Saint Mary's School Alumnae Magazine | Winter 2017 by Saint Mary's School

Academic EXCELLENCE | Personal ACHIEVEMENT | WINTER 2017

A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS

175th Anniversary Special Edition

Strength through Connection

Board of Trustees 2016-2017 Officers Theodore D. Bratton, Chair Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Vice Chair Martin H. Brinkley, Secretary William C. Monk, Jr., Treasurer Members At-Large Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Raleigh, N.C. Anna Neal Blanchard ’76HS, Raleigh, N.C. Martin M. Boney, Raleigh, N.C. Theodore D. Bratton, Raleigh, N.C. Martin H. Brinkley, Raleigh, N.C. Barbara Eagleson Cain ’65C, Wilmington, N.C. Caren Threshie Camp ’71HS, Alexandria, Va. Eric W. Evans, Raleigh, N.C. Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Owings Mills, Md. Sallie Harris Glover ’81HS ’83C, Raleigh, N.C. R. Gordon Grubb, Raleigh, N.C. Hubert B. Haywood III, Raleigh, N.C. Mary D. Hinton ‘88HS, Saint Joseph, Minn. Kenneth B. Howard, Raleigh, N.C. Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C, Rocky Mount, N.C. Burns Jones, San Francisco Stephen F. Later, Southern Pines, N.C. W. Scott Mahoney, Raleigh, N.C. William C. Monk, Jr., Greenville, N.C. Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Charlotte, N.C. Sallie Shuping Russell ’75C, Chapel Hill, N.C. F. Jefferson Stocks, Raleigh, N.C. Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, Greenville, N.C. Jeffrey M. Szyperski, Irvington, Va. Nancy Kerr Thomason ’73HS ’75C, Dunwoody, Ga. Margaret Longley White ’79C, Greensboro, N.C.

Mission Statement Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life.

WINTER 2017 | VOLUME 102, 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.

ON THE COVER Saint Mary’s girls walking

Administration

in the Grove, 1940s.

Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School Tim Healy, Dean of Students Laura 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, Chief Financial Officer 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

CONTENTS The Heritage of Saint Mary’s A Legacy of Connection

4 12

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

IN EVERY ISSUE Alumnae Council Message Head of School Message News Briefs Personal Achievement

Contributors: Mary Billings Babcock ’46C; Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D.; Heath Hilliker; Margaret McGlohon ’81C; Jeannie Norris; Laura Novia; Julie Ricciardi; Martha Stoops; Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Design Heath Hilliker, Senior Marketing Coordinator Printing Metro Productions, Raleigh, N.C.

Athletics News Supporting Saint Mary’s Calendar of Events Event Photos Milestones Class News

2 3 16 22 24 26 30 32 40 42

MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNAE COUNCIL Dear Saint Mary’s alumnae and friends, May 12, 2017, marks the 175th anniversary of Saint Mary’s School. Our alma mater has its footprint in three centuries. Every alumna since 1842 has had a vivid image of her Saint Mary’s experience - each a snapshot on the timeline of our school’s history. With a legacy of excellence and the celebration of so many longstanding traditions, sometimes it is surprising that the Saint Mary’s of today is different from the school we may remember as a student. However, after 175 years and countless generations of alumnae, there is no question that Saint Mary’s ability to adapt to a constantly changing world, while maintaining a fundamental commitment to the values our founder, the Rev. Aldert Smedes envisioned in 1842, is the reason that our school thrives today. Smedes belief that educated women make a difference continues to inform Saint Mary’s mission. We call all alumnae to join us in celebrating of this remarkable institution and recognizing the difference it has made in the lives of countless women like you. Show your pride for your alma mater by participating in the many 175th anniversary year events and activities taking place on and off campus. Come to campus for the 175th Anniversary Gala on Friday, May 12, 2017, exactly 175 years from the date of our founding. Connect with your classmates to plan a mini reunion. Gala Chairwomen Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C and Joan Comer Johnston ’87C shared plans for this event and, wow, it is going to be a party worthy of one of the oldest girls’ schools in the country. Attend or host an event in your area. There are lots of ways to bring alumnae toAlumnae Council 2016-2017 Dee Williamson Marley ’77HS, co-chair Jean Redding ’72HS, co-chair Pridie Clark Ariail ’69C Vicky McKenzie Armes ’62C Merritt Atkins ’99HS Diane Gupton Becton ’77HS Anne Finley ’91C Melrose Whitfield Fisher ’72HS ’74C Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS ’78C Ashley Dawson Forbes ’95C Gina Crow Hartness-Jablokov ’89HS Libby Holding ’78C Elizabeth Van Dyke Johnson ’91C Joan Comer Johnston ’87C Britt Vice Kirkbride ’82HS ’84C Mary Anne Creech McIntire ’65HS Michelle Oppegaard ’93HS ’95C Rebecca Pace ’85HS

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gether - a cocktail party, a master hot dog grilling party, an afternoon at the ball park – whatever sounds right to you! This summer and fall, we have had alumnae events in more than 20 cities, and have a similar number of events scheduled for the spring and summer. These fun events are a great way to network and stay in touch with friends and all that’s happening at Saint Mary’s. Connect on social media. You don’t have to wait for an alumnae event - stay up-to-date with what is happening at Saint Mary’s and share with your friends on social media. “Like” our Saint Mary’s Facebook pages, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, and join our LinkedIn page. Be an ambassador. Many of our students first learn of Saint Mary’s through alumnae. You are on the ground in communities around the country, and are important ambassadors for the school. Your recommendations matter, and we count on alumnae to share names of prospective students with our admission team. Support the Annual Fund with a gift. This year’s Annual Fund goal is $1.5 million. With tuition accounting for an average of 70 percent of the school’s operating budget, the Annual Fund is the second largest revenue source for Saint Mary’s – providing 20 percent of the budget. In other words, annual giving is critical to the day-to-day operation of the school. Alumnae participation for 2015-2016 was 24 percent – putting Saint Mary’s alumnae in the middle of our peer schools. We certainly don’t want to be average! We want our alumnae participation to top that of alumnae at peer schools – after all we’ve been around

Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Board of Trustees representative Lynn Boyce Purdie-Brennan ’62C Sandra Ray ’82HS ’84C Hunter Grogan Rogers ’89HS ’91C Allison Sprock ’82HS ’84C Eliza Jenkins Stoecker ’96HS Georgia Worthington Sullivan ’77HS Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C Melissa Morrisette Tillman ’88HS Heather Clark Warren ’89HS ’91C Cassie Warrington ’93HS ’95C Margaret Overcash White ’98HS Charlotte Hill Wickham ’82HS Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS Blanche Williamson ’76HS Leslie Allred Yates ’96HS ’98C

175 years! It takes 81 new gifts to increase participation by one percent, so let’s move that dial as many percentage points as we can. By the way, the faculty/staff participation for this year is already 100 percent! Leave a legacy. Become a member of the Saint Mary’s Heritage Society by including the school in your will. You will leave a legacy that ensures your alma mater will continue to fulfill its mission of academic excellence and personal achievement for girls for years to come. Get involved - join the Alumnae Council. We meet on campus three times a year in the fall, winter, and spring. The meetings are fun and informative and a great way to hone your leadership skills and stay in the know about Saint Mary’s. Thank you for the many ways you support Saint Mary’s School. We encourage you to take advantage of all that this 175th year has to offer. With every gift, every volunteer hour, and every new connection made, you are investing in Saint Mary’s future – a vision for our 200th anniversary and for generations of girls to come. See you at the Gala! Dee Williamson Marley ’77HS and Jean Redding ’72HS Alumnae Association co-presidents

Young Alumnae Advisory Board Class of 2011 Stuart Anderson ’11 Blair Barnett ’11 Louise Mann Clement ’11 Lindsey Johnson ’11 Maggie Pearce ’11 Class of 2010 Gates Killian ’10 Louise Orr ’10 Class of 2009 Betsy Church ’09 Becca Vinson Hamilton ’09 Emma Carol Lewis ’09 Lauren Vitek ’09 Chelsea Ward ’09 Class of 2008 Martha Cox ’08 Sarah Staton Nash ’08 Mary Brown Taylor ‘08

Class of 2007 Nancy Vander Veer ’07 Anna Zevenhuizen ’07 Class of 2006 Kyle O’Garro-Moore ’06 Taylor Rice ’06 Lauren Robbins ’06 Class of 2005 Ila Walker Bittner ’05 Katie Skinner ’05 Class of 2004 Katie Whitmore Allred ’04 Britt Carl ’04 Charlotte Smith ’04 Class of 2003 Laura Fanjoy ’03 Kate Yandell Reece ’03 Class of 2002 Adair Calamos Blount ’02 Anne Kenan Barnard ’02 Hallie Sessoms Kennedy ’02

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Saint Mary’s Connections By Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School

“Is that a Saint Mary’s ring?” is a question alumnae are asked wherever they go, including during a recent encounter in a café on the Amalfi Coast. The distinctive, rectangular black onyx stone is recognized immediately by alumnae or those familiar with Saint Mary’s. Like many of my colleagues, I have connected with alumnae on planes, in restaurants, and at coffee shops over the years. It’s wonderful. I always enjoy hearing their stories and sharing news about the school. The ring is beautiful and powerful. It symbolically bonds alumnae to each other as women who share a love for their school and what it has meant to their lives. Over its 175-year history, Saint Mary’s School has faced many challenging years, but no matter the year or the decade, the school always evolved to ensure it was meeting the needs of its students – providing food during the Great Depression, preparing them for a new Industrial Age, giving them support and succor during two World Wars. Through it all, our history demonstrates the transformative power of the deep connection students, faculty, and alumnae have had, and continue to have with their beloved school.

confident in the genuine offers of support and encouragement they receive. Theirs is a connection formed on the foundation of love for Saint Mary’s School, and they seek to find ways that they can support their alma mater and the girls who will follow them into the world. In November, we held the annual Junior Ring Banquet where our 11th graders joined thousands of alumnae who proudly wear their Saint Mary’s rings as a sign of love for their school and connection with generations of alumnae. They will be stopped wherever they go and will be asked, “Is that a Saint Mary’s ring?” and make new friends for the rest of their lives.

Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D. Head of School

The strength of the Saint Mary’s alumnae network has allowed the school to persevere for almost two centuries. Refusing to imagine a world without Saint Mary’s, generations of alumnae have stepped up to support and lead the school during periods of great struggle and great success. They were joined by others who shared their passion and believed in the mission. United in their dedication, class secretaries and our legendary alumnae directors who did not have LinkedIn and Facebook, made their own connections. They traveled to visit alumnae and welcomed them back to campus. Letter and postcard correspondence strengthened relationships and maintained alumnae bonds with Saint Mary’s and with each other. Today, our students and alumnae enjoy the benefits of an active alumnae network with personal and professional connections. Students have opportunities to work in extended internships while alumnae sponsor each other for promotions and jobs in towns and cities across the United States and the world. At regional gatherings, they make connections and make dates for coffee to continue the conversations they started. They are

The

Heritage of Saint Mary’s 175 Years of Educating Women Resilience through Connections

1877-1946 This is the second in a series of articles highlighting the 175-year history of women’s education at Saint Mary’s School from 1842-2017. In this article, we continue our focus on the resilience of the school through times of great challenge and success, and explore the legacy of connection that marked the seven decades after the death of Saint Mary’s founder, the Rev. Aldert Smedes. In commemorating Saint Mary’s 175th year, we honor and celebrate the success of the school in delivering to many generations the original mission of excellence in education for young women, and continue to be inspired by the conviction of our founder Aldert Smedes, that “an educated woman can make a difference”─ a tenet as relevant in the 21st century as it was in 1842.

Life at Saint Mary’s after Aldert Smedes For 35 years, from 1842 until his death in 1877, “Aldert Smedes had been Saint Mary’s,” writes Martha Stoops

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in The Heritage: The Education of Women at St. Mary’s College, 1842-1982. The days and months that followed the death of the school’s visionary founder and dynamic leader were both a time of assured continuity and challenging uncertainty. It was a test of Saint Mary’s resilience and ability to build new bonds following the impact of the Civil War which found its way directly to campus. On the day of Smedes’s funeral, the Raleigh Observer wrote an editorial announcing that “there would be no interruption in the conduct of the school.” The editor wrote, with the hope all shared, that the institution which had “fixed itself in the affections not only of our city and state, but of the South generally, would live for generations to come as a memorial of its distinguished founder.” Truly, it is the strength of the chain of Saint Mary’s connections forged following Smedes’s death that has stewarded the school successfully through its history.

In a series of newspaper articles in Raleigh in 1877, it was written that, “an educated woman is worth as much to society, in a politico-economico point of view, as an educated man.”

The Rev. Bennett Smedes, center in hat, and members of the faculty, 1893-1894

The Bennett Smedes Era: 1877-1899 The heir apparent to lead the school was Smedes’s son, the Rev. Bennett Smedes, D.D., but Bennett, “a gentle and scholarly man,” was reluctant to accept the challenge of stepping into the role his father had commanded so strongly, confidently, and independently. Aldert Smedes had willingly taken on most of the work of organizing and managing all aspects and details of running the school, with little assistance or support staff. Bennett was unsure of his ability to take on so many challenges. He took some time to consider before finally accepting Bishop Thomas Atkinson’s invitation to lead Saint Mary’s and continue his family’s ties to the school. Upon taking the reins of Saint Mary’s, he immediately moved forward with plans to improve the curriculum and the academic standards. Ideas about the importance and role of the education of women were changing and expanding. In a series of newspaper articles in Raleigh in 1877, it was written that, “an educated woman is worth as much to society, in a politicoeconomico point of view, as an educated man.” This idea was consistent with and a reiteration of Aldert Smedes’s belief back in 1842 that, “an educated woman can make a difference.”

Inspired by the conviction that educating women was of great importance, Bennett Smedes worked diligently and generously over the next two decades to carry on his father’s mission at Saint Mary’s. He employed excellent teachers and paid them well. He spent generously from his inheritance for improvements including new furniture, Baltimore heaters to replace the wood stoves, lab equipment, maps and globes, several pianos, a pipe organ for the Chapel, and books for the new school library on the third floor of the main building. He made sure the girls were well fed and entertained. He gave scholarships from his own money, beyond what he could afford. He reorganized the school to meet the needs of the students from first grade to higher education, with the possibility of girls leaving the school with the equivalent of what later became a junior college education. All the while, enrollment was declining and student fees did not cover the lavish expenditures. Martha Stoops writes in The Heritage, “Bennett Smedes paid deficits from his own resources until he had spent about $30,000 of his own funds and had borrowed on his insurance. Finally, in 1896, Smedes turned to the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina to save Saint Mary’s.

“The 1896 convention adopted Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire’s resolution assuring the alumnae that the church in North Carolina would ‘not be found wanting in this emergency but would do all in its power to place Saint Mary’s School upon permanent foundation as an institution under the charge and patronage of the Church throughout the entire state.’” Saint Mary’s was incorporated under its first board of trustees “under the jurisdiction, control, and direction of the Protestant Episcopal Church in North Carolina.” The trustees purchased the school property from Duncan Cameron, and they retained Bennett Smedes to run the school. Thus, Saint Mary’s School was “saved for the church.” Bennett Smedes died at Saint Mary’s in February 1899. The circumstances of his death from pneumonia were typical of his unselfish devotion to others, for he became ill the day after walking several miles in a driving 18inch snowstorm to collect the mail so that the students would not be disappointed. The 3,000 women who had studied at Saint Mary’s under Bennett Smedes, remembered “his unwavering kindness, his wise counsel, his earnest instruction in things spiritual, and his gracious presence pervading the whole school.”

The Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton

The Bratton era: 1899-1903 Upon the death of Bennett Smedes in 1899, Emilie Watts McVea, lady principal and alumna, and Martha Dowd, carried on successfully with oversight of the school relying on the wellestablished networks in the school community and their own commitment to the school’s mission. Meanwhile, the Saint Mary’s trustees set their sights on choosing the third rector/head for the school, the Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton, an Episcopal priest who had studied civil engineering before entering divinity school at the University of the South, Sewanee. Bratton moved quite a family to Saint Mary’s in 1899, including his wife, Lucy, and four young children. The family was the first to live in the new rectory, a two-story brick home to the west of the chapel, built in 1900. During his tenure, the trustees voted to establish the college for the study of liberal arts and sciences, on an equal standard with other colleges for women. By the end of his first year as rector, the trustees felt that they had “the right man in the right place.” Bratton greatly strengthened the curriculum and expanded and improved the facilities as enrollment grew so much that there was a waiting list for prospective students.

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Bratton greatly strengthened the curriculum and expanded and improved the facilities as enrollment grew so much that there was a waiting list for prospective students.

Realizing that “the Chapel is the centre round which everything revolves at Saint Mary’s,” and that the Chapel was “hallowed by the memories of Aldert and Bennett Smedes,” Bratton instituted Founders’ Day on November 1, 1902, as part of the All Saints Day observance. Founders’ Day has been observed in conjunction with All Saints Day ever since. After leaving Saint Mary’s, Bratton became the Bishop of Mississippi. Bratton Hall was named in his memory by his family in October 1996. “The success of the transition from the Smedes era can be attributed to the fact that Bratton was so completely gracious,” writes Martha Stoops. “Among the students of his day, there was universal agreement that ‘all the girls worshipped him and that he was the handsomest and sweetest man we ever knew.’”

The legacy of Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton has lived since 1899 as generations and countless members of the Bratton family have attended Saint Mary’s, served in leadership roles, and given generously to support the school.

The DuBose era: 1903-1907 Building on the strength of an established relationship to the school and a commitment to its mission, Saint Mary’s installed its fourth rector/head of the school, the Rev. McNeely DuBose, cousin of the Rev. Bratton, who served as rector from 1903-1907, bringing with him his wife Rosalie and five children. From the beginning, DuBose took seriously the responsibility and magnitude

of the job. He inherited a school with a full enrollment, but recognized the importance of not just “carrying on” but moving the school forward quickly with ambitious goals such as paying off the debt on the property, enlarging the Chapel to meet the growing enrollment, building new facilities, increasing the library collection, continuing to strengthen the academic program, and fostering a more active Alumnae Association. DuBose recognized the need for southern schools to catch up with changes in the evolving philosophy of education for women and worked to make Saint Mary’s “wholly collegiate…the Bryn Mawr, Smith, or Wellesley of the southeast.” Bishop Cheshire supported a steady “nat-

ural growth and development” for Saint Mary’s, but with a desire for the school to retain its unique characteristics. The students of DuBose’s era worked hard and lived by an unwritten honor system. The grade point average of the Class of 1905 was 93.46 with DuBose’s daughter Margaret Rosalie DuBose earning valedictorian honors with a 98 average. The girls of this era were increasingly continuing their education at colleges and universities, mostly women’s colleges. But, the ongoing challenge of maintaining the property, paying salaries, paying the mortgage on the property, and balancing the budget remained for DuBose and the trustees. Enrollment

Saint Mary’s School 1890s

fluctuated and food prices soared, but through careful management, with renewed spirit and reliance on its network of champions, the school stayed within its budget. In fact, through fundraising efforts by the church, led by Bishop Cheshire, and with the support of the alumnae, the final payment on the Chapel was made in 1906, the Smedes Memorial

The Lay administration: 1907-1918 Saint Mary’s trustees considered themselves most fortunate in securing as the fifth rector of Saint Mary’s the Rev. George William Lay from his position at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. Lay hesitated to leave St. Paul’s, but decided to come to Saint Mary’s because of the challenge the school presented. Lay wrote, “I shall deem it a high privilege to help…St. Mary’s…to rise to greater prosperity and efficiency.” He wrote of the challenges and the risks to be taken, all to be carried out with “meager resources.” Indeed, there were hardships, and Lay found it difficult to make ends meet, even with enrollment high and the dorms filled. In spite of this, the 11 years of his tenure proved to be among the most fruitful in Saint Mary’s history. It was evident that Saint Mary’s was in the hands of an experienced educator, who was forceful and farsighted in advancing the cause of women’s education in the South.

The Rev. McNeely DuBose

Scholarship Fund was established by alumnae, the new Eliza Battle Pittman Auditorium was constructed in 1907, and the Chapel was enlarged and consecrated with the support of the alumnae. When DuBose resigned from Saint Mary’s in 1907 to return to the pastorate, on good terms with the trustees and the school, he left the school on firm ground, “free of debt and with a hopeful future.” He continued his connection to Saint Mary’s as a member of the Board of Trustees, as have numerous members of the DuBose family in the 20th and 21st centuries.

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During the Lay administration, the college curriculum was reorganized to cover the freshman and sophomore years exactly as those taught in most senior colleges. The curriculum was enriched and, through a fortuitous gift, the scholarship endowment grew The Rev. George Lay

and the physical plant was enlarged to provide additional classroom space and a dining hall and gymnasium. Through the estate of Eleanor Clement, funds were bequeathed to Saint Mary’s to establish a scholarship as a memorial to her mother, Madame Clement, longtime Saint Mary’s French teacher. Approximately $30,000 of the gift was used in 1909 to build a dining hall and gymnasium building, named Clement Hall, as well as to add the wings as well as a new front porch to the main building, which was named Smedes Hall in 1910. Once again, the strength of relationships with and connection to Saint Mary’s were critical in helping to move the school forward during this difficult time. Challenges during the Lay administration included meager faculty salaries and a dip in enrollment during the World War I years but, by the time he resigned in 1918, Lay had left the school stronger than ever academically, with an enlarged enrollment, financial solvency, an increased physical plant, and an endowment campaign underway.

The Way years: 1918-1932 When the Rev. Warren Wade Way, D.D., became Saint Mary’s sixth head of school, he was aware of the school’s strengths and weaknesses through his friendship and connections with his predecessor George Lay. While he dreamed of Saint Mary’s becoming a fouryear college, he spent most of his 14-year tenure wrestling with the problems of postwar inflation followed by the hard financial times of the Great Depression. Shortly after the success of earning important accreditations for Saint Mary’s, the Great Depression hit the nation. For a time, life went on largely unchanged at Saint Mary’s, but the nation’s financial issues soon loomed large and took their toll in the operation of the school. When Way came to Saint Mary’s, hopes were high that the fund drive started in 1916 would be completed, but no one realized how serious the postwar inflation would become and no one expected the depth of the Great Depression.

Tuition and charges could not keep up with inflation, and the upkeep of the buildings was a constantly escalating expense. Way stated that Saint Mary’s was “steadily and not slowly slipping back.” He believed that enrollment could be increased by 100 when a modern dormitory was built. Although Holt Hall was built in 1928, enrollment remained the same until it plummeted in 1931-1932. Way realized that Saint Mary’s was a school in crisis with rising costs, low enrollment, and a struggling fund drive.

The Rev. Warren Way

In 1932, the trustees finally accepted Way’s second attempt at resignation. Way’s lasting legacy was securing accreditation for Saint Mary’s as a junior college as well as accreditation for the high school department by the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States, both seen as crucial to the survival of Saint Mary’s.

Way’s lasting legacy was securing accreditation for Saint Mary’s as a junior college as well as accreditation for the high school department by the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the Southern States.

Students working in the library on the first floor of what is now Bratton Hall, 1930s.

pacity of 220 boarding students. Enrollment held at capacity, with a long waiting list of high caliber students “clamoring to get in.” It was under her leadership that the Honor Code and student government reached maturity. She structured the Student Government Association and approved the SGA constitution in 1938. She broadened and strengthened the curriculum and the faculty. She oversaw renovations and improvements to Smedes Hall and the science building and equipment. She created the Order of the Circle honorary leadership society to boost student morale and school spirit. Cruikshank guided Saint Mary’s through its 100th year in 1942, with observances and centennial celebrations that strengthened vital and meaningful connections with the alumnae to each other and to the school. Dorm room in Smedes Hall, 1940.

The Cruikshank era: 1932-1946

mater in 1932 with the full knowledge that she was to take charge of a school in crisis. In the early years of the Great Depression, enrollment at Saint Mary’s had declined to unsustainable numbers, and the school faced a dangerous budget deficit.

Saint Mary’s alumnae rejoiced when alumna and former faculty member Margaret Mordecai Jones Cruikshank returned to Saint Mary’s When Cruikshank, one in 1932 to lead the school of the institution’s most through tough times back devoted daughters, acto its full glory. CruiAfter her husband’s cepted the call from kshank’s bonds to Saint death, Cruikshank the Board of Trustees, Mary’s ran deep. She had courageously Saint Mary’s had a come to school at Saint took the helm of projected enrollment Mary’s from Hillsborleadership at her of 125 and a deeply ough, N.C., at the age of slashed budget. alma mater in 17 with her fraternal twin 1932 with the full sister, Mary Pride Jones, “Somehow, everything knowledge that she in 1893. She was a fell into place under was to take charge member of the faculty at her,” writes Martha Saint Mary’s before marof a school in crisis. Stoops in The Heritage. rying Ernest Cruikshank, “Everyone accepted beloved and brilliant longtime teacher, business manager, librarian, her decisions, because they knew her devotion was complete.” registrar, and more. After her husband’s death, Cruikshank courageously took the helm of leadership at her alma

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Under Cruikshank’s leadership, by the 19351936 school year, enrollment topped 200, and climbed to 290 two years later, with a full ca-

Margaret Cruikshank

By the time she retired in 1946 at age 67, and because of her “most careful management,” alumnae giving had increased noticeably; the debt was paid off; enrollment was high; facilities and equipment improved; and the school’s finances were under control. Cruikshank Hall, a three-story dormitory, was dedicated in October 1966, in memory of

Cruikshank guided Saint Mary’s through its 100th year in 1942, with observances and centennial celebrations that strengthened vital and meaningful connections with the alumnae to each other and to the school.

Margaret Jones Cruikshank, and stands today as a symbol of this “great lady,” as her successor, Saint Mary’s eighth president, Richard Stone, called her. She personified resilience and illustrated the power of building connections, both in her own life and in the institution she led.

A bright future Having survived the economic and societal strains of the American Civil War, two World Wars, and the Great Depression, and having celebrated a glorious 100th anniversary, Saint Mary’s was poised to move into the postwar boom era of the 1950s and beyond, still true to its commitment to women’s education and the building of connections that would propel Saint Mary’s toward a new century.

Edited by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C In the next issue: The Heritage of Saint Mary’s: 1946-1998 Sources: Significant excerpts from The Heritage: The Education of Women at St. Mary’s College, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1842-1982, by Martha Sprouse Stoops, professor emerita of history Life at Saint Mary’s, by Katherine Batts Salley, editor; Katharine Drane Perry; Emilie Smedes Holmes; Alice Duggar Grimes; Nell Battle Lewis; Jane Toy Coolidge; Anna Brooke Allan; and Elizabeth Warren Thompson, art editor, published by the University of North Carolina Press, 1942

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A Legacy of

Connection By Jeannie Norris

Tiffany Dufu, keynote speaker for the Saint Mary’s Board of Visitors fall annual meeting, is a champion of connectedness. In her lively keynote presentation, The Success Equation: Acquiring the Assets to Lead, Dufu outlined the competencies she observes in young women who are able to succeed in the world beyond academia: • They possess self-viability, believing they have the capacity to succeed in the face of challenge and in the endeavors they undertake. • They are politically savvy, knowing how to align themselves with others and understand that politics are a part of every environment, whether that be in the workplace or within their families. • They are good storytellers, using their personal narratives to communicate effectively. • They understand that leadership is a team sport, not a solitary endeavor. • Most importantly, they know how to build a winning team, eliciting the support of others and engaging productively with mentors and advocates. The underlying theme in the assets Dufu discussed was “connection,” and those of us who are experienced in teaching girls are not surprised.

Ask a Saint Mary’s alumna what she recalls from her days as a student, and she often describes the friendships she made, the connections with classmates that last a lifetime. Saint Mary’s girls, too, unfailingly talk about the connectedness they feel with their friends and teachers on campus. Saint Mary’s is a community, they say, where people care about each other. That feeling of belonging is something almost everyone values. For girls, however, being connected to others— classmates and teachers—is, as decades of research confirms, a critically important component for their learning. There is a Gaelic proverb: “In the shelter of each other the people live.” With regard to girls’ education, we would rephrase: “In the shelter of each other girls thrive.”

Noted educator and psychologist JoAnn Deak, Ph.D., writes in her groundbreaking book How Girls Thrive that self-esteem “is a critical element in a child’s performance, behavior, and the ability to make choices.” That may seem obvious to us, but Deak unpacks self-esteem into three critical components. In addition to competence and confidence, she says, there is connectedness. “If any one of the three is absent,” she adds, “it is impossible for self-esteem to be high.” (56)

There is a Gaelic proverb: “In the shelter of each other the people live.” With regard to girls’ education, we would rephrase: “In the shelter of each other girls thrive.”

Saint Mary’s surrounds girls with opportunities to increase their competence, confidence, and connectedness, as illustrated daily in and out of the classroom. In the student-led workshops for the Board of Visitors meeting, however, girls had the opportunity to confirm connectedness as a vital component of their learning. The spotlight was on the college counseling process in one session, and the discussion centered around Saint Mary’s college counselors

Grace Patton ’19 Raleigh, N.C. Connections with others help me learn more about myself. My connections with empowering female leaders have taught me to have confidence in my own abilities. I had the opportunity to connect with the Board of Visitors by sharing with them my passion for diversity.

Hannah Ueland ’17 Cary, N.C. The best way to learn is to learn from one another. I find that surrounding myself with a diverse group of thinkers allows me to diversify my own thought. Without connections to others, I would not be able to develop my intellectual curiosity.

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connecting with students through their role as mentors and advocates. In another session, a student explained how she brought classmates together to learn collaboratively about personal finance. In another discussion students approached connectedness through storytelling, inviting visitors to hear others’ points of view about privilege. In yet another workshop a student talked about girls working together to use a growth mindset mentality to overcome challenge.

One student summarizes well the power of connectedness at Saint Mary’s: “It is in this supportive all-girl setting that we are most challenged and most successful.” It is also in this supportive setting, in the shelter of each other, that the Saint Mary’s community has educated girls and young women for 175 years. Enjoy what some of the Saint Mary’s girls who provided leadership for this year’s Board of Visitors Annual Meeting have to say about what connection means to them.

Ashton Vermillion ’17 Durham, N.C. Each person I interact with has a unique insight that has shaped the person I am today. Tiffany Dufu’s idea about building a winning team resonates with me because I have a support system that I rely on to guide me. I would not be who I am without Saint Mary’s; it teaches me how to build relationships with teachers and advisors and inspires me to create new bonds and develop my evolving, winning team.

Jane Brown ’17 Raleigh, N.C. Community creates the special atmosphere of Saint Mary’s. It is in this supportive, allgirl setting that we are most challenged and most successful. I feel connected in a mission to learn, to think, and to act. I am part of something bigger. I receive knowledge, motivation, and friendship from my daily connections. I see so much more of myself through a lens of potential and collaborative success.

Lauryn Durham ’17 High Point, N.C. Saint Mary’s functions every day through connections. I experience them in my learning with my teachers and other students in my classes. Teachers create questions that make us go deeper into our learning, and together in small groups we find answers.

