that the rest of you don’t play. As always, I am excited to receive your news, and delighted to report it. Please remember that you may email or write to me anytime; not just when prompted. We are, and always have been, a very colorful bunch! You will notice that every other sentence in this letter will be a reminder of our next reunion, which is April 2018 - our 45th! Don’t have a 2018 calendar yet? Just put that date in your computer, phone and on your fridge. No excuses – every year Saint Mary’s reunions are in the spring – it’s not rocket science! Proof of colorful: Nancy Armstrong Murray (Nature) wins the “first response” prize! Nature, in her own words, is the oldest teacher at the Montessori charter school in Washington, N.C. Can you imagine a more fun place to be if you’re six to eight years old? Nature and Gray are selling their home on the Tar River, as their three children are now three adults and “it’s time.” Nature’s daughter, Madison, and her husband, Adam, are in Telluride, Colo., as is Nature’s son Sam. They will all reunion in August with oldest son Gray and his wife Sally. All are gainfully employed. (Our next reunion is April 2018). Highly successful in Greensboro is Katie (Jo) Lawrence Redhead. Katie’s real estate company, Tyler,
53
CLASS news Redhead & McAlister, has had an incredible blowout fourth year. She celebrated by taking a river cruise, visiting Switzerland and Amsterdam. Traveling overseas is now more alluring than ever! Also a world traveler is Mary Legg Moore, who attests that her recent trip across the pond was quite happy as well. Legg’s daughter Molly is a paralegal here in Raleigh, and son Frank is in real estate in Wilmington. It’s suddenly becoming obvious why Viking Cruises are regaining popularity. Seriously. Another one: Carolyn Hicks Baggett sails in the fall - but to Greece, Italy and Turkey. Baklava? Carolyn and Fred have been married three years and love spending time with their grandson and five godchildren in Raleigh. They also enjoy taking historical tours, and recently saw Sara Coleman Cann ’71HS at the Richmond, Va., Home and Garden Tour. No mention of retirement - Carolyn has been at Wake Tech Community College as a counselor for 23 years. I see Carolyn in the pool twice a week, as she attends my water aerobics classes! We do love the water. And reunions. (Our next one is spring 2018.) Suzy Maynard Barile retired as an associate professor of English at Wake Tech Community College on June 1 after 13 years of teaching. “We continue to enjoy living in Harmony, north of Statesville, although I don't see myself sitting on the couch and eating bon-bons with my 15-year-old nephew living with us!” notes Suzy. “It's so different from raising a girl, who is living and working in the film industry in L.A.” Suzy continues to present programs on her book, “Undaunted Heart: The True Story of a Southern Belle & a Yankee General.” The Southern Belle was Ella Swain, a Saint Mary’s girl and Suzy’s great-greatgrandmother. Ella was the daughter of David Swain, president of UNC during the Civil War and a former North Carolina governor. August 23 marks the 150th anniversary of Ella’s marriage in 1865 to Union General Smith Atkins. It’s a fascinating story! Margy Perdue Price shot down the Volga River from St. Petersburg to Moscow last
54
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
summer This November, you guessed it – she’s on a cruise from Amsterdam to Switzerland. Margy has like 100 grandchildren (really only six, and another four her daughter Maggie “inherited”) who are her pride and joy. Of course! She will retire, and is more than ready to, by our next reunion (April 2018) after 25.5 years of teaching fourth grade in Alexandria, Va. Off hours, Margy tours wineries with her “posse” of widows and divorcees! Love it. Enjoying life travelling domestically is Kathryn Houghton Schreier who, with husband Frank, visited the Grand Canyon recently. They enjoyed sunshine one day and snow flurries the next! COOL! Then on to Disney World with her sister, and home again for a wacky Halloween party. Okay. Kathryn sends timely advice: be extra nice to your children as we get older. Ha! Agree! Good heavens – Missy Taylor Manning names six grandchildren! Missy and Tommy are here in Raleigh, and are proud to claim son Taylor’s two daughters and son, two sons from daughter Alice Manning Touchette ’97HS, and a brand new baby girl from daughter Travis Manning Berk ’01HS. Taylor is practicing law with his dad at the Manning Law Firm. Exciting news came early from Ann Beland Brooks, also in Raleigh, who attended and directed the “wedding of the century” (her words) in Old Providence, Nassau, Bahamas. Jane Hight McMurry’s daughter, Win, married Evans White. It was quite impressive show at Old Fort Bay. Ann saw Clarke Brinkley Dvoskin, the bride’s godmother, at the wedding with her husband and daughters. Ann enjoys time at her house in Emerald Isle and stays in touch with Candace Currin Taylor, Betsy Haywood, and Sarita Hardy Cawiezell. Sarita has moved back to Greenville, N.C., to be closer to her family. She is busy designing, and reports that son Landon and wife Bridgett agree that life is good. Moving, moving, moving. Don’t stop moving! Jane Holmes Hearn has moved to Raleigh – yay! Both sons are here, and also grandson Carter, so that explains it! Can’t
wait to see you, Jane – like at our next reunion: 2018. Sharon Seago is retiring and moving to Hampstead, which is the perfect spot - just between her newlywed daughter, Sarah, in Ahoskie, and son Tyler in Charleston, S.C. Sharon built her house in Hampstead, by the way. Although she did not mention it, a little birdie told me that Lynn Lasater Reynolds has moved (but not really far), within Raleigh. Just trying to stay with the theme here. Lynn reports a fun long girls’ weekend with Debbie Branscome Jones, living in Winnetka, Ill., and Judy Edwards Marani, still in Atlanta. Personal project now public announcement: Ann Kritzer Gunn and Anne Smith McGoogan will be attending our next reunion (April 2018) so thank you, Lynn for making sure they get here! Lynn and Paul spend as much time as possible at Atlantic Beach with family and dogs. Daughter Mary Margaret and son Paul are both in Raleigh. Happy to hear from Shug Dawson Gage, who is working hard for (no) money on the UNC Board of Governors. She said that, not I. If you are feeling ambitious, the search is on for a new president for the 17-campus UNC system. Apply online! Shug gets around, recently seeing Nancy Gregory Beebe at Biltmore at a Colonial Dames meeting; talking with Sue Sermons Mathison often, and visiting Cameron Cutting Wilkinson in Charlotte. News is that Anna Fenner Rives and husband Jeff have relocated to Chapel Hill to be closer to their grandchildren. Wow. Thanks, Shug! The last email I received was from Robin Gaither in Monterey Bay, Calif. That’s where I would move if I could! She can walk to the beach or to the redwoods. Napa, San Francisco and Pebble Beach are all nearby. Ahhh! Gaither gets around as well – she recently traveled to China for a month with her sister, Leigh Gaither Jones ’77C. Every once in a blue moon, you can spot this one at Nags Head with family. And in April 2018, Gaither will be in Raleigh for our 45th reunion – for sure! As for me, my whirlwind travels to Wrightsville Beach, Asheville, Greensboro,
SAINT MARY'S REMEMBERS Chapel Hill and Burlington are so fulfilling! All the exhausting speaking engagements leave just enough time to devote to my business, Calligraphy Plus+. Please visit online at www. lynnarto.com! While the ink is drying on handdesigned wedding invitations, I take to the pool and teach water fitness five times a week, which is just too much fun. As often as possible, I visit my lovely mother, Mary Lynn Lewis DeLany ’44C, in Burlington, and my daughters continue to fill me with pride. Winnie is the associate archivist at Biltmore in Asheville, and Liza is an account executive with Bolt PR here in Raleigh. Thank you all for your very encouraging words of praise. It’s always nice to know that you are appreciated. YOU are the reason I so enjoy trying to keep us together! It is totally my pleasure. Please stick a post-it on your mirror: April 2018! It will be our 45th reunion and we MUST make a real splash! Email anytime and know that I love each one of you. Until next year, CHEERS! Lynn
1975
HIGH SCHOOL Ann Watters Matteson reports, “How wonderful it was seeing so many at our 40th reunion! Everyone looked fabulous and it was a great weekend catching up with my classmates. We enjoyed a lovely evening at the home of Carson Joyner Clark.” Annette Kerlin McBrayer has joined Taylor English Duma LLP in Atlanta, Ga., continuing to focus on real estate litigation and title insurance. Verna Gates writes from Birmingham, Ala., “After 14 years reporting for Reuters International, I made the switch to the (Manchester) ‘Guardian’ and Public Radio. I am a commentator, and do interviews and travel pieces, regardless of my Southern accent.”
Wilson Burton "Bill" Partin Jr. October 28, 1937 - January 23, 2015
Saint Mary’s remembers longtime Kenan Library staff member Bill Partin, who died January 23, 2015. "Bill grew up in Scotland Neck and graduated from high school with honors in 1956,” says Director of Kenan Library Diana Williams. “He was a semifinalist in the National Merit competition, the first year that National Merit Scholarships were awarded. Partin attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During his junior year he was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Award. He graduated with an A.B. degree in political science with honors in 1960. He earned a Fulbright Scholarship for graduate studies abroad and spent the following year studying political science at the University of Manchester in England. Bill earned his law degree in 1964 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was licensed to practice general law in North Carolina in 1964. Partin began his legal career in 1964 as a staff attorney for the state and rose to the position of deputy general counsel for the North Carolina Utilities Commission, where he retired in 1995. From 1995-2013, Partin served the students and employees of Saint Mary’s School as library assistant in the Sarah Graham Kenan Library. “Bill was the ultimate, educated Southern gentleman and was much loved and respected by the students and employees of Saint Mary’s School,” says Diana Williams. “Students knew he would go to the ends of the earth to help them with their research. He loved music, played the piano, and made a point of attending all of the student recitals over the years. His wide-spread knowledge and logical, research-oriented thought process made him an essential and enjoyable member of the Kenan Library staff. “Those around him greatly enjoyed his dry sense of humor, his unassuming nature, and the rich conversations they had with him on a broad range of topics, especially literature, history, news and politics. He was an overwhelmingly kind, thoughtful, interesting friend and colleague who enriched the lives of everyone who knew him."
55
CLASS news
1975 COLLEGE
Class of 1975C (left to right): front row: Kathryn Scott Long, Nancy Kerr Thomason, Sally Betts Goss, Tippi McCann Moose second row: Leslie Nicholls, Anne Bailey McLean Zschau, Martha Cronly Sampson, Debbie Lasitter Little, Bettie Henderson Goodwin third row: Nancy Budd McWilliams, Christie Murphy Gustafson, Terry Messner Miller, JoAnn Nance Small, Susan Doby Skolsky fourth row: Allison Kerr, Yorke Wooten Sartario, Susan Rogers Cassedy, Gin-gen Brogden, Susan Pitt Herring
Patricia Holt Parker ’75C Frances Creel Opperman lives in Dunn and has retired from teaching with the Harnett County school system. She and Larry have two daughters, Cooper (married to Brian Pate) and Anna (married to Scott Uzzell). Anna and Scott have a little girl named Sarah Scott who was born September 14, 2014. They live in Williamston. Cooper and Brian live in the Mount Vernon section of Alexandria, Va. Frances stays in touch with Nancy Bryant Carter ’73HS ’75C, Loula Polites Plyler and Sandra Holt Stewart. Lynn Harand Hankins writes that she was sad to miss the 40th reunion this year, and says she would have loved to have been there to see and catch up with everyone. She reports, “All is good here in Charlotte. I retired from Winthrop University in 2012. Loving that second (and third!) cup of coffee in the mornings.” Christie Murphy Gustafson reports that her visit with old friends at Saint Mary's was wonderful. Going to chapel and seeing her mother's plaque given to her by The Cold Cuts was especially nostalgic. As for me, all is well in Pinehurst. I ran into Bonnie Bell McGowan today, who reported that she made it to the reunion and had a great time. Oldest daughter Kate is still loving life in Portland, Ore. Her younger sister Paton recently graduated with a degree in accounting and works for Cohn Reznick in Charlotte. Love to all! Trish
1977
HIGH SCHOOL Ryan Kiriakides lives in Murphysboro, Ill., and has retired from her work as a practical nurse. She worked for 13 years at Mayview Convalescent Home in Raleigh. She enjoys gardening and helping those less fortunate in activities of their daily living. She is also very interested in nutrition.
