Academic EXCELLENCE | Personal ACHIEVEMENT | WINTER 2019
A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS
Board of Trustees 2018-2019 Officers Gloria Taft Becker ‘92HS, Chair Dee Williamson Marley ‘77HS, Vice Chair Carter Warren Franke ‘75HS ‘77C, Secretary Stephen F. Later, Treasurer
Members At-Large Gloria Taft Becker ‘92HS (2020), Raleigh, N.C. Brooks Bell (2021), Raleigh, N.C. Anna Neal Blanchard ‘76HS (2021), Raleigh, N.C. Martin M. Boney (2019), Raleigh, N.C. Martin W. Borden (2021), Raleigh, N.C. Peter M. Bristow (2020), Raleigh, N.C. Caren Threshie Camp ‘71HS (2021), Alexandria, Va. Eric W. Evans (2020), Raleigh, N.C. Lucy V. Fountain (2020), Raleigh, N.C. Carter Warren Franke ‘75HS ‘77C (2020), Owings Mills, Md. Palmer Peebles Garson ‘75HS (2020), Raleigh, N.C. R. Gordon Grubb (2019), Raleigh, N.C. Mary D. Hinton ‘88HS (2019), Saint Joseph, Minn. Lynn Cowell Ives ‘85HS ‘87C, (2020), Rocky Mount, N.C. Burns Jones (2019), Greensboro, N.C. Stephen F. Later (2019), Southern Pines, N.C. Steven C. Lilly, (2020), Raleigh, N.C. W. Scott Mahoney, (2020), Raleigh, N.C. Dee Williamson Marley ‘77HS (2020), Charlotte, N.C. Janie Swain Molster ‘78HS (2021), Richmond, Va. William C. Monk, Jr. (2020), Greenville, N.C. Elizabeth M. Roberts (2020), Raleigh N.C. D. Ward Russell (2021), Raleigh, N.C. Sallie Shuping Russell ‘75C (2021), Chapel Hill, N.C. Maura Moylan Sullivan ‘87HS (2021), Chapel Hill, N.C. Nancy Kerr Thomason ‘73HS ‘75C (2019), Dunwoody, Ga.
Parents Association Representative to the Board Donna Harlow, Parents Association President
Student Representative to the Board Stephanie Woods ‘19, SGA President
(Date in parentheses indicates expiration of present elective term.)
Mission Statement Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life.
WINTER 2019 | VOLUME 104, NUMBER 1
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 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, mental or physical disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs. The school does not discriminate against qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, or mental or physical disability in providing the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
Administration Brendan J. O’Shea, Head of School Tim Healy, Dean of Students Laura J. Novia, Director of Marketing and Communications Leslie Owen, Dean of Teaching and Learning Julie Ricciardi, Director of Development Kim Slade, Director of Admission Sally Woods, Director of Finance
ON THE COVER Dawning of a new day at Saint Mary's. Photo by Alex Boerner Photography
CONTENTS FEATURES
Saint Mary’s School Magazine Published twice each year by Saint Mary’s School. Please send address changes to: Alumnae Office 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: Alex Boerner Photography, Lauren Gerber; Heath Hilliker; Margaret McGlohon ’81C; Brendan O’Shea; Laura Novia; Julie Ricciardi; Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, Brandon Wright Design Heath Hilliker, Senior Marketing Coordinator Printing Metro Productions, Raleigh, N.C.
Alumnae Outcomes Less Us, More Them A Master Plan for Saint Mary's
4 10 14
IN EVERY ISSUE Head of School Message ����������������������������������������������� 3 Granddaughters Club ��������������������������������������������������� 18 News Briefs ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 20 Academic Excellence................................................... 22 Arts News ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24 Calendar of Events �������������������������������������������������������� 26 Event Photos ������������������������������������������������������������������ 28 Milestones ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 Class News ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 38
‘Each year, girls arrive at
Saint Mary’s School with aspirations….
It is our job at Saint Mary’s
to help girls realize
and unleash
their full potential.’
Brendan O’Shea Head of School
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Aspirations and Potential By Brendan J. O'Shea, Head of School
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the definition of aspiration is “a strong desire to achieve something high or great.” Each year, girls arrive at Saint Mary’s School with aspirations – many of which are influenced by what society has defined for them. Perhaps they want to gain admission to THE college or university. Perhaps they want to be famous, earn a lot of money, or be a successful entrepreneur. Teenage girls, like all of us, are inundated with messages about what our aspirations should be – what success should look like. At Saint Mary’s, we counter these messages by helping girls define what success means for them and encourage them to aspire to lives that are both meaningful and purposeful. Last October, during my installation as head of school, esteemed alumna Mary Hinton ’88HS, president of the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minn., explained in her address that girls come to Saint Mary’s with aspirations; however, she pointed out, they also come with potential. It is our job at Saint Mary’s to help girls realize and unleash their full potential. Perhaps a Saint Mary’s girl will develop into an engineer, a doctor, an artist, a community volunteer, a politician, or a champion athlete. The possibilities are wide open to our students, and we must work assiduously to both support the aspirations and to unlock the potential of each and every young woman who arrives at 900 Hillsborough Street.
are today. I wonder if the women profiled in this magazine ever dreamed they would end up where they are today? Yet, their journey is not over. All of us are ever evolving, always growing, and continually striving to achieve our full potential. We are all lifelong learners and work to demonstrate this for our students on campus each day. A large part of the satisfaction that comes with working in education is watching where your former students end up. At Saint Mary’s we know we are planting the seeds that will blossom elsewhere. Where will their journey take them? What will their story be? How will they make a difference in the world? If we do our job right, Saint Mary’s will be the foundation for their story, helping them discover their true potential and surpass their own aspirations. Go Saints!
In this issue of the Saint Mary’s magazine, you’ll read profiles of several alumnae who arrived here with aspirations of their own. Those aspirations were molded and defined as their potential was unlocked, allowing these women to develop into the people they
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Alumnae Outcomes By Mary Virginia Swain ’77C
Alumnae achievers reflect on the impact of a Saint Mary’s education Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life. To accomplish our mission, Saint Mary’s School challenges each young woman to embrace the habits of an intellectual life, engages her with the past and the emerging future, and empowers her to serve and shape her world. Saint Mary's students are challenged to find their courage, explore their passions, and open their hearts and minds to new ideas as they prepare for independence and lives of purpose. The success of Saint Mary’s in fulfilling its mission is demonstrated by the achievements of alumnae in a wide variety of careers and ventures that make a difference in the world around them. Enjoy this sampling of stories of the pursuits of several outstanding alumnae, and their reflections on their Saint Mary’s years.
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
April Browne ’88HS ’91C Durham Police Captain
When Durham Police Captain April Browne ’88C ’91C graduated from Saint Mary’s, she had no idea how much the school had helped shape her perspective on life and work. She says that Saint Mary’s prepared her well before going to college. “All of my teachers were Ph.D.’s or held master’s degrees,” says Captain Browne. “The experience of that, alone, was valuable. I learned how to think critically and ask questions that challenged my professors and me. “Saint Mary’s stayed with me. I forged great friendships, and I still keep in touch with those women. The professors who influenced me most include Dr. Joe Caddell, Dr. Steve Esthimer and Dr. Jack Hume. These teachers influenced and challenged me in ways I appreciate to this day.” Captain April Browne is a 24-year veteran officer with the City of Durham Police Department. She is currently assigned as commander of uniform patrol District 2, which covers 28 square miles in northern Durham, includes 61 police employees under her charge, and serves approximately 63,000 citizens. A native of New York, Ms. Browne grew up attending independent schools. After graduating from Saint Mary’s, she earned a B.A. in history from UNC-Chapel Hill. Captain Browne began in the police department’s records division, which inspired her to apply for the police academy. In February 1996, she was hired as a police recruit and started her rise through the ranks of the department’s command staff. She has held positions including executive officer to the chief of police, “I am proud assistant commander of the community services division, to serve my and watch commander. She community,” says has attended the West Point Captain Browne. Leadership Institute, the Westfall Leadership School, “My profession is and the FBI-Law Enforcement honorable even Executive Development Association. in the face of
adversity. Saint Mary’s showed me how to push through adversity and challenges."
Her love of public service and community was nurtured by her mother – a former administrator in the City of Durham Human Resources Department and later the city’s Affirmative Action Department.
“I am proud to serve my community,” says Captain Browne. “My profession is honorable even in the face of adversity. Saint Mary’s showed me how to push through adversity and challenges. Even at Saint Mary’s, I experienced cultural and racial challenges that helped prepare me for the world and the democratic ideals I am sworn to protect today. I would like to say, 'thank you, Saint Mary’s for all that was given and received. It is all about what you make it!'”
Durham Police Captain April Browne ’88HS ’91C
Margaret Rowell Good ’94HS
Representative, Florida House of Representatives Florida state representative Margaret Rowell Good says she learned about campaigning, winning, losing, leadership, and resilience at Saint Mary’s. “I ran a hard-fought race for Student Government Association president, losing by only one vote to the formidable Margaret Taylor Blair ’94HS,” says Rep. Good. “Back then, we did skits in the Chapel in lieu of campaign speeches, and for my presidential bid, I played guitar and sang an unmemorable song. After that loss, I was nominated for vice president, and with the help of my residential faculty and the girls on my hall, we produced an epic skit featuring Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” changing the lyrics to: V-I-C-E-P-R-E, that is what I want to be, S-I-D-E-N-T, come on, vote for me! It was well received and cinched the election for me. “These and so many other experiences at Saint Mary’s gave me confidence going into adulthood to take risks. I learned not to be dissuaded by an initial failure. There we no skits in my bid for Florida House, but it did take a lot of creativity and hard to work to win three elections in a 12-month period – values that Saint Mary’s cultivated in me.” Rep. Good certainly took a risk when she ran for and won a special election for Florida House District 72 in February 2018, flipping a seat that had not been held by a Democrat in a decade. She ran for reelection in November and won again. She serves as the state representative for Florida House District 72 and as a Florida House Deputy Minority Leader. She is committed to protecting the environment, finding solutions for
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Florida Rep. Margaret Rowell Good ’94HS
Florida’s water quality issues, enacting sensible legislation proven to curb gun violence, excellent public education, empowering and expanding the middle class, affordable health care, creating a strong economy, and more. Rep. Good worked in the non-profit community before enrolling in law school. After law school, she, her husband, and dog Barney moved to Sarasota where she began work at Matthews Eastmoore, a civil litigation firm. She became active in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Sarasota Bar Association, the Manasota Track Club, the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, and volunteering with the Junior League of Sarasota. She received her B.A. from the University of South Carolina, her M.A. in Germanics from the University of Washington, and her law degree, with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Ms. Plumley is the founder and owner of Sallie Plumley Studio in Richmond, where she designs, creates, and builds timeless, custom pieces for clients who want their living or work spaces to convey their personal tastes. Sallie Plumley Studio is a onewoman-owned, Richmond-based company that offers custom, handcrafted woodwork. All commissions are created with acute attention to detail and fine craftsmanship. Each piece is created to facilitate the kinship that often occurs when family and friends spend time together around an heirloom piece of furniture.
“It is true that Saint Mary’s provides girls with a supportive and inclusive learning environment that fosters leadership,” says Rep. Good. “I’m so thankful for the years I spent at Saint Mary’s.”
After graduating from Saint Mary’s, she earned a B.F.A. in crafts and material studies, with a concentration in woodworking and ceramics, and a minor in art history, from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts.
Learn more at margaretgood.com.
Sallie Bailey Plumley ’11
Custom Woodworking Entrepreneur Sallie Bailey Plumley ’11 says Saint Mary’s School played a pivotal role in her development as a woman. “At an all-girls school, I learned to be confident in how God made me and excited to share the things I love with other people,” says Plumley. “I learned that it is awesome to go after the things you dream about and worth all of the hard work it takes to get there. My teachers, Teresa Assenzo (art) and Lisa Yount (dance), always pushed me to dig into my artistic perspectives more than I thought I wanted to. It turns out that I decided to attend art school for college and wouldn’t have pursued that adventure without the encouragement of those at Saint Mary’s who shared those opportunities with me.”
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Sallie Bailey Plumley ’11
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
“I've been creating things for as long as I can remember,” says Ms. Plumley. “As a child, I wasn't allowed much access to media, so I was encouraged to entertain myself with creativity. My granddaddy was a furniture maker and welcomed me into his space as a young child. I even joined an 'old man's' wood carving club as a third-grader, just so I could spend more time with him. “Little did I know; the wood world would become my world. When I was 15, my granddaddy died and left his shop to me. I had no plans for it but knew that I wanted to attend art school because of my love for design, painting, 3-D work, and photography. I delved into the craft world at VCU where I earned a B.F.A. in crafts and material studies and concentrated in furniture design and woodworking. I graduated and went to work for a traditional furniture genius in Richmond. After living in a world where I constructed someone else's ideas, I felt a deep need for a life where I could design, build, and make my own work, while being in direct relationship with my customers. So, I created Sallie Plumley Studio.”
Taylor White ’03
Ms. Plumley has also studied at the Penland School of Crafts workshop, Peter’s Valley School of Craft workshop, VCU in Peru art history and cultural study abroad, and Visual Arts Center of Richmond workshops. Learn more at sallieplumleystudio.com.
Taylor White ’03 Artist
Taylor White ’03 credits Saint Mary’s with helping to build the foundation of the person she has become. Ms. White has been in the news recently for creating here in Raleigh one of the first and largest augmented reality murals in the world produced by Google Fiber. Ms. White is a full-time contemporary artist and muralist. Upon graduating from Saint Mary’s in 2003 she pursued an education at the Savannah College of Art and Design, completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in 2007. From Savannah, she travelled to Norway and began contributing her efforts to acclaimed Oslo-based advertising agency TRY/Apt, as the first and only full-time illustrator hired in a Norwegian agency at the time. Three years later, her choice to pursue painting led her to Melbourne, Australia, where she experimented with making work for the street. It was in Melbourne that she began to develop her career as a successful muralist and fine art painter. She has since returned to her roots in Raleigh, basing her studio in Boylan Heights and continuing to travel internationally in pursuit of her work. She has contributed to mural projects in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Richmond, Melbourne, and Sydney, among others. She is proud to have produced her largest mural project to date right here at home.
Ms. White is a figurative artist who utilizes the human form to depict conversations, explore fields of consciousness, and realize the cathartic points at which the soul confronts its physical form. Heavily influenced by improvisational dance, her work bases its vocabulary on the exquisitely expressive movements of the human figure. Combining refined techniques of classical training with bright, unexpected color choices born from the residue of street art and pop culture, White’s work is a bold and kinetic pursuit of the delicate harmonies that exist in that sweet spot between order and chaos.
“I give a tremendous amount of credit to Saint Mary's for laying the groundwork upon which I developed as a person,” Taylor White '03
Upcoming hometown projects include the new Mellow Mushroom franchise at Brier Creek as well as a mural commission in downtown Wake Forest. Next year she will return to Melbourne for a solo exhibition with Vs. Gallery, and other projects. “I give a tremendous amount of credit to Saint Mary's for laying the groundwork upon which I developed as a person,” says Ms. White. “It is an indispensable advantage to feel genuinely cared for and supported during one of the most volatile times in a person’s life, through all the road bumps and mistakes, the insecurity and the conceit; to have a gentle guiding force as you’re sculpting yourself into the individual you will become. It’s a truly unique environment, and I’m not certain any other school could have done for me what Saint Mary’s did.” Learn more at taylurk.com.
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Ms. Warrington plans to expand her team to support both the German and United Kingdom marketplaces. Ms. Warrington has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including more than a decade and a half with Fidelity. Prior to Fidelity, she held various positions in client services and operations at USB Financial Services. Cassie Warrington ’93HS ’95C
Cassie Warrington ’93HS ’95C
Vice President for Stock Plan Services, Fidelity Investments Saint Mary’s has been a part of Cassie Warrington’s life since, as a child, she used to sneak into her mother’s jewelry box and try on her Saint Mary’s ring. One day when she was about seven, her mother, Cathy Leggett Warrington ’69HS, found little Cassie playing with the ring and told her, “One day, you’re going to meet your best friends at Saint Mary’s and you will have a ring of your own.” In just a few more years, after visiting campus as a prospective student from Tarboro, N.C., she knew she was going to be a fourth generation Saint Mary’s girl.
“Forever a Saint Mary’s girl, the lessons I learned there have carried through in both my personal and professional life. To be a part of such a legacy, an amazing line of strong and independent women is a badge of honor that I will forever hold." says Warrington
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The lessons Ms. Warrington learned at Saint Mary’s took her through high school and college, finishing at UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. degree with a concentration in English and American history. Upon graduating from college, a Saint Mary’s friend suggested a program at UNC for liberal arts majors to earn an undergraduate business degree. That same friend invited her to celebrate the fourth of July that year, connecting Warrington with her father, who offered a job when she finished the business program, demonstrating how Saint Mary’s impacted not only her personal life, but her professional career. Today, Ms. Warrington is a vice president, head of sales and product support for Fidelity Investments’ Stock Plan Services (SPS) division of Workplace Investing. Based in New Jersey, and with an office in lower Manhattan, Ms. Warrington leads a team that provides consultative sales services to public companies regarding their equity compensation programs. With Fidelity’s belief in her great proficiency in launching technology products into the market, she has also been asked to lead the SPS Go-ToMarket strategy. In 2019, Fidelity Stock Plan Services will expand its global footprint, and
Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
“If anything, Saint Mary’s taught me how to be strong, to be fearless, to try and then try again,” says Warrington. “In life, there are always new beginnings. Just like the first time I walked on Saint Mary’s campus - new teachers, new friends, new school. You must learn to survive, to trust, to speak up and have a voice. I learned to take life in stride. One day at a time. In order to succeed, you must be fearless because in the end there will always be someone there to pick you up, dust you off, give you a high five and send you on your way. “Saint Mary’s gave me the confidence to speak my mind, own the outcome, and be courageous and not be afraid to fail. Failing, and understanding the reasons why, might be the best lessons I learned in high school. “About six months ago, I took a huge risk. I made a significant career change. Fidelity is all about mobility and investing in talent - their employees. Sometimes that means getting out of your comfort zone. I was given the opportunity to do something different - something I knew nothing about and that was both exciting and terrifying - a lot like my first day at Saint Mary’s - a new beginning. I was vulnerable, and I went from being the superstar leader and performer to the person in the room that knew nothing - had nothing to contribute – so I thought. It didn’t take long for me to realize, I do have a voice in my new role. I was hired to bring the knowledge and expertise I had in other organizations to the one I’m a part of now. “Forever a Saint Mary’s girl, the lessons I learned there have carried through in both my personal and professional life. To be a part of such a legacy, an amazing line of strong and independent women is a badge of honor that I will forever hold. When I go back and visit Saint Mary’s I am always inspired by the girls I meet. They have their entire life ahead of them and, knowing how much Saint Mary’s made an impression on me, I know it will make such an impression on them. I want to tell them go out into the world, be fearless, take risks, fail but fail fast, but most importantly be you - a forever Saint Mary’s girl.” Just as her mother promised her when she was just a child, she did get her very own class ring, and she did meet her best friends at Saint Mary’s. “I did meet my best friends at Saint Mary’s, and they are still my best friends to this day,” says Ms. Warrington. “And, I met their friends and their friends – you’d be amazed at the seven degrees of separation and how the friendships you forge at Saint Mary’s significantly influence your life.”
as of 7/31/18
$2,096,300 TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS
273
Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia Canada, China, Croatia, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, USA, and Vietnam
53
% <<< boarding
3
day>>>
47%
Over
school shuttles serving Chapel Hill/ Durham, North Raleigh, and Cary
18
34% 34% Percent of the student body receiving aid
students representing 12 states and eight countries
Advanced Placement courses offered
of students receive need-based aid
100
%
acceptance rate to four-year colleges
$2.1
Based on 2018-19 enrollment
SAINT MARYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SCHOOL FINANCIAL AID PROFILE 2018-2019
million need-based financial aid awarded annually
4
merit scholarship programs
56
Roughly 100 college and university reps visit campus each year
Granddaughters Club members
8:1 student to faculty ratio
81
% of faculty hold
To date,
$11,415
Average amount of need-based aid awarded to a day student
$30,168
Average amount of need-based aid awarded to a boarding student
86
girls participated in seven Middle School Explorations
advanced degrees
60
Admission Student Ambassadors
13
students average class size
4 alumnae
serve on the 17-member Admission Parent Task Force
4 new admission initiatives: Corporate Relocation, Realtor Program, Information Stations, Honors Scholarships, Achievement Scholarships
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Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School | www.sms.edu
Less Us, More Them Self-directed learning By Laura J. Novia Gary Stager, educator and author of Invent to Learn, sums it up nicely when he says, “less us, more them.” Stager knows students learn best when teachers step back and give students room to engage in self-directed learning that has meaning for them. While the idea of self-directed learning is not a new one, it is one that has reemerged as a valuable competency in our fast-changing world where initiative, flexible thinking, and the ability to work both independently and in teams is so critical. It is a skill much sought after in the workplace, and of increasing value to adults and students alike. As defined by M.S. Knowles in Self-Directed Learning: A Guide for Learners and Teachers, self-directed learning (SDL) is described as “a process in which individuals take the initiative without the help of others in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating goals, identifying human and material resources, and evaluating learning outcomes.” As one of 10 key competencies identified by Saint Mary’s School as integral to preparing girls for the future, self-directed learning is defined as “the demonstration of personal interests and the motivation to set goals and objectives to move those interests forward.” In practice, every aspect of teaching and learning at Saint Mary’s is designed to give girls more ownership of their learning and more opportunities to shape their high school experience in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them and their future. Self-directed learning takes many forms at Saint Mary’s such as, • an assignment in AP English in which girls work in teams to develop an ad campaign for Saint Mary’s School, requiring them to identify and evaluate for themselves project goals and success; • an independent study with Raleigh partner District C that engages a student in designing a real-life solution for a real-life business through a collaborative, problem-solving process drawing on self-directed learning skills; • a new biomedical science course that challenges girls to design their own experiments to solve problems; • each student's Personal Growth Plan.
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What is self-directed learning? • Individuals take initiative and responsibility for learning. • Individuals select, manage, and assess their own learning activities. • Motivation and volition are critical. • Independence in setting goals and defining what is worthwhile to learn. • Teachers provide scaffolding, mentoring, advising. • Peers provide collaboration.
The Personal Growth Plan each student develops for herself is a component of the digital Portfolio for Life, a student-created record of learning and growth. The Personal Growth Plan is a way for students to look at where they have been and where they want to go. Working with her advisor, a girl identifies a S.M.A.R.T. goal – a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely. That goal may be to become a better writer or to master a physics concept. The key is that the student sets the goal and takes the initiative in planning how she will achieve it. Her ownership of what she will learn and how, is highly motivating and results in deeper learning and mastery of a competency designed to serve her well in college and life. It is important to dispel the myth that self-directed learning means teachers take a back seat in the learning process or that students are self-taught, alone in a vacuum. Quite the opposite is true. Teachers are fully engaged with students – it’s how they engage that changes. They become more of a coach while students become the players running the ball down the field – taking an active role in setting personal learning goals, identifying and accessing resources, and evaluating their own learning. Additionally, because we learn best in the company of others who deepen our understanding and expand our knowledge, collaboration is a critical component of self-directed learning. This is especially true for girls, whom we know are more motivated and work better when given opportunities to collaborate. The importance of self-directed learning for students and adults cannot be overstated. In preparing young women for futures not yet imagined, it is imperative for Saint Mary’s to give them the tools they need to successfully navigate the complex world awaiting them beyond Saint Mary’s gates. SDL is one such tool. By honing a girl’s ability to set learning goals and discern what she needs to know; by empowering her to identify the resources of people, technology, or materials she needs to access knowledge; and by allowing her to evaluate for herself the depth and breadth of her learning, Saint Mary’s truly prepares her as a young woman – poised to serve and shape her world. Sources: www.naefoee.org/File.aspx?id=4455 www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/winter-2014/self-directed-learning www.selfdirectedlearning.com
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Take this self-directed learning quiz: Consider the following aspects of SDL. Rate yourself on a scale from 1, “Not self-directed at all,” to 10, “Very self-directed.” Remember: this is not a test. There are no right answers. This is a personal survey for your eyes only, and for your use in deciding how to become more self-directed. Make your response useful by being as clear and accurate as you can. The item on the left describes “1” - Not self-directed; the item on the right describes “10” - Very self-directed. Circle the number that most accurately rates where you stand on the scale. 1. Attribution: In my opinion, people succeed in life because … They are lucky 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 They make it happen
17. Learning: The special, personal ways that I learn best, Are unknown to me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I know and use
2. Self-talk: My thoughts about my potential for success are usually … Negative 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Positive
18. Motivation: Can you motivate yourself to start new projects and to keep going until they are finished? No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yes
3. Influence: When I decide to do something, I am most strongly influenced by … Other people 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 My own decisions 4. Self-awareness: My knowledge about my personal strengths and capacities is … Very limited 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very complete 5. Interests: I have a number of interests that I pursue regularly. False 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 True 6. Effectiveness: If I decided to make a change in my life, I would likely … Be unable to do it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Do it successfully
19. Openness: When new ideas, approaches, techniques or equipment come along, I ignore them 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I find out about them 20. Assistance: When I need guidance or assistance… I struggle through on my own 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I ask for help 21. Self-examination: When I’m messing up, and I’m feeling low… I think about something else 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I try to figure out what’s happening 22. Process analysis: When a project I’m working on breaks down… I quit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I figure out what’s going wrong and fix it
7. Curiosity: In the course of a day or week I find myself asking questions and searching for answers … Very seldom 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very often
23. Skills: I use a very effective procedure for learning new skills. False 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 True
8. Clarity: What I want to do next is usually … A mystery to me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Clear to me
24. Vision: I have a vision of my future that I want to make happen. False 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 True
9. Learning: I find new ideas or skills that I want to learn … Very rarely 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Every day
25. Voice: Do you know your own ideas about things, your own feelings, the values that you consider important, the contributions that you want to make—in other words, do you know yourself? No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yes
10. Creating: I have original ideas worth expressing … Very seldom 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Very often 11. Goal-Setting: In my day-to-day life, I … Take things as they come 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Regularly set goals to achieve 12. Challenge: I challenge myself to go into new activities and to reach new levels of performance … Never 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Often 13. Planning: When I have a task to complete, I lay out a strategic plan for doing it efficiently and effectively … Not in my lifetime 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Every time 14. Determination: When I’m doing a project and the work gets difficult, I run into problems, or people hassle me … I quit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I persevere 15. Organization: When it comes to scheduling my time, prioritizing my work, and gathering the resources I need, I’m… Hopeless 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Skilled
26. Field: Is there a field of knowledge (e.g. astronomy), a field of activity (e.g. writing music), a profession (e.g. medicine) or work (e.g. starting a business) that you want to be very good at? No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yes 27. Expectation: When I begin a project, I usually expect to Fail 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Succeed 28. Strategy: When you want something to happen, do you think through a strategy to make it happen? No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Yes 29. Celebration: When I achieve a goal, complete a project, or make a contribution: I move to the next task 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I celebrate 30. Pleasure: When I’m doing one of my projects… It’s grim, dull work 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I am happy and fulfilled Source: https://www.selfdirectedlearning.com/index.php/becoming-selfdirected/activity-2-how-self-directed-are-you
16. Support: When I plan and launch a project, I feel that those around me—family, colleagues, friends—will… Ignore or diminish 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Support and encourage my work
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A Master Plan for By Laura J. Novia and Julie E. Ricciardi
Ragland, Cruikshank, Bratton Hall, Kenan Library, the Chapel - these and other spaces on campus have been central to the Saint Mary’s experience for generations of young women. Today, Saint Mary’s is preparing to transform once again with a new campus Master Plan designed to “embrace the beauty of our campus, honor our history, and provide us with a solid foundation to grow our programming and community as we move through the 21st century,” says Board Chair Gloria Taft Becker '92HS.