NEWS BRIEFS SAINT MARY’S SCHOOL NAMES BRENDAN O’SHEA 14th HEAD OF SCHOOL Saint Mary’s School Board of Trustees Chairman Ted Bratton of Raleigh announced November 18, 2016, to a gathering of students, faculty, and staff in the historic Saint Mary’s Chapel, that Brendan J. O’Shea, has been named to serve as the 14th head of school in Saint Mary’s 175-year history. His tenure begins July 1, 2017. O’Shea is a native of Baltimore, and a graduate of the Gilman School and the University of Virginia. He holds a B.S. in commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce and an M.Ed. in administration and supervision from the Curry School of Education. O’Shea began his educational career at Woodberry Forest School, an all-boys’ boarding school in Orange, Va. During his 16-year tenure at Woodberry Forest, O’Shea served in numerous senior administrative positions, including director of admission; assistant headmaster for admission, marketing, and financial aid; and assistant headmaster and dean of academic affairs. These positions involved O’Shea in virtually every area of school administration. He directed the school’s daily operations and administered its academic program. He was responsible for hiring faculty members and managing the school’s processes for faculty professional development and evaluation. O’Shea’s roles also allowed him to work closely with the school’s Board of Trustees to set policy, and to plan for the school’s future. Perhaps most importantly, O’Shea continued to work closely with students, parents, and faculty in every position he held. In 2004, O’Shea was appointed headmaster of Charleston Day School, a co-ed, K-8 school in Charleston, S.C. As headmaster,

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O’Shea designed and managed a successful capital campaign that resulted in the construction of the new Student Academic Center at Charleston Day School. He also led two successful accreditations for Charleston Day School and has served on numerous SAIS/SACS accreditation teams. Many Brendan J. O’Shea members of the Charleston Day School community have commented that O’Shea’s leadership will always be distinguished by the culture of welcome, care, and civility that he has fostered. “We were fortunate that the reputation of Saint Mary’s School generated interest from a deep, diverse, and qualified group of candidates,” said Board of Trustees Chair Ted Bratton. “From the scores of applications submitted, the search committee interviewed a host of candidates. Brendan’s candidacy, however, clearly stood out from the rest. He holds a deep appreciation for and commitment to single-gender and boarding education and envisions a compelling future for Saint Mary’s School that both honors our traditions and culture and places us on the forefront of modern education. These attributes, and others, left us all with the conclusion that Brendan would be the ideal leader for our school at this point in its history.” O’Shea said, “It is an honor and privilege to accept the offer to join the Saint Mary’s School community as head of school. Saint Mary’s is purposeful, providing a top-notch

education while instilling important character traits in the girls it serves.” Since the announcement of his appointment, O’Shea says he has been impressed by the number of people who have come forward to share with him their connection to Saint Mary’s School. “The fondness and passion with which these alumnae and families speak about their Saint Mary’s experience is a testament to the strength of the school and the shared experience of its students, even across generations. It is clear that each young woman in the Saint Mary’s student body is known, valued, supported, encouraged, and empowered. I am eager to get to know the students and their families.” O’Shea will reside in the head of school’s home on Saint Mary’s historic campus with his wife and two daughters. He succeeds Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., who has served the school with distinction since 2012 as the 13th head of school at Saint Mary’s.

Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple, third from left, with Founders’ Day acolytes and Chaplain Ann Bonner-Stewart, November 1, 2016.

Saint Mary’s celebrates 114th Founders’ Day Saint Mary's celebrated its 114th annual Founders' Day on All Saints' Day, November 1, in the Saint Mary's Chapel. Chaplain Ann BonnerStewart presided, with the Right Reverend Anne Hodges-Copple, Bishop Pro-Tempore of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, as visiting guest bishop. In her sermon, Bishop Hodges-Copple used the metaphor of our beautiful memorial stained glass Chapel windows, which live into their colorful beauty only when light shines through them, to encourage us all to be the light to the windows of our lives and the world around us, always respecting the dignity of every human being. Hymns for the day were: Joyful, Joyful, I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, and the School Hymn. Founders' Day was established in 1902 by the Rev. Theodore DuBose Bratton, third rector/head of Saint Mary's, as part of the All Saints Day observance to honor the memory of Saint Mary's founder, the Rev. Aldert Smedes, and his son, the Rev. Bennett Smedes, who succeeded his father as head of Saint Mary's. The service, with the help of members of the Granddaughters Club, helps us honor all those who have come before us at Saint Mary's.

New Trustees Appointed Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees elected two new members in 2016: Stephen Later of Southern Pines, left, and Mary Hinton ’88HS of Saint Joseph, Minn., right. Later is the father of Saint Mary’s junior Kennon Later ’18, and Hinton is an alumna and president of the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota.

NEWS BRIEFS 175th ANNIVERSARY GALA Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C are 175th gala co-chairs Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C is honorary chair Saint Mary’s School is pleased to announce that alumnae Joan Comer Johnston ’87C and Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C have been named as co-chairs of the 175th gala committee. Outstanding alumna Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C is honorary chair of the 175th gala celebration. These alumnae leaders and the committee are hard at work creating a spectacular, festive, and memorable evening to celebrate this extraordinary milestone in Saint Mary’s history on May 12. Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C When it comes to Saint Mary’s School, Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C, honorary chair of the 175th anniversary gala, has done it all. As a student, Bacon was a student leader, serving on the Legislative Body, the Belles staff, and as assembly chairman, along with memberships in the Dramatics Club, the Y.W.C.A., Canterbury Club, Spanish Club, and MU athletics society. As an alumna, Bacon has devoted herself in extraordinary ways to serving her alma mater. She served on the Alumnae Council before serving a total of 16 years on Blanche Robertson Bacon the Board of ’53HS ’55C Trustees, answering the call each time it came for another term. She served as vice chair of the Board of Trustees and, throughout her tenure as a board member, on every possible committee and sub-committee. She was a member of the head of school search committee that brought Theo Wilkes Coonrod to Saint Mary’s and co-chair of the committee that coordinated the installation of Coonrod as the 12th head of school.

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Bacon was the honorary chair of the 2005 auction gala and the first recipient of the Mazie Strickland Froelich ’51C Society Outstanding Alumna Award in 2000. She is the namesake and heart and soul of the Blanche Robertson Bacon Honors Scholarship, which transformed the boarding program at Saint Mary’s when it was endowed and established by her brother, Julian Robertson, and his late wife, Josie, in 2001. Bacon was the 2009 recipient of the John Bratton Jr. Volunteer Service Recognition Award, awarded on rare occasions to those who have served Saint Mary’s with distinction for decades. Bacon is a member of the Heritage Society, which honors those who have included Saint Mary’s in their estate planning, and the Lifetime Giving Society at Saint Mary’s, which recognizes those who have made significant lifetime contributions to the school. Outside the gates of Saint Mary’s, Bacon has been an active community leader and volunteer. She is a devoted member of Christ Episcopal Church, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Raleigh, a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, and has served on the boards of the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center, Wake Medical Center, and Penick Village; on the advisory council of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County; and as a membership co-chair for the North Carolina Museum of History. Bacon is married to Zack H. Bacon Jr. She is the mother of Blanche Spencer Williamson ’76HS, Julian Williamson (wife, Beth), and the late B. Robert Williamson Jr. (wife, Caroline). She has six grandchildren, Rob, Caroline, Wyndham, Blanche, Elizabeth, and Pell Williamson ’18. She has three stepsons, Zack Bacon III, Louis Bacon, and Bart Bacon, and numerous beloved step-grandchildren. Bacon is a native of Salisbury, N.C., and her parents were the late Julian Hart Robertson Sr. and Blanche Spencer Robertson. Her brother is Julian Hart Robertson Jr. and her sister is Wyndham Robertson. Joan Comer Johnston ’87C Joan Comer Johnston ’87C grew up in Seagrove, N.C. After graduation from high school, she decided to follow in her sister’s

footsteps and attend Saint Mary’s for her first two years of college. After growing up in a small town, Joan believed Saint Mary’s would offer the education a larger college would, but on a smaller scale. “Saint Mary’s provided me not only leadership opportunities and the small class environment, but also lifelong friendships,” says Johnston. Joan enjoyed the all-women’s educational experience so much, she chose to complete her undergraduate education at Meredith College, where she graduated with a B.S. in social work. While attending Meredith, Johnston met her future husband, William Ransom “Ran” Johnston Jr. The Johnstons will celebrate their 24th anniversary this spring. They have a son, William Ransom Johnston III, a sophomore at N.C. State University, and twin daughters, Margaret Ivy Johnston ’20 and Martha Luck Johnston ’20, both 9th graders at Saint Mary’s. Other family members who have attended Saint Mary’s include Johnston’s sister, Elizabeth Comer Dozier ’82C; both mothers-in-law, Mattie Lou Uzzle Blackman ’61C and Margaret Louise Hamilton Johnston ’57C; and sister-in-law, Martha Margaret Johnston Chesnutt ’91HS. Johnston has been a loyal Saint Mary’s volunteer for several years. She has served on the Alumnae Council, on her class reunion planning committee, and on host committees for regional events both in Raleigh and Atlantic Beach. She currently serves as a member of the Parents Association, as co-chair of the faculty-staff appreciation committee. She has been involved in many civic and community organizations. She is an active member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church. She has been deeply involved with Duke Raleigh Hospital, serving as a guild member, volunteer, and buyer for the hospital’s gift shop for the past eight years. She has been active in her children’s schools over the years, serving as co-president of the PTA at Aldert Root Elementary School and on myriad committees at both Root and Daniels Middle School. Johnston is a member of the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, where she has held an active role for many years. She is a member of the North Carolina Museum of Art and volunteered with the Carolina Ballet. She is also

nity Hospital; as senior director of honored guest operations and hospitality for the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee, Inc.; as director of external affairs for the Carolina Ballet; and as a consultant for Duke Raleigh Hospital, where she served as president and founder of the Hospital Guild, and as consultant for The Character Education Foundation honoring William Friday and John Hope Franklin.

175th anniversary co-chairs Joan Comer Johnson ’87C and Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C

affiliated with the American Cancer Society and is a member of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society. She has done fundraising and auctions for Interact women’s shelter in Raleigh and served as a board member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Johnston and her daughters are members of the National Charity League in Raleigh, and they volunteer together for many nonprofits and charitable organizations in Wake County. Whether they are serving at the Salvation Army, tutoring children at Loaves and Fishes, or making meals at the Helen Wright Center, she treasures that time with her girls. Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C

In the community, she has served tirelessly and generously on myriad boards, committees, fundraisers, and chairmanships, including: Richard H. Jenrette Teacher of Excellence Award Committee Chair for Wake Education Partnership; board of directors of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program; the founding board of directors and numerous committees for the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education; committee chair of the American Red Cross Ball; current member of the board of directors, past chair of the government relations committee, and chair of the 2009 Ballet Ball for the Carolina Ballet; member of the board of directors and chair of the Triangle Advisory Committee for the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina; appointed by the city council as vice chair and chair of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission; current board member of the North Carolina Arts Council; current board of directors of Multiple Sclerosis; current board of directors of the Raleigh Hall of Fame; past member of the Pan American Games Bid Committee; current

member of the advisory board for the Visual Art Exchange and the Red Hat Amphitheatre. Currently, she also serves as an active member of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society, where she formerly served on the board of directors. She was deeply involved with PTAs in Wake County, serving as a board member of the Wake County PTA Council; PTA Board, president and vice president at Broughton High School; PTA Board at Ligon and Daniels middle schools, and Hunter and Aldert Root elementary schools. Raynor is an active member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Raleigh. She has been an active volunteer at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, youth advisor, usher, greeter, wedding guild member, shuttle driver, and community service committee member. Honors for Raynor include being selected as honorary chair of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild Show in 2014; as honorary chair for First Night Raleigh in 2012; recipient of the Raleigh Medal of Arts in 2012; as an inductee into the YWCA Academy of Women in 2011; and as recipient of the Susan Kelly Fontes Award – Wake Up for Children in 1989. In the midst of a life of tremendous public and community service, Raynor is equally devoted to her family. She is the daughter of Evelyn Ann (Lolly) White Norris ’42HS; wife of Hurley P. Raynor; mother of Hurley Raynor Jr., Dr. Laura Lee Raynor Martinez ’96HS, and Markus Hecker; and proud grandmother of Robert Matthew Martinez.

Laura Norris Raynor ’69HS ’71C has devoted her adult life to serving the community around her, including serving Saint Mary’s with distinction in numerous roles. Early in her professional career, Raynor worked as an admission counselor at Saint Mary’s, also serving as advisor to the junior class. As a Saint Mary’s alumnae volunteer, she has served on the Alumnae Council; as a member of the Gifts, Acquisitions, and Decorating Committee (GAD); as an alumnae reunion class party host; as an alumnae admission representative; and in consulting roles. Professionally, Raynor has worked as director of volunteer services and coordinator of Senior Friends, Senior Net at Raleigh Commu-

175th Anniversary Gala Committee

GRANDDAUGHTERS CLUB 2016-2017

The Granddaughters Club, the school’s oldest club dating back to 1909, inducted new members, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, in a traditional candle-lit ceremony in the Saint Mary’s Chapel. Granddaughters Club members are Saint Mary’s legacies — daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, great-greatgranddaughters, and even great-great-great-granddaughters of Saint Mary’s alumnae. The club exists to honor Saint Mary’s past as well as the tradition of family legacy throughout the school’s 175-year-history. Frances Jane Anderson ’18, daughter of Ashley Williamson Anderson ’86C Virginia Whitley Barnes ’18, granddaughter of Ann Farmer Barnes ’61HS ’63C and greatgranddaughter of Rachel Ball Ditzler 1939C Mary Ann Williamson Borden ’18, daughter of Elizabeth Rouse Borden ’83HS and granddaughter of Ann Robinson Rouse ’57C Jane Williams-Gower Brown ’17, granddaughter of Jane Gower Brown ’48C Kathryn Chandler Cahill ’18, daughter of Sallie Thorpe Cahill ’87HS ’89C and granddaughter of Harriet Dill Thorpe ’70C Eleanor Roosevelt Carroll ’19, granddaughter of Anne McMullan ’47HS ’49C and great-great-great-granddaughter of Mary Frances Skinner 1870 Lucy Downing Church ’17, granddaughter of Virgilia Leggett Church ’63C Katherine Dare Collie ’19, daughter of Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C Mary McGowan Collie ’17, daughter of Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C Elizabeth Grimes Crumpton ’18, daughter of Andrea Kramer Crumpton ’86HS, granddaughter of Charlotte Williams Bridger

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’60HS ’62C, great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868, and greatgreat-great granddaughter of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848

Cameron Elizabeth Griffin ’19, daughter of Kim Goines Griffin ’89HS ’91C

Caroline Ballard Dixon ’20, daughter of Jackson Jordan Dixon ’84C

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

Margaret Edmundson Dixon ’18, daughter of Elizabeth Patteson Dixon ’80HS and granddaughter of Margaret Bridgers Edmundson 1951-52 Grace Muriel Dohner ’18, greatgranddaughter of Nancy Croom Murchison 1930s Susan Gracey Falk ’20, granddaughter of Sue Stone Lester ’55HS Margaret Burton Fountain ’18, granddaughter of Margaret Uzzle Bowen Vanderberry ’59C Elizabeth Bowen Gordon ’20, granddaughter of Stewart Howie Gordon ’63C and Mary Jane Johnson Tate ’49C Harriet Lucile Glover ’18, granddaughter of Harriet Conger Glover ’52HS ’54C and greatgranddaughter of Nellie Cooper Rose 1917C Bailey Elizabeth Griffin ’17, daughter of Kim Goines Griffin ’89HS ’91C

Jane Gregory Ives ’17, daughter of Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C