1977 College
Class of 1975HS (left to right): front row: Mary Paige Pate Murray, Ann Watters Matteson, Annette Kerlin McBrayer, Betsy Bullington Hale, Verna Gates, Dana Promin Tydings second row: Annie Johnson Stamm, Lisa Norwood Nesbitt, Carol Sermons Samuelson, Louise Overman third row: Kee Hood Marshall, Katie Cole, Margaret Hicks Holmes, Shelia McLamb
56
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Greetings, College Class of 1977! It has been great hearing from a good number of you. Suffice to say, the Class of 1977 is going strong and doing great things. Hazel McKenzie Mason finished her 10th year as an art teacher at Hampton Roads Academy. Her twin sons, Carter and Walker, are rising juniors in college – “time flies, don’t blink!” Summer projects include painting, yard work, and summer camp – “always more ideas than time.” For the past
three years, Hazel has been involved in a “grown-up girl camp,” the Sistah Circle at Camp Cheerio. They have a Facebook page, and Hazel invites everyone to consider attending. Just let her know to put you on the mailing list. “It’s kinda like camp, Saint Mary’s and a big sleepover all rolled into one, and Saint Mary’s was well-represented last year,” says Hazel. Kim Shavlik Randolph says the highlight of life recently was an “incredibly amazing trip to Costa Rica with my Saint Mary’s friends, Margaret Clements Connolly and Suzanne Smith Huggins.” They spent a week in March snorkeling, horseback riding, kayaking and zip lining, staying in a beautiful home at Roma del Mar in the southern part of Costa Rica. Becky Flythe Watts wrote from Cary. Becky is celebrating 35 years with Genbrand/Nortel and has no plans for retirement anytime soon. Her son is a senior at N.C. State, finishing his degree in computer science. She and her husband celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary in December. She reports being happy and healthy! Katie Cole continues to work as a data scientist but is starting to plan her “retirement gig,” which will be a targeted travel blog. She is happily married to Roxi, her partner of 30 years. She recently had some “worn out body parts” replaced (knee and hip), so she can continue to enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. She misses the East Coast and her hometown of Virginia Beach and hopes to be able to spend a few months there each year starting soon. It was great to see Katie and several of our classmates, who also attended high school, at the High School Class of 1975 reunion in April. Those four-year girls from our class at their high school reunion this spring included Kim, Katie, Becky, Morgie Towler Duke, Nancy Thompson Heathcote, Betsy Barwick Barnett, Emily Bass Baumgartner, Laura Lewis Rogers, Tricia Urquhart Spain and Corneille Little. We will hope to see them all again and more at our 40th reunion in spring 2017! Carla Olin Holmgren writes
that her twins, Anthony and Christopher, turned 18 and became Eagle Scouts this year. The boys are rising seniors and they are planning a family trip to the Galapagos Islands to celebrate their graduation. Carla works as an occupational therapist and celebrated her 29th year at the Medical Center of Plano in May, working in the neonatal ICU as well as the other floors. Mark volunteers at another hospital, teaches Tai Chi and is transitioning from working with the Boy Scouts to becoming a Venture Scout leader. Carla still knits and makes jewelry. Aimee Peden Burke writes from Chapel Hill with news of her grown children. Daughter Ann and her husband gave Aimee her first grandchild, Millie, in October. Son Paul got married in May. Youngest daughter Elizabeth is a professional tap dancer in New York City. Aimee is a preschool teacher assistant and still teaches tap dancing to little ones. The spirit of the Caperettes lives on! Anne McVeigh Thelin (Bootie) says life is good in Lynchburg, Va., where she lives with husband Ron. Their son Henry finished his first year at VMI, surviving the Rat Line as a member of the Class of 2018. They are proud of him and his choice of VMI, where Bootie’s late father was a member of the Class of 1944. Ron’s daughters are happily married and employed in Darien, Conn., and have provided three beautiful grandchildren. Bootie begins her 10th year working for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where she reports mostly good days and plans to continue working as long as it is fun. Bootie and Ron spent a week with Fritz and Emily Bass Baumgartner in Colorado in January. She reports lots of great food prepared and cooked by Emily, great drink and, of course, skiing in the Colorado Rockies. Living in Lynchburg and believing in women’s schools, Bootie says the Lynchburg community have been rocked by the announcement of the closing of Sweet Briar College. She remembers when Saint Mary’s closed the college division and says, “It was very hard at first, but there are no words to
describe how grateful I am that Saint Mary’s did change. Today, Saint Mary’s is thriving, and we still have a place to be proud of and to call home. Sweet Briar might not be able to say the same in coming years. So, here’s to our Saint Mary’s College for adapting to the times and to the best classmates a girl could ever want or need!” Sissy Holman Chesnutt works at her husband’s law firm – Chesnutt, Clemmons and Peacock. She says the irony is that, as children get older, the work days grow longer. Their son, Mark, attends the Lundy Fetterman graduate school of business at Campbell University, pursuing a master’s in trust and wealth management. Daughter Parker Chesnutt Honeycutt is married to Drew Honeycutt and lives in Raleigh, working as counsel for Clinipace, a pharmaceutical trial company. Drew is a principle with Bagwell and Bagwell Insurance. Suzanne invites everyone at Atlantic Beach this summer to play Bingo and have a “whee” of a time! Nancy Heathcote Thompson is a having a great 2015. Her middle son and his wife welcomed his second son in January. That same son began a five-year residency in general surgery in Wilmington in June, after graduating from UNC Medical School on Mother’s Day weekend. Nancy’s oldest son was married in Pittsburgh on May 16. Nancy was a featured vendor in the Alumnae Bazaar during Saint Mary’s Reunion Weekend in April and sold out of her delicious pimento cheese – I bought the last batch! Check out her business on Facebook at “The NTH Degree” – she sells tasty foods, painted deb stools and adorable personalized gifts for all ages. Carter Warren Franke has joined the Board of Trustees at Saint Mary’s, and I can’t think of a sharper person to be among the top leaders at our alma mater, just as she was in student days. Katherine Wooten Bailey is excited that her niece, Maddison Wooten ’19, will be a ninth-grader at Saint Mary’s this fall. Katherine’s son, James, is a rising senior at Wake Forest, where Katherine and Jim serve on the Parents Council. Barbara Johnston
57
CLASS news Bush lives happily in Wilmington and continues her good work at WHQR, the local NPR station. As chief financial officer for WHQR, Barbara has overseen tremendous growth at the station in recent years, including the launch of a second station this year featuring all classical music to complement the news station. She works with and gets to know the hippest people in town, as WHQR is a hub of cultural life and the arts in Wilmington. Barb and husband Cameron enjoyed an amazing trip to Thailand in the fall to visit daughter Isabel (my beautiful goddaughter) who lives there teaching English to children. Louise Whitmire Catania has completed her first year as the theatre director extraordinaire at Saint Mary’s, returning to teach on the stage in Pittman Auditorium where she performed in student days. This year, Lou directed two blockbuster productions, “Steel Magnolias” in the fall, and “Cinderella,” the spring musical. The girls, faculty and staff love Lou, and I am so pleased to have such a talented and dear classmate as a colleague. Lou reports, “This has been such a wonderful year being back at Saint Mary’s as theatre director. The girls are wonderful and together we have so many successes. Cleaning out a room upstairs in Pittman, I found pictures and scripts from plays produced while I was here as a student. I would love to hear from other classmates who were in St. Genesius or involved in the theatre. In family news, my older daughter, Liz, has accepted a position as a high school math teacher at St. David’s School in Raleigh. We have already gone to an Saint Mary's/St. David’s lacrosse match. Saint Mary’s won! My other daughter, Margaret, is finishing up a year in San Antonio with Ameri Corp. She will be working at a summer camp at Saint Mary's this summer. The other great part of my new job at Saint Mary’s is that my scenic designer and master carpenter is my husband Joe.” Corneille Little, her mother, sister, children and many members of her family from several generations had two major family exhibits of
58
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
their art in Raleigh in the past year, getting great publicity for being such an artistic family. A group of us went to the Friday gallery opening of their show at the Roundabout Art Gallery in Cameron Village in the fall, where we spotted many Saint Mary’s friends. It was an extraordinary testament to the art gene that runs in their family! I, Mary Virginia Swain, am entering my 29th year on the communications/public relations staff at Saint Mary’s. I still live in the beautiful townhome on campus where we had our reunion party in 2012, and love being here as much as ever. I am so proud of the school we are and the way Saint Mary’s nurtures and educates young women, year after year. I had a fun autumn 2014, as I was invited to exhibit some of my photography in the Saint Mary’s Head of School Artist Series in Smedes in September, October and November. A festive group of Saint Mary’s friends and classmates came for a fun sneak preview evening to see the exhibit, and many others viewed the photos at Saint Mary’s events throughout the fall. The show included 26 photos of Saint Mary’s scenes, beach scenes, birds and more. My goal was to hopefully sell about 10 just to break even on the money I put into the prints and framing, and I ended up selling more than 50 framed photos, exceeding my wildest dreams when I was asked to do it last summer. Thanks to all who supported me in my first solo gallery exhibit – it was a creative stretch for me and turned out to be a bucket list kind of experience I didn’t even have on my bucket list radar. Otherwise, I love seeing the Raleigh girls about town and also friends I see at Wrightsville in the summer, like Jeannie Bridger Konitzer and her crowd and Vivian Rawls Watkins. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy year ahead! Mary Virginia
1979
HIGH SCHOOL Duvall Schultz Fuqua writes from Atlanta, “Youngest daughter Isabel is now a member of the Saint Mary’s School Class of 2018!” Michele Zaytoun Waters writes, “Moved back to Raleigh four years ago after more than 20 years of living in Miami, Fla. Miss the sunshine, palm trees and wearing opentoed shoes every day! I fill my days writing contemporary romances under the pen name, Michele Summers. “Find My Way Home” is my first book in a four-book series published in 2014. It can be found in Saint Mary’s Kenan Library, and “Not So New in Town” will release in July 2015. When not writing, I stay busy with my teenage son and daughter and family. Visit me at www.michelesummers.com.
1979 COLLEGE
Windy Tillman Pratt ’79C Hello friends. I can’t believe it has been a year since our last class update! Thanks to everyone who sent news. Mary Craig Timberlake Brown reports that they have moved into a wonderful new townhome to spend the next 50 years together! Her son, Whit, married Abby Skinner Brown, daughter of Elizabeth Smith Skinner ’78HS, in October of 2013, and daughter Annie is almost finished with her master’s in education at Meredith. Dana Darden Copeland has been teaching first grade in Virginia Beach for 27 years. Her son Darden has completed his sophomore year at Hampden-Sydney. She says she hopes to see SMC classmates Molly Peebles Squire and Elizabeth Raspberry Pitts “on the hill” at the Hampden-Sydney football games. Lynn Jones Dixon reports that they have been blessed with a “new” home (circa 1922) on the sound in Marshallberg. They are renovating it with the help of friends and clients, and having a great time
Class of 1980C (left to right): front row: Kathy Sawyer Mann, Lanier Brown May, Katie Zevenhuizen Medlin, Missy Basinger Plyler, Cathy Plummer Steed; second row: Edie Lindsey Eckman, Missy Underwood Miller, Phyllis Alexander Slye, Elizabeth Smith Skinner, Margaret Williams, ReRe Cheatham Johnston, Carolyn Walser Johnson, Nancy Scott Grantham, Gwynn Walker Candee
shrimping and harvesting oysters with their three grandchildren and other family and friends. Lynn reports that she leads Christian Wives Groups, for the wives of business owners, in Raleigh and Greenville. Becoming a grandmother seems to be all the rage! Karen Dearing Ferebee became a granny to Luke Grayson Habegger on December 20, 2014. She says he is, of course, brilliant. In October, she is planning to run her seventh marathon. Run, Karen, run! Ann Foster reports she has relocated to the Dallas area in a work-related move to the new corporate headquarters of Hilti, Inc. She also received an award from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma recognizing 25 years of volunteering, and was named Sustainer of the Year by the Junior League of Tulsa. Proud of you, Ann! Jane Hollinshed Horrocks is enjoying selling real estate in Fayetteville and loves being a grandmother to Mary Ellen “Ellie” Bartlett, born last fall. Kendall Page and Mendy Childress were married February 2 and enjoyed a three-week trip with friends to Australia and New Zealand. Kendall reports that she and Mendy are taking a break from
Class of 1980HS (left to right): Elizabeth Patteson Dixon, Valerie Purdie Cozart, Mary Stowe
new business start-ups and enjoying not being tied to those. Chris Tull and Molly Burton Tull were married in New York on June 1, 2013, and are living in Charlotte. “I've retired (I think) from commercial real estate, spent the bulk of my career in “Hotlanta.” Having worked so hard in a competitive industry, it's a change getting used to life. Not straying too far from sales and marketing, I helped raise funds this year for Theatre Charlotte, one of the oldest local theatres in North Carolina. I've been enjoying learning bridge, with fellow Saint Mary's girls, Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts, Missy Plyer Basinger ’80C, and Allison Sprock ’82HS ’84C.” Molly Peebles Squire checked in from Spain to say she would send more information when she returned. Hey, Molly, we’ll get the update for the next issue! Debbie Fox Wright is busy with a high school junior and senior. She loves living in Thomasville, Ga., where she says they are close to beautiful beaches. Debbie reports that they are making college visits to schools in Georgia and Alabama, and that they recently visited classmate Julia Foxworth in Charleston, S.C. Kelley
Fenn has moved to Wilmington, where she is enjoying a new beach setting. Both her children are back in High Point. Will is 27, and Liz is 25, and they are both furniture designers with their dad's firm. Kelley hopes SMC friends will look her up if they are in the Wilmington area. Mary Foy Ragsdale is excited to have a new nanny position in Raleigh! On the side, she is hand-painting monogrammed wine glasses and making custom flip-flops! Her son, Layton (21), attends Johnston Community College and is working, as well. Debbie Burnette Carr has two grandchildren - a little girl named Charlie (3) and a grandson named Griffin, born September 2015. Debbie says they are so much fun and keep her busy. Beth Gardner Strandberg has lived in Raleigh for more than two years. She loves her job at the governor’s office. She has enjoyed catching up with Saint Mary’s girls living in Raleigh. Her oldest daughter still lives in Jackson, Wyo. Her middle daughter and husband have moved to Charlotte, where both have started new jobs and are enjoying their first house. Beth’s youngest will be a senior at N.C. State in the fall. She has an
59
CLASS news
SAINT MARY'S REMEMBERS
LEFT: William McKenzie Ragland RIGHT: W. Trent Ragland Jr.