“Our school has stood the test of time, and while we have seen many changes through the years, we have never stopped educating girls on our historic and beautiful campus,” Saint Mary’s Board Chair Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS.
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Following an extensive search for the right partner, Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees selected Glavé and Holmes Architecture of Richmond, Va., to work with the school to develop the campus Master Plan. The Board of Trustees Master Plan Committee, under the leadership of William Monk, spent the past year working closely with Glavé and Holmes to identify the school’s strengths and opportunities, and to align those with a framework to advance the physical environment of the school. Information gathered through a comprehensive site analysis, as well as input from students, faculty, staff, and alumnae regarding programming and the use of campus spaces was used in creating the Master Plan.
Saint Mary’s The plan The Master Plan has three primary goals: 1. Enhance the all-girls student experience. • Integrate the campus into a vibrant boarding/day community. • Create collaborative and inclusive spaces, social gathering areas, and flexible classrooms. • Promote the distinct all-girls curriculum with improved, dedicated facilities. 2. Capitalize on the legacy and location of Saint Mary’s School. • Integrate community engagement and revenue-producing opportunities. • Create welcoming, state-of-the-art facilities for use by students, alumnae, and the community. • Promote the school’s unique environment of mentorship, confident discourse, and leadership. 3. Re-energize the campus to maximize existing resources. • Integrate and improve housing for on-dorm faculty and students. • Create program synergies and efficiencies within and between existing buildings. • Promote existing core programs in academics, arts, and athletics.
With a 15-year vision, the Master Plan provides a framework for future development with flexibility to adjust and accommodate change while also giving direction and sequencing to individual project initiatives. The plan is divided into three segments: a 5-Year Plan, 10-Year Plan, and 15-Year Plan, each with specifically identified projects to be completed during that period. The renovation of Cruikshank Hall, the construction of a new academic building, and the creation of an outdoor classroom space are a few of the projects included in the 5-Year Plan.
One School. One Vision. One Future. To realize the Master Plan, the school will, of course, require substantial resources. As we celebrate a significant milestone in Saint Mary’s history – 20 years as a girls’ high school, the school recommits itself to the mission to prepare young women for futures of success and purpose. It is at this milestone moment, with a new master plan poised to guide the way, that a quiet momentum is building towards a historic capital campaign: Saint Mary’s Forever: One School. One Vision. One Future. Saint Mary’s Forever.
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The campaign
First and last
Under the leadership of Frank and Ruth E. Perry Holding ’81C, William and Aurelia Monk, Nancy Kerr Thomason ’73HS ’75C, and Anna Zevenhuizen ’07, Saint Mary’s Forever Capital Campaign Steering Committee is devising a campaign strategy to ensure the realization of the campus Master Plan and the sustainability of Saint Mary’s mission and vision for future generations. With the help of Raleigh-based campaign counsel Armstrong McGuire, campaign planning is focused on strategies to provide the resources to meet the objectives of the campus Master Plan. While details of the campaign plan continue to be refined, the steering committee’s initial work has led to four critical funding priorities:
The first $1 million leadership gift from an anonymous donor will provide resources for the first and final projects of the 5-Year Plan. In order to begin the academic hub envisioned in the Master Plan, this donor’s gift allows Saint Mary’s to remove a faculty residence located between Ragland Hall and Kenan Library and replace it by constructing a new home on the west side of campus. This will make room for the creation of the state-of-the-art academic center that will support of a robust and relevant academic program for our students. This donor’s gift will also fund the final project of the 5-Year Plan: a new pavilion for the Victory Bell.
1. Ensure financial sustainability through the elimination of the school’s debt. (see chart a) 2. Grow endowment through the creation of new scholarships and programmatic support funds. (see charts b and c) 3. Secure and foster community partnerships 4. Create a central campus learning hub for academic achievement, including a new academic building to house science and math programming, major renovations to other campus facilities, and ongoing and much-needed annual maintenance.
Currently, the bell tower sits on the edge of the Hannah Smith ’12 Quad. Originally established by a gift from Susan Heyman ’10, along with members of the Class of 2010, the Victory Bell is an intricate part of life at Saint Mary’s as girls regularly celebrate their athletic victories and commemorate personal and community wins of all kinds. The new Victory Bell Pavilion will provide a permanent home for this important campus icon and be used as a gathering place, an outdoor classroom, a performance space, and more!
Early days Within the next 12 months, final recommendations for campaign priorities and the school’s Master Plan initiatives, as well as a final campaign goal, will be announced. There is still much work to be done as the steering committee completes a thorough analysis of what is necessary to achieve the school’s objectives. Even as this early work is underway, Saint Mary’s is astonished by the generosity of those who believe in and commit to sustaining the school’s mission to educate young women. Since July 1, 2018, campaign commitments, including two leadership gifts in the amounts of $1.25 million and $1 million, have been secured for a total of $3,780,000. To date, during this quiet phase of the campaign, a total of $9,882,252 has been secured.
Frank and Ruth E. Perry Holding '81C campaign steering committee co-chairs.
Saint Mary’s Forever Campaign Timeline • 2012 Beyond Imagination Capital Campaign ends
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• May 2017 Saint Mary’s celebrates 175th anniversary of continuous operation as an all-girls educational institution
• August 2017 Head of School initiates Campus Master Planning Committee as part of the strategic long-term planning process
Preliminary rendering of the Victory Bell Pavilion; final design and construction may vary.
Chart a
At a crossroads While the steering committee continues to navigate complexities and devise an exciting and ambitious strategy for the school’s future, what is certain is that Saint Mary’s is at a crossroads. Saint Mary’s future depends on its community of alumnae, families, faculty, staff, and friends coming together as one school with one vision for one future. “Frank and I are not alone in our passion to make this vision a reality,” says Campaign Steering Committee Co-chair Ruth E. Perry Holding ’81C. “We are proud to lead as one united force and believe we have a responsibility to secure the future of Saint Mary’s. As one school with one vision for the future, we are devoted to Saint Mary’s realizing its full potential.”
Chart b
The success of Saint Mary’s Master Plan depends on the success of the Saint Mary’s Forever Campaign. It will require all who cherish this remarkable institution, who know its transformational capacity, who believe in the power of educating young women, to step up in significant ways. As an alumna recently shared with Head of School Brendan O’Shea, Saint Mary’s is not only a top philanthropic priority for her, it is a priority for which she is willing to sacrifice so she may make a greater impact on the life of the school she loves so much. There is only one Saint Mary’s. It is a place of unique and powerful value for every girl who steps through its gates. It offers a transformative experience that unites women through time, place, and generations. It has the power to not only change lives but to change the world. With the help of alumnae, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends, Saint Mary’s future will be assured, and the Victory Bell will ring for Saint Mary’s forever.
• December 2017 Board of Trustees appoint Campaign Steering Committee to coordinate with Campus Master Plan efforts
• July 2018 Campus Master Plan is approved by the Board of Trustees
Chart c
• November 2018 Campaign leadership is secured
GRANDDAUGHTERS CLUB 2018-2019
May Brooks Barwick ’21, daughter of Jennifer Walker Barwick ’88HS ’90C and granddaughter of Rachel Cozart Barwick ’50HS
Lucy Ware Cheney ’21, daughter of Nina Anderson Cheney ’81HS and great granddaughter of Bertha Anderson ’23HS
Eleanor Shelgren Becker ’21, daughter of Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS and granddaughter of Cheryl Lee Taft ’68C
Anna Leggett Payne Church ’21, granddaughter of Gillie Leggett Church ’63C
Anne Hunter Blake ’20, granddaughter of Gail Hunter Blake ’59C Alexa Jewell Boyer ’19, daughter of Michele Fair Boyer ’91HS Kimberlen Ann Bryson ’22, granddaughter of Joy Hatley Pittard ’53C Eleanor Roosevelt Carroll ’19, granddaughter of Anne McMullan ’47HS ’49C and great-greatgreat-granddaughter of Mary Frances Skinner 1870
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Katherine Dare Collie ’19, daughter of Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C Margaret Hadley Crawford ’22, granddaughter of Hadley Morgan Hines ’59HS ’61C Evelyn Elizabeth Crosthwaite ’22, daughter of Suzanne Morris Crosthwaite ’88HS Caroline Ballard Dixon ’20, daughter of Jackson Jordan Dixon ’84C Elizabeth Butler Eagles ’22, daughter of Ginny James Eagles ’89HS ’91C
Virginia Katherine Eagles ’20, daughter of Ginny James Eagles ’89HS ’91C Elizabeth Kirkland Ellerbe ’21, granddaughter of Martha Goode Ellerbe ’56HS Susan Gracey Falk ’20, granddaughter of Sue Stone Lester ’55HS Ella Conger Glover ’21, granddaughter of Harriet Conger Glover ’52HS ’54C and greatgranddaughter of Nellie Cooper Rose 1917C Mary Holland Godwin ’22, great granddaughter of Margaret Thomas Boyce 1915 Elizabeth Bowen Gordon ’20, granddaughter of Stewart Howie Gordon ’63C and Mary Jane Johnson Tate ’49C
Cameron Elizabeth Griffin ’19, daughter of Kim Goines Griffin ’89HS ’91C Jane Lewis Zollicoffer Jackson ’19, daughter of Ellen Zollicoffer Jackson ’84HS, granddaughter of Jane Lewis Zollicoffer ’46HS, great-granddaughter of Fannie Cooper Zollicoffer 1913, and great-great-greatgranddaughter of Ellen Wilkins Lewis 1850 Elizabeth Hewitt Johnson ’20, granddaughter of Cissie Hobgood Wellons ’66HS ’68C Margaret Ivy Johnston ’20, daughter of Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, granddaughter of Lou Uzzle Blackman ’61C and Margaret Louise Hamilton Johnston ’57C Martha Luck Johnston ’20, daughter of Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, granddaughter of Lou Uzzle Blackman ’61C and Margaret Louise Hamilton Johnston ’57C Gwyn Katherine Jones ’20, granddaughter of Lucile Best Jones ’48HS ’50C Isabel Pearce Kempson ’20, daughter of Sydney Kepley Kempson ’83HS and greatgranddaughter of Jane Shaffer Holman ’1931C Caroline Batchelor Koonce ’21, granddaughter of Mary Grady Burnette Koonce ’54C and Frances Holton Maffitt ’60HS May Parker Leutze ’20, daughter of Taylor Brewer Leutze ’91C, great granddaughter of May French Taylor Crawford ’42HS, and the great, great granddaughter of Placidia Bridgers Clark Taylor 1915 Prep Mary Chandler Lilly ’19, great-greatgranddaughter of Mary Lindsey Battle Cobb 1883 Lindsay-Anne McCall ’20, daughter of Shore Tucker McCall ’88C and great-great-greatgranddaughter of Willi Julia Ruffin 1846-49 Katherine Perry Morgan ’20, daughter of Elizabeth Van Dyke Morgan ’91C, granddaughter of Perry Grimes Van Dyke ’63HS ’65C and Kathy Cannon Morgan ’64C, and great-granddaughter of Mary James Perry Grimes ’39C Anna Abernathy Noelke ’21, granddaughter of Ginny McKimmon Noelke ’61C and great-great granddaughter of Willa Norris McKimmon 1905HS
Josephine Paxton Parker ’21, daughter of Elizabeth Paxton Black ’92C, granddaughter of Webber Bell Paxton ’60C and Michelle Bratton Parker ’63HS ’65C, great-granddaughter of Michelle Telfair Bratton ’44C and Ethel Battle Paxton ’22HS, and great-great granddaughter of Betty Alexander Austin Badger, great-greatgreat-granddaughter of Martha Ann Battle Battle (1850) and great-great-great-greatgreat granddaughter Harriette Borden Dewey (Original 13) Sarah Grace Patton ’19, daughter of Susan Gattis Patton ’83HS Hannah Marie Perry ’21, great granddaughter of Blanche Hanff Bonner ’28HS ’30C, greatgreat-great granddaughter of Sally Collins Baker Smith (1865), great-great-great granddaughter of Sarah Merrill Hanff (1870) Grey Compton Pittman ’19, daughter of Jill Sparks Hilliard ’89C Sally Townsend Purrington ’22, daughter of Elizabeth Anderson Purrington ’85HS and great granddaughter of Bertha Anderson ’23HS Elizabeth Joyner Rascoe ’21, granddaughter of Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C, greatgranddaughter of Edna Jones Nixon Dawson ’26C, great-great-great granddaughter of Cornelia Townsend Nixon (pre-1870), and great-great-great-granddaughter of Isa Benedicta Gordon Granbery (pre-1870) Elizabeth Hayden Savery ’21, daughter of Dolly Burton Savery ’82HS Lucy Hardin Sigmon ’21, granddaughter of Martha Ann Olsen Sigmon ’47HS and Mary Hannah Finch Taft ’58C Ann Mason Smith ’20, great-great-greatgranddaughter of Susan Lane Hardin 1866 Caroline Wallace Smith ’20, daughter of Ashley Langley Smith ’90HS and greatgranddaughter of Mabel Freeman London 1929 Elizabeth Tremont Smith ’20, granddaughter of Anne Tremont Burr Smith ’37C and greatgranddaughter of Edith Lanier Clark 1913
Martha Louise Wilson Stowe ’20, greatgranddaughter of Virginia Clark Jenkins ’34C and great-great-granddaughter of Martha Louise Wilson Clark 1917HS Bridget Clare Sullivan ’19, daughter of Maura Moylan Sullivan ’87HS Ilse-Grace Thomas ’20, daughter of Holly Stephenson Thomas ’85HS ’87C Elizabeth Shackelford Toms ’20, granddaughter of Margaret Shackelford Toms ’43C Sydney Stratton Vermillion ’20, greatgranddaughter of Margaret Banes Gold Borden 1918C, great-great-granddaughter of Sallie Smith Jones Borden, and the great-greatgreat-granddaughter of Georgia Whitfield Borden 1848 Emma Blaine Wharton ’20, granddaughter of Beth Kemper Wharton ’54HS ’56C Eleanor Davis Williams '20, daughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams Williams ’78HS '80C, granddaughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams '50HS '52C, great-granddaughter Belle Davis Cheatham 1911 and Elizabeth Cross Williams 1921HS, great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868, and the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848 Frances Belle Williams '20, granddaughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams '50HS '52C, great-granddaughter of Belle Davis Cheatham 1911, Elizabeth Cross Williams 1921HS, and Frances Elizabeth Hoggard Harriss 1928C; great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868, and the great-greatgreat-granddaughter of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848 Blanche Robertson Williamson ’21, granddaughter of Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C Clare Maddison Wooten ’19, daughter of Sally Maddison Wooten ’85HS, granddaughter of Clare Garden Maddison ’64C and Lytle Batchelor Wooten ’51C, and greatgranddaughter of Jane Purrington Maddison ’31C
Anna Carlyle Spears ’20, daughter of Mandy Johnson Spears ’84HS ’86C Ava Blane Spiegel ’19, daughter of Sally Pridgen Spiegel ’89HS
Corinna Bailey Parker ’20, greatgranddaughter of Corinna Erwin Gant ’34HS
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NEW BRIEFS Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C receives prestigious Bratton Award Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C was presented the John Bratton Jr. Volunteer Service Award during the Wake County alumnae event in Smedes-Emory Parlor, Oct. 18, 2018. The Bratton Award was established by John R. Bratton, Michelle Bratton Parker ’63HS ’65C, Connie Bratton Grine ’68HS, Lucy Bratton Doak ’72HS, Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS ’78C, Theodore Bratton, and Samuel T. Bratton, in honor of their father, John Bratton Jr., to honor volunteers who stand out because of their leadership, vision, creativity, and generosity of spirit. In selecting recipients, members of the selection committee look beyond typical volunteer involvements in order to recognize volunteers who have allowed Saint Mary’s School to grow in profound ways. Ms. Nash has served in numerous leadership roles at Saint Mary’s over many years, including Alumnae Council president, chair of the Board of Trustees, capital campaign co-chair, auction chair, and many other leadership and volunteer positions.
Top: Left to right, Margaret Bratton, Ted Bratton, Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, John Nash Left: Head of School Brendan O’Shea, Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Board of Trustees Chair Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS at the presentation of the John Bratton Jr. Award.
New Trustees Named Saint Mary’s board of trustees has named five new members for 2018-2019. The new members are Brooks Bell, founder and CEO of Brooks Bell, Inc., in Raleigh; Martin W. Borden of Raleigh, past Saint Mary’s parent and senior vice president of Paragon Bank; Janie Swain Molster ’79HS, alumna and founder and owner of Janie Molster Designs in Richmond, Va.; Ward Russell, Saint Mary’s parent and president of Legacy Custom Homes, Inc., in Raleigh; and Maura Moylan Sullivan '87HS of Chapel Hill, parent, alumna, and director of development for Communities in Schools in Durham. Trustee officers are: alumna Gloria Taft Becker '92HS of Raleigh, chair; alumna Dee Williamson Marley '77HS of Charlotte, vice chair; alumna Carter Warren Franke '75HS '77C of Owings Mills, Md., secretary; and past parent Stephen F. Later of Southern Pines, N.C., treasurer. Parents Association President Donna Harlow is the parent representative to the board, and Student Government Association President Stephanie Woods ’19 is the student representative.
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Left to right: Janie Swain Molster ’79HS, Brooks Bell, Maura Moylan Sullivan ’87HS, Ward Russell, Martin Borden.
FROM THE ALUMNAE OFFICE
Dear Saints! Happy New Year! We hope that this coming year will be all that you hope it will be. We thank you for all the ways you support our beloved alma mater. Our alumnae help make our school so very special in many ways. I am excited to share the news that Saint Mary’s will soon be introducing an Alumnae Portal through Veracross, our database. What on earth does that mean? Think our past, beloved “Directory.” This new portal will allow you to connect and engage with not only Saint Mary’s, but with your fellow alumnae. This will be your one-stop shop for all things alumnae! Via this portal, as alumnae, you will be able to: • search the directory for other alumnae to connect both socially and professionally, • get an update on your giving and outstanding pledges, • update your contact information, • access Saint Mary’s news including information from our social media, website, and other alumnae and development news sources, • find and respond to alumnae gatherings and other campus events and activities, and • provide affinity information such as the dorms you lived in, activities you participated in, or teams you played on – all which will help us more effectively communicate with and plan events for you. As soon as the new portal is installed and set up, you’ll be the first to know. We will let you know how you can log on, how you can update your information, and how you can stay connected. In the meantime, please make sure the Alumnae Office has your most up to date information, particularly your email address. You can update email, address, phone, birthday, and other milestones by going to our website: www.sms.edu, clicking on Alumnae, and clicking on Update My information.
Valentine’s Day of Giving February 14, 2019 www.sms.edu/givelove #givelove2sms #valentinesdayofgiving
We look forward to seeing many of you as we continue traveling to meet with alumnae and friends in this new year. Please make sure to save the date for the event in your area and join us if you will be in any one of the cities listed in the events section of this issue of this magazine or on the alumnae website. You do not have to receive an invitation to go on line and register to join us. All are invited, always! It is a great pleasure to serve as your alumnae director, and I welcome you to reach out and find out how you can better connect and/or volunteer. Sincerely,
Margaret McGlohon ’81C Alumnae Director
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
In the Classroom Alumna furniture maker speaks with Saint Mary’s art students Saint Mary’s alumna Sallie Bailey Plumley ’11 visited with Saint Mary’s visual art students, Friday, Nov. 9, sharing the story of her educational, career, life journey that led her to starting her own creative venture. Sallie, a graduate of Saint Mary’s and Virginia Commonwealth University, is the owner of Sallie Plumley Studio, a one-woman-owned, Richmond-based company that offers beautiful custom, handcrafted woodwork. To learn more, visit www.sallieplumleystudio.com.
Poet Sarah Rose Nordgren ’00 visits creative writing classes Saint Mary's alumna Sarah Rose Nordgren '00 returned to the classroom in Ragland Hall, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, to visit with Virginia Boyd's creative writing classes. She read from her second book of poetry, Darwin’s Mother, and discussed her work as a poet. She offered writing tips to the students such as avoiding writer's block by never starting with a blank page; reading other books and poetry to get inspired to write; researching things you are interested in; and writing down words, ideas, and concepts, and collecting images for inspiration. Nordgren is a poet, teacher, and multiform text artist. She also creates video and performance text art in collaboration with Saint Mary's classmate, friend, and dancer, Kathleen Kelley '00, under the name Smart Snow. Learn more at www.sarahrosenordgren.com.
Art students create Portraits of Kindness Saint Mary’s art students and their teacher Teresa Assenzo made a difference in the lives of children in need and at risk in Mexico through the Memory Project’s Portraits of Kindness program. The Memory Project is a non-profit organization that invites art teachers and students to create portraits of children from around the world who are victims of neglect, abuse, violence, war, parental loss, and poverty. Saint Mary’s students received photos of the children and created the portraits which were sent to the children in Oaxaca, Mexico. Ms. Assenzo says she is inspired by our students’ spirit of generosity, genuine concern, and caring, and for the quality of the work they create. Learn more at www. memoryproject.org. Scan here to see a thank you video from Portraits of Kindness.
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Students create ads for Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School Students in Instructor of English Alison Chernin's A.P. Language class presented advertising projects in their classes this fall. The assignment, designed to better understand ethos, pathos, and logos through the creation of advertisements promoting Saint Mary's School, allowed students to apply what they were learning to a real-world context that had relevance for them. The assignment also engaged the girls in exercising key competencies like communication and collaboration.
Grow your Talent at Saint Mary's School!
Students worked with partners to create ads to market various aspects of Saint Mary's to prospective students, parents, and alumnae. In creating the ad campaigns, the students used their knowledge of ethos, pathos, and logo; used examples from magazines; and researched industrybased sources, such as Ad Week.
Collaborate and Investigate in Kenan Library
After creating initial ad concepts, the students sought feedback from various internal and external focus groups of all ages, which happened around campus, at the Chick-fil-A, around North Hills, and other locations on and off campus. They used the input to improve and tweak their ads and quantify and analyze advertising effectiveness with data. Examples of the ad copy and taglines include the following.
At Saint Mary's, you can find your passion and give it the attention it deserves. Saint Mary's is a place where it is ok to make mistakes because mistakes evolve into your personal artistic development. Preparing Girls for their Future since 1842
Saint Mary's School: It's Like Living with Your Best Friends The students pitched their ads in presentations to Saint Mary's communications professionals in the Marketing and Communications Department. "The ads and pitch presentations were sophisticated, creative, authentic, and thoughtful. They demonstrated the aspects of life at Saint Mary's that our students love, including Kenan Library, the arts at Saint Mary's, college counseling, traditions, leadership opportunities, educational travel, connections through the generations, and more," said one member of the Marketing and Communications Department.
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ARTS
ORCHESIS 80TH REUNION Saturday, November 9-10, 2018 Saint Mary's School
Alumnae Orchesis members rehearse in the dance studio for the 80th Reunion Concert, Nov. 10, 2018.