Elizabeth Hewitt Johnson ’20, granddaughter of Cissie Hobgood Wellons ’66HS ’68C Margaret Ivy Johnston ’20, daughter of Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, and granddaughter of Lou Uzzle Blackman ’61C and Margaret Louise Hamilton Johnston ’57C Martha Luck Johnston ’20, daughter of Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, and granddaughter of Lou Uzzle Blackman ’61C and Margaret Louise Hamilton Johnston ’57C Gwyn Katherine Jones ’20, granddaughter of Lucille Best Jones ’48HS ’50C Stephanie Bloch Jones ’19, granddaughter of Mary Stella Leak Jones ’63C and greatgranddaughter of Martha Thomas Leak ’30C

Nancy Grace Kempson ’18, daughter of Sydney Kepley Kempson ’83HS and greatgranddaughter of Jane Shaffer Holman 1931C Isabel Pearce Kempson ’20, daughter of Sydney Kepley Kempson ’83HS and greatgranddaughter of Jane Shaffer Holman ’1931C Franny Cooper Lail ’17, daughter of Fanny Peel Lail ’85C and granddaughter of Frances Perry Peel ’52HS ’54C Kennon Chester Later ’18, great-greatgranddaughter of Mary Bryan Griswold 1911-1913 Mary Chandler Lilly ’19, great-greatgranddaughter of Mary Lindsey Battle Cobb 1883 Mary Ashburn Mann ’17, daughter of Kathy Sawyer Mann ’78HS ’80C and granddaughter of Lois Perry Sawyer ’52C Lindsay-Anne McCall ’20, daughter of Shore Tucker McCall ’88C Elizabeth Peyton Mozer ’17, greatgranddaughter of Sally Louise Doar 1925-26 Ruby Gail Orton ’18, daughter of Charlotte McCall Orton ’87C Virginia Thorne Pace ’17, daughter of Anne Gregory Pace ’81HS ’83C Lillian Geiger Parker ’18, daughter of Betsy Joyner Parker ’83HS, granddaughter of Georgia Cobb Joyner ’59C, great-granddaughter of Sarah Elizabeth Borden Cobb 1914, great-greatgranddaughter of Sallie Smith Jones Borden, and great-great-great-granddaughter of Georgia Whitfield Borden Corinna Bailey Parker ’20, greatgranddaughter of Corinna Erwin Gant ’34HS Sarah Grace Patton ’19, daughter of Susan Gattis Patton ’83HS Grey Compton Pittman ’19, daughter of Jill Sparks Pittman ’89C Patricia Vaughan Poole ’17, granddaughter of Pat Exum Bassett ’60HS Emma-Claire Wood Purdie ’17, granddaughter of Claire Lynn Boyce Purdie Brennan ’62C Margaret Addison Quattlebaum ’17, daughter of Margaret Lea Quattlebaum ’86HS ’88C, granddaughter of Margaret “Gene”

Hines Johnson ’46HS ’48C, and great-great great granddaughter of Olivia Lofton

Elizabeth Shackelford Toms ’20, granddaughter of Margaret Shackelford Toms ’43C

Mary Suiter Ragland ’18, granddaughter of Anna Wood Ragland ’41C, greatgranddaughter of Alice McKenzie Ragland 1913 and great-great-great granddaughter of Alice Caldwell McKenzie (attended during the Civil War)

Ashton Radcliffe Vermillion ’17, greatgranddaughter of Margaret Banes Gold Borden 1918C, great-great-granddaughter of Sallie Smith Jones Borden, and great-great-greatgranddaughter of Georgia Whitfield Borden

Katherine Granbery Rascoe ’17, daughter of Kathy Keel ’83HS ’85C, granddaughter of Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C, greatgranddaughter of Edna Jones Nixon Dawson ’26C, great-great-greatgranddaughter of Cornelia Townsend Nixon (pre-1870), and great-great-great-granddaughter of Isa Benedicta Gordon Granbery (pre-1870) Jacquelin Grace Rogers ’17, daughter of Hunter Grogan Rogers ’89HS ’91C and granddaughter of Jackie Baublitz Woolfolk ’60HS ’62C Mary Helena Shapard ’19, greatgranddaughter of Sally Louise Doar 1925-26 Mary Hannah Sigmon ’17, granddaughter of Mary Hannah Finch Taft ’58C and Martha Anne Olsen Sigmon ’47HS Ann Mason Smith ’20, great-great-great granddaughter of Susan Lane Hardin 1866 Caroline Wallace Smith ’20, daughter of Ashley Langley Smith ’90HS and greatgranddaughter of Mabel Freeman London, ’29 Elizabeth Tremont Smith ’20, granddaughter of Anne Tremont Burr Smith ’37C and greatgranddaughter of Edith Lanier Clark, 1913 Lindley MacRae Spears ’18, daughter of Mandy Johnson Spears ’84HS ’86C Ava Blaine Spiegel ’19, daughter of Sally Pridgen Spiegel ’89HS Katherine Porter Stallings ’18, daughter of Jennifer Jones Stallings ’90C 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 Grace Battle Thompson ’18, daughter of Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C and granddaughter of Sue Battle Moore ’63C

Elizabeth Hope Voelkel ’17, daughter of Marcy Whitehurst Everett Voelkel ’87C, granddaughter of Bettie Ann Whitehurst Everett ’59C, great-granddaughter of Esther Bernice Stearn Whitehurst 1923C, and greatgreat-granddaughter of Bettie Ebourn Marsh (early 1900s) Beverly Elizabeth Watson ’18, daughter of Leigh Ann Corter Watson ’85C Eleanor Davis Williams '20, daughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams ’78HS '80C, granddaughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams '50HS '52C, great-granddaughter of Belle Davis Cheatham 1911 and Elizabeth Cross Williams ’21HS, great-greatgranddaughter of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868, and great-great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848 Frances Belle Williams '20, granddaughter of Margaret Cheatham Williams '50HS '52C; greatgranddaughter of Belle Davis Cheatham 1911, Elizabeth Cross Williams ’21HS, and Frances Elizabeth Hoggard Harriss ‘28C; great-greatgranddaughter of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868; and great-great-great-granddaughter of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848 Emma Blaine Wharton ’20, granddaughter of Beth Kemper Wharton ’54HS ’56C Emma Riley Whitford ’18, granddaughter of Jeanne Moye Whitford ‘59C Susan Serpell Williamson ’18, granddaughter of Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C Kimberly Cameron Wood ’17, granddaughter of Janie Stronach Wood ’62HS ’64C Clare Maddison Wooten ’19, daughter of Sally Maddison Wooten ’85HS, granddaughter of Clare Garden Maddison ’64C and Lytle Batchelor Wooten ’51C, and great-granddaughter of Jane Purrington Maddison ’31C Lucy York Wyche ’17, daughter of Susan Grady Wyche ’84C

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT FACULTY NEWS Dean Leslie Owen publishes academic paper Dean of Teaching and Learning Leslie Owen has co-published an academic article, Using Powerful Tools for Instructional Leadership, for the International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education, Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2016, Leslie Owen published by the Infonomics Society based in the United Kingdom. Dean Owen collaborated with Maria C. Guilott and Gaylynn A. Parker on the article, which focuses on how instructional leaders can change mindsets that will positively affect learning. Three out-of-the-box processes outlined in the article include Design Thinking, Schooling by Design, and Collegial Learning Walks, which Owen is already incorporating into her innovative work at Saint Mary’s. From art to science and climate change to world peace, the infonomics society embraces technological advancement, innovative Ideas, encourages research collaboration and training worldwide. The Infonomics Society also questions the boundary issues between societal and technological dimensions of knowledge evolution, which lead to the concept of Infonomics.

Math Department faculty present at NCCTM conference Members of Saint Mary’s mathematics department presented at the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) annual conference in Greensboro in October. The presentation, Lesson Study: Professional Development in the Classroom, focused on lesson study, which is an effective form of professional development that includes collaboration and observation. Saint Mary’s math teachers began implementing lesson studies this year.

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Colin Mursasko painting accepted into art collectors gala Colin Murasko, instructor of visual art, had a painting accepted into the 15th annual Art Collectors Gala at Artspace in Raleigh. The Ann Bonner-Stewart at N.C. Outward Bound

Carolina Outward Bound, a yearlong professional learning program focusing on experiential education. The program began with a weeklong wilderness immersion backpacking and rock climbing program in August 2016.

acrylic on canvas painting, Where I Come From, was exhibited in the main gallery at Artspace and sold in the silent auction at the gala on November 19.

Faculty trio presents at EdLeader21 conference Sarah Little, associate dean of teaching and learning; Suzanne Narbona, instructor of Spanish; and Ann Bonner-Stewart, chaplain and instructor of humanities and social sciences; presented at the sixth annual EdLeader21 educators conference in Denver in September. They presented to an audience of teachers, principals, and senior education executives on how Saint Mary’s School uses the Habits of a Lifelong Learner, which encompasses critical thinking, communications, and character. EdLeader21 is a national network of school leaders focused on integrating the four Cs – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity – into education.

Ann Bonner-Stewart engages in two programs Saint Mary’s Chaplain Ann Bonner-Stewart presented as a member of panel of Episcopal school chaplains at the National Association of Episcopal Schools biennial conference in November. Bonner-Stewart is also engaged in the 2016-2017 educators’ initiative of North

Leslie Owen and Monica Gillespie present at Leadership Raleigh Dean of Teaching and Learning Leslie Owen and Head of School Monica Gillespie, were featured guests at the November meeting of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Raleigh. Owen led a one-hour presentation about education, including empathy interviews and an “I Wish” exercise. Leadership Raleigh is the Chamber’s program for preparing the leaders of tomorrow. During the nine-month program, participants get an in-depth view of community issues, develop leadership skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and are exposed to community involvement opportunities.

Director of College Counseling quoted in Raleigh Magazine Saint Mary’s Director of College Counseling Scott Orvis was quoted in Beyond Classifieds: The Modern Job Hunt in the October 2016 edition of Raleigh Magazine. He shared his insights on the pros and cons of social media stating, “It is valuable to have a presence, though being mindful of what appears there and the impression it could leave on a potential connection or employer is important.”

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Saint Mary’s earns award from Tony Blair’s Face to Faith program Saint Mary’s School has received a Bronze Award for ongoing participation in the Tony Blair Foundation’s Face to Faith Programme, rebranded as Generation Global, which connects young people of different faiths and beliefs around the world. The Rev. Ann Bonner-Stewart also received a Bronze Award for teaching the program in her history and theology of Christianity, ethics, and world religions classes. The Face to Faith project is a program for school children (12–17 years) which allows via video conferencing international interaction where cross faith discussions may take place. The aim is to break down religious and cultural differences and thereby reduce conflict. http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/

Ashleigh Henry ’18 participates/wins honors for environmental research

Olivia Ng ’17

Olivia Ng ’17 represents N.C. at National History Day Saint Mary's senior Olivia Ng ’17 represented the state of North Carolina at this summer’s 2016 National History Day contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. Olivia earned this honor by placing first in the state level senior paper contest last spring with her paper about Dorothea Dix's quest for mental health reforms in the 1800s.

Through the National Council for Science and the Environment, Ashleigh Henry ’18 participated in the N.C. State Chapter of the EnvironMentors Program. Through the program, Henry conducted research and won first place regionally, and fifth place nationally, for her research poster presentation. Henry presented her poster in Washington, D.C., this summer and by virtue of her fifth place finish, won a $500 scholarship. Her poster’s title was Effects of Water Quality on Aquatic Insects in an Ecoregion.

Annabel Bloom ’18

Annabel Bloom ’18 wins state history essay contest Annabel Bloom ’18 competed in a state competition through the North Carolina Museum of History’s youth history club, winning the 2016 Tar Heel Junior Historian Historical Essay Contest, secondary division. Her essay was titled Happy New Year(s)!, which focused on the history of New Years’ celebrations in North Carolina. This is Bloom’s third winning essay to be published in Tar Heel Junior Historian, a scholarly magazine for students.

Ashleigh Henry ’18

ATHLETICS

Saint Mary’s launches Athletics Hall of Fame with first awards ceremony April 7 1976-1977 Tennis Team, reprinted from The Raleigh Times, with Coach Mary Lou Jones, far left

Saint Mary’s Athletics Department and Head of School Monica Gillespie are pleased to announce and invite you to the inaugural Saint Mary’s Athletics Hall of Fame brunch, Friday, April 7, 2017, at 10 a.m., in Smedes-Emory Parlor. The Athletics Hall of Fame has been established to recognize and honor student-athletes, teams, coaches, and friends of the school who achieved notable excellence in athletics at Saint Mary’s; represented the school with exceptional sportsmanship, dignity, and integrity; and contributed to the longstanding tradition of living and working together in community, collaboration, honor, and leadership. Saint Mary’s rich athletics tradition is built on a foundation of talents, dedication, and tireless efforts of many throughout the school’s history; thus the school chose to launch the Hall of Fame in 2017 as part of the celebration of 175 years of excellence in educating young women. The inaugural class of inductees into the Saint Mary’s Athletics Hall of Fame includes beloved former chair of the physical education department, coach, teacher, and dean of students Mary Lou Jones and her undefeated

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college tennis teams of 1975-1976 (18-0) and 1976-1977 (16-0). These teams boasted a 34-0 combined record over the two years, including fall and spring seasons each year, in intercolle1975-197 6 Tennis giate competition Team with all colleges and universities in North Carolina and beyond, “As we celebrate the work including teams from each of the ACC’s Big and foresight of so many that came before Four universities – Duke, N.C. State, UNCus at Saint Mary’s, we pause this spring to esChapel Hill, and Wake Forest. tablish this prestigious recognition of extraorMary Lou Jones, a North Carolina Tennis As- dinary achievements in athletics and to pay sociation Hall of Famer, recorded 330 wins as tribute to the ongoing work of so many who head coach of Saint Mary’s college and high have created a proud tradition of excellence school tennis teams from the 1960s into the throughout the years,” says Head of School 1990s, including 12 undefeated seasons, the Monica Gillespie. 1980 NCISAA high school state championship, seven consecutive North Carolina Women’s Colleges State Tournament championships, and numerous high school conference and district championships. Jones held her legendary tennis camp at Saint Mary’s for 25 years.

Please join us in congratulating our foundational class of women in Saint Mary’s Athletics Hall of Fame, and show your Saints pride throughout the year, as we continue the celebration of the past, present, and future of Saint Mary’s.

You are cordially invited to attend the inaugural

Saint Mary’s School Athletics Hall of Fame Friday, April 7, 2017 Brunch and Awards Ceremony 10 o’clock in the morning Smedes-Emory Parlor Honoring

2017 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees Mary Lou Jones

Former Physical Education Department Chair, Coach, Professor, and Dean of Students

1975-1976 Undefeated College Tennis Team

1976-1977 Undefeated College Tennis Team

Emily Bass Baumgartner ’75HS ’77C Anna Neal Blanchard ’76HS Marty Marshall DeVine ’76HS ’78C Hunter Dortch ’76HS, honored posthumously Margaret Scott Freeman ’77HS Mabel Geoghegan Pace ’76HS Beth Taylor Russell ’77HS Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Terri Kirk Wesel ’77HS Kim Davis Winslow ’76HS Lore White Fariss ’76HS, manager Mary Lou Jones, coach

Mary “Rowdy” Fanjoy Armistead ’78HS Emily Bass Baumgartner ’75HS ’77C Amy Lipsitz Burchins ’78HS Marty Marshall DeVine ’76HS ’78C Allison Hines Ficken ’78HS Mary Fondren ’78C Margaret Scott Freeman ’77HS Meredith Reid Graves ’77C Kathy Sawyer Mann ’78HS ’80C Martha Boisseau Mattheisen ’78C Lanier Brown May ’78HS ’80C Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Terri Kirk Wesel ’77HS Prince Dixon Witt ’78HS Tori Bradsher ’75HS ’77C, manager Mary Foy Ragsdale ’77HS ’79C, manager Mary Lou Jones, coach

To register for this event, go to www.sms.edu/alumnae/hall-of-fame or contact Grace Riddle at 919-424-4113 or griddle@sms.edu.