William McKenzie Ragland and W. Trent Ragland Jr. The strong presence of the Ragland family has been felt at Saint Mary’s for more than 100 years, since the late Alice McKenzie Ragland ’14 attended the school in the early years of the 20th century. The recent loss of Mrs. Ragland’s sons, William McKenzie Ragland on March 1, 2015, and W. Trent Ragland Jr., on March 31, 2015, marks a time for the school to reflect on this family’s ongoing legacy at Saint Mary’s for more than a century, where their support has been steady, broad, quiet and generous. The sons of the late Alice McKenzie and William Trent Ragland Sr., both men were leaders in business, public service and philanthropy. Both men continued their family’s generous philanthropic support and leadership at Saint Mary’s through many years. Both men were married to Saint Mary’s alumnae – William McKenzie Ragland to Betty Johnson Ragland ’44HS and W. Trent Ragland Jr. to Anna Wood Ragland ’41C. The Ragland Classroom Building, built in 1971, was made possible by the interest and generosity of the brothers and other members of the Ragland family, and dedicated in honor of Alize McKenzie Ragland, Class of 1914. The construction of the brick and wrought-iron wall around the perimeter of the campus and the gates was dedicated to Betty Johnson Ragland ’44HS and Mr. Ragland’s mother, Alice McKenzie Ragland, Class of 1914. Both brothers generously supported Saint Mary’s capital campaigns over the years, impacting every aspect of academic, technological and student life. William McKenzie Ragland served on the board of trustees at Saint Mary’s in the 1980s. W. Trent Ragland’s son, W. Trent Ragland III, served as chair of the board in recent years, and Mr. Ragland’s granddaughter, Suiter, is a member of the Class of 2018. Saint Mary’s is forever indebted to the Ragland family, whose presence lives on today in the facilities and programs created through their generosity and in the next generation of their family to serve and attend Saint Mary’s.
60
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
internship in N.Y.C. for the summer with a job focusing on her textile major. Beth says, “Life is good in Raleigh!” No real news to report from Southern Pines. Glad for summer and hoping to make several trips to Morehead for beach time! I am busy with work at Stifel Nicolaus, and calligraphy. Our boys are happily married and we have granddogs and grandchickens at this point! Wishing you a year of laughter, joy and peace. Fondly, Windy
1981
HIGH SCHOOL Margaret Norris recently became director of Christian education at Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem. She enjoyed connecting with Mary Meares and Kathleen Kincaid ’82HS last December at The Irregardless, their old Raleigh stomping ground. Margaret lives in Winston-Salem. Dr. Mary Meares, associate professor of communication studies and graduate program director in the College of Communication and Information Studies at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has been selected the winner of the 2015 Lahoma Adams Buford Peace Award. The award is given annually to a faculty member who, in his or her teaching, research, professional practice and personal life, has demonstrated exceptional levels of involvement in mediating human disputes, helping overcome prejudice, promoting justice and establishing peace. Mary planned to travel to Serbia in May with students from the honor's college. Constance Apostolou Anastopoulo still lives in Charleston, S.C., and has recently been appointed to the Alumni Board of Directors for the UNC School of Law. “This will give me even more reason to come to North Carolina,” she says. Barbie Jones Sabo’s son, Matt, has graduated from high school and is going to University of North Florida in the fall. Nancy Christian Steelman’s
daughter, Catherine, graduated from James Madison University. Marilee Eagle’s daughter, Hannah, is a sophomore at Meredith College and son Dylan is a freshman at N.C. State. Marilee and her kids enjoy spending their summers at their house in Atlantic Beach, where she sees Bettine Bikle Boyd ’81HS ’83C and her sons when they come to the beach. Last fall, Bettine, Marilee and Hadley Blake Daniels ’83C all met in N.Y.C. for a girl’s weekend. Bettine’s oldest is at High Point College and her youngest is still in high school. Libby Ward Smart’s son, Tommy, has graduated from high school. Madeline Gilbert lives in Atlanta and travels quite a bit as a sales rep for a fabric company. She has graciously volunteered to become the High School Class of 1981’s new class secretary! Be on the lookout next year for details from Madeline!
1981 COLLEGE
Allison Gilbert Holmes ’81C Jennifer Collins writes that she teaches acting at Chubbuck Youth Program. This program is run out of Ivanna Chubbuck studios. Ivanna is the acting coach to stars such as Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Eva Mendez and Charlize Theron. The program currently has 15 students ranging in age from eight to 17. Jennifer teaches this program with Susan Olsen, a.k.a. Cindy Brady, her friend and co-teacher. Jennifer also rides horses for a few clients, as well as her own. She still competes in barrels statewide and has done rodeos. Gigi Taylor Schweikert has four teenagers. Two are in college - one is at George Washington University in D.C., and one is at University of Colorado Boulder. Gigi accepted a COO position at Rainbow Academy childcare company, soon to be rebranded as Lightbridge Academy. She says this position is an excellent opportunity and the next logical step in her career path. It helps to balance her work/family
considerations. Also important to Gigi is that the people at Lightbridge have and demonstrate the core values that align with hers, plus they are just fun to work with. Gigi will continue to write (she has published 18 books) and speak at larger engagements throughout the country and world. She feels truly blessed to have this wonderful opportunity. She wants to thank everyone for the love, encouragement and help through the years. Anne Sigmon got married to Con McDonald on Saturday, November 29, 2014, at the chapel at Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh. Best wishes to Anne and Con! I ran into Caroll Huger Griffin at a party in Raleigh for a mutual friend. She looks just the same as she did at SMC. Her daughter, Tucker, finished her junior year at University of Alabama. Her son, Dean, graduated this year from Woodward Academy in Atlanta and is bound for University of Alabama, like his sister. Carroll and George will be empty nesters this fall. Condolences to Margaret McGlohon on the death of her father, to Lee Trotter Dixon on the death of her mother, to Bonny Harris Herrington on the loss of her mother, to Mary Howard Pitt Lassiter on the death of her mother and to Ellen McCown Schwab on the death of her husband. Bonny Harris Herrington wrote that husband Robert is retiring from the Navy as a captain. He will have a ceremony in Pensacola, Fla., along with six other P3 aviators and captains. He is still flying the friendly skies for American. Her son, Russell, is in the seventh-grade and plays on the St. David's School jayvee tennis team. Bonny volunteers and sees other Saint Mary’s folks at supper club, e.g., Allison Gilbert Holmes, Mary Leigh Lewis and Martha Brinn Gray. Bonny sends greetings and blessings to all! Mary Mohney Gore lives in sunny San Diego. She and husband Ted celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in May. Her daughters are all local and thriving. Kate (27) is the office manager for a very busy dental office. Suzy (25) is an intake specialist for a large
law firm. Jane (17) is graduating high school and plans to attend the school of education at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. Ted is employed by General Atomics. Mary is working for Poway Unified School District. After being home with her girls for 24 years, Mary really enjoys herself at the front office of an elementary school. She loves being around kids. Ann Scott Arthur is working for a local community bank as a mortgage specialist. She just loves it. Ann is also involved with the Wilton Woman's Club, Minks to Sinks, an auxiliary of Family and Children's Services of Norwalk, Conn., as well as the church fellowship board. Ann says she needs to learn to say no to things. Her husband, David, is helping some interesting companies with new products in the diabetes arena, as well as serving as committee chair for a local Boy Scout troop and vice president of the stewardship board at their church. Son James finished his first year at the University of South Carolina in their business program and loves it! Daughter Elizabeth has been accepted to the University of Colorado at Boulder in their environmental engineering program. They are planning to go to Nags Head this summer and enjoy the sun, sand and relaxation. She misses North Carolina and would love to get back soon. Ellen Fussell Policastro has a new job doing courseware development for database applications at a training company in Wake Forest. It started out as a gig with Syntax Solutions, her freelance writing business. She likes full-time work. Her Sweet Adelines chorus is preparing to compete in Los Vegas for international competition again this October. She still lives in Raleigh with husband, John, and sings with Lace Quartet (she would love for all of us to like them on Facebook). They sing at special events. Let her know if you want to hire a barbershop quartet. Margaret McGlohon still enjoys her role as our Alumnae Director at Saint Mary's. She says it is great fun to see classmates and friends as they travel and visit alumnae near and far. Margaret wants
61
CLASS news us all to know that it isn't too early to plan for our 35th Saint Mary’s reunion April 29-30, 2016, and she hopes to see everyone there! Christy Jones Anderson says that this past year has been a year of big highs and a few sad and stressful times as well. Christy suffered a heart attack in April 2014. A real high, because she is fine and taking better care of herself. She says that her symptoms were not typical. She was out walking her dogs and just felt different. There was no high blood pressure or high cholesterol. She didn’t have a big pain down the arm or jaw or heavy pressure. She wants us to know that we should not ignore weird symptoms. Christy and Karl are going to be "empty nesters" in August. They celebrated 25 years of marriage in October 2014. Christy says that she is trying to figure out what she wants to do once Sidney is in college. Christy took a senior trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in the spring. She wrote that she had forgotten how much fun she has with Deane Gresham Holt. Apparently, Deane can still rock the maracas. Once a Cold Cut, always a Cold Cut! Christy took a Pilates class with Paige Brown DuBose, and Paige is in awesome shape. Christy stated that she has spent lots of quality time with LeeLee since Lee's mother died. Then right on the heels of that loss, Ellen McCown Schwab’s husband, Tom, lost his fight against multiple myeloma. Christy says that she has been in mourning with and for our dear Saint Mary's friends. Lee Trotter Dixon wrote news of her children, Elizabeth and Rich. Elizabeth is in dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University and has two years to go. Rich is at N.C. State in engineering and will be a senior next year. Richard and Lee celebrated 30 years! Ashley Richardson Allen wrote that she and Steve welcomed a new daughter-in-law and a grandson into their family. On June 20, 2015, their daughter Hannah Allen ’07 became Mrs. Evan Scott Myers in a wedding ceremony in the Saint Mary’s Chapel. Ashley says there are lots of happy times for
62
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
her family. She hopes to see a lot of our ’81C girls at the next reunion. Mary Hollinshed Smitherman has completed 15 years in the public school system. She teaches fourth grade and loves North Carolina geography and history. Her son, Sam, has his driver’s permit, so she says she is getting her hair colored more frequently! The mountain turns and switchbacks give her butterflies. She loves hearing everyone's news on Facebook, so keep the news coming. She hopes everyone is happy and healthy. Catherine Winfield Pfeiffer and husband Richard are still in Washington, N.C. She is a school nurse at the elementary school. Anna and Charles have graduated from college. Emily will be a junior and is still swimming at UNC-Chapel Hill. Catherine can't wait till our next reunion in 2016! Elizabeth Hardy Hogan’s son, John, finished his freshman year at UNC-Chapel Hill and son Hardy is starting to look at colleges, as he has finished 11th-grade. She is still a Doncaster stylist and enjoys seeing Saint Mary's alums and helping them with their wardrobes. John and Elizabeth celebrated their 29th year of marriage in May. Lorah Gibson Pruette and husband Frank also celebrated their 29th anniversary in May. They enjoy living in both Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake. McLendon (25) is an oncology nurse and loves Richmond, Va. Mary Chandler (27) recently came back early from a year-long mission trip on three continents due to a major ankle surgery. She planned to join back up with her group for their last week in South Africa. Lorah says best wishes to all of us! Mary Wilcox Myers writes that daughter Rachel (14) is in eighth-grade and is quite busy. Rachel is taking drivers education, plays travel soccer, school soccer, volleyball and track. Mary still works at the Haw River State Park. and she helps out with her 90-year-old mother. Her mother says that Rachel is a lot like Mary and it cracks Mrs. Wilcox up. Mary says paybacks are hell! Mary had lunch recently with Ann Scott Arthur and Claire Anderson Shields. Emily Winfield Bondy
gave an update on her family. Courtney (17) was a junior and wants to go into nursing. They are looking at schools already. Malone (15) was a freshman and is into horses and anything artistic. Husband Paul is still with Boise-Willis clinic and enjoying a busy practice. Emily is still teaching out of her studio and enjoying her beautiful garden. She says that life is good and she is looking forward to some beach time this summer. I have been busy selling South African wine. I must say that it is a fun job. I had a tasting in Raleigh and Margaret McGlohon and Beth Mann came to try my wines. It was great to have them there to support me. My boys finished their sophomore year at Broughton High School.They both ran cross-country and track. I also hope to see a lot of our classmates at our 35th reunion in spring 2016. Allison
1983
HIGH SCHOOL Mary Beth Hughes Manning ’83HS Laura Richardson Krulder ‘83HS ’85C has two children, Anna and Erich. She is teaching fourth-grade language arts and social studies at The Sandhills Renaissance School in Moore County, N.C. Kathy Keel ’83HS ’85C is happy to report that daughter Lucy Mae Rascoe ’15 graduated from Saint Mary’s on May 17th! Daughter Katie Rascoe ’17 is a rising junior at SMS. Kathy still lives in Edenton. Suzanne Via Dillon writes from Winston-Salem, “I have been an empty nester for three years. I recently got my life coaching certification and started working part time.” Alexander (23) lives and works in Winston-Salem, and plans to go back to school in 2016. Patrick (21) is a rising senior at Radford University in Virginia.