Dixie Finley ’16, left, Lisa Yount, right
Left to right: Katherine Phillips’07, Julianna Proctor ’03, Campbell McMillan ’00, Nadia Metina Belknap Left to right: Taylor Morris ’10, Lousie Mann Clement Dull ’11, Lisa Yount, Amber Hunsel ’13, Victoria Crook ’14
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Sallie Bailey Plumley ’11, Patrice Cherry, May McMillan Bensen
Left to right: Vickie Posey, Lee Posey Pike ’98HS, Sara Rose Nordgren ’00, Emily Brooks Rowe ’04
Sara Watson Jones ’83C, Jennie Proctor Schwoebel ’57C, Jan Proctor
Isabel Moran ’21, Meg Duncan ’02, Jennifer Moran
Sara Rose Nordgren ’00, left, Lisa Yount, right
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CALENDAR WINTER/SPRING 2019
Auction 2019 February 22
Angus Barn Pavillions
February 7-8 Alumnae Council Winter Meeting February 12 Durham and Chapel Hill N.C., alumnae and friends event
January 10 Pensacola, Fla., alumnae and friends event January 14 Marking Luther King Jr. Day of Service January 14-15 Admission Overnight and Visitation January 16 Jacksonville, Fla., alumnae and friends event January 17 Key Largo, Fla., alumnae and friends event January 18 Palm Beach, Fla., alumnae and friends event January 28 Philadelphia alumnae and friends event January 29 Smedes Parlor Concert Series
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February 15-16 Saint Mary’s Theatre’s Spring Musical Little Women February 18 Fayetteville, N.C. area alumnae and friends event February 22 Auction 2019 Angus Barn Pavilions Raleigh February 25 Alumnae and friends gathering with Chorale performance The Cardinal, Raleigh February 27 Long Beach, Calif., alumnae and friends event February 28 Los Angeles alumnae and friends event March 5 Greensboro, N.C. alumnae and friends event
May 3-4 • Reunion Weekend for classes ending in four and nine March 19 Mother, daughter dinner at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill March 28 Smedes Parlor Concert Series March 29 Granddaughters Club Luncheon April 3 Columbia, S.C. area alumnae and friends event
May 19 • Commencement
April 24 Southern Pines and Pinehurst, N.C. area alumnae and friends gathering April 26 Chorale Spring Concert May 2-3 Alumnae Council Spring Meeting
April 4 Charleston, S.C. area alumnae and friends event
May 3-4 Reunion Weekend For Classes ending in 4 and 9
April 9 Hickory, N.C. area alumnae and friends event
May 19 Commencement for the 177th Session
April 12 Grandparents and Grandfriends Day
SAVE THE DATES AND JOIN US FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS! For a complete calendar of events throughout the school year, visit www.sms.edu/alumnae. Regional alumnae events will be added to the alumnae web page as they are scheduled. All alumnae are welcome at all events. Print and electronic invitations will be sent. If you do not receive your invitation, please let us know. Visit the Alumnae Events web page for more information and to register online. Contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C, director of alumnae relations, at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171 with questions. Events are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances, and changes will be announced as soon as possible.
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EVENTS
NEW ORLEANS, LA. June 22, 2018
Troubador Hotel
Left to right: Lesley Wharton Marcello ’66C, Amelia Henderson ’80C, Sarah Pierce ’64C
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. June 28, 2018 The Landing
Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS ’78C, Lee Archibald Taylor ’78C, Elizabeth Stewart Long ’78C
Left to right: Annie Gray Calhoun Lane ’58C, Bobby Long, Ann Penton Longley ’52C
Mary Ashburn Mann ’17, Lois Perry Sawyer ’52C, Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C
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ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. July 20, 2018
The Coral Bay Club
Left to right: Kakie Wheatly Davidson ’40C, Coleman Jenkins Dance ’55HS ’57C, Betty Bacon Bikle ’59C
Left to right: Heather Gibson ’93HS ’95C, Jennifer Locke McCann ’97C, Laurie Deatherage ’93HS ’95C, Mae Blount Deatherage Knott ’97C, Allison Wilkes Thomas ’93HS ’95C
BLOWING ROCK, N.C.
Left to right: Bess Knotts Walker ’76C, Josie Forbes ’76C, Ila Walker Bittner ’05
August 7, 2018
Blowing Rock Country Club
Front Row: Carol Biggers Dabbs ’55HS ’57C, Holly Hendricks ’97C, Margaret Hambrick Glaze ’87C, Travis Manning Berk ’01HS, Susan Creech Rankin ’74HS, Julie Ricciardi, Vicky McKenzie Armes ’62C; Back Row: Terry Dabbs Lewis ’80C, Missy Underwood Miller ’80C, Anne Steele ’59C, Nancy Scott Grantham ’80C; Carolyn Walser Johnson ’80C, Missy Basinger Plyler ’80C, Claire Lynn Purdie Brennan ’62C
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EVENTS
BOSTON
September 18, 2018 Cambridge 1
Roxanne Finch Emond ’90HS, Vanessa DeLarca ’17, Tra My Ha ’18
Left to right: Brittany Branch ’03, Jamie Cathel Dunaway ’03, Meg Duncan ’02, Ashley Davenport ’03
NEW YORK
September 19, 2018
Scotty Grine Frantz ’81HS ’83C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Bettine Bikle Boyd ’81HS ’83C
Park Central Hotel
Front row, left to right: Grace Caroline Larcade ’14, Abbey Dale ’14, Charlotte Niemann ’13, Frances Cayton ’14, Paula Rosine Long ’05; back row, left to right: Blanche Williamson ’76HS, Emily Szyperski ’14, Paden Earnhardt ’14, Mary Gordon Utt ’13, Mary Copeland Cain ’13, Ashby Bonds ’13, Blakely Nielsen ’13, Savannah Johnson ’18, Margaret McGlohon ’81C
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AUSTIN, TEXAS September 25, 2018 Home of Theo and David Coonrod
Left to right: Anne Kenan Barnard ’02, Hannah Johns ’07, Emily Smith ’01, Arden Piacenza ’06, Theo Coonrod, Claire Carter, Margaret McGlohon ’81C
ATLANTA
October 2, 2018
Home of Tom and Katherine Allen Dierdorff '02
Julia Walker Barge ’82HS ’84C, Eve Murphy, Carroll Huger Griffin ’81C
Left to right: Eliza Stoughton ’12, Marwah Alzer ’12, Emily Smith ’01, Gates Killian ’10, Katie Mathews ’08, Liza Wooten ’10
Wick Dunlap Garrard ’88HS ’90C, Elizabeth Stickley Scott ’86HS ’88C, Katherine Allen Dierdorff ’02
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EVENTS
WAKE COUNTY October 18, 2018 Smedes Hall
Lou Johnson Johanson ’58C, left, Nancy Haywood ’68HS, right
Leslie Allred Yates ’96HS ’98C, left, Merritt Atkins ’99
May McMillan Bensen, Josie Rawl Hall ’74C, Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS Miriam Brown Lang ’85C, left, Ruth Dobson Torres ’89HS, right
HALIFAX, N.C. October 24, 2018
Left to right: Allison Gilbert Holmes ’81C, Lauren Burrows ’79HS ’81C, Coles Hines Jones ’79HS ’81C, Elizabeth Hardy Hogan ’81C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Beth Mann ’81C
The Hen and Hog
Above: Left to right: Sally Pierce, Bambi Conger Edwards ’82HS, Martha Johnston Chesnutt ’91HS, Betsy Tom Homewood Brown ’73HS ’75C Left to right: Hall Squire, Molly Peebles Squire ’77HS ’79C, Dial Baker Love ’79HS, Madison Macon, Susan Macon
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Left: Nella Fulton Timmons ’77HS, left, Dial Baker Love ’79HS
CHARLOTTE October 30, 2018
Home of Joe and Elizabeth Denning Fernandez '92C
Jane Pettit Higgins ’83C, left, Whitley Adkins Hamlin ’97C
Left to right: Bill Plyler, Missy Basinger Plyler ’80C, Dee Williamson Marley ’77HS, Steve Allen, Ashley Richardson Allen ’81C, Suzy Dunaway Riley ’81C
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. November 12, 2018
Kitty Mattocks Bray ’87HS ’89C, Marietta Steck Murphy ’91C, Liz Norfleet Grasty ’91C
Vino
Left to right: Lindsay Speros Robbins ’02, Elizabeth Lowder ’07, Emily Smith ’02, Alleen Cater ’63HS ’65C
Left to right: Nancy Gillespie Kimberly ’81C, Verna Gates ’75HS, Harriett Little Chen ’85C, Frances Stubinger Daugherty ’54C
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EVENTS
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. November 13, 2018 Hennen's
Left to right: Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Hannah Allen Myers ’07, Emily Smith ’01
NASHVILLE, TENN. November 14, 2018 Park Central
Left to right: Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Mary Stuart Smart ’10, Peron Graeber ’10, Emily Smith ’01
Left to right: Emily Smith ’01, Elizabeth Martin ’12, Sarah Wannamaker Karpie ’82HS ’84C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Sara Kinard Moyd ’14, Christian Lail ’12
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D.C./BALTIMORE/CHEVY CHASE November 29, 2018
Home of Bob and Tricia Kelly Pinkard '79C
Grace Battle Thompson ’18, left, Sally Betts Goss ’75C, right
Caren Threshie Camp ’71HS, Lisa Tate ’78C, Sally Pelletier ’77HS ’79C, Tricia Kelly Pinkard ’79C, Anna Tate ’81C
FRANCES VANN CLUB November 27, 2018
Left to right: Bailey Ham ’15, Elise McKinney ’13, Anna Bridgforth ’13, Helen Williamson ’13
Junction West, Raleigh
Members of the Frances Vann Club, a casual group of current and former alumnae employees named for longtime Saint Mary’s alumna and employee Frances Vann ’35B, gathered at Junction West in downtown Raleigh for an annual social hour. Seated, left to right: Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Lou Johnson Johanson ’58C, Jane Augustine Rabon ’59C, Gretchen Fracher Hardage ’65C, Katie Sullivan Landi ’85HS; standing, left to right: Sally Maddison Wooten ’85HS, Elizabeth Patteson Dixon ’80C, Chelsea Ward ’09, Elizabeth Hardy Hogan ’81C, Weldon Jackson Byrtus ’92C, Josie Rawl Hall ’74C, Emory Rogers Church ’74C, Campbell McMillan ’00, Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, Gabie Craig Frantz ’12, Mary Brown Taylor ’08, Emily Smith ’01.
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IN MEMORIAM IN MEMORIAM Virginia Snead Keyser ’34HS June 2, 2018 Tay Fowle Carter ’40C November 10, 2018 Sarah Berton Parsley ’40C June 18, 2018 Marie Watters Colton ’41C September 25, 2018 Margaret Wilson Hairston Lee ’42C June 18, 2018 Almeria Holmes Wright ’42HS July 25, 2018 Sara Daphne Richardson Spurlock ’43C November 23, 2018 Neva Whitaker Wallace ’43C October 5, 2018 Nancy Reed Norton McCord ’43C November 17, 2018 Elizabeth Clark Roberts ’44C July 27, 2018 Mary Leah Thorne Williamson ’47C October 12, 2018 Mary Elizabeth Kittrell Kempton Clark ’47HS September 10, 2018 Martha Ann Olsen Sigmon ’47HS June 17, 2018 Mary Scarboro Jasmin ’48HS ’50C November 29, 2018 Barbara Marley Nicholson ’48C September 23, 2018' Mary Ruth Rubie Steen ’49HS ’51C October 11, 2018 Mildred Cobb Carr ’49HS ’51C August 18, 2018 Jean Summerlin Askew ’51HS November 27, 2018 Luke Hill Page ’50C November 20, 2018 Georgia Kennedy Irvin ’50HS June 14, 2018 LaNelle Edwards Looper ’51C November 23, 2018 Lynn Littleton White Dunlea ’52C October 24, 2018 Nancy Bragg Dawson Rascoe ’52C November 22, 2018 Louise Vance Brand ’51HS ’53C September 28, 2018 Margaret Mansfield-Jones Healan ’53HS June 24, 2017 Mary Wright Parker Pittman ’53HS ’55C August 26, 2018 Sue Brock Jones Miller ’55C March 11, 2018 Sarah Marilyn Hedrick Pettit ’54C September 6, 2018
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Sally Lewis Rhoades ’58C September 24, 2018 Julia Fuller Jones ’58HS November 23, 2018 Elizabeth Latta Hill ’58HS ’60C June 22, 2018 Carolyn Harris Conarroe ’59C November 28, 2018 Carolyn Finley Meyer ’59C August 28, 2018 Alice Winston Conner Paschall ’60HS ’62C September 30, 2018 Robbin Causey Clark ’61HS October 6, 2018 Anna Catherine Henry Hawes ’61C November 12, 2018 Carlisle Northington Benton ’62C September 18, 2018 Mae Elizabeth Kalkhurst ’62C September 29, 2018 Martha Van Noppen ’62C June 8, 2018 Jeannie Cashion Fox ’63HS July 15, 2018 Alice Hubner Black ’63C August 4, 2018 Harriet King Gussoni ’63C August 2018 Sunny McDonald Brookshire ’65C November 19, 2018 Mary Jo Quinerly Jefferson ’65C July 24, 2018 Judith Lawrence Edwards ’70HS November 1, 2018 Carolyn Bishop McCosh ’74C September 3, 2018 Eva Bernhardt Bingham ’75C August 6, 2018 Vivian Rawls Watkins ’77C September 1, 2018 Lynn Miller Dula ’79C July 21, 2018 Cheryl Lynn Anderson ’82C October 6, 2018 Stephanie Shannon Mannen ’84HS ’85C November 18, 2018 Courtney Elizabeth Scott ’86HS June 9, 2018 Amanda Leigh Hedgepeth ’01 December 24, 2017 Tom McGuire, former trustee September 4, 2018 Anna Devin Graham, former faculty August 28, 2018 Aldert S. Root III, great-grandson of Saint Mary’s founder, The Rev. Aldert Smedes September 26, 2018
MILESTONES Saint Mary’s Class of 2011 classmates gathered for the wedding of Louise Mann Clement Dull ’11. First row, left to right: Nan Copeland, Virginia Fulenwider, Olivia Barwick, Elizabeth Williams, Anderson Stark; Second row, left to right: Hannah Moore Harris, Caroline Collie, Elizabeth Jenkins, Louise Mann Clement Dull, Sarah Randall Fuqua, Caroline Hunt, Elizabeth Kerns.
MARRIAGES Ann Kenan Barnard ’02 married Jamison Stewart, December 1, 2018 *Anna O’Neal ’05 married Merit Cross on Saturday, June 23, 2018 Mary Conyers Tucker ’06 married Zack Loncar, Saturday, June 23, 2018
BIRTHS
Margaret Cheatham Williams ’07 married Frank Driscoll, September 15, 2018
Kelly Stocks Milam ’01, a son, September 24, 2018
Elizabeth Bonner ’08 married Alec Covington, October 20, 2018
Erin Pope ’02, a daughter, July 17, 2018
Christine Hodge Christ ’02, a daughter, June 23, 2018
Hayley Dillon ’08 married Brad Cain, August 18, 2018
Jillana Lamm Zipf ’02, a son, August 29, 2018
Elizabeth Capel ’09 married Grace Baldridge, August 4, 2018
Megan Meighan ’03, a daughter, July 16, 2018
Arrington Clark ’09 married John Caison, December 15, 2018
Susan Williams Mason ’05, a son, August 2018
Perri Kritz ’09 married Matthew Hoyt, September 29, 2018
Janna Neisler Myers ’03, a son, July 5, 2018 Merriweather Raidle Mulé ’04, a son, June 15, 2018 Sarah Eberle McAnulty ’06, a daughter, September 20, 2018 Mary Catherine Perry Phillips ’07, a son, July 26, 2018
Victoria Touloupas ’09 married Dylan Higgins, August 11, 2018
Sidney Dawson Dozier ’08, a son, June 7, 2018
Katie Mitchell ’10 married Tommy Saieed, November 17, 2018
Perry Holding Bailey ’09, a son, November 19, 2018
Elizabeth Grigg ’10 married Patrick Brown, September 22, 2018
Kirsten Thompson Patrick ’10, a son, June 16, 2018
Louise Mann Clement ’11 married Will Dull, August 4, 2018 Abby Daniel ’11 married Will Vallecillo, October 20, 2018 * Maggie Pearce ’11 married Parker Dill, July 14, 2018
*Married in the Saint Mary’s Chapel
Jessica Clark Stewart ’08, a son, October 27, 2018 Sara Bailey Stocks Pate ’09, a son, November 24, 2018
These milestones were compiled based on information received by the school by December 15, 2018. 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 summer 2019 magazine.
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CLASS NEWS 1938 CLASS NEWS It’s all here – the latest and greatest news from alumnae in even-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. Odd-year classes will be featured in the summer 2019 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. 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.
Charlotte Ruffner Taylor ’38C lives in assisted living at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury. “My son and daughter both live in Salisbury. I have six grandchildren, 10 greatgrandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild! I enjoy playing cards and the activities on the hall.” Charlotte will be 100-years-old on January 18, 2019.
1940
Catherine Gant Powell ’40HS writes, “There’s plenty to do here at Cypress Glen Retirement Community—if you want to! Greenville is a hot bed of Saint Mary’s alumnae, including my daughter-in-law, Clarine Pollock Powell ’67C. Seeing my four children, 11 grands, and five great-grands is my greatest pleasure.”
1944
COLLEGE Mary Lynn Lewis DeLany Scant news from the Class of 1944C. I hear from Ruth Moore Glass occasionally via email. She is still in Whiteville. Olive Camp Johnson '44HS and I talk on the phone occasionally—we went to Converse College together in fall of 1944. She was a freshman, and I was a junior. Elizabeth Thompson Severance lives here at Twin Lakes. She was a roommate my junior year. Sadly, Betty Clark Roberts has passed away. My Lynn (Lynn Johnson Titchener '73C) vows that she is taking me to the lunch in May for my 75th reunion! I am doing fine for 92-three, on a walker, car at the ready!
1946
COLLEGE Dabney Little McElroy '46C Margo Martin Young writes that she was sorry to miss the reunion but was not up to the long drive from her home in Clinton, S.C. “I’m still hanging in there, but have problems with hearing and arthritis. I’m still in my home and all three children live on our farm. I am truly blessed to see them so often and they do so much to help me. We still enjoy the house on Pawleys Island and we are so thankful that it was not damaged during Florence. I look forward to hearing the Class News.” Ann Lewis Dye-Mallardi writes that she has moved from the east coast of Florida to the west, to the town of Venice. “I reside in Jacaranda Trace and I am about two blocks from my daughter.” Two years ago, she lost her oldest son to cancer and heart issues. Dorothy Oakey Read writes, “I am still living in my family home in Hertford. At my age, I have slowed down but still stay busy managing the family farm, doing my own housework, driving, etc. Still enjoy three weeks each summer at Nags Head with extended family. My son’s two daughters will graduate in May from college and grad school. My granddaughter, Sarah, is now getting her master’s from Columbia University.” Dabney Little McElroy is happy to report the marriage of her grandson, John Capers McElroy, to Alexandra Creason in Charleston, S.C., on January 27, 2018. In addition, a fourth great-grandchild came into Dabney's family with the birth of Mary Hargrave McElroy in Raleigh in November 2017. She is the daughter of Will and Molly McElroy. Dabney enjoys keeping up with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who live in Charleston, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Alexandria, Va. She hopes that her classmates are in good spirits.
1948
Nancy Hamel Clark ’48HS writes from Greensboro, “In July 2017, my son took me to Raleigh to have lunch with his friend. To my delight, he had planned to take me by SMS, as he had never seen it and knew I would be pleased. I found an unlocked door and we walked all around inside. (Smedes parlor was having work done.) I took them to the Chapel and we walked all around the grounds in back. It was fun to see it, as I had not been back since my reunion—maybe the 65th in 2013? It was special to share this wonderful time in my life with my son.” Lenoir Williams Tucker ’46HS ’48C writes from Black Mountain, “As I celebrate my 90th birthday during Thanksgiving, I have happy memories of my high school and junior college at Saint Mary’s and then graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1950. I have lived at a wonderful retirement home in Black Mountain for 16 years and our family still has our home in Montreat, which we enjoy.” June Fleenor White ’48HS writes from Davidson, “Mark and I have a three-room apartment, old friends plus many new ones. Our
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Lucile Best Jones came, and it was wonderful to see her. Olivia’s reception was lovely with beautiful flowers given by Olivia’s friends (from The Cardinal, where she lived). We have also lost Frankie Strosnider Dubose. She passed away several weeks before Olivia. Jean Stockton Rhodes and her husband, Dr. Cecil Rhodes, live in Wilson, in their home. Betty Bowles Haywood ’48HS ’50C writes, “I am now the matriarch of a huge family. My eighth great-grandchild was born October 13. I am well and happy at Arbor Acres Retirement Center in Winston-Salem. I am doing volunteer work at Forsyth Prison, still gardening, writing, and cooking for fun.” I know we are all gracefully aging, but I know we are all still full of SPUNK, so keep going and being your fabulous selves. You are loved by your classmates!
1952
COLLEGE
Joan Culbreth Greer ’56C submitted this photo with husband Jep, saying they are grateful for good health and happiness.
space will be enlarged soon. People want more space! I have a lovely garden here that will be removed as soon as the new building begins.” The Whites have one son in Black Mountain, one son in Charlotte, and several grandchildren. June would love to know if any SMS alums are living nearby. Betty Bowles Haywood ’48HS ’50C writes, “I am now the matriarch of a huge family. My eighth great-grandchild was born October 13. I am well and happy at Arbor Acres Retirement Center in Winston-Salem. I am doing volunteer work at Forsyth Prison, still gardening, writing, and cooking for fun.” Grace Jones Fishel ’48HS writes with sad news. “My husband, Harry, died on Jan. 4, 2018, after three weeks in the hospital in Roanoke Rapids and Greenville. He was almost 95-years-old, and we had been married almost 67 years. I nursed him to the very end, and I miss him terribly.” Saint Mary’s send condolences to Grace.
1950
COLLEGE Betty Ray McCain '50C Hello to all our wonderful classmates from Saint Mary’s School, Class of 1950 College. I do hope that you all weathered Hurricane Florence, and pray you were not damaged by it. Most of our news is quite sad, so brace yourselves! My beloved roommate, Olivia Lynch Hardin, died several months ago. The service was at Christ Church, Raleigh, where she was a member.
Margaret Cheatham Williams ’50HS ’52C has two granddaughters who are juniors at Saint Mary’s, Frances Williams and Eleanor Williams. She also has four other granddaughters who are alumnae. “Thanks to Saint Mary’s for all its wonderful guidance!” Mary Bell Paparazo ’52C still resides in Goldsboro. Her three children are well and have wonderful families. Her son, Andy Bell, is a family doctor in Big Stone Gap, Va. Cathy, her youngest daughter, is an eye doctor in New Bern. Her middle child, Susan Paparazo ’79C, is a family nurse practitioner in Goldsboro, so she is able to check in on Mary every day. Susan reports “healthy and happy Mary” enjoys bird watching from her home, and calls and visits from friends and family.” Mary has seven grandchildren and five greatgrands. Nancy Dawson Rascoe Stevenson ’52C died Thanksgiving Day in a car accident. A celebration of her life and burial was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Windsor with a reception at the visitor center at Historic Hope Plantation, Nov. 29, attended by hundreds, including many Saint Mary’s friends and family. Nancy was on campus numerous times for joyful occasions this fall, including a reception following the ceremony at the state capitol where she was honored with the Long Leaf Pine Award given by the governor, the induction of granddaughter Joyner into the Granddaughters Club, and as featured speaker at the November residential community dinner for the boarding students. She held her final manners camp at 1812 on the Perquimans this past summer, and has passed the camp to Saint Mary’s School, which will begin on campus in 2019. Nancy sent her class news before her passing, writing, “I give thanks to the Lord and Savior, for our family, each precious one. I am very grateful for each of my family and Paul's family and so happy that Lucy Mae Rascoe ’15, Katie Rascoe ’17 and Joyner Rascoe ’21 are members of the Saint Mary's family. I am hoping that my greatgranddaughter, Ella Charles Stone Rascoe, will
be a Saint Mary's girl as well. She is two years old! I am so thankful for my grandsons and their wives, Raggs and Briley, Hunter and Betsy, and Nixon (who is a senior at Virginia Episcopal School.) My prayer for each and every one is that they may know, without a shadow of a doubt, that our Lord's Holy Spirit lives within them.”