SUPPORTING SMS

CONNECTING

TO THE FUTURE:

Saint Mary’s Strategic Plan Saint Mary’s School’s 175th anniversary ushers in a new chapter in the life of the school, one filled with aspiration, possibility, and opportunity. Nowhere is that aspiration articulated more clearly than in the imperatives and strategies of Saint Mary’s new Strategic Plan. We move from where we are today to where we desire to be tomorrow through careful design, thoughtful implementation, and ever expanding partnerships with those who believe it is essential to invest in girls, in their education, and in the future of Saint Mary’s School.

It is 175 years of faithful stewardship that has brought Saint Mary’s to where it is today.

In May, we celebrated our strength in partnerships when we announced to those attending the Leadership Societies Dinner the astonishing news of several new major gifts. A most generous and committed alumna gave $1 million to be used where the school’s need is greatest. This wonderful support was

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followed by a substantial six-figure gift generously provided by the W. Trent Ragland, Jr. Foundation to enhance technology at the school. Finally, just hours before the dinner in May, the school learned that it would receive $2.1 million from an anonymous donor to fund scholarships at Saint Mary’s.

Vision becomes reality through shared purpose and generous support. It is 175 years of faithful stewardship that has brought Saint Mary’s to where it is today. We connect with all who have gone before as we now steward the school’s passage to new heights of influence in the world of all-girl education. When those who follow us look back, they will be reminded that our work was anchored firmly in our belief in and commitment to Saint Mary’s founding mission: educated women make a difference.

Vision 2020 In the year 2020, Saint Mary’s School will be a thriving and diverse boarding/day school, known for its expertise in educating girls for college and life, distinct among peer schools in accessing the opportunities in a resource-rich metropolitan area, and robustly funded by ever-expanding circles of support.

Strategic Plan Cultivate an environment where girls thrive, experience joy, and discover their own balance. • Define components of the learning environment and culture in which girls thrive, experience joy, and discover their own balance in a boarding and day community. • Assess the strength and relevance of Saint Mary’s current program and identify modifications. • Achieve excellence in the delivery of all aspects of the educational program. • Communicate, market, and educate constituents to a shared understanding of the mission, vision, and value of Saint Mary’s School. Ensure the financial vitality of the school by maximizing sources of revenue, generating robust philanthropy, and managing expenses responsibly. • Increase net-tuition revenue. • Increase philanthropic support and launch a capital campaign. • Manage revenue and expenses to ensure delivery of the program and implementation of the strategic plan. • Steward financial and physical assets for the longterm vitality of Saint Mary’s School Grow enrollment to 325 students, with boarding a 51-55 percent majority, creating a more vibrant and diverse community and richer experience for all students. • Implement a comprehensive enrollment management program. • Strengthen Saint Mary’s identity as an all-girl boarding and day school and promote the school’s expertise in all-girls’ education. • Expand outreach to relevant markets. • Promote Saint Mary’s signature program.

Create a more diverse school and deepen the culture of inclusivity throughout our school community. • Establish a shared understanding of and vision for a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive Saint Mary’s School. • Recruit and retain a diverse and mission-aligned faculty and staff. • Recruit and retain a diverse and mission-aligned student body. • Enhance programming that supports the shared understanding of and vision for a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive Saint Mary’s School. For the benefit of girls, invest in our most valuable asset, our people, allocating resources for our faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents. • Recruit and retain mission-aligned faculty and staff. • Invest in professional development for faculty and staff to enhance student learning. • Educate constituents to the relevance and value of the Saint Mary’s School program and its benefit to girls. Enrich the educational program with missionaligned integration of traditional and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. • Define the framework for ongoing curriculum development. • Expand educational opportunities relevant for girls’ success in college and life. • Enhance technology to support traditional and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. • Establish Saint Mary’s School as a leader in allgirls’ education. • Define, develop, and implement Saint Mary’s signature program.

SUPPORTING SMS

Sarah Rice Shelton ’80HS ’82C, left, and the Rev. Nita Byrd, top, participate in the discussion at the 2016 Board of Visitors.

Tiffany Dufu speaks to Saint Mary’s Board of Visitors.

Saint Mary’s welcomes Tiffany Dufu for second annual Board of Visitors meeting Saint Mary’s School welcomed more than 140 guests to campus from around the nation, Friday, October 14, as the school convened its second annual Board of Visitors meeting. The theme for this year’s meeting was The Success Equation: Acquiring the Assets to Lead.

The Saint Mary’s School Board of Visitors creates an annual venue for an exchange of ideas on the future of education in the nation, specifically the education of girls and young women.

Tiffany Dufu, chief leadership officer to Levo, the fastest growing network for millennial women professionals, delivered a compelling keynote address. Dufu is also launch team member to Lean In and is former president of the White House Project. As a catalyst-at-large in the world of women, Dufu was included in Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women and has been featured in The New York Times and The Seattle Times and on NPR and Bloomberg. Dufu is a widely sought after speaker and has presented at Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit, TEDWomen and MAKERS. Her forthcoming book, DROP THE BALL: Achieving More by Doing Less, will be published by Flatiron/MacMillan in February 2007. Dufu, who also met that morning with a group of students, shared powerful insights about women’s success including what she calls, “a trifecta for girls’ success: attending a girls’ school or women’s college; participating in organized sports; and/or engaging as a member of the Girl Scouts or similar girls’ organization.”

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Student panelists participated in break-out discussions around the following topics: being politically savvy, telling one’s story, believing in self, and being ambitious. The Saint Mary’s School Board of Visitors creates an annual venue for an exchange of ideas on the future of education in the nation, specifically the education of girls and young women. By convening an annual meeting of business and professional people, Saint Mary’s School inspires dialogue and advocacy about the advancement of girls and women, gains fresh insights from those outside the school, and stays abreast of global trends.

Those invited to serve on the Board of Visitors are interested in education, particularly single-sex education; are interested in learning more about programs and innovations at Saint Mary’s School; and have influence in their communities through business or service. Members serve two-year terms. Thanks to all who participated in making this year’s Board of Visitors a huge success.

Scan here to read what the N&O had to say!

“I sit in the hall or leave my door open and make sure there is a comfy chair and Dove chocolates,” says Eliza, who is a prefect. She studies servant leadership and has learned that “listening is important.” “What I and other prefects were hearing is that girls needed an outlet after studying.” This was the cue Eliza and her team needed to organize a kickball game. “The action you take as a leader doesn’t have to be big,” she explains. “A kickball game with popsicles afterward does wonders.”

Fun is catching, and soon other girls were suggesting fun activities like creating a Netflix board. “Girls post what they like to watch to relax, and we get together and stream their choices,” Eliza says with a smile. Then there are the Rice Krispies treats and “little pep-up notes.” As she reminds us, “The little things make the biggest difference.” Lessons learned? “I’ve learned that collaboration is important and that I can lead with or without a title…I’ve learned that by being optimistic I can foster a culture of positivity, a culture where we build each other up…I have found strengths I didn’t know I had, and I have learned how to encourage girls to find those in themselves.”

ELIZA, YOU TALK ABOUT THE “LITTLE THINGS.” WE THINK YOUR IMPACT AS A LEADER IS VERY BIG. To make your gift today, go to www.sms.edu.

Fostering Positivity Eliza Barsanti, CLASS OF 2017

“The little things make the biggest difference.”

3-1689 | www.sms.ed

u | 919-424-4000

CALENDAR WINTER-SPRING 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Celebrating Saint Mary’s 175th year | Save the dates and join us for these special events. For a complete calendar of events throughout the school year, visit www.sms.edu. Regional alumnae events will be added to the Alumnae web page as they are scheduled. 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 webpage 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.

175

versary

one hundred seventy-fifth anni

1842-2017

ant w t ’ n o d u o Y to miss this!

175th Anniversary Gala

May 12 • Saint Mary's School Save the date for this historic and festive evening of Southern elegance in a giant tent covering Nimocks Field. Music by the Black and Blue Experience Coat and Tie/Cocktail Attire • Open Bar/Exquisite Food

#SMS175 PM 11/22/2016 2:58:02 dd 1

ECARD.in 175 SAVE DATE NOT

January 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

February 1

Lookout Mountain/ Chattanooga, Tenn., alumnae event

January 16-17

Admission Overnight Visitation

January 25

Houston alumnae event

Smedes Parlor Concert Series March 1

Ash Wednesday Chapel

February 2

Nashville, Tenn, alumnae event

January 24

Austin, Texas, alumnae event

February 28

February 10

Alumnae Council Winter Meeting

March 3-4

Spring Theatre Musical Production The Boy Friend March 10

Career Day

February 13 January 26

Dallas alumnae event

African-American Read-In

April 4

Wilson alumnae event

February 15-16 January 31

Smedes Parlor Concert Series

Board of Trustees Winter Meeting

January 31

February 24

Birmingham, Ala., alumnae event 30

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Granddaughters Club Luncheon

April 5

Chapel Hill/Durham alumnae event Chapel Hill

Saint Mary’s Month of Service

help us achieve

January 2017

Be a part of Saint Mary's Month of Service, January 2017, and participate alongside other members of the Saint Mary's community – alumnae, students, faculty, staff, and parents - as we celebrate our 175th anniversary with service to others. Help us achieve 1,750 community service hours during the month of January!

community service hours April 7

Admission Special Invitation Weekend

May 12

April 24

May 13

Grandparents and Grandfriends Day Class of 2017 Welcome to the Alumnae Association dinner

April 7

Alumnae Council Spring Meeting

April 25

Lake Gaston alumnae event

April 7

Athletics Hall of Fame

April 26

New Bern alumnae event

April 8-9

Orchesis Spring Concert April 19-20

April 21

April 27

Chorale Spring Concert

Board of Trustees Spring Meeting

175th Anniversary Gala Reunion Weekend with milestone reunions for classes ending in two and seven May 13

Alumnae Bazaar May 21 – 10:30 a.m.

Commencement for the 175th Session

May 12

Saint Mary’s 175th Birthday

Reunion Weekend

with milestone reunions for classes ending in two and seven May 13 !

yo e e s o t e v o l We’d

EVENTS

ATLANTA

November 2016 At the home of Wick Dunlap Gerrard ’88HS ’90C Julie Walker Barge ’82HS ’84C and Carroll Huger Griffin ’81C

Left to right: Jean Redding ’72HS, Gates Killian ’10, Liza Wooten ’10, Liz Stickley Scott ’86HS ’88C, Holland Coward Muscio ’91C

Wick Dunlap Garrard ’88HS ’90C and Katherine Allen Dierdorff ’90C

ATLANTIC BEACH July 16, 2016 Coral Bay Club

Betty Lou Beales Watson ’59C, Georgia Fuller Johnson ’59C, Judy Highsmith Budacz ’59C

Mae Blount Deatherage Knott ’97C, Gail Foster Jessup ’87C, Jennifer Locke McCann ’97C, Joan Comer Johnston ’87C, Dawn DeBruhl Boyer ’87C

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Marcia Separk Martin ’66C, Coleman Jenkins Dance ’55HS ’57C, Audrey Wall Black ’65C, Margaret Cheatham Williams ’50HS ’52C

BLOWING ROCK

August 18, 2016 Home of Carol Biggers Dabbs ’55HS ’57C

Amanda Brantley Anders ’73C, Katie Medlin Zevenhuizen ’78HS ’80C, Missy Underwood Miller ’80C, Carol Biggers Dabbs ’55HS ’57C

Left to right: Sue Stone Lester ’55HS, Louise Landauer Allred ’58HS ’60C, Bonnie Stone Adler ’58HS ’60C, Ellen Rose Bynum ’59HS, Joanie Sullivan ’57C, Carol Biggers Dabbs ’55HS ’57C

Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Laura Deane Matheson Gresham ’51HS ’53C, Deane Gresham Holt ’81C

BOSTON

October 18, 2016 Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro

Lindsay Johnson ’11, Grayson Rodriguez ’15, Gabriella Kostrzewa ’10

Left to right: Wimberley Burton ’78C, Lindsay Johnson ’11, Mary Jane Given Devins ’76HS, Meg Duncan ’02

Gabriella Kostrzewa ’10, Angie Hourihan, Susan Tolman Hourihan ’79HS

EVENTS

CHARLOTTE

November 2, 2016 Allison Sprock Fine Art

Elizabeth Brooks Little ’81C, Liz Wilcox ’79C, Cameron Cutting Wilkinson ’71HS 73C, Allison Sprock ’82HS ’84C

Left to right: Liz Wilcox ’79C, Kathryn Calder Barmore ’01, Ashley Langley Smith ’90HS, Liz Baskerville Goodman ’74HS ’76C, Grace Johnson McGoogan ’74HS, Elizabeth Brooks Little ’81C, Civil Adams McGowan ’76C, Mimi Fisher Kane ’83HS ’85C, Bennett Wellons Waters ’74HS, Betsy Hardwick Dawson ’76C, Allison Sprock ’82HS ’84C, Cameron Cutting Wilkinson ’71HS ’73C, Louise Landauer Allred ’58HS ’60C, Lauren Gerber, Gayle Gilbert

Betsy Hardwick Dawson ’76C, Liz Baskerville Goodmon ’74HS ’76C, Grace Johnson McGoogan ’74HS, Bennett Wellons Waters ’74HS

CONNECTICUT

October 19, 2016 Home of Michelle Arthur Binnie ’82HS

Left to right: Joan Roach Muchmore ’65C, Ann Scott Arthur ’81C, Ashley Dimmette Cole ’82HS, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Michelle Arthur Binnie ’82HS, Katie Bradbury, Betty Grant Condon ’65HS ’67C

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NAGS HEAD

July 28, 2016 Home of Janie Swain Molster ’78HS

Brimage Spruill Tyler ’94HS, Dow Perry Crowder ’91HS ’93C, Verna Gillam Perry ’63C

Left to right: Frances Holton Maffitt ’60HS, Becky Gordon Hoggard ’51HS ’53C, Boo Robinson Beasley ’54HS ’56C, Caroline Clark Trask ’58HS ’60C, Amelia Yancey Bond ’59HS ’61C

Frances Williams ’20, Liza Williams, Janie Swain Molster ’78HS, Georgia Worthington Sullivan ’77HS

NEW YORK

October 20, 2016 Home of Frances Schultz ’76HS ’78C

Julie Ricciardi, Betsy Bryan Pitts ’09, Maggie Collier ’15, Kat Landi ’08, Miller Clark

Left to right: Rena Harris Earnhardt ’82HS, Paden Earnhardt ’14, Frances Schultz ’76HS ’78C, Miller Clark Sara Fair ’53C, Andrew Smith, Anne Metts Smith ’61C

EVENTS

SOUTH CAROLINA: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville September 27-29, 2016

Charleston, S.C.: Cynthia Partrick ’08, Julia Nutt ’08, Sarah Staton Nash ’08

Charleston, S.C.: left to right: Corinne Rixey ’12, Charlotte Niemann ’13, Margaret Blincow ’12, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Emily Smith ’01, Jane Lyle ’12, Morgan Seidel ’15

Columbia, S.C.: Mary Carlisle McLeod Benson ’84C, Scotty Grine Frantz ’81HS ’83C, Mary Stella Coleman Huffman ’83C, Martha Murphy ’78C

Greenville, S.C.: Susan Williams Mason ’05, Bev DuBose Patrick ’59C, Joyce Batchelor Parks ’59C, Dot Ricks Lind ’58C