1983
1985
Lorie Goldston Garland ’81HS ’83C Libby Ward Smart lives in Charlotte with her husband and two sons, Tommy and Spencer. She's excited that Tommy will be attending Elon in the fall and Spencer will be in 11th-grade. She's starting on her 16th year as a painter in oil, www. LibbySmart.com. Anne Stephenson Buresh also lives in Charlotte. She owns a design firm called Anne Buresh Interior Design and has clients throughout the Carolinas and beyond. She has two children: Anne Patterson (14) and Hunter (12). Anne Patterson will attend Saint Mary’s in the fall as a ninth-grade boarder! Katherine Dennis Taylor married Allen Taylor on May 10, 2014. She just celebrated her two-year work anniversary for PPG Industries as a sales account manager in the Florida Panhandle. She also just bought a new home in Watersand, Fla. Bettine Bikle Boyd had a great time at the Saint Mary’s alumnae party in Atlantic Beach last summer with so many old friends. She just celebrated 25 years working at Four Seasons Hotel and still loves it! Son Jake finished his freshman year at High Point University, and son Hampton is a rising high school junior. She's hoping to see some more SMC friends this summer at Atlantic Beach when she's visiting family. Frances B Ellerbe Valerio lives in Orlando, Fla., with her hubby of 25 years. He directs orchestras and plays piano. As for me, I'm not sure where to start. I live in Boca Raton, Fla., and love the outdoor life! The beach, sun and great weather are not too hard to get used to. It's hard to believe I have been here for almost eight years now. My dad and all of my three kids are Floridians these days. I am thankful for each day I have my 89-year-old father with me and enjoy taking care of him. I am in the midst of a career change that I hope will provide me with a bit more flexibility in my life. I could not be more thankful just to be enjoying the blessings of each day as they come. My best to each of you for good health, wealth and whatever makes you most happy. All my best, Lorie
Berkeley Grier ’85HS Rebecca Pace’85HS Hello my fellow ’85HS classmates! This is Rebecca Pace, writing with some news, as y’all were rather lax on sending in your information to Berkeley! However, I will give you a break as you are probably still recovering from our festive reunion weekend! I had so much fun seeing y’all, and we had a GREAT turnout - probably the biggest of any year, but what do you expect from our fabulous class? I hope we can continue to have large reunions each time. We missed the rest of you, and some couldn’t come at the last minute (Lindy!), but we hope to see y’all next time. Those who attended were: moi, the Sallys: Sally Maddison Wooten, Sally Ellis Grogan; the Elizabeths: Elizabeth Byrd Etheridge, Elizabeth Anderson Purrington, Elizabeth Grine Blount; the Susans: Susan Gardner and Susan Gregory, Berkeley Grier, Meriwether Hill Fentress, Katie Sullivan Landi, Margaret Park Hahn, Jane Corpening Bell, Sarah McGuire Whitmore, Mary Mac Ogden Motley, Tiffany Compton Wigbels, Lynn Cowell Ives, Anne Standing Plumlee, Jane Kollsmanperger MacMillan, Marty Hattaway Lewis, Caroline Long, Mary Beth Mann Grealey, Leah Stephenson Wallace, Robin Bailey Hauser, Sabra Kea Green, June Moore Massengill, Holly Stephenson, Lynn Dixon Pate, Janet Cozart, Melissa Williams Lowery, Molly Williams Harris and Carol Ann Brake. The FTA (Furthest Traveled Award) goes to Margaret Park Hahn (Denver, Colo.) and Susan Gardner (Mass.). Susan is a big environmental honcho up in Massachusetts and used to work in D.C. (and before that in Mexico!). I can’t remember her impressive job title but she has swum with whales, tracked whales, something like that. Elizabeth Grine Blount lives in
COLLEGE
HIGH SCHOOL
Pirate Country, a.k.a. GreenVegas, N.C., where I was born and bred. She spends her free time at the beach and just finished the docent program at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she was happy she had not lost all her brain cells after raising two children. Daughter Mable Blount ’17 is attending Saint Mary’s, and son William will be going to Virginia Episcopal School in the fall, along with Sally Maddison Wooten’s son George and the son of Jane McNair Marr ’84HS. Hopefully, they won’t get up to as much fun as their mothers. Sally’s daughter Maddison (wonder where they got that name?) will attend Saint Mary’s as a freshman this fall. She won the Capital Scholarship, which is given to a Wake County student who wants to board. She will be a day student this year and a boarder her sophomore year. Lynn Cowell Ives’s daughter, Jane Ives ’17, is a rising junior at Saint Mary’s, as is my niece, Virginia Pace ’17. Glad I got some Saint Mary’s representation through my brother. Katie Sullivan Landi’s son, Edward, graduated from Broughton High School in Raleigh and will attend N.C. State in the fall. Unfortunately, Kelley Edmondson could not make it over from London but Sally M. Wooten will see her in June. Kelley saw Tiffany Compton Wigbels in Atlanta recently. Tiffany has a new business with The India Hicks lifestyle line, and she looked absolutely smashing at the reunion, as usual! Sabra Kea Green is an assistant principal at Hearne Elementary School in Wilson, and her Wilson comrade-in-arms, Janet Cozart, is an assistant teacher at The Raleigh School (guess what? That’s in Raleigh!). Jane Kollsmanperger MacMillan is continuing to shape great minds as a Montessori teacher
63
CLASS news
Class of 1985C (left to right): front row: Beth Bynum Radulovic, Lisa Clayton Benton second row: Marian Brown Lang, Anne Raymer Cox, Kate-Rucker Taylor, Leigh Ann Corter Watson Class of 1985 High School at the Friday night Reunion Weekend party in Smedes Hall.