1954
COLLEGE Trissy Holt Lomax '54C Frances Stubinger Daugherty is always so good about letting me know what's going on in her life and she wrote that she didn't have any news, but is looking forward to our reunion next year. Pat Perry Moser and I keep up regularly and she writes that she is still enjoying living at Heron Point, which her son calls "The Home." She says it is almost Paradise. She says that although she has never returned to North Carolina to live, she's continued to throw "pig" parties whenever possible. When she emailed me, she was planning to roast a pig for her son's 60th birthday. If rain or coolish temperatures were going to mess up being outdoors, her son has a large garage to escape into if needed. I hope it turned out well. Pearl Smith Wells ’52HS ’54C writes that she and John, her husband of 64 years, have lived in Grace Ridge retirement community in Morganton for 11 years. They moved there from Statesville, to be nearer to their family. “We are blessed to have eight greatgrandchildren, ranging in age from eight to one. Some live in Morganton, so we get to see them frequently. We enjoy staying in touch with Alice Bost Davidson ’52HS ’54C, Connie Shaver Parramore, and Kay Baker Floyd ’52HS ’54C, and would enjoy seeing more of you! Through the years we have enjoyed traveling worldwide, hiking, playing tennis, and gardening. Now we enjoy looking out the window at our beautiful mountain view of Table Rock, Hawk’s Bill, and Grandfather Mountain. What a view! It is always nice to hear from other Saint Mary’s ‘girls!’” Henry and I are still spending most of the year in our Florida home. We did get back to North Carolina for the summer. Our children are there and some of the grandchildren. Our doctor granddaughter, Deanna Lomax, is in her last year of residency in Baton Rouge, La., and she is visiting different cities that offer a fellowship in her child psychiatry field. Of course, we would love to see her in Tampa, so she'd be near us. I hope next year more of you will send in your responses. Saint Mary's was a special place in our lives and we made some lasting friendships there. Blessings, Trissy
1954
HIGH SCHOOL Reba White Williams ’54HS I'm still enjoying a beautiful fall in Greenwich, Conn., with multi-colored leaves that survived a recent strong storm. We just concluded our 11th annual Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction,
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CLASS NEWS a prize we give every October, at a ceremony in New York. We even attracted a couple of Saint Mary's girls who live nearby to the celebratory reception. I'm sending you the news I've received from our crowd, and hope to get some more. Barbara Doar Cooper writes, “We had lots of weather and the flood kept us away from the coast due to road closures, but except for lots of tree debris, LOTS, we dodged the bullet this time. Michael was really worse than Florence, except for the long time frame of the first one.” Mott Goff Butler also writes of hurricanes, “The great news is that we made it through these hurricanes, just like we did in 1954 when Hazel hit! All is well today in Harnett County. Dunn is sunny and cool. My news is I am very happy to be in my home, safe, and dry. I hope all of the families we love are also. These two hurricanes have been enough!” Ruth Elliott Overman reports, “I seem to be feeling older...but I do have a recent great-granddaughter (born in August) and I’m expecting #10 in November. I enjoy keeping up with our children and their children with so many different talents. Think about our class often! I hope each of you is doing well! Thank you, Reba, for doing this!” Ruth Watkins Barber ’54HS ’56C reports that she and Milton are living at The Cedars in Chapel Hill. “We miss our friends in Durham but have made many good friends at The Cedars. Love and miss our Raleigh friends! I am still upright and walking but would love to meet the man who said these are ‘golden years’ and the best. They were mistaken! Thankful to be here with Milton. Every day is an adventure!” Martha Bricio Brooks ’54HS ’56C writes, “Dreary humdrum summer for me: aside from a couple of trips to the mountains, the house I've lived in for 40 years reminded me it needed attention. So I switched out 20-year-old appliances and 50+ year-old plumbing. Next year I'll treat myself to Seattle, Mexico, and Paris!” Nancy Thompson von Lazar writes from Sarasota, Fla., “Bemoaning the disappearance of old Florida as it is chopped and eaten by development; the only place to really see it is in the ancient parks or old ranches. As you can tell, there is nothing new for me, still am the mother of two adult children, one a son who has, with his wife, three children, and one daughter, whose husband has one teenager, her stepson. My son lives in Frederick, Md., and my daughter lives here in this area, a onehalf-hour drive from me. I have my waterfront house on the market—I am the realtor—am not 100% sure where I will go but probably will stay in this area. Cheers to all.” Martha Jane Pearce Bradford and husband Edwin have moved to Well Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro and are extremely happy with their decision. “Our children are happy too. We have three grandchildren who live here in Greensboro. The twins, Janie and Ben, will graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill this spring. Our youngest granddaughter is a sophomore at the
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University of Pennsylvania. Our daughter Polly works for Wells Fargo in Charlotte, after living in Nashville, Tenn., for 10 years.”
1956
COLLEGE Martha Brooks Bricio '54HS '56C As always, our '56 class is GREAT about responding to the call for your news! Thank you so much! It means more and more as time goes on. What a treat to hear from you! We have lots of news about hurricanes, as usual, but also about books published and family gatherings and activities. We also suffered the loss of a classmate: Pat Satterfield Gentry died on May 30, 2017. We extend our sympathy to her friends and family. Pearla Ann Revelle Lowe gets the prize for being the first to send in her news! (In fact I think she is usually the first to check in!) She lives at The Cypress in Raleigh, and really loves it. "Good food, good health care, and good friends. We are close to State, Carolina, and Duke!" Fairfax Crow Randall sent a wonderful greeting card with three generations of her family. Fairfax and her husband are at the top of the card’s "tree," their children and grandchildren on the next level, and finally a grand grouping of the whole clan. What a lovely way to showcase a large family! I also received a great candid of Joan Culbreth Greer and her husband, Jeptha, looking great and happy! I don't know whether these photos will make it into the alumnae magazine, but I'll hang on to them for our next reunion! We have authors! Helen Walker Webb writes, "In August I published a book, Old Ladies can Zipline, too! It sells on Amazon. It has been a fun adventure! It's a collection of snapshots of my life. Just think: At Saint Mary's I was in 5-hour English! At this time of life it's good to be on foot!” Marianna Miller Raugh checks in with this, "Finally, I have some news: my daughter, Anne R. Keene, has a new book, The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II. It is in its second printing and is set in Chapel Hill. It will come out on audio tape in October." It's available on Amazon, and would be of interest to sports enthusiasts. About this year's hurricanes: Mott Butler Goff put it this way: “one tree down, two hurricanes, three days the post office was closed, four inches of rain, five days without electricity, TV or house phone, six: turn around and do it again!” Mott says that in the midst of this mess she got to see her granddaughter at UNC-Chapel Hill, and they won the game for her on her birthday! Patsy Miller Moore reports that damage to her place at Pine Knoll Shores was minimal, thankfully: a few shingles and a bit of windblown debris, easily fixed. She sends greetings to all. Barbara Doar Cooper wasn't so lucky. She says, "We are still assessing the damage to our four places on the Sunset Beach ocean-front, as well as the family houses on the mainland. It seems that Michael caused more
problems than Florence. Fortunately, they found more tree damage than structural damage or beach erosion." Her sons in Wilmington and Georgetown, S.C., reported very little damage. I exchanged emails with Betty Ivey Helms in Greensboro. We commiserated about the challenges of I-40: she doesn't drive to Raleigh on I-40 anymore, and I sympathized: the last time I went to my doctor in Chapel Hill, two cars whizzed by me RACING! As for storms, she also had problems with her beach place, and the apartment downstairs from hers was about wiped out. Betty 's sense of humor still shines: "I stay busy with 16 grandchildren and four great-grands; that's a lot for an only child!" Storms creep into the narrative even when we haven't been affected. Joan Culbreth Greer says that she and Jeptha feel blessed that their health has been so good. And she emailed a photo to show how healthy they are! They live between Atlanta, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the mountains, and have only had one tornado—down the block from them—and one bad hurricane- type storm. She and Jeptha were at St. Simon's Island, Ga., when Hurricane Michael passed through, leaving a lot of downed limbs and leaves. They had spent their honeymoon there 61 years ago! Joan writes that they are doing well and staying busy. "Jeptha, at 86, takes care of our church memorial garden. Our oldest grandson has been hired by Ingalls Shipbuilding. The other two are still in college, at Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern. Life is good, and we are very grateful!" Jane Brown Perkinson says, "Another wonderful year! The highlight was my granddaughter's wedding in Rose Hill, Va., in October. I also had a special long weekend at the Holiday Inn in Wrightsville Beach with about 20 cousins from all over the country. Following that, I spent a week at Landfall in Wilmington with my former friends and neighbors. It's so sad to know of all the hurricane destruction that occurred following my visit." Betty Mixon Daughtry sends a lot of news, and since she didn't mention hurricanes, she apparently fared better this time after losing so many trees in Hurricane Matthew. "I am still very much involved doing many services for my church, St. Paul's UMC. Must share: in April, our daughter Carol was awarded the St. Paul UMC Woman of the Year. I am also very active in D.A.R. This year another D.A.R. member and I thought that we needed to organize a C.A.R. chapter (Children of the American Revolution). We got busy and got the state approval to organize. We now have the Thomas Sutton Chapter of C.AR. Not many members as of now, but growth is coming. My daughter, Carol, and I are on the senior board of directors, and I am also on the scrapbook committee. Carol's three children are members, and each one holds an office." She continues, "Family time is a big part of what I do, and I love every minute. At our home, there are lots of meals, birthday, and holiday
SAINT MARY’S REMEMBERS celebrations, and just plain get-together fun and share time. Gerald and I go to lots of ballet recitals, football, and basketball games, and also to the grandchildren's school assembly programs. Last summer, grandson Darden was a page in the North Carolina Senate. Our oldest granddaughter is now in college, studying to be a nurse. Teenage driving is something else! Don't think it hit me with my children, but with the grandchildren! The two older ones really are good drivers. Now number three just got her learner's permit, so Gerald and I will be riding with her for a while!" Like Joan Culbreth Greer and Jeptha, Betty and husband Gerald have been married 61 years. "Time flies when you're having fun," she says. "Gerald and I are doing great and enjoying doing every day what we enjoy. We are just happy and thankful that we can still do what we are doing." Sue Warburton Redd writes, “Buddy and I have moved into an old folks home in Atlanta. We were a little nervous about it but we love it and we don’t have to cook anymore!” Mary Louise Bizzell Burress reports that they sold their house at Greenbrier and will miss it, but will rent elsewhere. They had two graduations this spring, one at Princeton and one at North Cross School in Roanoke. Finn Walker is a sophomore at Episcopal High School. Mary Louise says that so far, they are enjoying good health, and send best wishes to all. Mary Louise ALWAYS ends by saying how proud she is of Saint Mary's! Glenn Norman Dickens stays busy in Halifax. She talks with Nancy Mallon Towe often, and sees Ina Gee Ridley occasionally at The Hen and the Hog, a restaurant in Halifax that I hope to visit soon. At the time of this writing, Glenn was hoping to see other classmates at a Saint Mary's event in Halifax planned for October by Jennifer Locke-McCann '97C. Nancy Mallon Towe still loves Colorado! She loves looking out on the snow-covered Rockies. However, she says, she traded hurricanes for hailstorms! Her car sustained heavy damage from a wicked storm last summer. Nancy apparently had it fixed because she's still driving it after 192,000 miles. I can relate: I have one with 174,000 miles! Nancy also loves that her Colorado condo has appreciated tremendously. That's good news after going through a real estate struggle in eastern North Carolina. I can relate to that, too. I grew up in Kinston and still have friends and cousins there who must deal with real economic challenges. And these brutal storms don't help. Finally, I received a lovely email from Mary Enerson, who is Jane Westbrook Thomason's daughter. She shared news that in April of this year, Jane suffered a major stroke that has had some serious effects. Mary writes, "But amazingly, even with deficits, mom shows lots of spirit in her laughter, smiles, and recognition of family and old friends. We are blessed she is doing so well! Mom always was one to view life with love and humor and she loves her Saint Mary's ‘girls’ and remembrances. The pillow that is still on her couch reflects that love as it says, 'My favorite antiques are my old St. Mary's friends!' " In fact, Mary said, Jane recently listened on the phone as Marianna Miller Raugh amused Jane with stories about their days at Saint Mary's. And she also reports that Ina Gee Ridley Pittman has been in touch, too. Here is Jane's contact info: Jane Westbrook Thomason, 400 Forsythe Street, #118, Fayetteville, NC 28303; Jane's email is: mary.enerson@gmail.com; and her phone: 713.408.1060. Long, long ago, when I visited Saint Mary's as a high school junior hoping to attend the next year, Jane was the first to greet me and show me around. Always enthusiastic and always a big supporter of Saint Mary's. That's it for now. Not much travel for me this year, except when a health hiccup (small stroke) lead my children to show me two retirement communities in 24 hours. When I got home I called my brother and said, "It's deja vu all over again!" The place I signed up for was where our mother had been and where she happily referred to herself as one of the" inmates! " Hopefully, my name won't come up for a year or so since I need about 18 months to weed out 40 years of life on Glen Forest Drive! Love to all, Martha
1958
COLLEGE Barbara Hauser Bryan ’58C Celebrating our 60th Reunion in April and a class letter Nov. 6 deadline, with reunion help from Kit Tiedeman Mason and Millie Fary Coleman, we have news! Kit reports, “Nothing really new - survived Florence with no
Tom McGuire 1947-2018 Former trustee (2004-2012) Thomas Howard McGuire, Jr passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, and what a loss to this world. He was in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, hiking the Camino de Santiago, a longtime dream of his. His final days were filled with adventure and expectation and until the very last second, he was, as always, full of joy and happiness. Born on March 19, 1947 in Atlanta, Georgia, Tom spent the bulk of his childhood in Houston, Texas. A lifelong lover of learning, he graduated from Emory University in 1969 with a BA in English and went on to earn a PhD in Philosophy-Music in 1975 and a Master’s in Business Administration in 1978, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His life was characterized by a remarkable knack for developing lasting friendships with all those he encountered. He had a great passion for education, the arts and all things music and philanthropy. He loved to read, travel and play the piano. His intellect, creativity and generous heart were a blessing to all. But, by leaps and bounds, the greatest joy in Tom’s life was his family. The love he had for his wife, Barbara, was unlike any other. Affection and devotion like what was between them just cannot be put to words. It was full and unconditional and complete. If you were fortunate enough to know him, you know. His daughter, Martha, was one of the greatest blessings in his life and he cherished their close relationship. He was especially proud to see her mature into a loving wife and the adoring mother to his two precious granddaughters. He had a joy about his grandchildren that was truly childlike and whimsical. It was full and complete adoration, and it was mutual. He would drop anything at any time to be with them. Tom is survived by his wife, Barbara Hunter McGuire; his daughter, Martha Sickles Sanders; his son-in-law, John Charles Sanders; his granddaughters, Anna Elise Sanders and Martha Thomas Sanders; his sister, Jean McGuire Quarelli; and his nieces, Heather Lynn Arabie and Lauren Elizabeth Miller. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Howard McGuire and Sarah Lenora O’Neal McGuire and his sister, Marjorie Lynn McGuire. A celebration of Tom’s life was held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, September 15, 2018.
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LEADING LADIES OF SAINT MARY’S Cantey Venable Sutton, Class of 1905 Cantey Venable Sutton, Saint Mary’s Class of 1905, was inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame, Nov. 4, 2018, as the Centennial inductee. Mrs. Sutton was an artist, author, philanthropist, performer, and activist whose accomplishments have endured in Raleigh and beyond. The most notable and durable contribution stands at the corner of Pogue and Everett Streets: The Raleigh Little Theatre, Amphitheatre, and Rose Garden. These landmarks have fostered hundreds of productions, countless volunteer hours, the careers of artists and professionals, and garden enthusiasts. Born in Chapel Hill in 1887, Cantey was the daughter of Francis Preston Venable, scientist and president of UNC and the granddaughter of John Manning, dean of the UNC Law School. She studied art and performed in plays at Saint Mary’s School and Converse College before attending the Arts Student League of New York. She married Louis Valvelle Sutton in 1912, and after a dozen years in Raleigh they moved their then family of four to Mississippi. While living there, she wrote History of Art in Mississippi, a textbook that was taught throughout the country. Cantey Sutton also was one of the leaders who persuaded the community to build the Little Theater of Jackson. After moving back to Raleigh in 1932, Cantey Sutton served on the boards of the Woman’s Club of Raleigh, the North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the State Arts Society. Together, Cantey and Louis Sutton made history when he installed a prototype electric kitchen at Meredith College, and she tested recipes for a cookbook she compiled to illustrate how to use electrical appliances. After serving on the committee that incorporated RLT in 1936, Cantey Sutton joined the board in 1939 as building chair. This would be a crucial role for this Works Progress Administration funded project. The first thing needed was a site. She enlisted the support of Mayor George Iseley and secured the property that had been the location of the State Fair race track. Numerous challenges arose during the construction process. Time and time again, Cantey Sutton stepped forward to advocate for the theater and find creative solutions.
Cantey Venable Sutton, Class of 1905, pictured on the cover of Saint Mary’s Bulletin in 1944.
The building was completed and dedicated in 1940. And in the nearly 80-year history of the Sutton Theatre at Raleigh Little Theatre, over one million people have enjoyed plays and musicals, all because of her determination. But Cantey Sutton’s work wasn’t done yet. Under her direction, what had once been the State Fairgrounds race track, a testing ground for army tanks, and finally an unmarketable mud pit, became one of the country’s showcase rose gardens with over 60 formal beds of roses. With the support of the City of Raleigh and civic groups throughout the state, the Raleigh Rose Garden was dedicated in 1951, with the fountain named in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Francis P. Venable, Cantey Sutton’s parents. Cantey Sutton was an important pioneer as a philanthropist, a volunteer and an activist, who showed how leadership and hard work can make a lasting difference. Because of her, generations of people have produced and enjoyed theatre in the spirit of community and in the security of a permanent home – complete with a garden.
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Cantey Venable Sutton
Mrs. Sutton was chair of the Alumnae Committee for Saint Mary’s Centennial Campaign in 1944. Her daughter, Sarah Manning Sutton ’39HS, and three of her granddaughters attended Saint Mary’s: Cantey Venable Tomlinson Tanner ’66HS, Sally Sutton Tomlinson Earnhardt ’68HS ’70C, and Cantey Venable Sutton Brown ’76HS.
Thanks to Cantey Tomlinson Tanner ’66HS, Mrs. Sutton’s granddaughter, for providing this information.
CLASS NEWS
Members of the Class of ‘58C gathered this fall for a mini-reunion at Ruby Tuesday’s in Wilmington, N.C. Pictured left to right, Kit Tiedeman Mason, Brooks Newton Preik, Barbara Hauser Bryan, Peggy Withers Allen, Ginny McPherson Hall; seated center, Annie Gray Calhoun Lane.
damage to our building—no new strokes or heart attacks.” A heart attack changed Kit’s summer visiting plans with daughter Catie and family in California. Now it’s twice weekly cardiac rehab and the usual three weeks planned at Christmas. Helen London Hill reports, “We’re pretty good for old folks. We spent the summer at our house at Kiawah.” Their “seven adorable grandchildren” span ages 10-18. Helen added a hint on finding Sally Rembert Quirk—to no avail yet! Jessie Allen Ogburn has traveled and also dealt with damages from Hurricane Florence at Wrightsville Beach. “We were very fortunate, overall.” “Thanks for the good job you always do,” was the kind greeting from Lou Johnson Johanson. “Will send the letter and always give to SMS, including her in my will!” she encourages us. First response was from Ginger Vann King. It read, “Hey...will try later...in hospital with pinched nerve...surgery? Glad u r well! Love to all, Ginger.” Finally, weeks after that ominous blurb, Ginger sent news of her extended stay in rehab and husband Bill’s stay in assisted living. Bill had hip replacement surgery on Sept. 7, the same date and night that Ginger fell, winding up with three pelvic fractures and her shoulder hurt during the procedure to repair injuries. She’s checking off at least two months in the fall as “forgettable!” Penelope Currie joined our reunion crew at the Hilton. “Appreciate the time
we spent together,” she wrote, adding she was heading out in a rainstorm to attend her local D.A.R. meeting, just home from the North Carolina mountains, and remaining active with her extended family in the Charlotte area. Reached out to a gardening buddy of Doris Price Deal, who’d learned there were ups and downs in Doris’s health but that she sounded pretty good. Doris’s roommate, Weezie Key Miller, lives a block from Sis Young Bowman, and has moved to a retirement village to be closer to her daughter, who lives south of Atlanta. I mailed some individual letters to classmates we’ve missed for too long, hearing back from few. We send love to and prayers for Anne Hardin DaMitz, whose daughter Laurie (Lauriston DaMitz ’88HS) reported, “My mother is normally doing well, but is recovering from a serious accident at this time.” Love it when Catherine Rakestraw is happy I’ve pushed to reconnect! “You’re so good to keep trying!” She checked to learn how classmates had survived hurricane flooding. Catch up with Sara Barber Weatherman found that she is “spending my time working in the church archives and playing golf. Keeps me off the street and out of trouble.” So far, Emmy McNeill Sconyers and Ginger haven’t connected personally in Durham, but, now that we know Nancy Rodwell Baker’s daughter lives there, just maybe those three can arrange a mini-reunion when Nancy visits from
California. Emmy is enjoying another year in Bible Study Fellowship. To find one in our respective areas, Emmy suggests we go to bsfinternational.org. Millie Fary Coleman reports that she and Tom are “settling in at our retirement community in Spartanburg, S.C., as of December 2017. Loving being closer to kids and grandkids.” She noted some regulars missed our April reunion—Polly Starbuck Robertson and “Tree”—and looks to see them next time. Millie and I were reunion roommates and suite mates with Kit and Ann Shepherd Engel. Speaking of Shep, she’s continued her learning curve, finding “dehydration and falling down endanger one’s health.” She’s moving again but more slowly. Shep enjoyed our reunion and included hugs for all classmates attending. “Our numbers are precious and Hauser deserves major credit!” She adds, a tribute to perseverance here! And from Ann Rountree Lineweaver, noting reality, “I guess a big birthday is the news most of our class is celebrating this year.” She spent hers “with my family at our son John’s home in Highlands.” She, Jessie, and Ann’s sister-in-law, Grey Watkins Lineweaver ’60C enjoyed a group trip to Germany in July. Ann joins her church pilgrimage in December to trace St. Paul’s travels in spreading Christianity. Lou continues her helpful and educational activities in and around Raleigh. She’s still a docent at the governor’s mansion and attends seminars at UNC-Chapel Hill, public humanities. Atlanta, Ga., was the site for fun time with her arts group. Lou hosted Jessie, Annie Gray Calhoun Lane, and Jenny Whitehurst Hawkins during our 60th. “How great it was seeing classmates and having memorable conversations. Would not trade this time together,” Lou echoed for all of us. Jenny described her third UNC/Duke “Oxford Experience” happily, and for those who’ve never been, as “summer camp for adults!” Sounds great! Annie Gray played host to Lou “for a festive dinner dance hosted by Jane Bellamy Venters and her son and daughter-in-law. Thanksgiving had Annie Gray and Charlie joining her daughter and family in Provence, France. She sees Jessie often at Wrightsville, where the Lanes were spared hurricane damage. Not a bridge player, Annie Gray writes that she’s “having great fun in my old age learning to play Mahjong.” Our grandmothers would approve! Pat Watson Ambrose and Don enjoyed a “very quiet year,” making a few trips to Saint Simons Island, Ga., staying busy with church volunteer work, and keeping in touch with children and their families. She and Carol Crumpler Verrone had continued their friendship at UNC-Chapel Hill and stayed in touch, so Pat was sad to learn of Carol’s death. Peggy Hamme Youngblood said she didn’t have any news but wrote, “I am so proud of your (your scribe’s) Scouting family. I have always been involved in Scouting. My dad started the first Scout troop, ever, at our Episcopal Church in Oxford. I was just a very
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CLASS NEWS young girl at the time. My son, grandson, and husband are all Eagles. I am so proud of that.” With my three Eagles and three eaglets in the making (plus a Girl Scout), I always share Peggy’s enthusiasm. Thanks to pre-reunion calling, we caught up with, or learned about, many more classmates: Legare Benton Head’s family members are happy residents of North Carolina’s Flat Rock. Shella Strother Hollowell ’57C, has been recovering from foot surgery at their home in Locust. Their beautiful family remains near, and Shella knew of one classmate, Elizabeth Blake Boutwell, still living in Jacksonville, Fla. Their mothers grew up together. Another Floridian, Billie Edmondson Hand, alternates two months at a time between Ocala, Fla., and Asheboro. After decades, I found Midge Bowen Bennet in Essex, Conn. No surprise, her new friends describe her as lovely. Wonderful catchup chat with Lanetta Ware, whom I might have found earlier on the road between Roanoke and Buchanan, Va., when I lived there. She has miles of fence on her 156-acre cattle farm (no help except weekends from Hollins). Lanetta coached lacrosse at Hollins for years, going on to state, national, and international involvement in rules and umpiring. Wrapping up our letter today (Nov. 6, Election Day), I loved the memory from Cynthia “Sis” Young Bowman about Bessie Bason straining to see for whom Sis was voting! She also graduated from Hollins with Lanetta. The Bowman’s granddaughter attends the Medical College of Georgia and their grandson is now at Duke, both having graduated from Vanderbilt. Loved seeing Carole Barber Fauth in Charlottesville, Va., in the fall, between her return from Michigan and fall return to Key West until spring. Grandson Kemp Taylor chose Wake Forest and loves it. Fun to reach Nancy Coston Barwick, who stays busy in Kinston, as does Judy Scott Sanders, who joined us in April. Sally Royle Hardy is godmother to the Scott’s daughter Cathy, so the family stays in touch with Sally in Philadelphia. Jean Keyes Warren has remained in Florida, where they founded their company in 2010. Other Raleigh Belles still in the city include Louise Jones Tippett, who enjoys her residence at Springmoor, Margie Reid, who maintains her Raleigh home, and Sue Sandlin-Plaehn, who did make our reunion lunch, and stays busy with her daughters and grands. Several years ago, Raleigh gained Helen Baker Wallace as a resident, bridge player, volunteer, and excellent cook. Her daughters compiled “Nana’s Favorite Recipes” for posterity. Harriett Lang Hornthal is still in Elizabeth City, hard hit by Hurricane Florence. Elizabeth Barker Montgomery (we knew her as “Deppe”) remains in touch with Shella and Charlotte Hunt Pennell. The Montgomerys head from Ohio to North Carolina each November to a condo near New Bern and a family farm for Thanksgiving. Two favorites among classmates were a joy to find. Mary Bahnsen Mullen has remained in Seattle, Wash., where she’s still improving the
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lives of others with a smile. Jane Athey Churchill’s knees don’t allow golfing any more, but her daughter, Wendall, is nearby in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Florence McGowan Turner learned that Retta Grier Paulsen and she have lived in West Palm Beach, Fla., for years. Married 57 years to Jay, Retta said his 90th birthday was celebrated in Saint Augustine, Fla. Loved “seeing” Babe Middleton Nobles at lunch in April. Betty Bundy Webb and Jim moved to Carnegie Club in Charlotte, a retirement community. Margaret Crowson Skinner has had multiple vertebral fractures that don’t let her hold up her upper body. Good news is that her daughter lives with her in Burlington. Margaret checked on her second Smedes roommate, Joy Little Loflin, to learn that Joy’s health was fragile, and she’s living with a daughter in Saint Paul, N.C. Sterling Chadwick Heller is in Rockport, Texas. Michael Gardner Moore still has family in Greensboro, two daughters on the East Coast, but she and Doug had travels that precluded 60th reunion attendance. Nancy Page Hopkins Couch keeps up with Beth Morrison Moye and sent greetings to Jenny from Lynchburg, Va. Speaking of Beth, her and Larry’s fourth great-grandchild arrived in the fall. Sally Lewis Rhoades moved to Deerfield in Asheville and enjoys friends there. Ease Pennington Bridgforth doesn’t travel far, but helps with a Sunday afternoon street ministry called Gathering Place. Her enthusiasm for its work is infectious. Dot Ricks Lind was hoping to join us in Raleigh but not driving alone. Missed her but she checked on roommate MaryHannah Finch Taft, whose children and now granddaughters keep SMS going for us all. Dickie Robinson Tyler missed the reunion because of health problems. Son Dawson, a contractor, also lives in Edenton. Her daughter, Blair, and her husband live over the Golden Gate Bridge with their four children. Checked in with Marvin Ward to learn that Sadie Carol Etheridge Ward was “doing fairly well at home.” She came to the phone, and I wouldn’t trade anything for hearing her sweet voice and exchanging some recollections. Then there was a mini-reunion (lunch at Ruby Tuesdays) in Wilmington on Election Day—same day this class letter was due—and more news acquired from the local Belles Kit invited. Peggy Withers Allen, a special friend and Kit’s post-Saint Mary’s roommate, kept us smiling. She was seated next to Ginny McPherson Hall, a Wilmington resident for nearly three years who annually spends three months at Wrightsville in her “healing place.” Ginny had Kit and son Will to dinner that weekend, and she loves having so many classmates around, as well as LOTS of grocery stores! She and Alex planned to move from Gastonia when he was diagnosed with ALS, dying in December 2014. Brooks Newton Preik enjoys her work as a legal assistant in her nephew’s office. She reported that Southport friend Jean Thompson Poole ’58C was able to buy a home next to her daughter’s family in
Shreveport, La., where her younger grandchildren are thrilled she’s near them. Dot Overbeck Guggenheimer and her daughter, Dorothy Guggenheimer Bridger ’85C, see John and Maggie Guggenheimer’s children, Jack and June, often in Wilmington. Susan Hardin Flynn was involved and couldn’t attend lunch but sent greetings through Kit. Finally, Annie Gray told us she’d be celebrating two friends’ birthdays. One we didn’t know, but Nov. 7 is Jane Bellamy Venter’s 80th, a date Jane reminds us that she shared with Billy Graham. Late news from Janice Sutton Manassa who left Jacksonville, Fla., after 48 years to be near two of her three daughters in Atlanta, Ga. She enjoys the many activities and excursions at The Piedmont in Buckhead, where she lives. Janice has enjoyed watching her six grandchildren “spread their wings” in college, careers, and her youngest grandson qualify for the Georgia State Golf Championship. Your scribe is thrilled with our trove of news from many, many contacts. I am relieved to have contact information for a child or friend who will know how to find classmates if phone numbers or residences change, as they do and will. Still a few more to “find,” and details to obtain, but thanks for all the help. Keep contacting each other and sharing what you know. Have LOTS of mini-reunions! Barbara
1958
HIGH SCHOOL The University of Virginia recently published Buildings of Virginia: Valley, Piedmont, Southside and Southwest by Anne Carter Lee-Gravely ’58HS and contributors. It is part of a nationwide series sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians. Anne is an architectural historian.