Columbia, S.C.: Lucy Shand Edmunds ’60C, Pride Edmunds Owens ’83HS ’85C

Greenville, S.C.: Barry Bowen Gilmer ’55HS ’57C, Susan Fields Ferrell ’75HS

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TRIAD: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point November 16-17, 2016

Greensboro: Jessie Allen Ogburn ’56HS ’58C, Aurelia Fulton Stafford ’48HS ’50C, Martha Anne Allen DuBose ’87C, Grey Watkins Lineweaver ’60C

Greensboro: Margaret Gibson Arnett ’03, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Kitty Watkins Sydnor ’95HS

Greensboro: Chelsea Reynolds ’09, Deane Gresham Holt ’81C, Christy Jones Anderson ’81C

Winston-Salem: seated: Skinner Anderson McGee ’64HS ’66C, seated; standing, left to right: Sarah Boyce ’15, Anna Carson Buckthal ’15, Jacqueline Collie ’15 High Point: Maggie Collier ’15, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Britt Carl ’04 Winston-Salem: Zoe Johnson ’16, Dixie Finley ’16, Darden Grubb ’16

EVENTS

UNC CHAPEL HILL October 25, 2016 Home of Marion Brown ’13

Lindsay Nevitt ’14 and Emily Evans ’14 Catherine Blair ’13, Marion Brown ’13, Cameron Sloan ’13, Deanna MacCormac ’13

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

June 24, 2016 Home of Mary C. Bowers Betts ’45C and Tom and Ivey Johnson Betts ’89C

Margaret Morrison Hamilton ’67HS, Helen Holt Morrison ’39C, Perry Grimes Van Dyke ’63HS ’65C, Jane Hight McMurry ’73C

Lillian James Smith ’69HS ’71C, Ivey Johnson Betts ’89C, Blair Maddison Sloan ’59C, Jessie Allen Ogburn ’56HS ’58C

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Linda Love Grice ’63C, Martha Kornegay Howard ’77HS ’79C, Caroline Ward Cone ’78HS

WAKE COUNTY October 13, 2016 Smedes Hall

Pat Gentry Barnard ’77HS ’79C, McCauley James ’08, Emma Powell ’10, Sydney Dawson Dozier ’08, Sara Walker ’08, Kay Walker

Margaret Matteson Richards ’07, Elizabeth Hardy Hogan ’81C, Ruth E Perry Holding ’81C, Ann Watters Matteson ’75HS, Elizabeth Patteson Dixon ’80HS, Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C

Amy McIlvain Powell ’92HS ’94C, Jenny Dunstan Howard ’91C, Shayla Kirchin Bradshaw ’92C

Laurie Sugg, Margaret Longley White ’79C, Lee White, Diane Gupton Becton ’77HS

Chip Dodd ’71C, Tom Castelloe, Caroline Davis Braswell ’99, Edwin Braswell

Jane Augustine Rabon ’59C and Clare Garden Maddison ’64C

MILESTONES IN MEMORIAM Miriam “Mike” Gault Holt ’33C, June 16, 2016 Helen Redfern Stone ’38C, May 3, 2016 Mary Neff “Tudie” Parker ’38C, June 19, 2016 Helen Jordan Mahone ’39HS, April 25, 2016 Chita Smith Gaskin ’39C, July 22, 2016 Eloise “Weezie” Champion Heinemann ’40C, March 6, 2016

Katherine Duncan Neal ’62HS ’64C, September 8, 2016

Barbara Current Overbey ’47HS, August 8, 2016

Helen Crudup Rogers ’62C, May 30, 2016

Nell Fulghum Wright ’47C, July 11, 2016

Marilyn Koonce ’63HS ’65C August 17, 2016

Clotilde “Crow” Collins ’48C, July 5, 2016

Lee Hennessee ’70HS, October 29, 2016

Alice Sylvester Cox ’49HS, May 28, 2016

Cindy Erwin Keller ’74C June 6, 2016

Louise Warrant Gutt ’49-50 (Bus) August 28, 2016

Susan Stancil Plyler ’74C, August 15, 2016

Nancy Spoolman Clyde ’49C, August 4, 2016

Peggy Kirk Bell, former Saint Mary’s golf instructor November 23, 2016

Dorothy “Dotty” Bunn Stuart ‘40C, June 16, 2016

Viola “Meredith” Plant Millspaugh ’49C, June 8, 2016

Sarah Burgess Clarkson ’42HS, June 13, 2016

Joanne Howell Spillers ’49C, November 13, 2016

Bettie Willcox Crawford ’42C, June 28, 2016

Nancy Haltom Rood ’51HS, June 19, 2016

Ida Dunn Harris Parnell 42C, August 5, 2016

Nell Eley Evans ’51HS ’53C, August 27, 2016

Meredith Johnston Saunders ’43C, November 29, 2015

Peggy Hooker Edwards ’51C, June 1, 2016

Alice Kain Stout ’43HS, March 2, 2016

Laura Chapman Rico ’51C, June 28, 2016

Michelle Telfair Bratton ’44C, September 10, 2016

Elizabeth “Gray” Proctor Clark ’52HS ’54C, June 25, 2016

Elizabeth “Betsy” Burke Farrar ’44C, May 2, 2016 Mary “Chinkie” Martin Goodale ’44C, November 20, 2016 Mary Fox “Foxie” Clarke Legg ’44C, August 15, 2016 Betty Lou Hood Atwell ’45C, August 30, 2016 Marcia McMillin ’45C, September 22, 2016 Josephine Hoyt Wilson ’46HS ’48C October 27, 2016 Nell Klyman Harand ’46C, August 1, 2016 Betty Sue Tayloe Scott ’46C, September 30, 2016

Margaret “Peggy” Flippen Whitaker ’46C, September 5, 2016

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

Rebecca Marshall Haygood ’52C, September 15, 2016 Alice Elizabeth Lee ’54C, September 20, 2016 Judith “Judy” Liggett Aycock ’55HS ’57C, September 30, 2016 Jane Duke Garrett ’57C, September 3, 2016 Carroll Ehringhaus Niles ’58HS, June 18, 2016 Eve Sandlin Ide ’59C December 2, 2016 Patricia Villas Royal ’59C, November 2, 2106

Janie Ings, former staff member, October 8, 2016 Harry Jacobs, former trustee May 29, 2016 Robert J. Miller, Ph.D., former Dean of the College, October 26, 2016 Laurence Gray Sprunt, former trustee September 28, 2016 Yolandria Thames, former staff member July 14, 2016

MARRIAGES

Margaret Gibson Arnett ’03 with her daughter, Anna Brice Arnett, born June 6, 2016.

Liz Johnson ’95HS ’97C to Robert Flaherty, September 21, 2016 Merritt Atkins ’99HS to Brian O’Haver, May 14, 2016 Anna Johnston ’02, to Daniel Surratt, October 29, 2016 *Jillana Lamm ’02 to Adam Zipf, November 26, 2016 Jennifer Elizabeth Sutton ’02 to Bob Selph, June 29, 2016 Courtney Elizabeth Crute ’03, to Mike Rees, April 30, 2016 Emily Brooks ’04 to Patrick Ambrose Rowe, September 17, 2016 *Hannah Small ’05 to Owen Jones, June 4, 2016 Ryan Lee ’05 to Wyatt Stewart, September 2, 2016 Cathleen Beal ’07 to Thomas Hipp, October 15, 2016 Margaret Matteson ’07 to Greer Richards, November 12, 2016 Blair Mikels ’07 to Charles Michael Baker II, August 27, 2016

Robert Eugene “Bear” Bittner IV, son of Ila Walker Bittner ’05, born October 20, 2016

NEW BABIES Laura Raynor Martinez ’96HS, a son, July 27, 2016 Josey Harris Kasper ’97HS, a son, May 16, 2016 Elizabeth Knittel Binion ’00, a daughter, September 12, 2016 Michaela Idhammar Ketpura ’00, a daughter, September 7, 2016

Erin Pope ’02, a son, May 20, 2016 Margaret Gibson Arnett ’03, a daughter, June 6, 2016 Jaime Cathell Dunaway ’03, a daughter, November 23, 2016 Janna Neisler Myers ’03, a son, June 12, 2016

Jennifer O’Neill ’07 to Sebastian Mestril, September 24, 2016

Katherine Cvetko McElroy ’00, a daughter, November 10, 2016

Janna Weaver ’07 to Nika Cyrus, October 1, 2016

Jennifer Maupin Alexander ’01, a son, July 22, 2016

Shea Gravely Vause ’03, a daughter, July 16, 2016

**Ellie Cosgrove ’07 to Wyatt Smith, October 15, 2016

Travis Manning Belk ’01, a daughter, September 8, 2016

Nia Triantis Gillespie ’04, a daughter, June 23, 2016

Laura Skinner ’08 to Sam Mason, October 15, 2016

Laura Hill Dunaway ’01, a son, August 27, 2016

Ila Walker Bittner ’05, a son, October 20, 2016

Elle Fulenwider ’09 to Eric Engstrom, October 8, 2016

Katherine Rose Williams ’01, a daughter, August 6, 2016

Caroline McClintic Flannery ’05, a son, July 7, 2016

Alex Harris ’09 to Bailey Evans, September 17, 2016

Adair Calamos Blount ’02, a daughter, October 4, 2016

Julia Corbin Jones ’05, a daughter, October 1, 2016

Margot Childs Stanley ’03, a daughter, October 21, 2016

Madison Haliloglu ’12 to Seth Hervey, May 22, 2016

These milestones were compiled based on information received by the school by December 2, 2016. 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 *Married in the Saint Mary’s Chapel Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, for inclusion in the summer 2017 magazine. ** Our condolences to Ellie Cosgrove Smith ’07 on the recent loss of husband Wyatt.

CLASS NEWS 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 2017 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.

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

1940

HIGH SCHOOL

Catherine Gant Powell writes from Washington, N.C., “God willing, I will go on a New England/Canadian cruise in July 2017 with 24 of my clan. How lucky can a girl get?”

1942

HIGH SCHOOL

Lolly White Norris ’42HS writes that after being away for 29 years, she enjoys being back in Raleigh with three of her children and so many old friends. She plans to move to The Cardinal soon. “Love keeping in touch with old friends,” she says.

1944

COLLEGE

Mary Lynn Lewis DeLany ’44C Dear My Great Class of 1944! I am guessing, but I feel sure we have reached the pinnacle of being the first class letter in the Bulletin this issue! And, God willing, the first one for years to come. So keep ’em coming— like my old stand-by Rebecca Drane Warren. She is still in Chapel Hill at Carol Woods, along with Sara Stockton Hill and Bet McClamrock Pou ’45HS. Thanks, Rebecca, for all these years as my loyal correspondent! Charlotte Crawford Arrendell in Black Mountain is also a great respondent. I miss seeing her at reunions. And Betty Clark Roberts, also. She moved to Westminster Canterbury two years ago, when the right buyer came along wanting her house—when the time is right, you will know it. She has a namesake now in Shanghai—Betty and brother Bobby. She lost her daughter to cancer last year— such anguish, I know first-hand. She is still playing bridge and Mahjong, and driving to get her hair done—me, too! (My daughters were aghast when I got my new license online!) And our other Bettie - Gaither Stokes is busy living at River Landing in Colfax, doing tai-chi and winning putting

contests - go Bettie! She is into duplicate bridge and their large contingent there. Her granddaughter had to move her perfect wedding plans from Jacksonville, Fla., to Tampa, Fla., to get out of the way of Hurricane Matthew. A real operation for sure, since my daughter, Lynn Johnson Titchener ’73, is in the wedding planning business. Bettie’s family is still going back to Nags Head for Thanksgivings at their great house there every year. I am sad to report that we lost my Saint Mary’s neighbor, across town in Burlington, Chinkie Martin Goodale, in November. We had stayed in touch by talking a lot on the phone but had seen little of each other since she was not driving, and I am something of a homebody. Mary Pierce Johnson White is somewhat nearby at Croasdale Village in Durham. She keeps in touch with Bettie and recently with Brent Woodson Elmore, who was in Durham visiting family. Mary Pierce stays busy exercising, very important at our age, believe me. Mary Legg Moore ’73C sent me the file her late mother, Foxie Clark Legg, kept on our last reunion. Complete with all the pictures and invites. How sweet and thoughtful. Ruth Moore Glass and I are email buddies, corresponding almost daily. I am also in touch with two high schoolers via email - what a great thing it is for me. Olive Camp Johnson ’44HS, in Aberdeen, always comes to our reunions. We have been close over the years, since we both went to Converse after Saint Mary’s. Her children gave her a great 90th birthday party last July. They had 65 family and friends for the weekend at her Seven Lakes house. She has one grandson starting medical school. Her Camp family had their every-other year reunion in August. They’ve been doing this ever since 1988! There were 150 of them there this time— wow! I love family reunions, but not enough in my family. I have in the past couple of years become email buddies with Lucy Woodruff Groh

’44HS, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She was from Florida and only stayed one year at SMS in high school, 1945, and I vaguely remember her. But we have become regular emailers now. She left Saint Mary’s and finished college at Cornell in 1948. I wonder if she knows the alma mater song there is the same as at UNC? And here comes a card from Emma Britt Davis Griffin from Cary telling us of the wedding of her granddaughter, Carolann Belk, a Carolina graduate, marrying Tripp Parran, a Duke grad, last June in Holly Springs. As for me and mine, Carter Johnson Overton ’76C and Ashley are trying to sell their Greensboro home and move to Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Their son, Lewis, is interning at UNC-Chapel Hill, and got his medical degree at MCSC. Son Marshall is in real estate in Mt. Pleasant. My other daughter, Lynn Johnson Titchener ’73C is in Raleigh, working hard helping brides, as she is their calligrapher of choice. Busy times now doing the same for her own two daughters, getting married six months apart! As for me, I try to stay busy and out of trouble here at Twin Lakes (TLC) in Burlington. I use resistance machines at the town’s YMCA, and swim laps here at TLC. I gave up my love of going to Carolina football games when I could find no one to go with me, among other reasons, and just watch them on television. I cannot believe this letter is so long from a bunch of 90-year-olds! Please, all of you stay healthy and sharp and come to our 75th reunion in 2019, only three years from now. Most sincerely, Mary Lynn

1948

COLLEGE

Jane Gower Brown ’48C writes from Raleigh, “Walter and I are Springmoor. He is 90 and doing really well! My namesake granddaughter, Jane Brown ’17, is a senior at Saint Mary’s and loves it. Also at Springmoor and on my hall are Mary Leah Thorne Williamson ’47C and Martha Ann Olsen Sigmon ’47HS. Kitty Sigmon Hunter ’40C and Anne Heartt Gregory ’47HS ’49C are also living at Springmoor.”

1950

1952

Betty Ray McCain ’50C I did not receive much news for this newsletter, but I am happy to send love and best wishes to each and every one of you! My beloved roommate, Olivia Lynch Hardin, writes that she is waiting to move to The Cardinal at North Hills in Raleigh, when it opens. She is probably moving in January, and she reports that lots of Saint Mary’s girls are moving there as well. She reports that her two grandchildren (Helen and Alexander) are thriving. Helen is a senior at the University of Alabama majoring in criminal justice, and Alexander, who lives in Raleigh, is in the sixth grade at Saint Timothy’s School, and he loves it! We were saddened to hear at the end of September that Beth Harriss Sprunt’s husband, Laurence, had died. Olivia spoke to Beth on the telephone, but was unable to go to Wilmington for the funeral. Olivia sends love to all (that are left)! Scotty Kent Gallamore reports that her last year has been a bad one. From November until May, she had three operations on her leg for a serious infection, and the rest of the time was spent in rehab, learning to walk again. Scotty now lives in Banner Elk, except for during the winter (DecemberMarch), when she hopes to head back to Charlotte. She asks us all to check her Facebook to see her great-looking grand-kids. Her granddaughter wants to be a pharmacist, and will go to college in Florida where she lives. Her youngest grandchild (8) is playing football and reading at a high level. She has no other news, and she and Cutie Pie (the cat) enjoy hanging out together! Grandfather Mountain Highland Games gave Scotty the President’s Award for her 20+ years of service helping visitors identify their Scottish clans. She says she now uses a cane, hearing aids, and a few other retreads, but her Saint Mary’s spirit is as strong as ever! Ginny Ann Landis Smith and Scotty are determined to outlast us all! They send love! I am 85 years old and the chairman of the Wilson Democratic Party—again, so you know what I have been up to this year! I join our classmates in sending you much love!