in Raleigh. Mary Mac Ogden Motley’s daughters are incredibly talented and gorgeous. What would you expect from Mary Mac? What you might not expect is that her eldest daughter is going to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis! Just for kicks, I looked up their acceptance rate – 7.4 percent! I think we can agree that her daughter is not lazy. She plays the violin beautifully, as does her sister - and I was a witness to that talent, although my unmusical ears probably didn’t realize how great they are - has a soccer scholarship at the Naval Academy and enjoys ballroom dancing as a hobby (the dancing part makes me think of Mary Mac; her Orchesis genes came out there!). I think if they put her on the recruiting poster, captioned with “I want YOU!” the military will have young men lining up in droves. Ironically, my cousin’s daughter, also from Asheville, will be in Annapolis this fall as well. Asheville must have some good water, not just tofu. For RP, I’m still in Raleighwood, and I have an interior design business (my website is
64
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
www.rebeccahlpacedesign.com) and I also have a business with Arbonne International, a health and wellness company, which I enjoy. I just went to Arbonne’s international conference in Las Vegas, the antithesis of health and wellness. Walking around Vegas, I thought of Reese Witherspoon’s comment in “Sweet Home Alabama” that says, “You have a baby… in a bar!” I then went on to L.A. and had fun visiting college friends. I hope y’all are doing well and I look forward to seeing you in five years, if not before. Rebecca
1985 COLLEGE
Anne Raymer Cox ’85C Greetings, class of 1985. I can’t believe that it’s been 30 years since we left Saint Mary’s. Where has the time gone? It is also hard to believe that we have all either turned 50 this year or will be turning 50! I say 50 is the new 30! We had a small, but mighty, group at Reunion Weekend. Those in attendance
were Kate Taylor, Miriam Brown Lang, Beth Bynum Radulovic, Leigh Ann Corter Watson and Lisa Clayton Benton. It was great being back on campus – things have certainly changed since I was last there! Kate Taylor lives in Raleigh and reported that she has plans to hike Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in September. The elevation is 19,336 feet - WOW! Kate, please take and share some pictures when you reach the summit. Kathy Keel ’83HS ’85C is happy to report that daughter Lucy Mae Rascoe ’15 graduated from Saint Mary’s on May 17th! Daughter Katie Rascoe ’17 is a rising junior at Saint Mary’s. Kathy still lives in Edenton. Beth Bynum Radulovic lives in Raleigh and shared that son Michael will be a freshman at N.C. State in the fall. Daughter Emily just completed her freshman year of high school. Lisa Clayton Benton is attending nursing school and has two daughters at Meredith College. Miriam Brown Lang lives in Raleigh and has been happily married for 12 years to husband Alex. They recently moved into a new home and have enjoyed working on the house and getting settled
ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER in. Carolyn Thornton Swanson reported that daughter Allie Swanson ’16 attends Saint Mary’s and will graduate next year. It has been a great experience, and Allie has built a strong academic foundation and participated in sports, dance, theatre, arts, leadership opportunities and educational travel. Allie is president of the senior Class of 2016. They are so pleased with what Saint Mary’s has been able to offer Allie. Anne deRosset Falatko still lives in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two boys (8 and 6). She recently celebrated her 50th birthday with Meg Adams Massey ’83HS ’85C and Sydney Lassiter Lowe. Anne works for Celerity, a company that she and a group of people started in 2002. They now have close to 600 employees and build award-winning websites and mobile apps for clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. Anne reports that Meg had a fun girl’s trip to Austin, Texas, this past February with Margaret Sydnor Jenkins ’83HS and Isabelle Irwin Pope. Susan Somers Rothschild ’83HS ’85C, Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C and Ellen Toler ’83HS ’85C all live in Atlanta and had dinner together recently to celebrate their 50th birthdays. Leigh Ann Corter Watson lives in Raleigh. Her daughter, Beverly Watson ’18, just completed her first year at SMS. She also has a 10-year-old son who attends Lacy Elementary School. Coco Young Bancroft writes from La Jolla, Calif., that her son Tommy will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall and will play football (long snapper) for the Tar Heels! Coco said that they will be travelling to North Carolina a lot over the next four years. Laura Richardson Krulder ’83HS ’85C has two children, Anna and Erich. She teaches fourth-grade language arts and social studies at The Sandhills Renaissance School in Moore County, N.C. As for me, it’s been a bit of a challenging year. I lost my mother recently, so it’s been a struggle to adjust to life with both parents being gone. It will just take time. I still live in Charlotte and work for Wells Fargo as an employee
“Bloody Royal Prints” by Reba White Williams '54HS “Bloody Royal Prints,” by Reba White Williams ’54HS, the latest Coleman and Dinah Greene mystery, is filled with the extraordinary character dynamics and multilayered plots that readers have come to expect from one of the exciting new voices in mystery fiction. The fellowship at the Art Museum of Great Britain was too good for Dinah to pass up. She never expected that she’d find herself homesick and unhappy. With her husband Jonathan busy opening a London branch of his investment banking business and with her cousin Coleman home in New York struggling to get her second magazine up to speed, Dinah feels very much alone. Fortunately, she makes friends with Rachel Ransome and, through her, meets a member of the royal family. Things seem to be turning around, until Rachel comes under suspicion of the Palace Police, sweeping Dinah into her troubles. Now Coleman needs to come to England to help as the source of Rachel’s difficulties becomes more apparent – and more vexing. Can the three women join forces to extricate themselves from a conflict that goes back centuries? Reba’s novels have been praised by Kirkus Reviews and Publisher’s Weekly. Kirkus Reviews called “Fatal Impressions,” “an engaging continuation of Williams' chicklit-meets-mystery series.” “Bloody Royal Prints” promises to be another hit in this dynamic series set in the art world featuring the Southern Belle cousins, Coleman and Dinah Greene. Reba White Williams is an American author, philanthropist, and expert on fine art prints. As a novelist, her influences include Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. She and her husband, Dave H. Williams, built the world's largest private collection of American prints; they also founded the Print Research Foundation. She and Dave Williams are also co-creators of The Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. After graduating from Saint Mary’s high school in 1954, Reba earned a B.A. from Duke University. She is a former member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Mary’s. “Bloody Royal Prints” | July 2015 | ISBN: 9781440585487 | rebawhitewilliams.com Other Books by Reba White Williams ’54HS: “Restrike” | “Fatal Impressions” | “Angels”
Reba White Williams and Muffin
65
CLASS news relations manager. I can’t believe that I have been with the bank for 18 years. It’s also a big year for me because I, too, turn 50 and celebrate 10 years of marriage. My husband, Kevin, and I plan on taking a trip to Oregon to celebrate both milestones. It was great hearing from those who sent in news. If you have not updated your contact information recently, please call or email the alumnae office. It would be wonderful to hear from more of you. Take care! Anne
1987
HIGH SCHOOL Cameron Brownlow '87HS '89C married David Fields on April 10, 2015, in an intimate outdoor ceremony at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
1987
Class of 1990HS (left to right): kneeling, Ashley Langley Smith, Tisha Carroll Edrington; standing: Julie-Ann Holland Cobb, Louise Harris, Stephanie Bishop Williams, Meg Tuttle Powell, Julie Hamilton Caviness, Lea Ann Boykin Cook, Jennifer Culberson Wood, Suzanne Wayne Johnson
COLLEGE
Chrissy Bolin Rand ’87C Only one person took me up on fabricating something glamorous for the newsletter: June Ivey Manning wrote that she recently starred in a romance movie with Matthew McConaughey, but she prefers the simple life in Oxford as the CFO of Union Bank. Seriously, June and her husband recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. Their daughter, Daisy, just completed her first year at UNC-Chapel Hill, and son Ethan has been accepted at the N.C. School of Science and Math for junior and senior years. Marcy Everett Voelkel writes, “My daughter Hope (16) is in the 2017 class at Saint Mary’s. She loves Saint Mary’s, and I love having her there! She is in class with the daughters of Elizabeth Grine Blount ’87C and Lynn Cowell Ives ’87C. I love that! Son McLean (18) will be joining Carter (20) at UNC-Chapel Hill next fall. We are so happy to have them together in college and not far from home. Eleanor White Hunter and I enjoy pottery hand-building together.” Margaret Hambrick Glaze
66
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
writes, “Gene and I are happy. Married 20 years. Mary Caroline is 14, Catherine is 13 and Wilson is 10. My sweet dad died Feb. 16, 2015.” Elizabeth Gardner has been a meteorologist with WRAL -TV, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh, for 17 years. She says, “I tell everybody that I started when I was 10, but you gals know better!” Elizabeth has a 9-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son, with whom she enjoys skiing, snowboarding and whitewater kayaking. She helped the City of Raleigh put together a kid's kayak clinic that runs six weeks in the spring and fall. She also founded the Falls Whitewater Park Committee, which is a non-profit corporation working to bring a whitewater park to the Neuse River. Of this project she says, “We've been working on it a long time, but continue to make baby-steps and one of these days it's going to happen! That keeps me busy, along with trail running and mountain biking, as well as hauling the kids to piano and soccer.” Kathy Kistler Kraft's daughter, Mary Kathryn, graduated
from Virginia Episcopal School (VES) and attends Ole Miss. Daughter Rebecca is a freshman at Tennessee and very involved in Greek leadership. Daughter Phoebe will be a freshman at VES in the fall, but first has summer plans to travel to Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal and London. Kathy and husband Daniel travel a lot, rehabbing midcentury modern homes designed by Edward Loewenstein. Kiki Pullen West moved from Jacksonville, Fla., to Milwaukee, Wis., in the spring. Ed has a new job there that he loves. Son Garrett graduated from Hillsdale College in May and will attend Yale Law School in the fall. Gill graduated from PEP high school and will attend Hillsdale College this fall. Kiki is thankful that Hillsdale is a lot closer to Milwaukee than it was to Jacksonville! Nicholas will be in high school and Anna in middle school. Kiki says, “We are looking forward to making new friends in a new town.” Martha Anne Allen Dubose writes, “Blaine and I have been living in Greensboro for
25 years now and are coming up on our 25th anniversary! Carson, our 21-year-old daughter, is currently a junior at UNCWilmington. She has loved Wilmington so much. Blaine, our 19-year-old son, is finishing up a gap semester in Bolivia and is excited to start his freshman year at Appalachian State University in the fall. Allie (16) is a sophomore at Greensboro Day School. Feeling blessed. Would love to see you all at our next reunion!” Katherine Respess continues to enjoy her career in home furnishings with JANUS et Cie. She says, “My retail responsibilities carry me to finer boutique retailer stores east of the Mississippi and my contract and hospitality responsibilities carry me throughout North Carolina, working with our contract dealers and design firms who specify our beautiful products for hotels, resorts, restaurants and such. I love living in North Carolina, surrounded by my loved ones, out in the country on Old Baucom Road. I am very blessed!” Catharine Hawes Hamrick still lives in beautiful Evanston, Ill. She has three children. Jackson just finished seventhgrade, Sophie finished 10th-grade, and Anna has completed her sophomore year at the University of Texas - Austin. Catharine is a communication consultant at Aon Hewitt and a board member at Housing Options, an organization that provides housing and support services for individuals who have a severe mental illness. Catharine encourages everyone to come visit Chicago - but come in the summer! As for me, Will and I celebrate our 27th anniversary in October. As my kids grow up and out, I’m just hanging in there. I’m writing my second novel, “Ash Wednesday.” If you want a fun beach read, my first novel, “Brightleaf,” is on Kindle. My pen name is Raleigh Rand. See you at the next reunion!
1989
HIGH SCHOOL Heath Dalton Parker ’89HS ’91C Cameron Brownlow '87HS '89C married David Fields on April 10, 2015, in an intimate outdoor ceremony at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Gina Crow Hartness has remarried and recently moved back to the Raleigh area with her husband Igor Jablokov, and daughter Eugenia Hartness. Eugenia (11) will be in the sixth-grade at St. Timothy's School. She is already talking about going to Saint Mary's! I live in Raleigh with my husband Thad, and two children, Kate (7) and Owen (5). At the last reunion I volunteered to be the class secretary TO collect everyone's notes for the magazine. So please, send me your updates at heathdparker@gmail.com! You can also join the “Saint Mary's High School Class of 1989” Facebook page to reconnect with class friends. I am looking forward to hearing from you all soon! Heath
1989 COLLEGE
Laura Query ’89C Greetings everyone! I was just looking at my calendar last week and realized it has been 27 years since we graduated from SMC. Time keeps flying, so let’s be sure we keep up! I received very little news this time around and I’d really love to hear what each of you has been up to and “catch up!” Jennifer Stone works for Pinnacle Real Estate Group located near North Hills in Raleigh. She continues to live in Rocky Mount, just up the road! As for me, I continue to work for Nationwide Insurance 25 years! My experiences with this company have been varied, so I get to keep learning and growing. I am co-leading our personal lines processing operation across seven locations, and my suitcase stays partially packed! Personally, I enjoy time with my sister and her family, who live outside
Cleveland, and I get in as much beach time as possible on each trip home to North Carolina. Hope to hear from all of you in our next newsletter so we can stay connected. Until then, take care of yourselves and your families. Laura
1991
HIGH SCHOOL Cynthia Youngblood Rutherford lives in Newport, near Morehead City.
1991 COLLEGE
Gina Hamill Donahoo ’91C Janet Poythress Beaver and her family have moved to Morehead City. “Chad, Caroline (rising seventh-grader) and I are loving it!” reports Janet. “ I work for Craven County Schools teaching ESL in Havelock. I have so enjoyed running into SMC alums down here! Look me up if you’re down this way!”
1993
HIGH SCHOOL Claudia Bishop Stubbs ’93HS Unfortunately, Jennifer Boleman Ford celebrated her 40th birthday with the flu, bronchitis and then pneumonia. But, luckily she recovered and recently hosted a 1980s theme party including costumes, gummy bear beverages and a candy buffet. She recently got a promotion at work and is now managing communications for the finance technology division of Bank of America. Her three kids (11, 8 and 4) keep her and her husband extremely busy. She recently took them on a tour of Saint Mary’s on their way to the Outer Banks. She loved seeing several Saint Mary’s girls this past fall for a Charlottesville, Va., wine country tour – Claudia Bishop Stubbs, Leah McCotter Eller, Cameron Dixon Currie, Betsy Ward Price and Elizabeth Blackwood.