1960
COLLEGE Peggy Pegues Kinney ’60C Regrettably, there were few replies to the request for news from our class. I am most appreciative for the several of you who took the time to mail or email me your news. Every one of us has something to share so I am hopeful next time (2020—60th Reunion year!) you WILL share. News from Madge Gregory Bass in Nashville, Tenn., is that daughters, Margaret Bass Tyler and Elizabeth Bass Lamar, and son, John Bass, and their families, are ALL in Nashville too! All three of her children are UNC-Chapel Hill graduates. Grandson Warner Lamar is a sophomore at Chapel Hill. She says they are spending time in Boca Grande, Fla. Occasional Facebook posts I see from Mary Cameron Phillips Dillingham in Greensboro, show that she enjoys being near family there after living many years in Florida. Sally Bickerstaff Hatcher writes from Columbus, Ga., “All the Hatchers are doing great! Madden and I have been married 60 years in November and have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild!” They have grandchildren attending the University of Georgia and Auburn
ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER University. “Life is good—just aches and pains!” Nancy Alston Siegling Fortiere emailed from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., that after husband Dave was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and having months of treatment, he is now cancerfree! They missed “summering” on their boat in the Chesapeake last summer and their visits while up there with roommate Blanche Bonner Stevens and husband Walker of Greensboro, at their home there. After getting the wonderful “green light,” they made plans to go to Oklahoma for the Christmas festival there and then drive across country to visit the three grandkids in California. She hopes for a visit with Lila Laxton Brown of Charlotte when Charlotte is in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Occasional phone visits with Florie McLeod Ervin of Florence, S.C., keep me posted on her large brood who vacation with her at her beach home at Surfside Beach, S.C. A real treat for me was a visit at Pawleys Island, S.C., while we were there from Rebecca Hines Harmon and husband John Sherrill of Greenwood, S.C. Francis LaMotte Robinson of Columbia, S.C., was at their beach home at the time and came over to join us. Great fun catching up! We see Francis and husband Frank fairly often, as well as other Saint Mary’s alums who have homes in the Pawleys Island area and nearby in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Bill and I are doing well and stay busy, which is a good thing! Daughter Elisabeth is now director of tourism, parks, and recreation for the City of Bennettsville and chair of the city bicentennial observance in 2019. Danny is now editor and publisher of the “Herald-Advocate,” our generationally-owned newspaper. Grandson Lee (24) is with Wolseley Industrial in the Knoxville, Tenn., area after graduating in December 2016 from Clemson. Margaret Jane (22) was a December 2018 graduate from Clemson. Job TBD. Light (16) is a junior at Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School near Florence and enjoys playing high school football. I hope this newsletter finds all of you well and happy. Please stay in touch. An email, text, or call would be so wonderful! Peggy
1960
HIGH SCHOOL Dabney Johnston Mann ’60HS ’62C is still spending half the year in Sun Valley, Idaho, (winter and summer) the shoulders in Wilmington. Tift is still skiing but Dabney is not. Their daughter, Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C, and family come out to Sun Valley to visit. Her oldest is attending High Point University and her youngest is a freshman at UNC.
1962
COLLEGE Mary Larsen Jordan ’62C Vicky McKenzie Armes writes that she is still serving on the Saint Mary’s Alumnae Council. She says being a part of that group has made her feel extremely proud to be a “Saint Mary’s girl!” She wants all of us out there to become aware through social media and alumnae mailings about the wonderful opportunities that Saint Mary’s is affording her students! Vickie is sad to report the loss of three of our classmates: Martha Van Noppen, Winston Conner Paschall, and Carlisle Northington Benton. Vickie would love to see all of our classmates’ names as 2018-2019 donors to the Annual Fund. She says to remember that a “little bit of something is better than 100% of nothing! Tra Jennette Perry writes that she is enjoying her retirement after working for 20 years with hospice. She has spent a great deal of time with her children at Nags Head. She also enjoyed a painting class with Bee Pitt Siebury, whom Tra says is a wonderful artist and good teacher. She is looking forward to returning home in Hyde County. Marty Watkins Prevost says she is still working part time in real estate, taking on what she chooses. Marty’s husband passed away in 2016 and she misses him terribly, but her family is close and keeps things busy. She has just returned from a chaotic trip to India! Sounds interesting. Lynn Boyce Purdie-Brennan writes that her granddaughter, Emma Purdie ’16, made her debut at the 2018 Raleigh ball. She used lace from Lynn’s dress on her own dress, which was very special. Malinda Swineford Roberts and her husband, John, took a tour of the Holy Land (Israel and Jordan) in early January. They traveled with long-time friends from Florida and Alaska. It was a memorable and fabulous vacation. She joined the Williamsburg Chapter of the D.A.R. in March. Her granddaughter, Makayla, was married in Sarasota, Fla., in August. The occasion was also a family reunion. They still have three grandchildren living in Alaska. They are enjoying retirement in Williamsburg, Va., so near to their Virginia families and longtime friends from
Coming Clean By Betty Ferguson Moffett ’61C
Ice Cube Press announces the publication of Coming Clean, a collection of short stories by Betty Ferguson Moffett ’61C. In Coming Clean, Betty Moffett pays homage to the power of storytelling, revealing the glimmer and grit that ripple beneath the stoic exterior of rural America. In prose that’s as clean and inviting as a fresh-swept porch, Moffett lovingly chronicles the heart-swells and heartaches that make up a life well lived,” writes Dean Bakopoulos, author of Summerlong. “Very early in my life I learned to love the stories I heard on my grandmother’s screen porch,” says Moffett. “Soon after, an intense love affair with Black Beauty taught me the power of stories to transform and transport. All my life, when someone says, ‘Let me tell you a story,’ I have known I will soon learn more about that person than the most thorough recounting of historic detail could ever reveal—and I will have more fun on the way. I offer you these stories—about what growing up meant to four different generations; about neighbors, horses, prejudice, sweethearts, students; about moving, marriage, grandchildren and dogs. I hope they remind you of your own stories. I wish I could hear them.” Betty Ferguson Moffett ’61C was born, reared, educated, and married in North Carolina. After four years of teaching high school English and two dramatic years working with the Asolo Theatre in Florida, she, her husband Sandy, and their young son, Ruben, moved to Grinnell, Iowa, where they planned to stay a year and then return to the sweet sunny South. But they liked the old farm house they fixed up, riding horses in the prairie, teaching at Grinnell College, and playing with The Too Many String Band. Almost five decades later, they’re still in Grinnell and glad of it. Betty taught for nearly 30 years in the Grinnell College writing lab and then began using the advice she offered to her students in her own work. Her stories have appeared in various magazines and journals.
Coming Clean is available through Ice Cube Press or Amazon. ISBN-13: 978-1948509022 ISBN-10: 9781948509022
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SAINT MARY’S REMEMBERS Nancy Bragg Dawson Rascoe ’52C Saint Mary’s Distinguished Alumna Nancy Bragg Dawson Rascoe ’52C passed away on Thursday, November 22, 2018. Mrs. Rascoe was born in Pasquotank County on February 18, 1932 and was the daughter of the late Braxton Bragg Dawson Sr. and Edna Jones Nixon Dawson ’26C. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in Christ Episcopal Church in Elizabeth City. Attending the Elizabeth City public schools, she graduated from Elizabeth City High School in 1950, from Saint Mary's College in 1952, and from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1954, with a bachelor's degree in primary and physical education. She was a sister of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was later a teacher and girls basketball coach at Norview High School in Norfolk, Va. After her marriage to Peter Rascoe, Jr., she taught school at Windsor Elementary School, and subsequently at Miss Annie Gray Burden's Kindergarten, also in Windsor. She was the founder and Head of School of Bucklesberry Play School and Kindergarten in Windsor and was a volunteer teacher at Lawrence Academy. In 1992, she and her husband, Peter Rascoe, founded the 1812 on the Perquimans Bed & Breakfast Inn in Hertford. The next year they started the Summer Etiquette School at 1812 on the Perquimans. This program ran for 25 years, teaching young ladies and gentlemen proper etiquette, manners, respect for others and themselves, and the social customs important to become successful professionals and business leaders. In 2018, she gifted her manners camp to Saint Mary’s School, where it will be carried on with her name beginning in the summer of 2019. All her teachings were prompted by her strong belief in Jesus Christ. Later she was volunteer etiquette instructor for the Chowan County Schools. In 2012, she received the Mazie Strickland Froelich Distinguished Alumnae Award from Saint Mary's School. Mrs. Rascoe researched, wrote, and published the book, The Sandy Banks Live On, an updated history of her generation's experiences along the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she summered her entire life. Community involvement included serving as a Life Director of The Historic Hope Foundation in Windsor, co-founding the Roanoke-Chowan Mental Health Agency, certification by the North Carolina Department of Corrections as a volunteer layman in prison ministry, and membership in the National Society of Colonial Dames of America - North Carolina. For all these things and others, in September 2018, she was awarded The Order of The Long Leaf Pine, one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The honor is bestowed upon individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Since its creation in 1963, the award has been presented to honor persons who have a proven record of service to the State of North Carolina. A reception was held in Smedes Hall following the award presentation at the old state capitol, where Mrs. Rascoe presented the school with her framed copy of the North Carolina State toast, which her campers always memorized and recited. “Here's to the land of the long leaf pine, The summer land where the sun doth shine, Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great, Here's to Down Home, the Old North State!” It hangs in the small parlor in Smedes Hall. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, John Peter Rascoe, Jr.; and by her sister, Tommye Nixon Dawson.
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Top: Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C surrounded by her family at the old state capitol chamber where she received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in September. Right: Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C, as pictured as an outstanding girl in the 1952 Stagecoach.
Surviving are her husband, Paul A. Stevenson, to whom she was recently married; her brother, Braxton Bragg Dawson, Jr. of Washington, N.C.; three sons, John Peter Rascoe III of Dare County, Braxton Bragg Dawson Rascoe Sr. and wife Gina Stone Rascoe ’79C, of Windsor, and Francis Edward Nixon Rascoe Sr. and wife Elisabeth Beale Joyner Rascoe, also of Windsor; six grandchildren, Braxton Bragg Dawson Rascoe Jr. and wife Briley, Hunter Aaron Spivey Rascoe and wife Betsy, Lucy Mae Holliday Rascoe ’15, Katherine Granbery Rascoe ’17, Francis Edward Nixon Rascoe Jr., and Elisabeth Joyner Rascoe ’21; and two great-grandchildren, Braxton Bragg Dawson Rascoe III and Ella Charles Stone Rascoe; as well as nieces Parker Dawson York ’91C and Ashley Dawson Forbes ‘95C. Also surviving are her husband's children, Nicholas S. Stevenson, John T. Stevenson III, P. Lindsay Stevenson, Brigid Mae Stevenson Jenkins, and Shelley Jill Stevenson Hill, and their families. The Dawson and Rascoe families have a long history at Saint Mary’s School, where six generations of daughters and granddaughters have attended since the earliest years of our school. A beautiful and fitting celebration of her well-lived life was held November 29 in St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Windsor, by the Rev. Joseph W. Cooper. Burial followed in the church cemetery, followed by a reception at the Rowan-Chowan Heritage Center at Historic Hope Plantation. The service and reception were attended by a large group of hundreds of friends and family members, overflowing onto the church lawn and graveyard during the service, including many Saint Mary’s alumnae and friends.
CLASS NEWS high school and three colleges. Mary Larsen Jordan writes that she is still living in Redwood City, Calif. “Since my husband passed away, it is tricky learning to live alone again. Thank God for my sons and their families, my grands, friends, and my church. You have no idea how important good friendship is to those of us going through life’s changes. I now have four grandchildren. Twin boys, Michael and Kyle (8), and their younger brother Thomas who is almost five but thinks he is eight. He is bigger than the twins! I also am very lucky to have an adorable granddaughter, Kailani Alexandra, who is 14 months! God love them all.” Dabney Johnston Mann ’60HS ’62C writes that she is still spending half the year in Sun Valley, Idaho, (winter and summer) and the shoulders in Wilmington. Tift is still skiing but Dabney is not. Their daughter, Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C, and family come out to Sun Valley to visit. Her oldest is attending High Point University and her youngest is a freshman at UNC. Be good to each other and hopefully more of you will respond next time. Take care. Mary
1962 HIGH SCHOOL and 1964 COLLEGE
Janie Stronach Wood ’62HS ’64C The bond we have as Saint Mary's girls has always been a joy to me! It has been, once again, such fun hearing from our classmates of 50-plus years! It is also hard to believe how much time has passed since the wonderful, carefree days spent at our alma mater! Elsie Ives Thompson ’64C writes that she is still selling houses in Atlanta and having a hard time retiring! “I love my job; however, our wonderful daughter and partner, Laura, is taking over and is a great solution as far as my slowing down! Our two grandchildren by another daughter are now 21 and 23 (a college graduate from Boston College!). I will miss our reunion in May, as that is our Brandon's college graduation weekend! I am sorry about the conflict! Have a great time!” Nancy Gray Baker ’62HS ’64C is still living in Richmond, Va., and operating Nature's Nurture, which is an edible herb and fig business. Marilyn Stadler Gideon ’62HS ’64C writes that she and Ed are enjoying living in the log cabin in Greensboro, where they have been for the past two years! Son Griffith is married and lives in Charlotte. Marjorie Winslow Green ’64C: Margie writes that she lives in Scotland Neck and has two daughters. Ann Green Floyd ’94HS and husband John live in Mount Airy. Claire Green Sclonick, lives at Jackson Hole, Wyo., and has two sons, Bode Chancellor Sclonick (9) and Tanner Frederick Sclonick (6). Margaret Graham Campbell ’64C: Meg and Bill live in Virginia Beach and celebrated their 50th anniversary last February. Meg writes, “We danced our version of the shag to the tunes of
a great band! It doesn't seem that long ago that we danced these same steps during Carolina days!” Susan Carol Cook ’64C is still living in Clinton and is active in real estate. She writes that she comes to Raleigh often to entertain her two grandchildren, who are six and four. Susan says, “I would love to have lunch with any of my former classmates!” Martha Weeks Daniel ’64C and Curt, residents of Rocky Mount, are active with their business, Daniel Design, and have been on the road after Curt's back surgery in August. One of Martha's favorite locations is in the mountains, where she created a documentary for a friend, Martha Nabors, who tells wonderful stories. One tale is about her great-grandmother, who, under adverse conditions by the threat of attacking indians, made some pancakes and were, therefore, spared from their house being burned or from piercing arrows, or even scalping! I am sure that most of you were highly entertained by Miss Nancy Minds Their Manners, another delightful documentary by Daniel Design! Martha and Curt' s daughter, Sarah, is married to the son of Larry and Clare Garden Maddison ’62HS ’64C, and they live in Raleigh. Clare and Larry also live in Raleigh and have enjoyed having their granddaughter, Maddison Wooten ’19, attending Saint Mary's. When Clare is not busy volunteering at Saint Mary's, Haywood Hall, and babysitting, she enjoys a game of cards: both bridge and canasta. Along with Anne Edwards Barefoot ’64C, we enjoyed a reunion with our Hayes Barton canasta friends at Atlantic Beach this past August! Tom and I are still living in the countryside of Edenton, where our son, Thomas, and his wife, Adrian, live, along with their four children, Thomas (12), Russell (11), Blair (9), and Amos, who just turned five. We are pleased that Blair loves wearing a Saint Mary's tee shirt and, of course, we would love for her to enjoy the bond of being a future student at my favorite alma mater! We have recently returned from a fabulous trip to Sewickley and Pittsburgh, Pa., where we visited my sister, Anne Stronach Genter ’53HS ’55C, and her husband, David. We attended the wedding of my great-niece, an executive at Sothebys. We had such a good time with Anne and David, and with Bill and Betsy Brinkley Amis ’56HS ’58C at the historic Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh. I am fortunate to see many favorite friends here in Edenton, who are all Saint Mary's alumnae: Amelia Yancey Bond ’59HS ’61C, Anne Detgen Ellis ’71C, Anne Graham Rowe ’69C, Boo Robinson Beasley ’54HS ’56C, Mary Rhea Spivey Jones ’55C, Debbie Ellis Boyle ’64HS ’66C, Frances Drane Inglis ’47HS ’49C, Dickie Robinson Tyler ’56HS ’58C, Frances Holton Maffitt ’60HS, Nancy Wood Mordecai ’45C. We would love to have you visit us here in "Ye Olde Towne on Queen Anne's Creek!" Janie
1966
COLLEGE Lesley Wharton Marcello writes, “Our biggest news last year was having the whole family together in Thibodaux, La., to celebrate my husband Bobby as King Christopher LXV at Mardi Gras.” Daughter Elizabeth Fabrega and her husband, Gus, came from Lawton, Okla. Their two children, Caroline and Benjamin, were pages to the King and Queen. Twin sister Margaret Petersen and her husband, Tim, came with their son, William, from Cameron, N.C. “It was truly a fantastic time, made even more special by everyone being there.”
1968
COLLEGE Paula Johnson Stewart ’68C Dear Classmates, I suppose we did so much catching up at the 50th reunion that a lot of you didn’t think you had any news! I only had three “snail mail” responses and two by email. Cathy Walp Askew visited Debbie Almquist Rosen at her beach house in North Litchfield, S.C., in September. Thankfully, she had no damage from the hurricane. (I have heard from Patsy Slater Holscher, Chris Crowley Andrews and Mary Clark Whittle German, who all sustained damage to their beach properties in Carteret County. It is really a “disaster zone” here with so many people displaced for the four days of wind and especially rain.) Susan Davis Virgin broke her shoulder over Labor Day weekend, but that did not stop her, sling and all, from going for ten days to Croatia and Italy. She enjoyed seeing Cathy Swain Crossett at the Saint Mary’s gathering in Atlanta, Ga. Her heart goes out to Saint Mary’s friends affected by Florence and Michael. Nancy Bowen Wiggins writes that she enjoyed seeing everyone at our 50th. She is still a commissioner for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission. She spent her 70th with grad school friends in Seattle, Wash., and has chaired the group 70th birthday for the “66 Mustangs.” Jane McClain Duvall is the treasurer of that high school event. She said Jane sends her greetings to the class. Nancy also enjoyed a visit over coffee in Matthews with Bettie Kellogg. She has also visited several times with Alice Smith Hayes. Beth Harris Eisenhour emailed that she sold her 23-year-old house and downsized in March. She took a paddleboat cruise in July with Chapel Hill friends. They were on the Snake and Columbia Rivers, following the last part of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and then spent another week along the Oregon coast. She had her third grandchild (daughter Whitney’s first!) in August. She is babysitting a lot! She sees SMJC roommate, Carla Heaton Bailey often, since she lives in Hillsborough. Frances Garriss Jilcott emailed that she thinks everyone had a wonderful time at our 50th reunion and that “those in charge” did a great
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ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER
Dear Passenger: Welcome to My Wacky World as a Flight Attendant By Elizabeth Calwell ’72C Elizabeth Calwell ’72C, a flight attendant and a writer, has penned a comedy memoir titled, Dear Passenger: Welcome to My Wacky World as a Flight Attendant.
Dear Passenger is packed with three decades of amusing anecdotes and episodes that have happened on and off the airplane. A small-town upbringing gives Calwell a unique Southern perspective on the antics of passengers and unusual happenings while traveling. She has discovered she is a magnet for bizarre incidents, on the ground as well as in mid-air. Here are some tales of the strange, the unexplained, and the downright hilarious from her world as a flight attendant. On every trip a unique experience just falls out of the blue. These stories include dead bodies in garment bags, a stowaway rooster, and the hilarious antics of passengers and crewmembers on the airplane. All these things have really happened to her, or to her flying buddies during her 27 years working with a major airline. Have you ever wondered about the life of a flight attendant? Or if you've had a hard day at work and need to escape your job on the ground, put on your seat belt and join the author at 35,000 feet. She can tell you all about it. Welcome aboard! The book is available on Amazon. Paperback: 254 pages Publisher: Realization Press (August 20, 2018) Language: English ISBN-10: 9781944662257 ISBN-13: 978-1944662257 ASIN: 1944662251
CLASS NEWS job of planning. She was really proud of our Class of ’68 for creating and funding the scholarship in honor of our deceased classmates. I had dinner with Frances and Cathy Swain Crossett when Swain visited Frances. Frances only lost four trees during Florence and none hit the house. She is thankful for a wonderful summer at the beach with family and friends before Florence hit. She doesn’t expect our beachfront to be the same for some time to come. I have just returned from SMS, where I attended a lovely sit-down scholarship tea in Smedes for recipients to meet donors. Nancy Cole, Chris Crowley Andrews, and I were there to represent all of YOU! We sat at a table with two seniors, a sophomore, and two freshmen. Our recipient thanked me profusely for the scholarship and expressed how much she loves the school. She is from between Washington and Bath. So, Sallie Mann Scales and Beth Rodman Oden, she is from your neck of the weeds! Her roommate is from Clearwater, Fla. I have her contact info for any of you who would like to text or email her. I asked her permission to give it out to you. By the way, the Class of ’78 loved the class scholarship idea so much that they have been inspired to raise $100,000 by their 50th reunion! Kaye Lasater Culp, Martha Vaughan and I planned to go to Irvington for a long Veterans’ Day weekend at Peabody’s (Beverly Randolph). Mary Clark Whittle German is unable to come this year as she is recovering from surgery. Peabody had her surgery that she told everyone about at the reunion and is getting along great. Sorry I did not hear from more of you. Let’s stay connected! Much love to you all, Paula
1968
HIGH SCHOOL Susan Byars ’68HS ’70C It was wonderful seeing so many of you at our 50th reunion in May. We missed the ones who were unable to attend. Many thanks to Nancy Haywood and Sally Harris for entertaining us with dinner on Friday night at Nancy’s lovely home. We enjoyed all of the Saint Mary’s festivities at the school. The school was beautiful, with many enhancements to the campus. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the Hurricane Florence. I am thankful that we can stand together during difficult times. Sarah Chamblee Childress ’68HS ’70C writes that she is still working in her private practice as a psychologist and enjoying all of the challenges. She and her husband are remodeling a cute mountain cottage on the top of a mountain in West Virginia. She reports that her design degree has come in handy! We also want to thank Sarah for faithfully being our class secretary for many years. I will try to live up to her example. Deanna Kreiser Scroggs shares that she and her husband, Rick, live on Queens Creek in Swansboro. In 2007, they both retired from the Camp Lejeune Dependents School System after 35 years. Rick was a principal and Deanna was a teacher with a middle school master’s degree. “I spend my time singing in a community chorus and church choir and playing handbells. Card games and girlfriend getaway trips are things to look forward to.” Their daughter, Talley Kovacs, is an assistant attorney general in Annapolis, Md. Her husband is medical director at Notre Dame of Maryland Athletics. Two grandchildren, Wyatt River (8) and Fiona Marais (4), love city life overlooking Baltimore Harbor. Lynne Dunstan Fassler ’68HS ’70C writes from Kennesaw, Ga., “I have been happily married to Gus for 45 years. We have one daughter and one grandson in the Atlanta area.” As for me, I am enjoying retirement with volunteer work, family, friends, and a dance class (I was in Orchesis, after all!) Love to you all, Susan
1972
HIGH SCHOOL Susan D. Hundley ’72C Greetings, to all! Betsy Manley Jernigan enjoyed a recent trip to Africa with Lennie including the opportunity to see many wild animals. She enjoys playing bridge with Anna DuBose Doughton. Coco McConnell Killian and Ray have moved to a new home near their previous home. Coco wonders where Celeste Dickens is and wants to her from her. Me too! Ivy Robinson Loftice has been gallivanting around the country with husband John and grandchildren. I (Susan D. Hundley) am still practicing medicine in Boydton, Va. I have the great honor of having both 88-year-old parents still alive and
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The High School Class of 1968 pictured at the 50th reunion in April 2018. First row, left to right: Jeanne Cross ’68HS, Joan Sandlin Bowen ’68HS, Edie Cutler ’68HS; second row: Dottie Manly ’68HS, Beth Thomson Haigler ’68HS, Woodie Byrd Fowler ’68HS ’70C, Sally Harris ’68HS; third row: Nancy Haywood ’68HS, Torrey Green Stroud ’68HS, Sweetie Seifart Stewart ’68HS ’70C; fourth row: Jane Cheshire-Allen ’68HS ’70C, Susan Byars ’68HS ’70C, Peggy Froneberger Sturgis ’68HS.
nearby. I am running a small cattle farm on the side. I just sold my first Angus steers. I am most in love with my wonderful granddaughter, Stuart! Have a great year, classmates! Susan
1972
COLLEGE Elizabeth Calwell has published a book, Dear Passenger: Welcome to My Wacky World as a Flight Attendant. It’s a humorous recollection of some of the entertaining episodes in her life as a flight attendant on and off the airplane. “Anyone who has been on an airplane would enjoy this read,” she notes. The book is available on Amazon. Lynn Lacy Jones Poston writes, “Ed and I downsized, but remain in Apex. In fact, we are neighbors with Chris and Jo Carpenter Harding. It is so much fun to tell people that we were friends in college.”