Margaret Cheatham Williams ’52HS is the proud grandmother of two freshman SMS girls, Eleanor Williams ’20, daughter of Ward and Margaret Williams Williams ’78HS ’80C, and Frances Williams ’20, daughter of Joel and Liza Williams.

COLLEGE

HIGH SCHOOL

1954

COLLEGE

Trissy Holt Lomax ’54C My heartfelt thanks to the three of you who sent in your news. I wish more of you would respond. I don’t have the time to send each of you an individual request. The older we get, the more hearing from those of you who are still alive means. Pat Perry Moser always keeps in touch and is the first one to get her news to me. She usually travels over the Thanksgiving holiday and says her whole family, with the exception of one grandson, was with her on Sanibel Island, Fla., this year. She says her boys and their families are all within 29 miles of where she lives. She had to sell her longtime home to move to a retirement home with “lifecare.” Now she has a lovely third floor, end-unit apartment, with master bedroom suite and gorgeous river views. It has a fully equipped kitchen, living room, den, laundry room, and another full bathroom. Her longtime companion, Monroe, died very suddenly, in June, of a massive stroke. She misses him terribly, but says they had 37 years of pure fun together. Frances Stubinger Daugherty reports that she had a fun year in 2016. Her youngest grandson graduated from high school and is now a freshman at Auburn, with his brother who is a junior. Frances had two great trips. She enjoyed a cruise to Norway with some additional days in Amsterdam. She also had a week in Newport, R.I., and additional days in Boston. She liked Newport the best, with good food - clam chowder, “lobstuh” rolls, and bountiful breakfasts. She is still active in her church, the Cathedral of the Advent, staying busy with Bible studies and an active seniors group. She says she’ll always remember our sweet little Saint Mary’s Chapel and how much a part of her spiritual growth it provided her. Brennan McKaye (formerly Lynda Anderson) says that her best news is

CLASS NEWS

A HARDY BUNCH OF SAINT MARY’S GIRLS By Mary Billings Babcock ’46C

Mary Billings Babcock '46C of Valparaiso, Indiana, sent a handwritten note to the school after reading Jeannie Norris’s article, “Saint Mary’s – A Hardiness Zone for Generations of Girls,” in the summer alumnae magazine A reflection on her Saint Mary's experience, Mrs. Babcock's words affirm the power of a Saint Mary's experience in the lives of generations of girls.

As I turned through the pages of the 175 year anniversary edition of the alumnae magazine, I was interested in the article Hardiness Zone for Generations of Girls and enjoyed reading the various comments from some of the students who had realized the value of being at Saint Mary's especially during difficult times. I was a freshman there in 1944 when our country was at war. In those days, letters were scarce and there were no cell phones, no computers, and little relief from our studies or from the distractions of worry about our brothers and our boyfriends who were serving in the various military forces. However - we were so blessed to be at Saint Mary's, where we were comforted by our hall "mothers," our professors, Chaplain Hughes, and each other. Indeed - we were a hardy bunch of girls. Thank you for reminding me. Mary Billings Babcock '46C

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

Class of 1946 junior class officers in the 1945 Stagecoach: “A hardy bunch of girls,” pictured from left to right, Poncie Dawson Allison ’46C, Katherine Royall Williams ’46C, Sallie Lee Walker ’46C, and Mary Billings Babcock ’46C.

that all three of her children are now in Charlotte, where she lives. Her bad news is that she has a lung disease and is on oxygen 24/7. She says she feels fine and still sees a few patients (I believe she is a psychologist). Henry and I still reside in Florida most of the year. We both walk with canes and 2 ½ years ago we had to sell our beautiful three acres and home of 44 years on Lake Norman. We couldn’t manage the hills or the four-level, A-frame house. We bought a townhouse five miles away, but not on the water. We sold to a NASCAR driver who leveled our house, greenhouse, exercise room and three-bay garage, plus every one of our 200-year-old oak trees, other beautiful trees, about 400 azaleas, many rhododendron, and camellias. The county put out an order for him to plant 300 trees to replace the ones he removed. His huge house takes up most of the three acres, so I don’t believe he’ll have room to plant that many. At least we have our memories. Our good doctors are all in Florida now, but Henry still has an office in Charlotte and his high school friends and law friends, so we go back in the summer and for Thanksgiving through Christmas. Most of my friends have either died or moved away. We belong to a church here, and I still sing in the choir, and, like Frances, participate in wonderful Bible studies. When we’re in North Carolina, I go into Charlotte to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Our oldest granddaughter graduated from medical school in Tampa and is doing her residency in Baton Rouge, La. We used to see her when she was two hours away and we miss her. Our last grandchild is in his sophomore year at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. I wish more of you would let me hear from you. Saint Mary’s may have been long ago for us, but we made so many friends there that we would love to keep in touch with. Blessings, Trissy

REUNION WEEKEND May 13

1954

HIGH SCHOOL

Ruth Watkins Barber and husband Milton are enjoying life at The Cedars in Chapel Hill. Ruth loved seeing Saint Mary’s college classmates at her reunion last spring.

1956

COLLEGE

Martha Brooks Bricio ’54HS ’56C Another year, another thank you to all who took a minute to email or return their blue slips. The big news has been about our 60th reunion and Hurricane Matthew this year, in addition to our customary involvement with children, grandchildren, and activities we care about. For octogenarians, we seem to be a pretty active bunch! Our 60th reunion in April was delightful! We filled two full tables at the reunion luncheon. Our reunion photo showed just how—to use a currently popular word to describe us—resilient we are. Attending the reunion were Martha Williford Zollicoffer, Jane Westbrook Thomason, Glenn Norman Dickens, Marianna Miller Raugh, Sue Jett Russler, Sue Warburton Redd, Margaret Brunson Hill, Ruth Watkins Barber, Pearla Ann Revelle Lowe, Mary Louise Bizzell Burress, Susan Patman Day, Liz Oden Current, Anna Murphrey Kreienbaum, Barbara Doar Cooper, Nancy Mallon Towe, and yours truly. Glenn Norman Dickens and Nancy Mallon Towe made an extraordinary effort to get in touch with every member of our class to encourage them to be there, and we did have a good turnout. In their efforts to reach everybody, Nancy and Glenn discovered that one of our classmates, Mary Parke Jones Lira, died at her home in Saratoga, N.Y., on August 12, 2008. Mary Parke was survived by her husband and was a supporter of the parental reading program at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Several of us had to deal with Hurricane Matthew. Glenn wrote that she felt very lucky: lots of wind and rain but no trees down, and she didn’t lose power. Glenn also says it was great seeing and visiting with old friends at the reunion. She also had Nancy Mallon Towe as a visitor for several days, and she and Nancy and several friends spent some time in Highlands. In Halifax, she’s helping her daughter try to revitalize their small his-

torical town. Mott Butler Goff writes that she had to choose between the reunion and a grandson’s event and was sorry to have missed everybody. Her granddaughter, Morgan Goff, is a freshman soccer player at UNC-Chapel Hill, and that’s where her time has gone lately. She also had a good fall visit with her two children and the grands in Virginia. As for the hurricane, she says it took up about a week of her time: her power was out for over two days, and, as she was writing me, she was on her way to help clean up at her church. But, she adds, she was also blessed that her 200-yearold trees weathered the storm. Not so fortunate was Betty Mixon Daughtry. She had written on her blue slip (before the storm) that she and Gerald are still living at Walnut Creek, enjoying their grandchildren in all their many activities. For the girls, ballet, jazz, and other dance classes, with performances by Goldsboro Civic Ballet School. For the one boy, high school football, basketball, and golf. Betty stays busy with church and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) work. Her three daughters are doing well, too, and live nearby, except for one daughter in Wrightsville Beach. And then Matthew struck: no power or internet for three days, no water for two days. “We had six big trees fall in our back yard; two just missed our house...a disaster zone!” Betty emailed later that her neighbor was going to pay to remove the three big trees from his yard that fell mostly onto her yard. “We are fine. There are others in Wayne County who have lost their homes or have to travel around their elbow to get to their thumb.” Also affected by the hurricane was Patsy Miller Moore, who writes, “I need to be brief because the workers are coming: a tall pine tree landed diagonally on my roof, extending from a corner of the carport across a major part of the roof, almost to the front. Was lucky this went diagonally because ‘straight’ would have landed where I was sitting! The valuable things like Charles’s carved decoys are safe and dry. The tree was from my back door neighbor’s yard. At the beach, a minor ceiling leak from an exhaust fan. I am very fortunate—this could have been far worse.” She adds that her sister and brotherin-law were threading their way through road detours and closures to get to Patsy’s house from Florida. In last winter’s issue, Fairfax Crow Randall wrote that she was expecting

CLASS NEWS LEADING LADIES OF SAINT MARY'S Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, Class of 1908 October 16, 1889 – April 5, 1967 As the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the students of Saint Mary’s used their direct connection to the Oval Office to express their support to the president. That connection was Saint Mary’s alumna Eleanor “Nell” Randolph Wilson McAdoo, Class of 1908, youngest daughter of Ellen Axson Wilson and President Woodrow Wilson, who had been a professor at Princeton University during Nell’s Saint Mary’s years. Three days before the U.S. declared war and World War I began in earnest, Dr. George William Lay, fifth rector/ head of Saint Mary’s, addressed the student body at a special meeting after dinner about the burden of responsibility on the president, asking the girls, “What shall we do to show our sympathy and loyalty to him?” Three hours later, the girls gathered after study hall, as Senior Class President Alice Latham read a correspondence, signed by all of the class presidents and addressed to Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, expressing a unanimous resolution from the student body “to extend to our President our wholehearted sympathy for him in this crisis and to pledge to him and to our country our loyal service.” Nell wrote back to Saint Mary’s, “Have not had an opportunity until today to show your splendid telegram to my father. He has asked me to send you his deep appreciation and warm thanks for your message, and to say that such a pledge of faith and service does much to cheer and encourage him. I send my thanks and my love to my school.” Nell had entered Saint Mary’s in the fall of 1906, in large part due to her mother’s lifelong friendship with Ro-

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

salie DuBose, wife of the Rev. McNeely DuBose, fourth rector/head of Saint Mary’s School. Like many Saint Mary’s girls, Nell initially and unhappily found the rules “abominable,” but was soon writing letters home to her sisters filled with descriptions of “perfectly glorious” times. At Saint Mary’s, Nell acted in The Muse Club plays and was voted the most intellectual girl in her class. Her father wanted his daughter to study Greek at Saint Mary’s, which bolstered her scholarly aura. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi sorority, an intersociety debater for Sigma Lambda, and an editor of The Muse. Nell was among a number of young women who had begun writing for The Muse Club - including Elizabeth Lay, Martha Byrd Spruill, Jane Toy, Mary Yellott, Irma Deaton, Nell Battle Lewis, Elizabeth Gold and others – who became published authors and journalists later in life. She was also founder of the Riding Club, and a member of the Sketch Club, basketball team, and tennis club. Nell married Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo at the White House on May 7, 1914. They had a daughter, Ellen Wilson McAdoo (1915–1946), and a second daughter, Mary Faith McAdoo (1920–1988). Nell divorced McAdoo in 1934. Living in Washington, D.C., she served as national head of the Women’s Liberty Loan Committees and head of Washington’s largest Red Cross auxiliary, composed of 4,400 women of the treasury department. She wrote a book about her father and family, The Woodrow Wilsons, which is available on Amazon, and served as an informal counselor on the 1944 biopic Wilson. She edited a book, The Priceless Gift - The Love Letters of Woodrow Wilson and Ellen Axson Wilson.

She served Saint Mary’s as the national chair of the advisory committee for a major capital campaign during the administration of the Rev. Warren Wade Way, sixth rector/head of Saint Mary’s. She was Saint Mary’s commencement speaker in 1954. She died at her home in Montecito, California, at 77. She was interred at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, Calif. Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Sources: The Heritage: The Education of Women at St. Mary’s College, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1842-1982, by Martha Sprouse Stoops Life at Saint Mary’s, The University of North Carolina Press, 1942 Wikiwand.com

Eleanor Wilson ’08, third from left, with her family, including her father, Woodrow Wilson, standing

a large family gathering for Thanksgiving at their farm outside Houston. After Thanksgiving, Fairfax sent a great photo of their family reunion—children and grandchildren, lots of them! Ruth Watkins Barber says, “I loved seeing everyone at the reunion! Thought we were all hanging in there and looking pretty good. Milton and I are enjoying The Cedars, a retirement home in Chapel Hill. Come see us if you are in the area!” Mary House Whiteheart lives in Clemmons. Marianna Miller Raugh ’54HS ’56C is in Hickory. Pearla Ann Revelle Lowe is still very happy living at The Cypress in Raleigh. She has four grandchildren in college and three in high school, enjoying their sports! Susan Patman Day has bought a condo in the mountains, so she missed “all effects of the storm!” After the fall foliage, she returns home to Raleigh. As usual, Jane Brown Perkinson wrote a lovely, newsy report: She was sorry to miss our reunion but loved the photo of our class! At the time of the reunion, she was trying to decide whether to move—and opted to stay put. She had a busy summer, with weddings, visits to grandchildren and friends, weekends at Bethany Beach, and her annual trip to upstate New York in August, where she toured the Thousand Islands on a boat trip she described as “Beautiful and cool. Visited Alexandria Bay and areas where the War of 1812 took place. Very scenic along the Canadian border. Very refreshing after our extremely hot summer in the D.C. area. I miss seeing Saint Mary’s friends from our days living at Landfall in Wilmington. We were there from 1994 to 2008. Love living near my family here in Alexandria, but a little nostalgic sometimes for Wilmington. Look forward to my next visit!” Laura James Bettes Schomberg writes that she is fine, just busy. The day after her son got married for the first time at 44, he and his bride moved across the country to Seattle, Wash. Laura James plans to go visit next summer. I suggested September, after Labor Day. It’s less crowded, and the weather is still sunny, sometimes until the first of October. We do get around, don’t we? And stay busy, too. Busy can be a good thing, if it’s busy with things of our own choosing. My travel this year was the usual family trip to High Hampton (which the grandkids still love) and another family trip to Paris and the Mosel Valley in Germany (thanks to a grand-

son’s love of German soccer). Seattle will have to wait till next year! That’s it for this time. Do take care of yourselves, and yes, we will have another reunion! Love and best wishes, Martha