67
CLASS news Betsy Ward Price and her husband are getting ready to build a log cabin. Betsy has five step-grandchildren. She loves her job as middle school teacher for exceptional children. Leah McCotter Eller greatly enjoys working for the ophthalmologist in town. She works three days a week, but was hoping to cut down on her hours when the kids are out for the summer. Wills keeps busy with tennis, Kung Fu and coach-pitch baseball. Bay is all girl - so prissy, and she loves dance and gymnastics. She will start kindergarten this fall. Cameron Dixon Currie keeps busy with her two children, Tyler and Mackenzie. They are in every sport imaginable. Mackenzie continues to sing and dance, and actually went on a Broadway audition while they were in New York City in April. Her pursuit of being an entertainer has basically taken over their lives. Cameron works at the Naval Academy as a nutritionist. She also teaches a Zumba class once a week and writes a blog, “The Proper Plate.” She went to South Beach in Miami with husband Jason for her 40th birthday. Elizabeth Blackwood lives in Wilmington. She has enjoyed many get-togethers recently with Saint Mary’s girls. Missy Pierce Long also lives in Wilmington. She stays very busy with her children’s school and lacrosse. Both Jack and Ben play rec league and travel team lacrosse, and Jack plays for the middle school team at his school. And, Scott coaches all three! Sometimes she feels like all they do is lacrosse. Jack will be a seventh-grader in the fall and Ben will be in fifth-grade. Heather Gibson is still in medical device sales, but working with a new company in regenerative medicine. She loves her job and is looking forward to celebrating her 40th birthday this year with SMC girls. Pany Seyed Allen will celebrate her 15-year anniversary with Joe in July. They had fun taking the kids to Saint Mary's last year to take family pictures. They met 20 years ago in front of Smedes for their first date. Joseph (8) and Jaden (5) keep them busy with sports and Scouts. She loves
68
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
her job at SAS, planning marketing events at universities. She just celebrated 12 years there. Corbin Williams Neuner celebrated the big 4-0 in the British Virgin Islands with the family for spring break. She is heading to London and Paris this summer for a little culture with the kids and John. She spends time volunteering for an art non-profit called ART 180, doing development as well as volunteering at Collegiate School. Helen Nobles enjoys her job as a certified nurse aid at Genesis in Salisbury. She moved into a new condo in March and has a new cat. She is loving life right now and can't wait to see what the future holds! As for me, I am still in Richmond and working part time as an SLP. James is now seven and John Bayley is four. They keep us busy with sports and activities. This has been a great year for me. I have been quietly thinking of this year as my own “Road to 40.” With that, I set out to accomplish some personal goals and spend time with some of my most favorite people. I embarked on a journey to get healthier and boy, do I feel better! I also completed my first Monument Ave 10K with my sister, Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS, and went snow skiing for the first time in about 10 years! I am so thankful to have been able to spend a great weekend this past November with some of my most favorite people in my life—Saint Mary’s girls Jennifer Boleman Ford, Leah McCotter Eller, Cameron Dixon Currie, Betsy Ward Price and Elizabeth Blackwood. It was great reliving old times and enjoying some beautiful wineries in the Charlottesville, Va., area. There is just nothing like being with Saint Mary’s girls. I look forward to really ringing in my 40th with my husband Jim in Las Vegas in June. I am also looking forward to time at the beach this summer and continuing to reconnect with old friends. I hope everyone has been doing well. It really is hard to believe that we reach another major milestone this year BUT, if this is 40, then I am READY! XOXO, Claudia
1993 COLLEGE
Dow Perry Crowder ’91HS ’93C Sara Apple Wolcott graduated from nursing school in May 2014 and started working on the neuro/general surgery floor at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington in October. She and her amazing children, Tad (11) and Madeline (9) live in Alexandria, Va. Chrissy Griffin Grier lives in Cornelius, N.C. Daughter Mary Logan (14) is a freshman in high school; son Jack (12) is in sixth grade, and son Holt (9) is in the second grade. Chrissy is a stay-at-home mom and loves that role. Jennifer Stocks is vice president of Original Programming at Figure 8 Films in Carrboro. She lives in Raleigh with her husband Jay Ballenger and two precious angel babies, Daisy (5) and Elliott (1). Valerie Van Oosten Cline started working for a new company, Caliber Home Loans, as a loan officer. This is her 12th year in the industry. Her BIG news is the addition of baby girl Caroline Curran Cline on June 12, 2014. Valerie says that Caroline fills their home with love and laughter and completes their family. Son Aidan is a great big brother, and he is completely enamored with her. He is Caroline’s favorite person and always brings a smile to her face. Aidan will be five in July, loves school, and has never met a stranger. Last, but not least, Kevin and Valerie will celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary this year! Emily Sprouse Leslie lives in Zebulon and works at GlaxoSmithKline. She sends thanks to everyone who donated money to purchase the brick in memory of Anne Avery Harlin. The brick has been installed, so the next time you are at Saint Mary's look for it in the area in front of Pittman Auditorium. Shannon Jones Shackelford and husband Tim live in Raleigh with their nine-year old son who plays tennis and keeps them busy. She sees her 21 year old stepson often - usually for dinner! They love spending weekends at White Lake. They also have a
white German Shepherd puppy and love him to pieces! Ann Akers Douglas is still living in Clearwater, Fla., with husband Joe and three boys (Caden (12), Grant (11) and Charlie (9). They recently bred their male Lab and got just what they needed - another dog! It was quite the learning experience for all of them and her boys loved it. Ann is the co-owner of For the Love of Boutique. It is fun and keeps her busy - like three boys aren’t enough! But, she does love fashion! Her boys are into sports, sports and more sports, and she loves every minute of it. Being the only girl in the house (except for new dog, Rose) is both exhausting and rewarding. She says it is fun learning all about these boys. She miss our days at Saint Mary’s, but loves that we keep in touch and treasures our memories. Jamie Brantley Fernandez de Castro reports that this is going to be a very exciting year for her family. Husband, Miguel's company decided to move the executive offices to Sarasota, Fla. They found a wonderful house that they are currently renovating and expect to move in this July. They can't wait to be back on the water! It's bittersweet, as they love Atlanta and have enjoyed the past 13 years there. Atlanta is “home” for the children, and it's hard to leave friends and the familiar surroundings, but they are all excited to experience something new again! Alex (12) is finishing his first year of middle school. He’s done a fantastic job! Nicolas (9) has rocked the third-grade and continues to be a charmer. Tristan (7) has had a most exciting first-grade year, reading and writing in both Spanish and English at The Atlanta International School. Sweet Natalie (4) is such a special gift to all of her big and little brothers. She is finishing her last year of primary and will begin her Pre-K year in the fall. The youngest fireball, Braden (3), is the life of the party, has a heart of gold and is the busiest, most daring, toughest and most tender child she’s experienced thus far! As for Jamie, she is just trying to stay organized, healthy and one step ahead of her crew. She loves being a mother and a wife. She feels like things have finally come to a point in life that she has a little more time for herself and Miguel. She says it's hard to believe she doesn’t have little babies anymore, but it's amazing to watch each of them grow into their own special and unique selves. Oh, and she can't forget their precious pup, Sydney, an Aussiedoodle. She says she can't wait to read other friends’ news, so that is why it’s important to share your news! Cheers! Ann Lee Johnson and husband Gill have been married for 15 years. They live in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., with their two sons Gill (13) and Smyth (11), who keep them busy. Ann is an assistant teacher at a preschool in Mt. Pleasant. Camilla May lives in Raleigh. She recently started a new job at the North Carolina State University vet school. She is assisting professors at the vet school with writing and reviewing proposals to federal sponsors in hopes of getting funding for research. She says she absolutely loves it and could not be happier. Kristy Bumgarner has changed jobs in the past year. She left the building industry for the medical industry.
Class of 1995HS (left to right): front row: Lynn Pritchett Harrington, Ann Powell Whitehurst, Dickens Whitley Sanchez; second row: Frances Carstarphen Jenkins, Emily Harer Russell, Liz Johnson
Class of 1995C (left to right): front row: Laurie Deatherage Cram, Jane Twamley Kendall second row: Ashley Dawson Forbes, Cassie Warrington, Michelle Oppegaard, Charlotte Kosanin Nelson, Christy Anderson Harris
69
CLASS news She is working for medichest.com, an online drugstore specializing in health and beauty. Daughter Kate (2) started preschool in January, which was perfect timing, as that is when Kristy switched jobs. They were looking forward to summer and catching up with family and friends. Susan Cathey Strickland (Bird) and Lauren Counts Holcombe (Goat) are her neighbors, and she loves catching up with them as often as possible. Kristy gives a big hello to everyone and hopes you are all doing great! Kristi Moyer Davis lives in Raleigh with her two children, Kensly (13) and Corbin (9). She operates her own business, Water Guard Inc., which is based in Wilson. Dow Perry Crowder is in Raleigh. I’m still enjoying my job as a QA Specialist for a pharmaceutical company. I work from home which is a luxury! Being a mother is by far my greatest joy! My husband, Jason, and I have our hands full with a usually sweet, but always sassy daughter, Lilly (3 in September). When I tell her no, she tells me I’m not using my nice manners. I really wish Saint Mary’s would consider a daycare/ elementary school! I’ve loved hearing from all of you and catching up on your news! xoxo, Dow
1995
High School Julie Johnson Babb ’95HS Cooper Thornhill lives in Raleigh, going on her 12th year working at Bryant & Ivie Law firm. She is looking forward to taking pastry classes at The French Pastry School in Chicago this summer. Frances Carstarphen Jenkins lives in Morehead City. Her children are Ford (10), and Marian Grey (7), whom she hopes will get a soccer scholarship to Saint Mary’s one day! Frances works as a real estate broker at ReMax Ocean Properties in Morehead. It’s a busy time, but she loves it. Catherine Fowler Ussery reports that her immediate family is good, with Parker (8) and Wilson
70
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
(5). They are both precious children, and she says she can't believe how fast the last few years have gone. Todd still has a homebuilding business and Catherine is home with the kids. Dickens Whitley Sanchez enjoys her time as account manager at Clean Design in Raleigh and is raising three beautiful children, Harper (5), Emmaline (3) and Raeford (2), with her husband of seven years. Elizabeth Stark Harris writes that she and Barnes have recently moved outside of Winston-Salem to Advance, N.C., where they have a small farm. They continue to homeschool their three children: Barnes, Jr. (9), Anna (7) and Henry (5). She is enjoying riding horses again and being outdoors with the kids exploring, riding bikes and playing. Emily Harer Russell and her two boys live within walking distance to the elementary school where (perfectly healthy) Eli is in kindergarten, making it super easy to volunteer when desired. Smith is holding steady in preschool, although he's ready to go to school with his big bro. Emily volunteers at The Green Chair Project in Raleigh, sits on the board of the Guild at Duke Raleigh Hospital and teaches Sunday School for a new site, Church on Morgan, a “table” of Edenton Street United Methodist Church. She had so much fun with the girls who were able to make it for the high school reunion, and hopes to make the idea of a reunion getaway weekend a reality soon, so all should stay tuned! Laura Bell Parker said she hates that she missed the reunion. “I'm just crazy right now, opening my own business. My update is that I'm opening my own Med Spa. The name is going to be SkinSense,” reports Laura. Fiquet Bailey Swain is practicing real estate with Allen Tate and loving it! She closed Luxe and opened Bailey & Scott Beauty Counter inside of Fleur with Eliza Jenkins Stoecker ’96HS. Liz Johnson is another Raleigh entrepreneur, still enjoying Revolver after more than nine years. As for me, Julie Johnson Babb, my husband Russell and I welcomed our daughter, Georgia Lucille Babb, on May 8, 2015. We are thrilled to
have this new addition to our family. Her older brother Charlie (4) says he "likes his goldfish better because it is not so loud." We are keeping our fingers crossed that he will come around! Julie
1995 COLLEGE
Tate Tattersall Garrison ’95C Hello Class of ’95C! Hope this finds all of you well! It was so good to hear from some of you and also to keep up with you through social media! Looks like everyone is busy with careers, children, travelling, and life’s happenings in general. Jane Twamley Logan lives with her husband in downtown Carrboro, along with their gaggles of domestic geese and ducks, two dogs, two cockatiels, one crazy cockatoo and a cat. A majority of these animals have special needs and all have been adopted, rescued or surrendered to them. Jane continues to work at UNC Healthcare full time as a registered nurse, but life on the farm keeps her busy, broke and truly happy. She attended our recent reunion and had a fabulous time exploring our old stomping grounds and spending time with old friends. Sarah Page Allen continues to work as a nurse at MUSC in Charleston, S.C., and stays busy keeping up with her busy boys (9 and 6). Heather Gibson is in medical device sales, and working with a new company in regenerative medicine. She loves her job and is looking forward to celebrating her 40th birthday this year with SMC girls. Ashley Dawson Forbes attended our 20th reunion and loved seeing “all my girls!” She and husband Jack love living in Raleigh. They live right beside her sister, Parker Dawson York ’91C, and all of their children are the best of friends. Julia Belle is 6, and Ben is 4. Ashley loves being able to stay at home with her children right now. Carla Murray keeps up with us on Facebook and is the assistant principal at Siler City Elementary. She loves coming to school with her sweet boys - Cole is in fifth grade and Owen is in kindergarten. Cassie Warrington finally made the big step into suburbia this year. She gave up a five-minute commute into N.Y.C. for
FACULTY BOOK CORNER a wonderful little beach town in New Jersey. She sold her condo in Hoboken and moved to Manasquan. She continues to work for Fidelity Investments (12 years in July) and spends more time on an airplane and in hotels than at home, so she figured she should enjoy her down time when she has it! She says she is looking forward to trading in her stilettos for flip-flops and settling into her little beach bungalow. She sends her love and hugs to everyone. She remarks that as much of a cliché as it is, she loves keeping up with everyone and watching their families grow on Facebook. I am still in Raleigh with my two children, Thatcher (9) and Amelia (6). They keep me extremely busy and entertained all the time! We will spend another summer at the beach and, as always, hope to see some of you down by the coast! It’s always so wonderful to hear from you all and stay in touch though all these venues. My very best and lots of love to you all. Xo t
1997
HIGH SCHOOL Alice Manning Touchette ’97HS Charlotte Roberts Baroody joined global shoe company Bella Ha as their fashion advisor. In addition, she is very active with styling business, Revere. She gave birth to her third child, Charles Roberts Baroody, on March 7, 2014. Amanda Best moved to the Washington, D.C., area a couple of years ago from the New Jersey and New York area. She traded practicing law for e-discovery project management. Last November, she officiated at the wedding of Christiana Brewer and Scott Shinn, which Amanda says was pretty awesome, and Christiana was a beautiful bride. Amanda recently returned from a vacation in Mexico and was looking forward to summer— she’s done with snow. She has fond memories of class with Dr. Esthimer, and she wishes him a relaxing and wonderful retirement. Christina Brewer Shinn sent more details on her marriage to Scott Reid Shinn on November 7, 2014, at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Va. They were so happy to have the wedding officiated by fellow alumna Amanda Best, on her birthday, no less! (That may have been the weirdest and most dubious birthday "gift" she’s ever given her, but it was a wonderful ceremony and totally worth it.) Scott and Christina primarily reside in Arlington, Va., with their illegitimate six-year old, hairy, Samoyed dog-son, Toki, who is the reason they requested (and received) a case of lint rollers on their wedding registry. She hopes everyone is doing well! Kimberly Ballard Calhoun finally moved back to North Carolina after spending almost four years in Syracuse, N.Y. Her new address is: 2619 Mulberry Lane, Greenville, NC 27858. Her son Gavin is turning 10 in August. Maria Block Fields lives in Raleigh with husband Mike and three daughters, Mary Grace, Riley and Kate. Meredith Joyner is now the event coordinator for the Town of Atlantic Beach. She and her three children John Wilson (10), Catherine (8) and Joyner (5), stay busy with school and fishing in the summer. Jessica Nance Rushing is still happily married to Chris and is a stay-at-home mom to her two year-old angel. Alice Manning Touchette gave birth to her second son, George Manning Touchette, on March 23, 2015.