1974
COLLEGE Melrose Whitfield Fisher ’72HS ’74C Can you believe it? Forty-five years ago, we graduated from St. Mary’s Junior College. In another four years we’ll be receiving our 50th year SMS alumnae medal. How lucky am I to still be submitting news from our great class of ’74C to the SMS magazine? Thank you for feeding me your news. Just remember, this news is being submitted in November 2018. Let’s start off with news about one of our outstanding classmates. Mind you, she did not submit this news to me because she’s much too humble to do that, so I am doing the honors. Lane Turner Nash received Saint Mary’s John Bratton, Jr. Volunteer Service Recognition Award of 2018. Lane was the sixth recipient of this prestigious award. The John Bratton Jr. Award recognizes “volunteers who stand out because of their leadership, vision, creativity, and generosity of spirit just as Mr. Bratton did for many decades at SMS.” I know we can all agree that Lane was an ideal choice for this award and very worthy
of it. Those attending from our class to witness Lane receiving her well-deserved medal and cheer Lane on were Anna DuBose Doughton, Beth Ellington Owen, Coco Pollard Davis, Julie Parker Funkhouser, Josie Rawl Hall, Emory Rogers Church and moi. I want to share with you what Lane said to me afterwards, “It meant so much to have so many from our class there. Y’all are the reason Saint Mary’s means so much to me in the first place. There were lots of family and friends in Smedes Parlor Thursday night, and those are all the medals I will ever need.” Need I say more? One of the highlights of 2018 for me was talking, literally on the phone, to Betsy Newman Brabson! Betsy and husband Bill have been living at DeBordieu in South Carolina since moving from Charlotte in 1991. Part of her love for the coast is her long-time work as a sea turtle volunteer, which involves covering 14 miles of beach during the summer. Remember Betsy’s artistic talents while at Saint Mary’s? Well, as you would have guessed, Betsy has had a t-shirt design business for 32 years and sells to area retail stores. Bill and Betsy have two children, Wylie (35) and Tyler (33), both single and working in Charlotte and Columbia, S.C. At the time of this writing, Betsy said she was planning on attending our 45th reunion. Yeah! Now where is Bowling Quick Scott? First grandmother checking in is Catherine Shaw Williams in Raleigh. Cathy reports that she and husband Mason have been blessed with two grandsons. Son Peter had a boy born in 2016 and daughter Heath’s son was born in 2017. Second love of Cathy and Mason’s life is sailing. They have lived on and off their green sailboat, Terrapin, for the past five years, with their latest trip starting on the U.S. west coast, down to Mexico, Central America, through the Panama Canal, and all the way up to Philadelphia. Cathy and Mason are now living in Cameron Park in Raleigh, which is just a stones throw away from SMS. Tonia Rowe Vary writes from New Bern that her son, Paul Emmet D’Elia, IV, married Sara Ashley Anderson on October 6, 2018, at the Civic Center in Morehead City. Tonia says her new daughterin-law is simply amazing. It’s always nice when moms get along with their child’s spouse. LOL. Congrats, Tonia! Rachael Holmes, who hasn’t missed sending in news for 45 years, reports from Charlottesville, Va., that she hosted Ellen Henson and her partner, Sandy Robeson, in the fall of 2018 for a weekend of “playing tourist.” Rachael and Ellen, along with Margaret Stevens Mauney, Mebane Ham, and Laura Grimes Smith, enjoyed their annual mini-reunion in Old Salem. Rachael enjoys being involved with her church’s rescue committee project, which involved helping an Afghan family settle in Charlottesville in the summer of 2018. What a great service, Rachael. Ellen Henson chimes in from Winston-Salem that these Saint Mary’s friends have been holding these mini-reunions for 15+ years. Amazing! Ann Smithwick
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CLASS NEWS 1974
HIGH SCHOOL
Class of 1974 College classmates gathered around Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, as she received the John Bratton Jr. Volunteer Service Recognition Award from Saint Mary’s at the 2018 Wake County alumnae event in October in Smedes Hall. Pictured left to right: Emory Rogers Church ’74C, Coco Pollard Davis ’74C, Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Josie Rawl Hall ’74C, Beth Ellington Owen ’72HS ’74C, Melrose Whitfield Fisher ’72HS ’74C, Julie Parker Funkhouser ’72HS ’74C, and Anna DuBose Doughton ’72HS ’74C.
Sellman is one proud mama. Ann’s son, David, is doing his residency in urology at the Medical University of South Carolina and her daughter, Kathryn, is in her fourth year of medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. Ann continues to teach in the music department at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. Retirement is in the forecast for Ann and her husband. Recent retiree, Marcy Berry Dineen, was full of news this year. Not quite knowing what to do once she retired, Marcy figured it out. Marcy sold her “big old” house and built a townhouse right in the heart of Wilmington, minutes away from her mother, who is in an independent living community. Retirement has also given Marcy the opportunity to visit her daughter in Raleigh and her two grandchildren, Owen (9) and Sophie (6). Fortunately for Marcy, her son and daughter-in-law and the youngest grandchild, Lula Hawkins Dineen, born October 5, 2018, have moved to Raleigh within the last year, giving Marcy the luxury of seeing everyone at one time. If you wonder where Marcy is and what she is doing these days, take a look on I-40 between Wilmington and Raleigh. Writing in from Augusta, Ga., is Susan Byers Muir. Susan and the “Rev.” George, haven’t retired yet but are “easing into it,” as she says. They are enjoying some travel, especially to visit kids and grandkids. The family just keeps growing. Life is great! Another classmate who never fails to submit news is Jane Abernathy Hahn. Thank you, Jane! Jane invites all to visit her in Beaufort, where she continues to host Airbnb and operate her interior design business. Life is great, even after the horrible hurricanes of 2018. Emory Rogers Church and husband John just returned from a wonderful trip to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. In March,
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
while they were in the Charleston, S.C., area for a wedding, Emory had great visit with Margaret Ann Fraley. As for me, Melrose Whitfield Fisher, I am so happy to be able to join the ranks of being a mother-in-law. Our son, Davis, married Michalia McGinnis on September 22, 2018, in the beautiful “hills of Tennessee.” We are beyond happy with the addition of Michalia to our family. Davis and Michalia live in Charlotte, where Davis works for CentricsIT and Michalia is a nurse at Carolina Medical. Rob and I are still working. We know we’re retirement age, but really? Not there yet for me. Oldest son Rob(bie), as of this writing, is still in D.C., single, and eligible! So, this ends the 45th submission of my news to SMS Alumnae Office for the ’74C class. The best there ever was. Can you believe it? I think we’re all in shock when we stop and think about it, but hey, the alternative is worse. It’s my hope that our class will always remember what Saint Mary’s gave us during our years there and afterwards. Our beloved school was like a parent to us during our years at 900 Hillsborough Street. Therefore, let us honor her and keep in touch with her like she is a parent. Like our parents, Saint Mary’s is older than we are, ladies. She’s not getting any younger and she, like us, needs a face lift, she needs her “girls” to visit her more. She wants us to keep in touch with our sisters, and we can walk through her doors and feel like we’re home. All of this to say, keep in touch with SMS. Support her in any way you can with your time, talent, and/or resources. They are doing great things to prepare these young ladies for their future. You’d be proud. Let’s help maintain this great school for generations to come. Stay in touch, my friends! Melrose
Catherine Blankenship ’74HS ’76C Hello everyone! My calendar tells me that we have a big reunion year next year: 45 years! Go ahead and start your planning – it would be great to have a solid turnout! Lisa Christoph Towarnicky writes from Virginia that she is retired from the CIA after 34 years, but is following up with a second career in landscape design as she relocates to the Outer Banks. She has two married daughters who both have their doctorate; one is an OB-GYN and the other in physical therapy. And, speaking of second careers, Anne DeLuca Lucht has come out of her second retirement and loves being at Foot Solutions in Columbia, S,C. She has a son in Fort Worth, Texas, and another starting college following service in the Marines. She loves to travel and gets to the Shenandoah Valley several times a year. Angela Parker also enjoys traveling to various New England towns to visit with her daughter, who is at Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in furniture. Angela and husband Jeff are enjoying being empty nesters in Atlanta, Ga. Janie Cameron Wagstaff is in year seven with her non-profit lecture series, ICON (Issues Confronting Our Nation), collaborating around the country on topics from immigration to terrorism to education and health care reform. Her son, Jack, was awarded Officer of the Year with the Durham Police after finishing his master’s. Mary McGranahan Moss is looking forward to the 45th reunion! Her company, moss+ross, is celebrating 10 years of serving non-profits. Her family is thriving and she has a granddaughter. Mary lives in Raleigh, and she says that her heart warms up each time she passes SMS. Following a devastating fire that demolished their home, Becky Davis Morlock and Ted have moved into their rebuilt home named “The Lantern” on Lake Hartwell. Youngest son Kaighn has finished residency and is in Asheville with their other son, Heath. All family is close, and Becky is feeling blessed with the riches in her life. In Chapel Hill, Candy Bunn Davies has been in IT at UNC-Chapel Hill for 30 years, living in her same house for 32. She is enjoying both sons, William and Jon, in the same area. She, as well as most of us, wonders where the time has gone, and we are not grandmothers! Lea Sitton is still writing and editing in Philadelphia, Pa. No retirement in sight! She is currently at the board of pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Daughter Sally Stanley is a Carolina junior on the women’s rowing team (Go Heels!). Daughter Jeanne Lowe, a therapist, recently relocated from NOLA to Brooklyn. Trisha Canady, who is semi-retired, moved to Ocean Isle Beach last year. She is enjoying the salt air, beach, and slower pace. She has seen Ellen Stone Pittman. One of her three children, Sarah, was married in November. I am in Wilmington, working as the home health director for the hospital system here and loving the area. Personally survived Florence
ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER with little damage, and very lucky. Have met so many “girls” here who went to SMS, but not in our year. A grandmother times two now, I am looking forward to retirement in a couple of years. See you in May 2019 – it is going to be a big one! Catherine
1976
COLLEGE Bess Knotts Walker ’76C Leesa Lybook Goodson writes that she loves being a granny! She now has four grandchildren. Twins, Jim and Louise (5), little brother Mack (2), and little sister Molly, born in October 2018. Leesa says they are so much fun and the best part is they live around the corner. Leesa and her husband, Tom, are still traveling a lot and are headed to Ecuador (a 2.5 hour canoe ride to get to the lodge) and the Galapagos in February. Mazie Swindell Smith wrote that a dream has been fulfilled! In June, Mazie and her husband moved to beautiful Lake Waccamaw, and they are building their dream home! Cris Herring Timmons says her biggest and best news is the birth of their first grandchild, Steven Jackson Timmons, III (Jack). They look forward to spending time in Savannah, Ga., with their little man and his mom and dad! Lou White sends news that while much is still the same, she just keeps getting grayer and embracing it. She is spending about half her time in Beaufort, which she says is so beautiful and relaxing. Lou has her eyes on the retirement prize in about two more years, unless, of course, she wins the lottery! Barksdale Spencer Thompson says all is the same! Three grandkids keep them busy! Philip is still at Merrill Lynch, and she still works at The Nook, a gift shop in Wilson. Betsy Bomar Littlejohn says she is enjoying her two granddaughters every chance she gets. They live in Columbia, S.C. A grandson was added in November! They bring her lots of joy! Holly Harris Post has another grandson. He was born in October and is named Carter Harris Post. Carter is as precious as is his big brother, Charlie. They went to Nantucket in August and just loved it. Holly sends well wishes to all! Ellie Joey has had a busy time getting children married! In just two years, all three children got married. Her oldest, Joey, is doing very well with his new bar in Raleigh, The Blind Barbour. Visit and tell him his mama sent you! Dicki and Ellie are taking it easy, enjoying Lake Gaston and dealing with her MS. Both are full-time duties. Gayle McConnell Tallardy writes that she and her husband, Carl, have moved to Charlotte and are loving every minute. Her father is 94 and in great shape, living at The Pines in Davidson. Her brother is in Huntersville with his family, and her sister, Coco McConnell Killian ‘72HS, and her family are in Charlotte. Family is why they moved and she says it’s great to be home again! Jill Ciccone Pike and her husband, Skip, welcomed a new grandson, Fisher Lee Bagwell, October 16. That brings the grand total of grandchildren to eight—seven boys and one princess! Carol Taylor’s news began with “life is great!” She has had a busy year at Vidant Medical Center and loves her job. Carol has been traveling to see friends in Charleston and Pawleys Island, S.C., and in Louisville, Ky., as well as multiple trips to Biltmore seeing all seasons. She loved the Chihuly exhibit! Carol is excited to be starting a new program in Greenville, called Knitted Knockers. It is a national program knitting and gifting prostheses for women who have had mastectomies. They are adopting Vidant Medical Cancer Care Center and hope to expand to other facilities as it grows. She is looking for knitters who can touch the lives of individuals who have experienced a mastectomy. As a breast cancer survivor, she is very excited to see this develop in Greenville. Carol still keeps up with Kathy Kinsey Gourley, Sue Uzzell Smith and Nelle Jones Keeley. Loves her buddies from Saint Mary's days! Shirley Perrin Martin said that after 15+ years with a financial planning family office, she transitioned in July to a “lower key” new job with a small law firm. She is enjoying learning new systems and technology. Her husband, Phil Sr., founded Reynolds Custom Clothing in March of 2015 and enjoys working for himself and loves his clients. Phil Jr. (29) lives Denver, Colo., and is helping to launch a new restaurant, Morin. Google it! Melaney (27) is a CrossFit coach/ trainer at CF Versatile in Greensboro. “Our biggest news: on February 23rd, my brother, John, and I discovered that we have a brother from another mother! After seven months of research/discovery/planning, he and his family came to Greensboro from Kansas City, and New York City for what turned out to be a fabulously wonderful four days of bonding. I am feeling very blessed!” Susan Bridger Ricks wrote that according to her son, Hunter Ricks, a "golden
The Choice to Lead: Navigating Uncertainty Together By June Gunter ’83C and Beth A. Hyjek
“In The Choice to Lead, we will reveal the simple, yet profound, truths we have learned from horses that will prepare you to lead in the direction of your future,” writes June Gunter ’83C. “We will reframe uncertainty, offer you ways to find confidence in uncertainty, and reimagine leadership for the world we live in today. We will explore ways to use attention, direction, energy, and congruence. Each chapter includes a set of exploration questions to serve as a catalyst for your thinking. The exploration questions offer a simple structure to guide you along the path of finding your confidence in uncertainty and remove the obstacles between you and your choice to lead.” “June Gunter has an approachable, often humorous way of communicating a complex, vitally important topic,” writes Schelli Whitehouse, in an Amazon review. “More and more qualified, capable, innovative people are choosing to step away from leadership opportunities because of the archaic, (broken) hierarchical structure of the soulsucking commitment required to take on such a position. June beautifully illustrates how horses demonstrate shared leadership in order to maintain the health and ability to thrive within the herd. An environment of collaboration and respect where all members of the herd share responsibility and encourage self-care! The ‘Exploration Questions’ at the end of each chapter are particularly relevant to anyone stepping into a new leadership position or looking to reenergize an existing team.” June Gunter ’83C, Ed.D., is co-founder and CEO TeachingHorse, LLC. With 32 years of experience in leadership development, Ms. Gunter brings depth of understanding and clarity of purpose to preparing leaders for innovation and transformation. She holds a Doctor of Education degree in the field of Adult Learning from North Carolina State University. She is a Certified Equine Guided Educator (CEGE), Certified Equine Interaction Professional (CEIP-ED) and the author of TeachingHorse, Rediscovering Leadership (Bloomington, Indiana: Authorhouse, 2007). This Kindle book is available on Amazon. Publisher: Kindle Publishing File Size: 1932 KB Print Length: 71 pages Publication Date: May 8, 2018 Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC ASIN: B07CYQN1P3
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CLASS NEWS agency with Carr. They enjoy working together at the Highsmith Agency. I spend a lot of time on the road. I try to get a visit in with my daddy each week in Albemarle. Thankful I can! I wish you all a wonderful 2019. Bess
1976 HIGH SCHOOL and 1978 COLLEGE
Members of the College Class of 1976 gathered for a mini-reunion at NoFo in Raleigh. Pictured left to right: Jean Walston Neese ’76C, Ann Mayo Evans ’74HS ’76C, Mary Kosterman Hopkins ’76C, Lee Broadfoot Hathaway ’76C, Tracy Fountain Hall ’76C, Margaret Smith Chesson ’76C, Sally Pleasants Farrar’76C, Kate Holmes ’74HS ’76C, Hope Tyndall Hancock ’74HS ’76C.
birthday" calls for a big celebration. “On June 30th, Walter and I were witnesses to Hunter's swim at Loch Ness on his 30th ‘golden birthday.’ It was more like a dip since the water was cold, but the weather was beautiful and we enjoyed our two weeks of exploring Scotland.” Betsy Hardwick Dawson had an adventure when she and Claude went on a walking pilgrimage with their church. They walked the Tuscan hillsides from Lucca to Rome. They walked 15 to 20 miles a day for 6 days - and she made it! (With a little help from a cortisone shot in her knee before they left.) Betsy’s daughter, Sidney Dawson Dozier ’08, has two beautiful children. Covey is 18 months and baby boy Rush is five months. Betsy and Claude are in Raleigh as much as possible, helping with and enjoying the babies. All hands on deck are needed with two babies under 13 months. Her oldest daughter, Mollie, is also in the Raleigh area, and youngest daughter, Council, is currently working in Seattle, Wash., for Procter and Gamble. She loves Seattle, but hopes to be back on the east coast eventually. Claude and Betsy continue to have their business in Charlotte, where they keep an apartment and Betsy gets to visit, play bridge, and walk with Lindsay Reynolds Jones, Civil Adams McGowan, Beth Dalton Neale and Kate Taylor
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
Hill. Margaret Smith Chesson sent the picture of Saint Mary’s friends who have been getting together every year somehow/some way since graduation 42 years ago! Thank you everyone who sent news! Saint Mary’s is still a special place and things are going great at your school! My husband, Win, and I attend events they sponsor and it is always amazing to see the number of people who are connected by being alumnae, former parents, or just friends who support our school. Win and I had a busy fall. We took trip to England with good friends between several fun, out-of-town weddings! My daughter, Ila Walker Bittner ’05, and her husband and son have been living at our beach house while they build. We get to see them regularly and enjoy being with them and our grandson day and night when we are there. Hurricane Florence brought them to our house in Raleigh for 10 days. I loved finding places in town to entertain a two-year-old. We had a fun time! My son, Locke, and his wife have moved to Charleston, S.C., living in the Wagner Terrace neighborhood. We miss them in Raleigh, but love going there to visit. He lives very close to Sarah Staton Nash ’08 and Julia Nutt ’08. My other son, Carr, has gone into the insurance business. After a two-year retirement, Win has gone back to work and is at the same
Bebee Bason Lee '76HS '78C It is always so wonderful to hear from my SMS classmates both ’76HS and ’78C! So excited to hear from Debra Rhodes Gladstone ’76HS ’78C! Debra and husband Bill live in Winston-Salem. They are so happy to have all four daughters back in Winston-Salem after having two of them living far away for several years. Debra completed her Ed.D. in 2016 (Go, Debra) and is loving having more time to spend with her family. Debra is the principal of an elementary school and middle school that are next door to each other in Winston- Salem. She was excited to have had the chance to catch up with Donna Sherrill Steele ’78C and Joanne Beacham McNamara ’78C recently. Debra wishes well to all her classmates of ’76HS and ’78C, and hopes to make the next reunion! Emilie Lamb Freeman ’78C tells us life is great in Asheville! She and her husband were able to take a trip this year to Germany, Prague, and Austria to celebrate their 60th birthdays and 37th wedding anniversary. They are the proud grandparents of Thomas (1). Emilie had a grand time at the reunion and she really enjoyed seeing everyone. Liza Lamm Gauss ’78C has big news: she has welcomed two grandbabies to the world this year! Her two daughters are both still in Atlanta. Ga. Liza’s younger daughter, Anna Wooten Loggins, had a baby girl on March 2, 2018. Her name is Lucy McFall Loggins. Mary Riddick had her second baby boy on March 19, 2018. His name is Anderson Dean Stallworth and they call him Dean after Harry’s middle name. His big brother, Bill, will be four in January. Liza went to Atlanta for five weeks to help with the newborns. They all came to Atlantic Beach for several weeks in the summer and it was so much fun! Kinda’ crazy with all three little ones there, but they enjoyed every minute. Mary Riddick is staying home with her two and Anna Wooten is working hard with her design business, A. Wooten Interiors. Liza writes that she and Harry are great — with him still in real estate and Liza still working at Greenfield as a language therapist. Lastly, Liza shares how much she enjoyed seeing everyone at the reunion in May. She says the Class of ’78C is an awesome class and she sends a special many thanks to Martha Murphy ’76HS ’78C for keeping us informed with what is going on in everyone’s lives. Great to hear from Wimberley Burton ’78C. She has moved into a Maine house that she and Kathy had built in a 55-plus community, which Kathy refers to affectionately
as “The Resort.” They lost one of their two cats and a dog in July, but are happy new parents to a Golden Retriever puppy named Bella. Wim is delighted to be working on our 50th anniversary class endowed scholarship with Mary Lawrence Hicks ’78C, Martha Boisseau Mattheisen ’78C, and Martha Murphy ’76HS ’78C. (All of whom attended the May reunion!) The group meets by conference call with SMS development staff once a month. Wim hopes everyone in our class will contribute whatever she can over the next 10 years. Martha Murphy ‘76HS ‘78C got together with Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C, Donna Sherrill Steele ’78C, Carter Ward ’76HS ’78C and Marcella Miller Dillard ’78C at Myrtle Beach for a weekend of fun, drinks, hangovers, laughter, and so much more. They had a fabulous time catching up and reliving our Saint Mary’s days and wondering how we are all still alive after everything we did back then! I always love hearing from Jan Stewart Atkins ’76HS ’78C, who is the best about sending news. Jan loved seeing everyone at the reunion (special thanks to Frauke Engel Mirenda ’78C for hosting). Jan got together recently with Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C, Spencer Lee ’76HS ’78C, Anne Martin Cochrane ’78C and Lisa Loftin Tomlinson ’78C for some fun at Lake Norman. (Wish I’d been there too!) Jan is busy with husband Darrien’s catering business – which is fabulous! And she was excited to have her brother get married in October. Anne Martin Cochrane ’78C is great about sharing news too – and says turning 60 is fabulous. I guess most of us have done that this year! Anne and her husband, Rob, took a trip to Australia to visit their daughter, Hallie, who is living there on a work visa. They had a wonderful time. Then in September they traveled with three other couples to Normandy, Paris, and Provence, France. Son Rob is in Boone, a junior at Appalachian State. Anne gets together occasionally with SMS classmates, Peggy Aiken Bridgforth ’76HS ’78C, Lisa Lofton Tomlinson ’78C, Jan Stewart Atkins ’76HS ’78C, Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C, Donna Sherrill Steele ’78C, Martha Murphy ’76HS ’78C and Hester Gregory Hodde ’76HS ’78C. Dillon Robinson Manly ’78C writes that her daughter, Maggie, was married last summer. Her son, Brian, recently graduated from the vet school at N.C. State and oldest son David is married to Christina. She saw “lots of SMC girls” at the weddings of the daughters of Sally Dillard Cohen (in the summer) and Elizabeth Stewart Long (in the fall). “I guess we all joined the 6-0 club this year! Saint Mary’s girls who come to Ashville to visit, look me up!” Marsee Edwards Lee ’78C writes in from Charleston, S.C., that their daughter and son-in-law gave them their first grandchild - Marsee is horrified to realize she is sleeping with a grandfather! Too funny! I am happy to share that my family is well and growing! In June, my daughter, Anna Willard Cross ’05HS, was married to Merit Cross in the
Saint Mary’s Chapel. It was wonderful to be back on campus for such an exciting occasion and the pictures are fabulous—one of my faves is the two of them dancing in The Grove! The twin grand girls (Procter and Sadie) are growing so fast. Son Will and daughter-in-law Hunter are doing an amazing job raising those girls and it is so good to have them living close by. Son Sam has moved from San Diego to Monterey, Calif., and loves it. David still works at Wake Stone Corporation and I am still working with Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina. It was so wonderful to see so many ’78C classmates at our reunion. I think we had 40 attend the Friday night class party at Frauke Engel Mirenda’s ’78C home.
1980
COLLEGE Cissy Lofton Elmer '80C Hi everyone, Thanks for taking the time to send your news. We have classmates covering the United States and I hope we’ll hear from more next time. Here’s our news from the College Class of 1978. Kelly Womble is working in Raleigh as an administrator and attendant with Brown Wynne Funeral Home. She had been the direct caregiver for her father over the last three years and felt that it was her calling to help others through their grief when losing a friend or family member. Kelly’s father passed away in 2018 at the age of 89. Her daughter, Brittany Lauren Fish (31), is in Logan, Utah, working with Bear Lake Community Health Center. Corbin Hogaboom has had a big year as her son Edward achieved Eagle Scout, graduated from high school, and is attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute outside of Boston. It’s been quite the whirlwind, and Corbin and her husband Wayne are adjusting to life as empty nesters. One bonus is that she is able to get up the coast to see Dansie Allen Little ’78HS a lot more. Elizabeth Arrington reports that she and Laura Lynch Reidy, Michele Pizer, and Elizabeth Little Barnes got together again for their 16th annual Kiawah-wah reunion. Alicia Sedwick had emergency knee surgery after a skiing accident and was not able to join them but she was certainly there in spirit. Elizabeth says that the five-day reunion is never enough time! Terry Dabbs Lewis still lives outside of Raleigh near Zebulon. She retired from the Museum of History and is enjoying her 9-month-old granddaughter. Terry loves spending time in Blowing Rock and playing golf. Katie Zevenhuizen Medlin is still teaching English IV and yearbook at South Johnston High School. She recently took 14 students on a fabulous trip to London, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxford, Stonehenge, and Paris, and thoroughly enjoyed sharing her love of traveling with high school students. Katie’s son Grimes (30) is in Benson, working with Danny at Medlin & Dorman, and daughter Cathryn (27) is in Atlanta working as a southeast sales rep for MacTac.
Terry McLennan Whitney is in Charlotte, as is her youngest, Josh. Josh is with BB&T and Terry’s oldest, Hayes, is in Texas. Terry does not sit still and I love seeing her when I’m in Charlotte. Jill Turner is in Spartanburg, S.C., and her daughter Rachel is enjoying her first year at Wofford. Jill is busy and loves going to the Wofford games and catching up with Saint Mary’s friends at the beach, weddings, and such. Missy Underwood Miller enjoyed hosting an SMS alumnae luncheon in Blowing Rock with Missy Basinger Plyler and Nancy Scott Grantham. Missy’s son, Rob, is in Mt. Pleasant, S.C, Liza is in Atlanta, Ga., and Katie is in college in Santa Barbara, Calif. G. Lee Lewis Taylor continues to work with young children and their families (which she loves). She is the early childhood education director for The Children’s Center, which has eight sites within the Western Tidewater area of Virginia. It is a non-profit organization serving families and children in poverty. G. Lee and her husband, Perk, have three children: Kate, who is a school counselor in Boulder, Colo., and Willis and Sterling, who have both recently relocated to the Suffolk area after living and working in Jackson Hole, Wyo. G. Lee hopes all of you are doing well! Joni Eargle Case is living in Waxhaw, and is close enough to her family, which includes four kids and extended family, to stay pretty busy. Her beautiful daughter Maggie just got married to Alan Hill and they are living in Raleigh. With two of her kids married and her twins turning 21, Joni wonders where all the years have gone. Her son, Zane, is a senior at N.C. State, so when Joni visits Raleigh to see Zane and Maggie, she loves a trip to Char-Grill, Players Retreat, Cameron Village, and of course, the State Fair. Kathryn Nanny Alice has been living in Malibu, Calif., for the past four years. Their two youngest are in school there and she is very active in the community. Her books continue to sell and they travel as much as they can during school breaks, including the latest trips to Japan, Hawaii, and Aruba. Kathryn sees classmate Alicia Sedwick regularly, since she is close by, and she would love to catch up with any classmates who travel to SoCal. Colleen Smith Turner is living in Charlotte. She and husband Steven love living downtown. Colleen is a project manager in the IT department for Ally Bank. Her son, John, is a senior at N.C. State and son Michael is a junior at University of South Carolina. Karen Turner is assistant to the chief operating officer with Parker Poe in Charlotte and recently bought a historical home in Salisbury with her boyfriend, Bob Young. The commute is an hour each way, but they ride together so it’s not too bad, and she is enjoying living in a small town. Margaret Williams Williams is in Charlotte and just recently celebrated her 33-year anniversary with Ward Williams. They are renovating their house, so they are living temporarily in a condo. They enjoy following the Carolina Panthers and love tailgating before home games. Their
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CLASS NEWS the hurricanes at home in Wilmington! They are gearing up to begin some renovations to their farmhouse outside of Chapel Hill. Her son, Sterling, is enjoying middle school and travel basketball. Heidi Turner Parker ’82HS ’84C lives in Winterville and is executive assistant to the dean at the College of Nursing at East Carolina. Apparently, renovation projects have been the theme this year. Dan and I finally completed what seemed to be a never-ending renovation as well. What an exciting and exhausting process! Who knew a new master bath and screen porch could make people SO happy!? Another source of happiness this year was my niece’s wedding. Hard to believe the little redheaded girl is all grown up! Dan performed the service under a grand, old oak tree in a beautiful field, on a farm in Summerfield. The barn reception venue was top notch, making for a magnificent family event! Beth
1986
HIGH SCHOOL
College Class of 1982 classmates gathered at the home of Gigi Wallace ’82C in Charleston, S.C., this summer for a mini Saint Mary’s reunion. Seated, left to right: Lee Turner Williams ’80HS ’82C, Melanie Hardy Hardin ’80HS ’82C, Mrs. Wallace, Gigi Wallace ’82C, Jan Stoughton Benedict ’82C; standing, left to right: Sarah Rice Shelton ’80HS ’82C, Gina Ellis Minton ’82C, Frances Marcus Hampe ’82C.
oldest of four, Margaret Cheatham Williams ’07, married Frank Driscoll during Hurricane Florence. They carried on with Plan B and all went very well, inside the church. Thankfully, Quail Hollow Club did not lose power. Their youngest, Eleanor, is a junior at SMS. They also have two sons. Rounding out the family are two wonderful white labs. Margaret would love to talk with anyone if they have girls who are interested in SMS. She says that Brendan O’Shea is doing a great job, and the girls are in good hands. She asked me to encourage everyone to give back to the school that gave so much to us. Saint Mary’s would so appreciate our financial support, and no amount is too small, so let’s try as a class to each give whatever amount we can this year to the Annual Fund. Kelly Crouch has recently moved to Charlotte and is enjoying catching up with Saint Mary’s friends. After being so far way in Wisconsin and Texas for so many years, it’s nice to be closer to family and friends. Personally, I’m thrilled, because so many of my Saint Mary’s friends are in the Charlotte area and we love to get together when we can. Roommates, suitemates, and hall buddies - it means so much to still be great friends after all these years. The bonds are strong. Danny
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
and are still in Asheville but we get to Charlotte often. My family is there and our youngest, Sam, is also in Charlotte working for Vanguard. Our oldest, Ben, is in Cashiers, where he is a flyfishing guide, living his dream. I hope you are all well and enjoying every minute with family, friends, kids, and grandkids. Cheers, Cissy
1982
HIGH SCHOOL and
1984
COLLEGE Beth Morris Gobble ’82HS ’84C I hope everyone is happy and healthy! We have a short list this year. Olivia Hardin Pettifer reports that she and her family have moved into the house where she was raised in Raleigh. After a bit of renovating, they have a fabulous kitchen for her husband - the chef! They have plans to take a Roman Britain trip, to hike the Hadrian’s Wall archeological dig at Vindolanda, and see the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh in the summer of 2019. Marion Farrar Dalgleish tells us that in the fall of 2018, she and her family had an amazing trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was quite a reprieve after enduring
Susan Sommers Crisp ’86HS and Elizabeth Stickley Scott ’86HS ’88C Harriet Adams Harvey writes, “ I have spoken to many of our old friends about the passing of our sweet friend, Courtney Scott. If you ever saw Courtney kick a soccer ball like a fireball or whiz through a test, or shared a belly laugh with her, you knew she was someone special! We all miss her so much.” Patty Blitch Harris, Battle VanNortwick Day, Paisley Dietz Ward, Bobbie Lou Britt Richardson, McLean Bradshaw, Stephanie Yelton Williard and Mandy Prince Peele were so excited to meet Margaret Miller MacKay, Maggie Minchin Chlebowski and Meg Arey at the beach before Hurricane Florence spoiled our plans. We are committed to try again! Bring on 50!” Susan and I are both still in Atlanta. We both have seniors this year, so are busy with college visits and applications. On one of those visits to Richmond, Va., I got to see Neely Barnwell Dykeshorn. She also has a senior, so it looks like a lot of us have come full circle having met around that age. She recently renovated her home in the historic Churchill neighborhood and it was a treat to get to see it. We, too, were very sad to hear about our classmate Courtney Scott and are keeping her family in our thoughts. Hope to hear from more of you next time around! Hope everyone is doing well. Take care! Liz & Susan
1988
COLLEGE Olga McCoy Faison ’88C Hello everyone, and a thank you for sending in your news! It is always fun to catch up on the latest. Harriet Adams sends her greetings from Atlanta, Ga., where she is the owner of Integrated Therapy. She has 25 clinics in North Carolina and Georgia. She enjoys seeing Stephanie Yelton Williard at Ocean Isle Beach and hopes to see more friends at the beach this
summer. Stephanie is a preschool director in Raleigh. Stephanie’s oldest is at Appalachian State. She also has a 10th-grader and a fourthgrader. At the same preschool in Raleigh, Shore Tucker McCall teaches the 3-year-old class. Shore’s husband, Dana, is a dentist in Raleigh and their daughter, Lindsey Anne, is a junior at Saint Mary’s. Parker Gabrielsen Cunningham is in Atlanta. She has two children (13 and 8). She recently chaired the fall festival for her son’s school and is a busy room mom for her daughter’s class. She is also a preschool teacher for two-year-olds! Elizabeth Vandiver Harris teaches preschool in Greenville, S.C. She loves seeing Arianna Stuckey Harley on the tennis courts. She and Kathryn Swing Smith get together when Kathryn visits her brother in Greenville. She invites all of us for a visit to Greenville! Mary Lee Beasley Conner stays busy with her two girls, Amanda Jean (12) and Grace Lillian (7). Both are members of the Triangle Formation Synchronized Ice Skating Team. She and husband Terry are at the family home place in Youngsville, near Raleigh. Her girls are the fifth generation to live there. Mary Lee has been teaching special education at Cedar Creek Middle School in Youngsville for 19 years. Four years ago, Sharon Wilson ’87 joined her. She said they keep their hall rocking! Margaret Cheatham Johnson sells real estate for Tarheel Realty in Statesville. She is the coach for a youth trap shooting, skeet, and sporting clays team! Her oldest son, Aston, is a junior and a Beta at Carolina. He is a great friend of Kim Norfleet Collie’s daughter, Mary Mac, and was her junior marshal at the debutante ball. Margaret also has a son, Ellison, who is a junior in high school. Ellison keeps her busy on the sidelines of his soccer and lacrosse games. Leigh McAdoo Kempf is on the SMS Alumnae Council and will help with the Saint Mary’s capital campaign. She sends a message to us all, “Get out your checkbooks!” Melissa Gibson Estes is in Charlotte and intimidates those who dare to join her on the tennis courts. Her son, Jack, is in seventh grade. I was sad to miss the reunion but enjoyed hearing all about the weekend. Love from Charlotte and best to everyone. Olga
1988
HIGH SCHOOL Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C writes, “SMS graduates are indeed confident, resourceful and trail-blazing risk takers! Daughter Grace Battle '18 is navigating college life at George Washington University and reports her classmates are doing the same with grit and passion they all gained at SMS. Daughter May hopes to attend SMS next year. My new cause is housing affordability. I run a nonprofit, The REALTOR(r) Foundation of Wake County, where we believe everyone needs a safe place to call home. Remember to make an investment in SMS every year by contributing to the Annual Fund. It's worth every penny.” Joelle Doane
Pemberton reports that her two girls, Lilly (12) and Julia (9), keep her busy. Joelle teaches preschool at White Memorial Weekday School in Raleigh. Melissa Morrisette Tillman is also in Raleigh. “I had a wonderful time last spring at our reunion. It was great to see classmates I haven’t seen in 30 years! I stay busy with work and teenagers. Son Rollie IV (18) is applying for college and daughter Eliza Dunn (14) is working on her SMS application. Exciting times!” Jennifer Martin Henson married Rob Henson from Moultrie, Ga., on October 28, 2017, at the Borden House in Raleigh. Jennifer’s son, John Reese Taylor (14), is in eighth grade at St. David’s Middle School. Jennifer is in her sixth year with One Coast, representing multiple vendors in the gift industry. Husband Rob has a food truck, BBQ Proper, which also offers catering for any event. Caroline Stephenson founded a non-profit bookstore called Cultivator in her hometown of Murfreesboro. In addition, she continues to work as an assistant director in television and movies.
1990
COLLEGE Barbara Bryant Baynes ’88HS ’90C Flossie Dossenbach Parks ’90C and husband Tracy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in September. “Hurricane Florence (and yes, she had my name) put a halt to our travel to Bermuda for our celebration. She was quite a hurricane/storm. A sorority sister of mine said that I would make the headlines. I asked her what she meant, and she said, they will say something like ‘Florence parks over N.C.’ Funny enough we were watching the news and the caption read ‘DRAMATIC RESCUES AS FLORENCE PARKS OVER THE CAROLINAS.’ So like it or not, I made the news. Not in the best way! When this news is published, I will have held my annual Coat for Kids drive (season 4) in Moore County. I collect gently used coats or new ones for kids in need. We have many children who are needy and without winter coats. My goal is to keep as many warm as I can for the winter. Currently I have 98 coats, 90 percent of them are new. Without the help from family, friends, Bible study group, and golfing pals I could not make this possible. I am truly grateful for all the generosity in my wonderful community. I also collect socks. I was told by a social worker that kids come to school in the winter with just tennis shoes and no socks. Again, a personal goal to keep those footsies warm! I got to visit with Liz Sri Bull, Natalie Gaskins Sherman, and Katherine (KT) Tierney Canady this summer at Nat’s family’s beach house. It was nice to catch up and reminisce about our days at Saint Mary’s. Lots of laughs at our old albums of pics from our days in West Rock.” Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C writes, “SMS graduates are indeed confident, resourceful and trail-blazing risk takers! Daughter Grace Battle '18 is navigating
college life at George Washington University and reports her classmates are doing the same with grit and passion they all gained at SMS. Daughter May hopes to attend SMS next year. My new cause is housing affordability. I run a nonprofit, The REALTOR(r) Foundation of Wake County, where we believe everyone needs a safe place to call home. Remember to make an investment in SMS every year by contributing to the annual fund. It's worth every penny.”
1990
HIGH SCHOOL Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS I was so happy to hear from many of you, far and wide! Tisha Carroll Edrington's daughters are in 10th grade, and three girls from their school started Saint Mary's this year. She sees Louise Harris often, and she recently had lunch with Kimball Harris Saunders '92C, Blanche Slade Hancock '90C, and Flossie Dossenbach Parks '90C. Ashley Langley Smith says that Langley is a freshman at Georgia, Caroline is a junior at SMS, and Anderson is in seventh grade. Ashley loves seeing so many Saint Mary's friends on campus. Jennifer Culberson Wood lives in Raleigh, where she is a freelance writer concentrating on North Carolina culture. Between writing and finishing her first novel, she is busy marking off major life milestones. Her son, Harcourt Settle, just graduated from N.C. State University, and she and her husband, Benbury, will celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary next summer. She is honored to serve on the SMS Alumnae Council with fun, familiar faces and fantastic new friends. Meg Tuttle Powell ’90HS ’92C lives in Raleigh, not far from Saint Mary's. Her boys are in ninth and 11th grades, and her daughter is in sixth grade. They are busy with school, basketball, baseball, rugby, soccer, martial arts, and piano. Meg is working from home for AuPairCare, and her husband is an attorney. They also help to care for his mother. Meg looks forward to our next reunion and would love to see any classmates who come to town. Nancy Leach lives happily on Ocracoke Island with her daughter, Essie (9). They have two 18-year-old cats and tend to a bountiful garden full of veggies and a variety of flowers. She loves being the director of student services for Hyde County Schools, even though several days per week she takes a very slow ferry to get to work on the mainland. She also plans small weddings and elopements, as well as performs wedding ceremonies of all sizes, as she was ordained in 2007. Cammie Bason Smith is still in Dallas. Her oldest daughter, Margaret, is a freshman at Elon University, so she is excited to have another reason to go home to North Carolina. Sarah is a junior in high school, Caroline is a freshman, and Kate is in fifth grade. Molly Hull Boothe is enjoying life in Raleigh with her husband, Brian, and their three beautiful German shepherds. She works as business development manager for
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CLASS NEWS a manufacturer of USDA-certified organic cleaners, detergents, and healthy/beauty care items, and she still lives to box and cheer on Bama in college football. As for me, I still live in Richmond with my husband, Marty, and our son, Henry (4). I work in preservation as the deputy director of the Department of Historic Resources. I keep in touch with and see Melanie Lewis Seamster and Meredith Green Steinbraker, but would love to see and hear from more of you. Hope you are all well. Xoxo Stephanie
1992
COLLEGE Michelle McLaughlin Cheshire ’92C Hello College Class of 1992! I hope this update finds you and your family well! It’s been a challenging year for many of us due to Mother Nature and I know our Saint Mary’s family, coast to coast, has been sending prayers and good will to each of you who have been touched by the devastating events. Please reach out and let us know how you are doing and how we can help in any way. Be sure to send me your class news,
anytime of year, and I will be sure to include it in our next update. Please note my new email address so you can stay in touch. I wish each of you and your loved ones a wonderful year. Weldon Jackson Byrtus writes, “Love working at SMS and seeing many classmates with daughters coming through. Daughter Liza is in third grade at Magellan Charter School and loves playing soccer. Looking forward to our next reunion!” Elizabeth Paxton Black is keeping busy and shares that her son, Bratton, is a senior this year, youngest son, Hill, is a first-grader and her daughter, Josie, is a new sophomore at Saint Mary’s this year. Elizabeth adds, “I am so excited for her to have the opportunity to be at such a special place that is near and dear to my heart!” Gray Williams Carlton sent her first born to college this year at UNC-Chapel Hill. She recently had lunch with fellow classmates Weldon Jackson Brytus and Debbie Goldstein.
1992
HIGH SCHOOL Jane Singleton Myers married Jay Myers in April 2017. It was a whirlwind of change: husband, two kids, a new home, and a new puppy. But Jane says it is wonderful! She continues her passionate work as executive director of The First Tee of Greater Charlotte, describing it as hard work, yet very fulfilling.
1994 Alumnae Instagram @saintmarysalumnae
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COLLEGE Andrea Staunch Green ’94C Adrienne Skarzynski Beauchamp and her husband, William, remain busy with successful careers at Monkee's Franchising, LLC, and Branch Banking and Trust. Will Jr. (18) is a senior at Reagan High School. He is looking forward to starting his college career in the fall. Maggie Grace (13) is currently in eighth grade and is ready to move on to high school. Adrienne and her family currently live in Lewisville, just west of Winston-Salem. Sally Howell Donaldson enjoys being a stay-at-home mom to her one-year-old, Mary Smith. She and her husband, Sean, love parenthood and look forward to the holiday season with their little girl. Sally continues to see her friends from SMC, and Mary Pat Radford Perry is Mary Smith's godmother. I loved
having the opportunity to visit and meet that adorable, happy, captivating sweetheart. Amy Warren Dowdle writes, "I'm still married to Jeff after 18 years. Our girls are Clayton (16), Baity (15), and Campbell (7) and our only boy is Walker (12). I still work as a legal assistant at my daddy's law firm in my hometown of Wake Forest. Life is a bit hectic with kids at three schools and lots of activities, but I love it (and tequila is my best friend). We still head to the Grand Floridian for a week each summer to eat, drink, and ride the rides at Disney, and spend holidays and long weekends at Ocean Isle Beach. I send my love and best wishes to all. My heart still hurts for those who lost so much in the hurricanes." Meredith Toomes Gibbs writes, "We have managed to avoid all hurricane trouble so far, thankfully. My sweet twins, Joshua and Lily (11) are loving flag football and volleyball. I've been continuing to support other BRCA + pre-vivors (those with the BRCA gene who choose preventative surgeries) and still love my job at The Christ School. My dad has been living with us part time and we are struggling through what the best plan is for him for the upcoming years. It's hard to have aging parents." Susan Taylor Hawes writes, "I am a preschool teacher and teach 4-year-olds at Little Church on the Lane in Charlotte. My daughter, Catherine, went off to college this fall and is a freshman at UNCPembroke. I am adapting to not having her at home and I look forward to her returning for frequent visits. If only Saint Mary's still had a college...I would have loved for her to have been a Saint Mary's girl and experience the wonderful school and lasting friendships that we Saint Mary's girls know. My oldest son, Wilson (16), is a junior and Matthew (13) is an eighth-grader. I am enjoying flying with my boyfriend (of 10 years) and flight instructor, David, and we fly as much as we can. One of these days I'm going to get my private pilot's license! I have a 12-year-old yellow Labrador named Rosie. I am also enjoying playing soccer for the Charlotte's Women's Soccer League. It was very hard having my childhood home torn down earlier this year and I still can't bring myself to drive down the street where it was last standing. Sending love and big hugs to all of my SMC friends! Would love to see everyone! Heather May Hughes writes, "My family has been living in Lititz, Pa., for more than two years. We love the area, especially when friends and family visit. Joey and I celebrated 15 years of marriage in October. It seems like yesterday we were married in that sweet little chapel there on campus! We have two daughters, Libby (13) and Paige (10), who keep us busy with sports. This past year, I had the chance to meet with Emmy Teague Scott, Megan Hotze Garner, and Jennifer Alexander Keeley in New York City, which was a great time! Hopefully, I'll get to see them and many others again at the reunion in May. My family and I spent most of this past summer in North Carolina visiting family. We try
to get home to North Carolina every chance we get. In the fall, we attend as many N.C. State games as our busy schedule will allow. Go Pack!" Joanna Weatherman Huskey writes, "My husband, Matt, and I are living in Winston-Salem. I've been employed with Wake Forest Baptist Health going on 18 years now. A little over five years ago, I reunited with the son I placed for adoption when I was a senior in high school. He also lives here in Winston-Salem and we've enjoyed getting to know each other over the past five years. I now have a grandson, Dawson, who is just an angel too! And, Aaron and his girlfriend had a baby girl (Hadley) Thanksgiving week. I feel so blessed to have all of them, as well as their families, in my life. Matt and I are enjoying being grandparents. Looking forward to our reunion!" Robin White Mangum lives in Raleigh with her husband, Ned, and three boys. Robin teaches preschool, volunteers, and keeps busy with her boys. She loves to catch up over dinner with SMC friends whenever possible. Amy Kilgore Mangus writes, "My husband and I are in Rocky Point, just outside of Wilmington. We enjoy traveling, boating, and our Pekingese, Mitzi. In March 2018, I accepted a new position as the marketing and communications coordinator in the College of Health and Human Services at UNC-Wilmington. It's a new position for the college and is keeping me busy!" Alison Leith Myers writes, "Life is good - and busy. Mitch and I celebrated our 19th in September. We're in Annapolis, Md., enjoying it very much. Genevieve (10) is in fifth grade and keeps us on our toes. We also adopted a third dog this year— never a dull moment! We love to travel and are planning our next adventure, but it will be hard to top our family's time in southwest Ireland last summer. It was gorgeous and so relaxing. And, of course, we also visit our family in North Carolina whenever we can. I hope all is well with everyone!" Mary Pat Radford Perry has been living in Sarasota, Fla., for 13 years with husband Kevin and daughters Izzie and Eliza. She enjoys being on the water with her family and watching her girls’ love of the arts. Isabelle (15) is a sophomore in high school. She dances 24+ hours a week with the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and is in their pre-professional program. Eliza (12) is in middle school. She loves to sing and dance, and enjoys being a part of their local Studio Theatre. Mary Pat had a great trip to England with her mom and sister, explored some family roots, and met many cousins. Saint Mary's will always have a special place in her heart and she welcomes visitors. Amy McIlvain Powell lives in Raleigh with her husband and two children. Her daughter is applying to SMS for high school next year! "I can't believe I am about to have a high schooler, but glad she is considering Saint Mary's. I hope to see everyone at our reunion this year!" Stacey Stallard Shaughnessy is in Cary, approaching 20 years of marriage with her husband, Ryan. They have Kat, a sophomore, and Drew in eighth grade,
both at Cary Academy, plus three cats and a puppy. She works for a realty company. She's done quite of bit of traveling in the last couple of years, with a highlight being a trip to Africa. Kendy Allen Smith is having a hard time believing that we are coming up on our 25th Saint Mary's reunion. She hopes to see lots of you there and looks forward to celebrating this huge milestone. She writes, "My husband, Bryan, 12-year-old son Henry, and I still love living in California. We adopted a male black lab from Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue this past spring named Jackpot. He is a handful but we love him dearly. Bryan is in his third year as upper school head at Bentley and I am in my second year as the after school program director. Henry continues to enjoy middle school at Bentley, where he plays soccer and basketball. This will be his third summer attending Carolina Basketball Camp. Go Heels!" Anna Query Smythe lives in Greensboro with her husband of 20 years, and daughters Quinn (13) and Caroline (17). She writes, "I am a nurse at a local hospital and we have a French bulldog named Ollie who is adorable! We recently bought a house that is 200 years old. Between that, work, and kids, life is crazy!" Caren Mills Shoop lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and 11-year-old son, and they love it. She teaches pre-school, Will is in fifth grade, and Dan is an I.T. consultant. Saint Mary's girls are always welcome to visit. Sign me up! Elizabeth Rainey Steele ’93HS ’94C writes, “I have lived in Rocky Mount since 2006. I work at Saber Healthcare Group, in our Rocky Mount regional office, as a medical billing and A/R specialist. I bill Medicare and managed care skilled nursing claims for 21 skilled nursing facilities. My job keeps me very busy and I love it! I have three teenagers who also keep me on my toes. Zoe is graduating this year from Discovery Canyon Campus High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is a lifeguard at Great Wolf Lodge. We are trying to decide where she wants to go to college. Xander (15) plays baseball on his high school baseball team. He loves playing X-Box with friends. Zachary (13) loves baseball and X-Box as well. All is wonderful and I love re-connecting with my Saint Mary's friends! Austin Staunch is still enjoying San Francisco and all the Bay Area has to offer. She's a stagehand with IATSE Local 16 and loves building concerts, shows, and conventions with them. She gets to travel quite a lot, and this year's highlight is a three-week -long private rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. Austin and I spent a fantastic week together in Atlantic Beach this past summer. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you're ever in her area. I, Andrea Staunch Green, am going on 10 years in Charlotte with Caroline (11) and Alex (9). We ventured into middle school this year and all that comes along with it. I've had several projects going on between volunteering, working, and traveling. Spring break in Ireland
and my 45th birthday on Machu Picchu in Peru were highlights. Hurricane Florence devastated my hometown of New Bern. I partnered with three friends and planned a fundraiser that raised more than $17,000 for needy communities in Eastern North Carolina. I've got some other ideas I'm working on to help my hometown community, and that's where my heart and efforts are right now. I'm so excited to celebrate our milestone reunion! Andrea
1996
COLLEGE Sherrod Sisco Pair writes from Pensacola, Fla. She is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild and American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. She just completed her first screenplay, “Labeled,” which is slated for production in the summer of 2019 in Florida and Tennessee. She opened a film production company called Gaslighting, LLC in April 2018. It is based out of Los Angeles.