"Creatures in the Kitchen" By William Charles Schirado Illustrated by Teresa Assenzo, Saint Mary’s Director of Visual Arts and Instructor of Art Saint Mary’s Director of Visual Arts Teresa Assenzo has illustrated a delightful new children’s book, “Creatures in the Kitchen.” Her vivid, whimsical illustrations provide the perfect visual complement to the rhymes by William Charles Schirado. Barnes & Noble recaps the book with this overview. “Some foods will taste swell right out of the chute. Others have all the taste of sheets made of jute. How to bring them to life? Just throw in some spice. Have you ever seen cats salt and pepper their mice? I don’t think so, of course not; A cat wouldn’t dare … In a country where its people have no taste, mix up strange odors, and eat in great haste, a group of seeds decides they have had enough! After they create a kitchen to prepare food and drink, the seeds begin teaching all the citizens of Lorem Ipsem how to grow a garden, take care of animals, and the importance of a tongue for tasting. But that is not all—children also learn about how the nose ears, eyes, and teeth help them while eating; why meat and vegetables are so delicious, and what spices make foods taste yummy. ‘Creatures in the Kitchen’ is a delightfully colorful book of rhymes about the five senses for children and parents to read, talk about and enjoy together.” Assenzo is an artist, illustrator and educator, who holds an M.F.A. in painting and drawing from California College of Art; an M.A. in psychology/counseling from Western Michigan University; and a B.F.A. in drawing and painting from Kendall College of Art and Design. “Creatures in the Kitchen” is one of numerous books she has illustrated. “Creatures in the Kitchen” | ISBN-13: 9780966016642 Publisher: TW Publishing | Sold by: Barnes & Noble
71
CLASS news
Class of 2000: Katherine Robbins
1997 COLLEGE
Kristin Woods Williamson '97C Dear friends! It was so fun hearing from you, and I’m glad to report things are well with our classmates. I was so touched by the recent news of Sweet Briar College’s pending closing. It brought back lots of sweet memories of our time together at Saint Mary’s. Sheldon Elliot Currier and husband Tom are celebrating 15 years of marriage this year. They live in Charlotte with their three girls, Bladen (11), Renie (9) and Mary Elliot (5), in addition to two dogs and a cat. She is writing and works on a contract basis and spends most of her time volunteering at the kids’ schools and non-profits in the area. It’s a busy time of life, but she’s enjoying it. Summer Auman Estes is in Greensboro. She and her husband Kevin have three children – Abby (almost 1), August (3) and Levi (7). She has a parttime private psychotherapy practice and is thinking about moving more into teaching, coaching and facilitating workshops in transformation and holistic care. She works to be as present as she can in full days
72
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
and enjoy the moments with life’s ups and downs. Christine Brackett Gordon and husband Jerry are in Signal Mountain, Tenn., just outside Chattanooga. She has really come to love the area. After working in healthcare marketing for 13 years, she recently changed jobs and now works for Unum, the leading provider for employee benefits in the United States. Outside of work, she is blessed with three girls: Jewel (13), Ella (11) and Sydney (4 ½). They keep her on her toes! Whitley Adkins Hamlin enjoys living near family in Charlotte, with husband Jon and sons Hank (7) and Worth (3). She has enjoyed growing her passion to a career as a personal commercial and editorial wardrobe stylist. She competed in the Boston Marathon in 2014 and qualified to run again in 2016. Hannah Purvis loves life in Wilmington, having been there since graduating from Saint Mary’s. She owned her own baking business, The Midnight Baker, from 2000-2008, and is now a supervisor with Verizon Wireless. She still enjoys creating festive cakes for friends and family. She has two dogs, Bella, a 10-year old Morkie and Charlie, a six-year old rescue Chihuahua. Melissa Lloyd Marotta lives in Apex with Tim, her husband of 15 years, and their golden doodle Skylar. She was recently promoted to regional director with Bell Partners. Emily Harer Russell and her two boys live in Raleigh. Perfectly healthy Eli is in kindergarten, and Smith is holding steady in preschool and ready to go to school with his brother. She volunteers at The Green Chair Project in Raleigh, sits on the board of the Guild at Duke Raleigh Hospital and teaches Sunday School for a new site, Church on Morgan, a “table” of Edenton Street United Methodist Church. My husband, Jenkins, and I are in Columbia, S.C., and enjoying our daughter Mercer, who was born December 24, 2013. After her birth, I left my job in nonprofit communications and marketing and recently opened an interior design shop, Travertine Home. Wishing you all the very best!
2001 Louise Beasley Warenda ’01 Jennifer Maupin Alexander returned to the Saint Mary’s Chapel in February to give a sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan, the gift of life and the importance of organ donation. She enjoyed seeing the girls and being back on campus again. Her daughter, Marguerite, will start pre-k at St. David's this fall. They made fun and special memories on their first big family trip to Disney World! Ashley Batts Allen writes that the Batts moved back to North Carolina in August. Ashley is now an assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Mary Catherine Benson lives in Raleigh and works for Bagwell & Bagwell Insurance. Kathryn Calder Barmore works for Broad River Furniture in Charlotte as marketing coordinator. The company is owned by Ashley Furniture, and, as part of her work, Kathryn worked with a project, partnering with the nonprofit, “Beds for Kids,” in which Ashley Furniture provides beds for children who otherwise do not have a proper bed. Kathryn was even interviewed on television news speaking about this wonderful program. Travis Manning Berk reports that 2014 was a big year for the Berk family! Adam and Travis bought a house in Valle Crucis. Travis became a fully-licensed marriage and family therapist. They had their first child, Eleanor “Jones” Berk, on December 28. Katie Borland’s son, Michael Thomas, is now a bubbling two-year-old, keeping Katie on her toes. After being laid off in January as a corporate recruiter, she decided to become a small business owner. Katie is in the beginning stages of starting a small online and retail business called Agapé Market. It will sell handcrafted and locallysourced products and donate a significant portion of profits back to local non-profits that successfully empower and support impoverished and hurting women. Ashton Burnette moved back from New York City
and lives in Raleigh. She enjoys dancing and practicing yoga often. Ashton recently joined TOURtech, a company that provides IT solutions to the live events and to the entertainment industry. Scarlett Slaughter Cape has been married for a little over ten years now to North Carolina State Trooper Matthew Cape. They have two wonderful and beautiful little boys: Wyatt Matthew (4) and Emmett Barron (17 months). Scarlett is a registered nurse. She spent the first seven years of her career in the operating room and the last three years as a manager and principal pharmacovigilance safety specialist with PPD in the Research Triangle. Scarlett enjoys what she is doing to help maintain safety in the pharmaceutical industry. Becca Jane Ayers Cody, husband Todd and daughter Penny still live in Arlington, Va. This year she earned her master’s in education (instructional design and technology) and recently accepted a role with Deloitte Consulting’s National Learning and Development Team. Austin Nash Coley and husband Cameron moved to Raleigh in February after living in Delaware for a few years. In April, they welcomed a baby boy, Palmer Nash Coley. Austin, Cameron and “Nash” are so happy to be back in Raleigh. In 2014, Chesney Fowler Lajczok, Mike and Caleb (2) moved back to Washington, D.C., and enjoy watching the sun set over the U.S. Capitol from their back deck. Chesney is an emergency medicine physician at a local hospital, and Mike works for NASA. Lizzy Hobgood Kass and husband Hunter are living in Hingham, Mass., with their children Barrett (4) and Carolina (2). Lee Crane Morris and husband continue to enjoy Charleston, S.C., and the surrounding areas with long weekend getaways. Lee has been with Benefitfocus for eight years and took a promotion in January to be a business analyst on the company's product team. Grayson Glisson Nichols is still enjoying Raleigh and frequent trips to Atlantic Beach. Their family welcomed Stewart Elinor Nichols on May 12, 2014.
Katherine Monaghan Nisbet and family welcomed John McDermott “Mac” Nisbet on March 4, 2015. Kate is enjoying life as a family of four while continuing to run her interior design business, Kate Nisbet Designs. Sara Frackelton Passero has been living in Dallas for four years with husband Evan. She just completed her master’s of science in counseling at Texas Woman's University in May. Sara will be working with clients who are victims of domestic violence. Lauren Rutherford Perry lives in Colerain with husband George and dogs Jackson and Harper. She works for the North Carolina Bankers Association and gave birth to George Donald Perry IV ("Ivey") on March 14, 2015. He was 6 lbs., 3oz., and 18 inches. Lauren and George are in love and enjoying every minute! Elizabeth “Chi” Andrews Preyer lives in Greensboro with husband Britt. She gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Elizabeth Dockery Preyer, on September 7, 2014. She works as a trauma nurse in the Moses Cone Hospital Emergency Department. She enjoys raising her daughter and being active in her church and the community. Meghan Sturgis Reynolds lives in Wake Forest with her husband and two daughters, Bella (4) and Virginia (2). She works part time from home for two telecommunications companies. Outside of that, Meghan spends her time playing dress-up/princess or running around outside with her kids. Jaye Rhodes lives in Asheville with husband Simon and their two boys, Jonah (3) and Liam (1). Life is busy, wild, action-packed, challenging and full of sweetness. Jaye is either bursting at the seams with proud mama moments or close to losing her mind with frustrating ones. She’s expecting more of that for at least the next few years! Lindsey Suggs transitioned her film industry knowledge of silver screen set design to the real world by forming her own interior design company last summer. In June, she joined the Junior League of Wilmington's board of directors, where she serves as the communications vice president. She still loves spending time
with her Saint Mary's friends whenever she can. Thanks for continuing to stay in touch with me. We’re still in Raleigh, having a wonderful time raising Beasley (4) and Mary Bruce (1). This year marks 10 years for me at Capstrat. Please feel free to send me news anytime for inclusion in our upcoming letters. I’m very excited about our reunion next year and look forward to catching up with many of you in person. Congratulations to all of you. Love, Louise
2003 Shea Vause Gravely '03 Katharine McEnery married Stewart Pittman on October 7, 2014. The couple met while working for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and they reside in Williamsburg, Va. Louisa Walker married Perry Trouche on April 11, 2015, in the Saint Mary’s Chapel. They live in Perry’s hometown of Charleston, S.C., and Louisa is a registered nurse. Frances Crawford married Aiden Spencer on April 12, 2015, and they live in Raleigh. Janna Neisler married Doug William Myers on April 25, 2015, at her family’s beautiful plantation, Oakland Plantation, outside of Whiteville. The couple resides in Raleigh. Cassie Anderson has taken a job in Washington, D.C., working as a trademark attorney for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Meg Stacy graduated this past May from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Meg will sit for the bar exam in July. Elizabeth Moore finished her master’s degree in design from Boston Architectural College. Lizzie is now in D.C., working for Room and Board as a designer. Sandy Sawyer completed her master’s program in social work from Ohio State University back in 2012 and has recently passed her board exams to become a licensed clinical social worker for Thresholds in Chicago. Alex Marshall-Brown is now a budding stuntwoman, with credits in a Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming film, “The Hateful
73
CLASS news 8,” and she is working on stunt driving as well. Keep up to date with Alex at http:// alexmarshallbrown.squarespace.com/mediacredentials/. In Alex’s spare time, she has opened her own photography business called AlexMB Photography, which specializes in family and children portraiture. She is soon to become the lead photographer for the Africa Channel. Shea Vause Gravely and Bo welcomed their precious baby boy, James Morton Gravely III, on Sept. 3, 2014. Lindsay Alexander Strickland and Steven welcomed their precious baby girl, Elizabeth “Libby” Gray Strickland, on Sept. 15, 2014. Kate Yandell Reece and Mark welcomed their third precious girl, Kathryn “Mills” Reece to the world in October 2014. Not only is Kate an awesome mom, but she is also finishing up her MBA at Wake Forest this summer. Tatyana Sharoubim Stewart and Dr. Charles E. Stewart welcomed their precious baby boy, Bryon Makrum-Charles Stewart on January 17, 2015. Hunter Snell Schenk and Edward Schenk welcomed their precious baby boy, Edward Stroehnmann Schenk IV on March 7, 2015.
2005 Ila Walker Bittner ’05 The class of 2005 had a great turnout for our 10th reunion in April! It was great to see so many of you return to Saint Mary’s for the weekend’s festivities. If you couldn’t make it, we missed you and hope you will make it to our next one in 2020 (wow!). Casey Johnston Winslow lives on Ocracoke Island with her husband and their baby girl, Rowan. She runs a small spa on the island. Claire Cosgrove continues to live in Madrid, Spain, where she teaches in a bilingual primary school. Alex Baxter has graduated with her masters of science in mental health counseling from Georgia State University. She has accepted a position as a child and adolescent counselor at an outpatient group practice in Kennesaw, Ga. Laura Bennett lives in Raleigh and works
74
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
for RE/MAX on Glenwood South as a real estate broker. Caroline McClintic Flannery married Gary Flannery on September 6, 2014. They live in New Bern, where Caroline owns a Wine and Design franchise. Katherine Carlton lives in Raleigh and has been volunteering her time with the Friends of WakeMed Foundation as cochair of the fundraising committee. She was a bridesmaid in Caroline’s wedding. Julia Corbin Jones lives in Greensboro with her husband Rob and their dog Milly. Hannah Small has moved back to Raleigh after living in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Lindsay Cutting Ryals and her husband live in Holly Springs. They welcomed their sweet baby girl Reese into the world on February 25, 2015. Lindsay works part time at a clinic as a behavior technician practicing Applied Behavior Analysis. Mary Prak recently bought a townhome in Raleigh. She works as a nanny for two infants and loves her job! Clark Woodard works for Bagwell & Bagwell in Raleigh. Aaron Sermons graduated from physician’s assistant school at Duke University and is moving to Gainesville, Fla. Katie Skinner works for Moon and Lola in Raleigh. Alex Crimmins is living in New York City. She got a new job in January as an executive assistant at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Melody Emerson wrote from High Point to say she enjoyed being back on campus for the reunion. “How amazing it was to see the growth of the school and that even with many changes, the tradition and heart of Saint Mary's was still felt from the moment I drove onto campus,” she says. Melody is very involved in the community, serving on various boards, a member of a variety of organizations, working full time for one of the fastest growing and largest medical groups in the Southeast. She is also opening her own Pure Barre studio in High Point and finishing up her masters of strategic communication at High Point University. Nominated by her professors, Melody was recently awarded the Graduate Student Professional Engagement Award
for her work inside the class, as well as the professionalism she exhibits through her career and in the community. Melody led her company’s highly successful United Way campaign for 2014. This year, Melody is participating in the Leadership High Point class, sponsored by the High Point Chamber of Commerce to develop effective leaders for the community. As for me, Ila Walker Bittner, I am still living in Morehead City working for AmRisc. I enjoyed a birthday trip in January to St. Kitts with my husband and my parents.
2007 Kelly Prak Ford and her husband Dave live in Memphis, Tenn., where she continues to teach. This July will mark Sam Vaillancourt's second year of employment at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, where she recently received a promotion to associate business process consultant. In her spare time, Sam enjoys volunteering at UNC Hospital and getting together with her friends from Saint Mary's who live in the area. Mary Katherine Perry lives in Oxford, Miss., where she has a gift and interiors store called Katherine Beck.
2009 Betsy Church ’09 Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing well and having a great year. Here's the latest news about the Class of '09. Carolyn Bacchus loves her job as a health educator at Tulane University's Center for Wellness and Health Promotion in New Orleans, and says the highlight of her year was celebrating Profe Tyson's 40th birthday at Channing Tatum's bar. Mary Stewart Bailey is an account services and brand ambassador for a marketing company in Raleigh. She lives with Mary Southgate Dickson, who works as a talent management executive at Personify in Cary. Arrington Clark lives in New York City, planning special events for Sotheby's auction house. Ferebee Frazier is a human resource associate at Biologics, and lives with me (Betsy Church) in Raleigh. Sydney Johnson graduated from Meredith College in August 2014 with a degree in psychology, and just finished her K-6 Elementary Teacher License program through Meredith. She is moving to Denver, Colo., to look for a teaching job. Emma Carol Lewis moved back to Raleigh in October 2014 and loves her job as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston. Adams Paschal has been living in Washington, D.C., for two years, working in commercial real estate. She loves living in the same neighborhood with lots of SMS alumnae. Betsy Bryan Pitts has been living in New York for two years now. She works at Berman Capital Management, a small hedge fund focused on the retail and consumer sectors. She is keeping her Southern ties strong through involvement in the North Carolina Society of New York and the Duke Club of New York. She says that with great friends in New York and others always visiting, things are lots of fun in the Big Apple! Sara Bailey Stocks lives in Atlanta and manages a team of application support engineers at a mobile device management software company called AirWatch by VMWare.
Class of 2005 (left to right): front row: Alex Baxter, Katie Skinner, Clark Woodard, Sara Beth Mayo Sealy second row: Belle Farish, Hannah Small, Aaron Sermons, Melody Emerson, Lindsay Cutting-Ryals
Class of 2010 (left to right): front fow: Sarah Ann Rhoades, Kacie Thompson, Gates Killian, Catherine Doyle second row: Taylor Lail, Ashleigh Oxner, Hayley Harton, Mary Stuart Smart, Carrie Weaver, Olivia James, Taylor Morris, Lisa Michelson third row: Liza Wooten, Chandler Black, Gabie Craig, Katie Mitchell, Morgan Edrington, Emma Powell, Whitney Currin, Sophie Trotter fourth row: Laura Gulledge, Molly Bryant, Libby Farrell, Catherine Reynolds, Gabriella Kostrzewa, Louise Orr
75
CLASS news Lauren Vitek lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the Advisory Board Company as a project specialist for information systems and process engineering. She’s also helping to start a company in corporate travel and expense systems. Sara Williamson moved to Raleigh from Denver, Colo., and is attending Meredith College to earn a master’s degree in elementary education. I live in Raleigh with Ferebee, and am still loving my job in social media and public relations at Red Hat. Sending my love to you all! xoxo, Betsy
Saint Mary’s
Recurring Gift Program: an easy way to give
Saint Mary’s recurring gift program allows you to make your annual contribution through smaller monthly installments. Choosing the recurring gift option is an easy, convenient way to support Saint Mary’s Annual Fund. You may set up automatic monthly, quarterly or semiannual installments, as well as a single annual payment. You won’t have
2011
to remember to write and send a check, which means the number of phone
Sarah Randall Fuqua is finishing up her last year at the University of South Carolina.
make multiple credit card charges for the number of payments you specify.
2013 Aubrey Finley and sister Kendyl Finley ’11 had an opportunity to travel abroad this summer. They are with an N.C. State group travelling in Australia and New Zealand. “Lots of good sister time before she graduates in the fall of 2015,” says Aubrey.
and mail reminders you receive from the school will decrease. When you complete and return the online form, you are authorizing the school to Recurring gifts can be changed or cancelled at any time by contacting the Development Office at 919-424-4111.
To access the form, visit www.sms.edu/support_sms/gift_ authorization_form.pdf or contact Shannon Williams at 919-424-4104 or swilliams@sms.edu.
Thanks to generous alumnae, parents, friends, faculty and staff, Saint Mary’s School reached the 2014-2015 Annual Fund goal!
Thank you!
Class of 2015
76
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
The Heritage Society Eve Hargrave Smith ’53HS gives back to the school that gave so much to her
Eve Hargrave Smith ’53HS wanted to give back to Saint Mary’s, the school that had given her a strong academic education and prepared her for success as a college student at Duke University. Specifically, Eve wanted to help other young women have the opportunity to receive the same type of education she received as a high school boarder at Saint Mary’s in the 1950s. It is not surprising, then, that Eve and husband Sherwood established two endowed funds, the Eva Hackney Hargrave Smith Scholarship Endowment and the Katharine Rose Whitfield Scholarship Endowment, that provide scholarships for students who have academic promise and who would not be able to attend Saint Mary’s School without financial assistance.
“As costs have risen, it seems imperative that more financial assistance be available to deserving students,” says Eve.
Eve’s fondest memories of Saint Mary’s include “friends, Chapel, Evensong, Miss Bason and First East.”
Eve has enjoyed spending time with and getting to know recent scholarship recipients, and even forged a special friendship with one deserving scholar, Tara Elise Richard ’15 of Montrose, Colo., among others.
“My memories of friends, faculty and lifelong learning experiences at Saint Mary’s have been a tremendously important and valuable part of my life,” says Eve. “Living in Raleigh close to the school has enabled me to be involved in many activities, including being a parent and seeing two of my daughters develop as boarding students at Saint Mary’s.”
In addition to numerous major gifts made to Saint Mary’s during her lifetime, Eve says she has also included the school in her will, qualifying her for membership in the Heritage Society. This type of generous support to Saint Mary’s is just one way Eve has served the school over the years. She has also served in volunteer leadership roles, as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Alumnae Council, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Gifts, Acquisition and Decorating (GAD) Committee and has been a consistent donor to the Annual Fund and capital campaigns. In 2009, she was honorary chair of the Auction Gala.
The Smiths have three daughters – Marlin Smith Dohlman ’77HS, Cameron Smith Callaway ’80HS and Evie Smith Davis – and seven grandchildren. Their interests beyond Saint Mary’s include travel, grandchildren, the arts and Christ Church in Raleigh. Eve’s impact has been felt at Saint Mary’s for decades, and her thoughtful planning for the future, as a member of the Heritage Society will ensure that the Smith family legacy will live on in perpetuity.
If you are interested in leaving a legacy at Saint Mary’s through a planned gift, contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C, director of alumnae relations, at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171, to learn about becoming a Heritage Society member.
900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603–1689
address service requested
Scenes of Saint Mary’s Chief Marshal Caroline Fountain ’16 carries out a time-honored Saint Mary’s tradition of the dropping of the handkerchief at the conclusion of commencement, May 17, 2015, as she declares the 173rd year to be officially closed. (Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC Permit No. 102