2000
Katherine Cvetko McElroy ’00 Anna Dale Bazemore and her husband, Jonathan, are still in Raleigh with two boys. Hudson is in fourth grade at Root Elementary and keeps them busy playing basketball, baseball, and golf. Anna enjoys teaching at White Memorial Weekday School where she loves seeing son Myers (4) in the hallways. Jamie Miller Brown and Mike are still living in Wilmington with their two boys Corbett (3) and Miller (10 months). They almost shared a birthday (December 9th and 10th) so needless to say December will be a busy month for them. They keep them on their toes and keep life interesting and entertaining! Jamie loves running into fellow SMS girls in Wilmington and hopes everyone is doing well! Michaela Idhammar Ketpura lives in the mountains of Colorado, right outside of Aspen. She serves as the executive director for Aspen Youth Center, the vice-chair of the board of the Zurbuch Foundation, and the president of the local development group. She and her husband, Nick, and Sylvie (2) have enjoyed traveling these past few years. They have been home to Sweden, on vacation in Italy and Hawaii, and back home to Raleigh to visit family and take a stroll around the Saint Mary's campus. “Please come ski with us in Aspen! Our guest room is open!” Kathleen Kelley is enjoying her work as an associate professor of dance in Montclair, N.J., and as the director of Proteo Media Performance, a dance media company. She recently finished up a dance and poetry video project with fellow alumna Sarah Rose Nordgren, and is looking forward to their next video happening this spring! Earlier this summer, Ashley McGraw and her husband, Will, celebrated four years of living in beautiful Portland, Ore., with their little flock of hens. They bought a house last year, gratefully becoming homeowners again since
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CLASS NEWS selling their Raleigh house in 2014. Ashley is an analyst for Portland General Electric, supporting power distribution. She is passionate about being a woman in STEM and proudly supports the journeymen linemen who keep the lights on across the region. Will and Ashley have lots of travel abroad planned for 2019. Olivia Hock Miller and her husband, Mark, son Smith, and daughter Caroline, live in Orlando, Fla. She is an attorney, practicing civil litigation and bodily injury, as well as representing medical providers against insurance companies. Olivia is active in the Seminole County chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She is an avid (if infrequent) golfer and spends an inordinate amount of time volunteering for Smith’s class at daycare. Holden Royall is living in North Hills in Raleigh and working as a global meeting planner at Covance. She is enjoying as much time as she can in Morehead City, at the house she bought with her sister earlier this year! Katherine Cvetko McElroy and her husband, Richard, live in Charleston, S.C. They recently celebrated 13 years of marriage. She has three children. Mac (8) is in second grade, Gray (5) is in kindergarten, and Eve (2) attends preschool two days a week. Needless to say, life is busy!
2002
Hallie Moore Sessoms Kennedy and husband Griffin are thrilled to announce that their daughter, Frances Hallie Moore (Frannie), was born on June 1, 2018, in Durham. Hallie is still enjoying her work as a project manager at New Media Campaigns in Carrboro, a web design and digital marketing firm, where she specializes in building dynamic web presences for local, national, and international law and financial services firms, institutions of higher education, and non-profits. Lindsay Speros Robbins and her family moved to Birmingham, Ala., in June for her three-year fellowship in high-risk obstetrics. Erin Pope and Tate Allen of Greenville, N.C., are happy to announce the arrival of Anne Elizabeth Allen on July 17, 2018. Jillana Lamm Zipf and husband Adam are living in Greenville, N.C., and happily report the birth of their son, Scott Kennedy Zipf. He was born August 29, 2018 and weighed 6 lbs. and 15 oz.
2004
Katie Whitmore Allred ’04 Hard to believe our 15-year reunion is right around the corner! Emily Brooks Rowe lives in Raleigh with her husband, Patrick, and gave birth to a baby girl, Penelope Sue Rowe, on June 28, 2018. Britt Carl is enjoying life in Greensboro, and was recently promoted to director of student success at High Point University. Merriweather Raidle Mulé lives in Charleston, S.C., with her husband, Michael, daughter, Camille (3); and new baby boy, Gabriel. They welcomed “Gabey Baby” into the world on June 15, 2018. Michael continues his
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
work as a political consultant and president of UPT Strategies. Merriweather is a client service manager for CornerCap Investment Counsel. She is serving her second year as chair of The Chocolate Affair, Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area’s signature fundraising event. Allison Schoen Hepfner, Ed.D, accepted the new role as principal of Doby’s Mill Elementary School in Kershaw County, S.C., for the 201819 school year. This is an exciting venture for her, and she is so proud to officially be head administrator of a school. She still resides in Elgin, S.C., with her husband of ten years, Craig, and two children, Emmy (6) and Tripp (2). She is very involved in her church and children’s lives. Her daughter is very involved in pageantry, currently carrying the title of Wee Miss Aiken, and will go to the state pageant next summer. This interest of her daughter’s has led Allison to become a director in pageantry in her spare time. Emily Stocks Walker continues to live in Dallas with her husband, Austin, and their two sons. She and Austin welcomed Henry "Noble" Walker on July 3, 2018. Noble has been a sweet gift from the Lord. Emily treasures her time spent in Raleigh visiting family and friends. On March 31, 2018, my husband, Ryan, and I welcomed a son, Robert Holton "Bobby" Allred. We are smitten with the newest addition to our family! After almost four years of living in West Point, N.Y, we are moving to Fort Bragg in the summer. We are looking forward to moving our little family back down South! As always, it’s great hearing from the Class of 2004! Katie
2006
Caroline Ward Manning ’06 This has been a very exciting year for the Class of 2006. Between engagements, weddings, pregnancies, and births, there have been a lot of life-changing events among our classmates. I have really enjoyed getting to see a few of you as we celebrate some of these special moments together. 2018 has been a whirlwind for me. I have travelled to New Zealand, Singapore, Shanghai, Mexico, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. My husband and I also welcomed our daughter, Mary Hunter, into our family on April 18, 2018. I already can’t wait for her to meet some of her future Saint Mary’s classmates! Katie Bailes married Ethan Kleisch on October 7, 2017. Moriah Phares Blalock had a daughter, Rowan, in August of 2017. Blair Eberdt married Nick Eugenio on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Leigh Habegger is living in Washington, D.C., and is the executive director for the Seafood Harvesters of America, a national commercial fishing association. She enjoys working with Congress and the opportunities for travel that have come along with the new position. She also became a certified yoga teacher in June 2018! Carly Phillips Duguid is living in Marinia del Rey, Calif. Eva Skipper Jones had a daughter, Phoebe Ransom, May 13, 2018. Supriya Sundaram Kaza had a son, Logan. Courtney Holmes Mann had
a daughter, Harriet Legrand, on November 4, 2017. Sarah Eberle McAnulty had a daughter, Hannah Marie, on September 20, 2018. Spencer Busby Menzel had twins, Storey Elizabeth and William Royall, on December 23, 2017. Julia Corker Spickard had her second son, Thompson Corker, on December 25, 2017. Virginia Claire Tharrington married Andrew Nist on Saturday, May 26, 2018 in the SMS chapel. Mary Conyers Tucker married Zach Loncar on June 23, 2018 in Raleigh. Caroline
2008
Mary Brown Taylor ’08 Lauren Worthy Barker and her husband live in Wilson and are about to celebrate their fouryear wedding anniversary. She works for BB&T as a regional associate relations manager. Anna Josephine Betts lives in Raleigh and is a full-time faculty member at Wake Technical Community College. She is an English instructor. Kallie Blount lives in Wilson and works as the director of travel and sales for Group International Specialty Travel in New York. She is pursuing her passion for travel and building itineraries abroad. Elizabeth Bonner Covington married Alec Covington on October 20th, 2018. They live in Charlotte, where she works as a PR account manager at Chernoff Newman. Julie Bynum lives in Jackson, Wyo., and works as the marketing manager for Roadhouse Brewing Co. Hayley Dillon Cain married Brad Cain in August 2018 and lives in D.C. She works as a marketing manager at Booz Allen Hamilton. Claire Chewning is a seventh-grade ELA/Social Studies teacher in Bluffton, S.C., at River Ridge Academy. She lives in Beaufort, S.C. Jennifer Currier lives in Asheville, and is currently the lead blender for Wicked Weed Brewing. Heather Dew lives in Denver, Colo., and works from home as a water resources engineer for McAdams in Durham. Betsy Douglass lives in Charleston, S.C., and is an artist. Her website is www.studiobetsy.com. Sidney Dawson Dozier lives in Raleigh with her husband, Chris Dozier, and their two children, daughter Covington (18 mos) and son Rush (5 mos). Kiki Sloan Eatman married Jim Eatman on May 19th, 2018, and they live in Raleigh. She works as a territory account manager for James Hardie building products. Elizabeth Mills Grantham lives in Raleigh with her husband, Stewart, and works as the senior executive assistant to the executive vice president and chief people officer at Red Hat. Loftin Johnson is in Raleigh and works as a personal trainer at Core Fitness. She leads the triangle fitness program at Saint Mary’s School and is also the JV soccer coach at Saint Mary’s. Mary Reid Larcade works as a licensed professional counselor at the family practice, Larcade Psychiatric Associates, PLLC. She specializes in working with adolescents and young adults with anxiety and depression. She lives in Raleigh, and also works as a volunteer for FOCUS at Saint Mary’s. Roslyn Ragsdale Manning and her
husband, Max, live in Crestwood, Ky., with their two daughters, Scarlett and Caroline. She is in her sixth year teaching sophomore English, and is a Google for Education certified trainer. Katie Matthews lives in Charlotte and works as a sales manager for Robinson Media. Catherine Schaefer Maxwell lives in Atlanta, Ga., and works as a demand planner for Spanx. Nancy Stewart McLendon lives in Wilmington and will graduate from East Carolina University’s Physician Assistant Program in December 2018. She will be working at a Children’s Hospital in Kenya before starting her career back in North Carolina. Mady McLeod is in Nashville, Tenn., where she works at TriStar hospital in the impatient rehab department and helps with the outpatient department as well. Liz Moore is a furniture designer at her family’s firm, Otto & Moore, Inc. She also sits on the board of directors of International Society of Furniture Designers and the Junior League of High Point. Ashby Claire Murray works as a speechlanguage pathologist for Speechcenter. She lives in Winston-Salem. Danielle Musselwhite lives in Raleigh and works for a company headquartered in San Francisco called 15Five. She has traveled to six countries this year! Crutcher Nash lives in Raleigh and works for Scout as a senior account manager/ program manager. Sarah Staton Nash is in Charleston, S.C., and works as the design coordinator for Saussy Burbank. Beth Walters Nash lives in Raleigh with her husband, John, and works as a marketing communications specialist for Red Hat. Julia Nutt is in Charleston, S.C., and is an early childhood special education teacher (ages 3-5) at Goose Creek Elementary School. Cynthia Partrick is also in Charleston, and is a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. Kim Purcell lives in Washington, D.C., and works in marketing for the “Got Milk?” campaign. Greyson Kane Sidebotham lives in Raleigh with her husband, John Reid. She works for Eckel and Vaughan as senior account manager. Jessica Clark Stewart lives in Raleigh and teaches at Franklin Academy Middle School. She and her husband, Andrew, had their first child, Lyle, on October 27th 2018. Mary Brown Taylor lives in Raleigh and works as the assistant director of auxiliary services for Saint Mary’s. She is the godmother to Sidney Dawson Dozier’s daughter, Covington. Cameron Robbins Taylor married Josh Taylor in March of 2018. They live in Raleigh. Sara Walker lives in Raleigh and works as the director of communications for the Inner-Faith Food Shuttle. She is also is the godmother Sidney Dozier’s daughter. Annie Whitmore lives in Charlotte and is working in the Neonatal Progressive Care Nursery as a nurse at Levine Children’s Hospital. McCauley James Yates married Drew Yates in April, 2018. They live in Raleigh and McCauley is a school counselor at Barwell Road Elementary.
Saint Mary’s friends gathered for the wedding of Ann Kenan Barnard ’02 to Jamison Stewart, December 1, 2018. Pictured, left to right: Adair Calamos Blount ’02; Elizabeth Dortch Beswick ’73HS; Meg Sparger Westall ’02; Anne Kenan Barnard Stewart ’02; Theo Wilkes Coonrod, former Head of School; Valinda Dubose Coates ’79HS ’81C; and Hallie Sessoms Kennedy ’02.
2010
Emma Powell Pike ’10 Gates Killian lives in Atlanta and works for IBM Watson Media. She and Liza Wooten, Becca Vinson Hamilton '09, and Katie Matthews '08 get together once a month for a Saint Mary's dinner. Laura Gulledge is working as an asset manager for Walker & Donlop and living with Sarah Ann Rhoades in D.C. Anna Dillon recently relocated from D.C. to Atlanta, Ga., and is the events and marketing coordinator with OneTrust. Gabie Craig Frantz and her husband, Rob, recently opened an event space and amazing bar called Junction West in Raleigh's Warehouse District. Ashley Flynn is scheduled to graduate from nursing school in spring of 2019. Joi Marlowe is working for Syneos Health in Raleigh. Liza Wooten traveled to Peru and hiked the Incan Trail. Katie Mitchell Saieed married Tommy Saieed on November 17th in Charlotte. Ashleigh Oxner Malm married James Malm on April 14th in Savannah, Ga. Elizabeth Grigg Brown married her husband, Patrick, at her parents’ home in Pirates Cove in September. They reside in Greenville, S.C. I am living in Smithfield with my husband, Bryce, and our puppy, Carlene. I am the staffing manager with Ajilon in Raleigh.
Saint Mary’s classmates Maggie Pearce Dill ’11, left, and Lindsay Johnson ’11, right, show their Saint Mary’s bond posing with their iconic class rings on Maggie’s wedding day at the Saint Mary’s Chapel. Lindsay was a bridesmaid in the wedding.
2012
Hailey Hart ’12 Hailey Hart loves keeping up with Saint Mary’s friends and working on Capitol Hill. Hailey is a senior legislative assistant for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Sophie Bird continues to be voted “Best Teacher” by her adorable kindergarten students at Glenwood Elementary School, a Mandarin Chinese Dual Language Immersion School. Hutter Black is living in Charlotte and working on the Mineke team as a development coordinator at Driven Brands. After working as operating room
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CLASS NEWS Registered Nurse (OR RN), Margaret Blincow recently joined the pediatric surgical services team at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte. Margaret has always loved children and her passion for medicine makes this new role the perfect combination. Darby Fallon Clark celebrated her six-month wedding anniversary to Jack Clark in December. She is the business development director at Fallon Benefits Group. She is also a consultant with Beautycounter, a safer skin care and beauty line. On the weekends, Darby loves to entertain friends, cook, and hang with her Golden Retriever, Milly. Carrie Coleman continues to tell stories of happiness through her blog and photography. While she travels often for work, you can find her photography on https:// carriecolemanphotography.com/ Mary Davis moved to the West Coast and is working for the #1 real estate team in San Diego. Bailey Juetter is living in Raleigh and works for Select Physical Therapy, where she serves as the head athletic trainer at Grace Christian. Cate Lyle has relocated to Washington, D.C., to work for Robert Half doing IT recruiting. Cate is no longer acting manager and CEO of Yolk-SwagYolk, an egg enthusiast instagram account, but she continues to be an expert consultant on Bravo and reality television programs. Jane Lyle is excited to report that she survived N.Y.C. Fashion Week and has been promoted to wholesale assistant at Rebecca Taylor in New York City. Caroline Pinney is an artist, using oil paint as her central medium. You can find her artwork in friend’s homes, charity auctions, and on www.carolinepinney.com. Hannah Smith lives in Chapel Hill and works with GoHeels Production, cutting highlights and more for UNC Sporting events. Go, Tar Heels! Eliza Stoughton moved to Charlotte in November and is working as a marketing and technology coordinator at Helen Adams Realty. After earning a B.S. in interior design and architecture from Meredith College, Duncan Weaver is loving her new role as an interior designer for Level Five Designs in Raleigh. Sarah Scott Worth works at South City Public Relations, a restaurant and hospitality public relations and marketing agency, in Charleston, S.C. She enjoys trying new restaurants and recommending local spots to visiting friends! Berry Williamson continues to love living in Atlanta, Ga., and working for World 50 Inc.
2014
Mary Stuart Fountain ’14 Mills Carden is graduating next December from Ole Miss with a double major in political science and English. She is currently in London taking classes and doing an internship. She is interning with an NGO called WomanKind Worldwide. They focus on violence against women and girls in Africa and Asia. She says, “It’s been a fun and learning experience! I’m with the policy and learning team, helping out with a brief on
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
online violence. In the spring I’ll be in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, doing another internship and classes. Hopefully after graduating I’ll be in the Peace Corps!” Frances Cayton writes, “I'm currently based in New York, where I work in the David Rockefeller Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. I am hoping to pursue a Ph.D. in history in the coming years, and in the meantime I'm studying Polish and enjoying exploring the food and music scene here in the city!” Cynthia Coleman is working as the internship program director for a music management company called Red Light. Red Light manages the likes of Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, and Phish, among others. They have offices across the country but Cynthia is in their Charlottesville, Va., headquarters, which she says is perfect “because it means I get to live with the very lovely Mary Stuart Fountain. Looking forward to seeing the Class of 2014 at our reunion this spring!” Meg Cooksey has moved to Denver, Colo., for her master’s in biomedical science at University of Denver. “I’m working with an OB/GYN in the area for my master research project and also working at the Blue Bench during the week, which is Denver’s only rape crisis and sexual assault center. I’ll graduate in June and start applying for medical school next summer, but one step at a time.” Emily Evans graduated in May from UNC-Chapel Hill and joined a rotational program with United Technologies, so she will be moving around for the next two years. Yeon Mi Hwang graduated from UC Berkeley in May and is currently attending University of Washington for a molecular engineering Ph.D. degree. Mallory Johnson writes, “ I can’t wait for our reunion! I started a job at Global Knowledge in Cary after graduating from UNCWilmington.” Cameron Little graduated from The Citadel and has started her job with the Air Force. Florrie McCard graduated from Georgia College with a bachelor’s in French, rhetoric minor, in May. After graduation, she worked as the summer programs coordinator at SMS. In September, she moved to the small village of Crépy, outside of Laon, France, where she is teaching English in the village’s primary school this year. Sara-Kinard Moyd moved to Nashville, Tenn., in August and is working as a technical recruiter with Apex Systems in their Nashville office. She loves it! “Nashville rocks and there is a big Sewanee crew here. Super excited for the reunion (especially because my little sister is a freshman at SMS now) and I cannot wait to see everyone!“ Katie Nash is living in Raleigh and working in Chapel Hill, doing marketing for UNC Medicine. Anuta Pravdina reports that she changed schools, and is finishing a chemistry degree at Indiana University Bloomington. She is a DJ now, running sub.terranean, her own production and promotion company for electronic bass music. Hayley Reid graduated from George Washington and is now working as a concierge for one of the residential
communities in Cayman. She really hopes to be able to attend our reunion. Holden Stanley is living in Raleigh, working for McGriff Insurance Services as a commercial lines sales agent. Emily Szyperski graduated from Elon University in May and moved to New York City, where she now studies interior design at Parsons School of Design. She is loving it and sees SMS friends in N.Y.C. frequently.
2018
Erika Reiger ’18 The Saint Mary’s School Class of 2018 is off to a great start of their freshman year of college. A lot of girls have navigated their first few months through sororities, clubs, and other activities on their respective campuses. Although major life events haven’t occurred since graduation (thank goodness), here are some of the activities our class is enjoying. Frances Anderson attends the University of South Carolina and is a Kappa Delta. Caroline Balderson is at East Carolina University and has joined Delta Zeta. Sophie Burkhardt and Mary Rives Rice are at the University of Mississippi and have joined Kappa Kappa Gamma. Kathryn Cahill attends Appalachian State and is a Phi Mu. Lizzy Crumpton attends UNC-Chapel Hill and is a Kappa Delta. Margaret Dixon and Lucy Glover are Tri Delts at Clemson University. Grace Dohner, Suiter Ragland, and Kate Finkelstein joined Sigma Kappa at N.C. State University. Margaret Fountain, Pell Williamson, and Emmy Whitford are Chi Omegas at UNC-Chapel Hill. Molly Mace is attending East Carolina and has joined Alpha Omicron Pi. Audrey Nash, Beverly Watson, and Sarah Elizabeth Norris are also at East Carolina and have joined Alpha Delta Pi. Sloane Norton is at High Point University and is a Zeta Tau Alpha. Lilly Parker and Portie Stallings attend UNC-Chapel Hill and have joined Delta Delta Delta. Samantha Woolard is taking a gap year in Germany. The class of 2018 will go on to do great things and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for them! Keep in touch! Erica
Share Your Love with Saint Mary’s By Brandon Wright, Director of Gift Planning
As the newest member of the Saint Mary’s School development team, it has been a pleasure for me to meet and begin working with alumnae who want to make a difference at their alma mater. It is encouraging to repeatedly hear alumnae say how much they love Saint Mary’s! In my short time here, I have quickly realized that relationships matter at Saint Mary’s. Generations of family legacies, relationships fostered on campus and strengthened through shared experiences, and a committed, connected alumnae network all contribute to opportunities for graduates to realize their fullest personal and professional potential. While friendships made at 900 Hillsborough Street last a lifetime, so too does the connectivity each graduate feels to this campus. Relationships are a big reason why alumnae love their Saint Mary’s experience. Several alumnae, because they know my work includes managing and growing the school’s planned giving program, have told me their love for Saint Mary’s encouraged them to include the school in their estate plans. Has your love of Saint Mary’s encouraged you to do the same? If so, thank you! I hope you will make your intentions known. There are several reasons why sharing this great news is important. Saint Mary’s wants to help you fulfill your philanthropic goals. Many alumnae direct gifts to Saint Mary’s through a will or living trust, or by listing the school on a beneficiary designation form for a brokerage account, life insurance policy, or retirement account. While these options for creating future gifts are relatively easy to complete, they often provide limited opportunity to share how a gift’s proceeds should be used when received. Having a simple letter of intent or memorandum of understanding on file will ensure your future gift makes the exact impact you desire.
Because planned gifts often involve assets like real estate, retirement accounts, and stocks or bonds, they can make a substantial impact when they are received. Thus, planned gifts allow alumnae to make larger commitments than they could, or would, have made while living. Knowing which areas on campus will be financially bolstered through thoughtful planning allows Saint Mary’s to more strategically plan for its own future success. To share our gratitude, Saint Mary’s recognizes alumnae who have chosen to support the school through documented planned gifts as members of the Heritage Society. Seeing a classmate listed on the Heritage Society membership roster also encourages others to consider giving in this way. Of course, an alumna may request her intentions be kept anonymous. If you are considering including Saint Mary’s in your estate plan, please let me know. It is important that you have all the information needed to complete your thoughtful planning. Further, there is great peace of mind in knowing your future gift will be used according to your wishes – and that your gift will make a difference. I welcome the opportunity to talk with you by telephone, or to meet with you in person, to discuss your experiences and love of Saint Mary’s. With your help, countless generations of young women will share in, and enjoy, the experiences and opportunities only Saint Mary’s can provide.
Brandon Wright recently joined Saint Mary’s School’s development staff as director of gift planning. Before Saint Mary’s, Brandon spent 14 years at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – most recently as a director of gift planning, and previously as assistant dean of development at the UNC School of Law. Brandon can be reached at 919-424-4111 or at bwright@sms.edu.
900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603–1689
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Scenes of Saint Mary’s Smedes Hall in snow, December 10, 2018
Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C
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