1958

COLLEGE

Barbara Hauser Bryan ’58C Saint Mary’s connections have abounded for me this year. More on that later. Kit Tiedeman Mason (per Facebook) helps daughter Catie Mathers and family in California, often leaving her perch with son Will in Wilmington. From Kit we learned our classmate, Martha Custis Umphlett, died on Jan. 28, 2016, in Wilmington. She had an active and interesting life—from teaching physical education in Atlanta and Charlotte to working in real estate, directing corporate health programs to assisting in a Wilmington lamp and frame shop, where many last saw her. Martha’s volunteer, church, and youth work was impressive. Millie Fary Coleman and Tom are working toward a move back to Spartanburg, S.C. She forwarded notice of our Saint Mary’s and her Salem classmate Jane Bellamy Venters’ husband Vic’s passing on Jan. 31, 2016, also in Wilmington. Included in Millie’s envelope was a happier clipping about second Smedes hallmate Shella Strother Hollowell’s December 2015 graduation from UNC-Charlotte at age 76, with a history degree. She had promised her father, Jake Strother, editor of the Kinston Free Press for four decades, there would be a graduation someday. Shella took courses for over 56 years, from East Carolina to Central Piedmont, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and finally UNC-Charlotte for a second time. Holidays last year had Millie and Tom able to visit children: Melissa in Knoxville, Tenn., and Mark in Spartanburg, S.C. They head to Montana to see Hunter and Karen. At Millie’s suggestion, I’ve tried to reach Anne Hardin DaMitz, whose daughter, Laurie DaMitz ’88HS, may have current information. Then there was a terrific catch up call with Penelope Currie, who retired from decades of social work. She is happily active with her six great nieces and nephews (“three of each”). They, her sister Bonnie, and her husband, live within four to five miles of Penelope’s Charlotte condo, to which she moved

after selling her home in Dilworth. Among others, she asked about Catherine Rakestraw, whom I called and learned of Catherine’s Road Scholar trip to Cuba, and impending visit to N.Y.C., from her Atlanta condo. She maintains contact with former roommates Bet Lee Girardeau and Judy Scott Sanders. Slowed a bit with health issues, Catherine attends the opera and continues some volunteer work. She remains close with former husband Joe, his daughters and their children. Jenny Whitehurst Hawkins capped two weeks of classes at Oxford, England, in the fall, with Annie Gray Calhoun Lane and Jessie Allen Ogburn, with a wonderful week in Paris. Jessie highlighted that trip in her news also. Dot Ricks Lind remains busy with both traveling and volunteering from Taylors, S.C. Emmy McNeill Sconyers enjoyed “another wonderful year in Bible Study Fellowship in the book of John with 500 attendees in Durham.” She suggests finding a class nearby on www.bsfint. org. After I managed to misplace Dickie Robinson Tyler’s news, a fun phone call replaced it. Dickie plays bridge with Nellie Holmes Ballou Smoot ’59C, and she golfs and enjoys living near son Dawson and her sister, Mary Blair Robinson Beasley ’56C. Annie Gray Calhoun Lane and Charlie also have a place in Edenton, where her daughter Gray lives, plus their Wilmington home. Dickie described herself as “getting old but maybe not getting wiser.” Ditto here. Babe Middleton Nobles and Al celebrated their 50th anniversary with an Alaska cruise. She writes, “I really enjoy my work on the board of Food for Thought,” which provides weekend meals to children deprived of food. Lou Johnson Johanson enjoys her docent post at the North Carolina governor’s mansion and service on the Gregg Museum of Art and Design’s board at N.C. State, as well as seeing American cities. She sees Saint Mary’s girls: classmates Jessie, Annie Gray, Jenny and Polly Starbuck Robertson, as well as Nelson Blount Crisp, Melissa Peden, Josie Patton, and Carol Biggers Dabbs. Annie Gray Calhoun Lane mentioned the joint Duke-UNC program at Oxford that Jenny described, as well as their “lovely apartment” in Paris, their trip, sightseeing, and “hearty meals.” They were joined by Jessie’s daughter. Virginia (Ginger) Vann King is excited about SMS marshals this

CLASS NEWS year: Chief Marshal Hope Voelkel ’17, Bettie Ann Whitehurst Everett’s granddaughter, and Ashton Vermilllion ’17, a friend from Durham, also a marshal. Sterling Chadwick Heller lost her husband, Joe, last January and was moving into a smaller home when she wrote. Son Eric and family also live in Rockport, Texas. Judy Scott Sanders reported her granddaughter Sara’s October wedding in Charleston. Her two other grandchildren are in high school in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. She’s joined prayers for Nancy Coston Barwick’s grandson, who has been recovering from a wound. Sara Barber Weatherman extolled her family’s beach week, playing golf and ocean sailing on a catamaran, keeping an eye out for dolphins and sea turtles. She continues working with Meals on Wheels and remains active with seniors at church. Sara enjoyed an Arkansas trip with her nephew to visit her brother and wife. Peggy Hamme Youngblood reports on the nine grandchildren she and Bob share. His four have finished college and post college. Peggy has a graduating senior and a sophomore at High Point University, as well as a grandchild working with autistic clients. Her oldest grandson, a Brown University grad, completed his master’s in analytical science at Northwestern and is now working for NASA in Pasadena, Calif. Her youngest is a high school junior in Pennsylvania. Anne Prince (Shep) Shepherd Engel sent a precious card and details that focus on their six grands, fondly labeled the “Mini Mafia.” Shep still teaches a little French, and Ted still counts standard-bred horses, “thereby keeping us off the street and out of the pool hall.” Occasionally she wonders, “Why I figured six children was such a good idea.” Summer was spent over a couple of surgeries for Ted (much better now), and Shep has more regard for “survival of the fittest.” Carole Barber Fauth “follows good weather” by summering in Michigan, wintering in Key West and living in between in Charlottesville. Va. That’s where she entertained us (Ken and moi) for lunch in early November. Loved seeing her son, Carson. Carole’s daughter, Taylor, and Aaron, love their summer place at Epworth in Michigan and are empty nesters with son Kemp at St. Paul’s. Then there is my roomie, Lucy Lynn Wooten Wofford. We had a plan with two Fayetteville high school friends for

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

a long weekend at my Davidson house in late October. That unraveled one by one for reasons including knee surgery for Lucy. Plan B is for me to visit Lucy in Sylva in April. Relentless heat last summer kept me, your scribe, inside. However, Ken and I made up for it by enjoying the Berkshires, Poconos, Vermont and Connecticut, and finally Massanutten, Va., in the fall, along with Charleston, S.C., for Ken’s grandson’s wedding, New Bern after Thanksgiving and Hilton Head in January. We plan to travel to Florida in February. Of course there is LIFE and too much to do along the way. Decided to mention just the fun stuff. Sons and grands are in Fayetteville, Wilmington, and Davidson. I’m connecting as often as possible with Saint Mary’s this year, which included my “adopting” two May 2016 SMS grads who entered Davidson College a couple of blocks from my house. Put April 2018 on your calendars for our 60th class reunion. We should return to Saint Mary’s where a lifetime friendship starts in the first minute’s meeting. Barbara

1958

COLLEGE

Harriett Lang Hornthal writes from Elizabeth City, “Had a great trip to Cuba at the end of January, first of February, 2016. Was transported back to the 1950s! Loved those old cars. Lots of memories came back.” Mary Cameron Phillips Dillingham ’58HS ’60C writes, “Two years ago, I moved from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to Greensboro. I am enjoying being near my daughter, Cameron, and my precious grandsons, Walker (6) and Alexander (2). I have been blessed with good health. I hope my friends and classmates are also doing well. I would love to see them and wish them the very best.”

1960

COLLEGE

Peggy Pegues Kinney ’60C Regrettably, our class letter is VERY brief. It is partly my fault by not following through with my corrected email address (please note: mpkinney40@gmail.com) to be sure the Alumnae Office had it after it was changed January 1. Then, many of us were impacted by Hurricane Matthew in September, all the way from Florida through the Carolinas and

Virginia, below and beyond. A period without power and then some without Internet here at home in South Carolina was added. Apparently, emails I had saved are now missing, and I am sorry that news from several of you isn’t reported. On a more personal note, I became nurse #1 when husband Bill fell August 30, breaking his left femur. His recuperation has been remarkable, but that did put us both “out of commission” for several weeks (and in the middle of the hurricane aftermath). Enough personal items. Not having heard from many of you, and surely hoping all is well, regarding health, happiness, and safety, I can report a note from Florie McLeod Ervin in nearby Florence, S.C., who called me when the email address didn’t work. Florie said, “My one claim to fame is that I have five children and 10 grands (under the age of 12) - seven granddaughters and three grandsons. When we gather for the Fourth of July at our family houses at Surfside Beach, S.C., there are 21 of us, just family.” Also, a note from Kitty Aliff Roche of Jarvisburg, who wrote from the Outer Banks that she still misses friends in Roanoke, Va., where she lived for many years. Amazing that she is a “great-grandmother to Stella, who made son Frank a grandfather. Son John Whitney and wife Shana have a daughter, Maralynn. Em Nelson Cummings of Charlottesville, Va., wrote that she has retired for the third time: teaching first, then running two dental practices. “Hopefully, the third is the charm and it is permanent!” She also had to give up teaching Sunday school as well, due to arthritis, having taught Old Testament over three years to kindergarten and first and second graders - “and it is that that I miss the most!” Her children are happily married and she has five grandchildren (ages 9-22). Lucretia DeLoach Finlay wrote in October from Hendersonville, “Since Reed passed away four years ago, I have been getting my life together, making decisions that we made together, and learning that I can indeed do things on my own when necessary. I’m certain I am one of many in this category!” A big decision has been to move to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to be near son Reed and his family. “I do have two children in this area, but I want to get to know my little grandson, Kershaw, also. In addition, it will be a new adventure for me. People there are so friendly and easygoing. I

spent last winter out there in order to buy a place to live, and fell in love with everything! Winter is my favorite season as well.” Mary Cameron Phillips Dillingham ’58HS ’60C writes, “Two years ago, I moved from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to Greensboro. I am enjoying being near my daughter, Cameron, and my precious grandsons, Walker (6) and Alexander (2). I have been blessed with good health. I hope my friends and classmates are also doing well. I would love to see them and wish them the very best.” Many thanks to those to submitted news, and my apologies to those whose news I lost. I promise to do better next time and I encourage each of you to drop me a note, email, or text at my cell phone 843-454-7862, your news whenever you will. I love Christmas cards too! Peggy

1962

COLLEGE

Mary Larsen Jordan ’62C Vicky McKenzie Armes writes, “Serving on the Saint Mary’s Alumnae Council has been a wonderful experience for both classmate Lynn Boyce Purdie Brennan and me. At each meeting, not only administration and staff, but also students, openly share the manner in which the school’s goals and objectives are being implemented. This has been a sad year for me in that my husband, Jim, died in July following a brief bout with cancer. Earlier in the year, my dear friend and our classmate, Harriett Rogers Drake, died suddenly from a massive stroke. On a happier note, I am so looking forward to seeing many of you at our 55th class reunion and/or the school’s 175th birthday celebration.” Lynn Boyce Purdie Brennan loves that her granddaughter, Emma Purdie ’17, will graduate in Saint Mary’s 175th year! “She has loved being an SMS girl,” reports Lynn. “I have learned much on the Alumnae Council. Emma is co-chair of the Granddaughters Club and is planning new things!” Tra Jennette Perry writes that she is still working as a Vidant Hospice volunteer coordinator. She loves her work too much to retire! Her daughter and she have just returned from a trip to London and Paris. Upon their return home, they found Eastern North Carolina flooded. She says that it will take them weeks to return to normal, and that she feels for those whose homes have flooded. Mary Larsen

Jordan says, “My three grandsons keep me very busy! Watching all three of them at the same time, twins (6), and younger brother (3), helps to remind me of my age! They are busy little beavers!” I was delighted to have visits from two very good friends who are also Saint Mary’s alums! Ginny Simmons Shew and her husband, Al, came to visit during Super Bowl week last January. It was so wonderful to see them and to catch up. They took a cruise that stopped in San Francisco on Super Bowl Sunday! I thought the traffic would be horrendous, but it turns out everyone else was at the game, so the traffic was not bad at all. We had so much fun laughing, talking, reminiscing, eating, and drinking! Cornelia Hines Pelzer wrote that she was coming to Sonoma, Calif., in late September and could we get together? Of course! So we met in Sausalito. I lived there for nine years before I was married. At any rate, we met and had a wonderful lunch at the Spinnaker Restaurant. It was so good to see Cornelia and to catch up! It amazes me that such good friendships made at Saint Mary’s are able to pick up right where they left off 54 years later! We all are so lucky to have such wonderful friends in our lives! I hope to hear from more of you next time around. Thank you and take care of yourselves. Mary

1962

HIGH SCHOOL AND

1964

COLLEGE

Janie Stronach Wood ’62HS ’64C Jean Winborne Boyles ’62HS practices law in Raleigh and enjoys having her son, Benjamin, a dentist, and his wife, Lisa, living nearby. Their daughter, Frances Winborne Boyles, was born in November. Jean’s son, Winborne, holds a MBA-JD and works for a large corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is married and has two children. I had a delightful dinner invitation to Jean’s! She is such a talented Renaissance woman: a wonderful cook, with a green thumb. Her backyard includes a swimming pool surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. I told her that I felt as if I had come to a resort! She is also a great collector of fabulous art and antiquities. I’m always fascinated with her latest bargains, including lovely chintz fabrics. Her recent trips have been a

cruise on the Danube and a trip to China. Jean is good about keeping in touch with old friends. Susan Ehringhaus ’62HS ’64C and her husband, Stuart Bondurant, dean emeritus and professor of medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill, live in Chapel Hill. Susan is also a professor, and teaches a class in law at Harvard University. Susan loves our annual Christmas get together for lunch with her old Raleigh friends: Elizabeth Ponton Manning ’64C, Nancy Baker ’62HS ’64C, Jean Winbourne Boyles ’62HS, Marguerite McKee Moss ’62HS, Inez Coke Tudor ’64C and me, to name a few of her Saint Mary’s classmates. Nancy Baker ’62HS ’64C writes that she still lives in Richmond, Va., and has recently enjoyed a trip with her Audubon friends to Cape Cod. The latter were more engaged in birding while Nancy ventured off to see the whales. She had never seen as many at once! “It was an amazing experience; particularly when they come in close contact with humans. I also visited one of my favorite haunts in Orleans, being the Natural Foods Store. It was a wonderful trip!” Clare Garden Maddison ’64C and husband Larry love being in Raleigh with all three of their children: Sally Maddison Wooten ’85HS, whose daughter, Maddison Wooten ’19 is a sophomore at Saint Mary’s; son Bo, who is married to Sara, daughter of Martha Weeks Daniel ’64C; and John and his wife, who have three children. So, you know Clare enjoys being a good grandmother! Clare has also been of great assistance to the Joel Lane House and Haywood Hall, and I have heard many of her fellow board members sing her praises. Marguerite McKee Moss ’62HS writes, “It is wonderful being home again and being in touch with so many Saint Mary’s alumnae from many generations.” She had a delightful lunch in the mountains last year with Terrell Boyle, who lives in Atlanta and has a home in Highlands. She heard from Linda Reynolds Stern ’64C, with news of the devastation by Hurricane Matthew of much of Lumberton and Fair Bluffs. Susan Carol Cook ’64C still lives in Clinton and Raleigh. Her daughter, Susanne, and son-inlaw Britt, live in Raleigh and have two children, Lovell (4) and Booker (2). Beverly Bailey Wright ’64C writes from Wilmington, “Just got back from a Great Smoky Mountains train trip through Nantahayla Gorge - wonder-

SAINT MARY'S REMEMBERS

DR. ROBERT JAMES MILLER FORMER DEAN OF THE COLLEGE Dr. Robert James “Bob” Miller, 83, dean of Saint Mary’s College from 1973-1985, died October 26, in Raleigh following complications from a fall. A true “Renaissance man,” Miller’s life showed his wide ranging interests: surveyor, forester, biologist, professor, dean, lawyer, Sunday school teacher, vestryman, lay reader, mason, sailor, and dog butler.

registered land surveyor. Miller earned the master of forestry degree, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biology from Yale University.

Upon graduation, he joined the biology faculty of Radford University in Virginia where he served as chairman of the biology department, dean Miller served in the 1949 session of the School of Natural Sciences, and of the North served as vice presCarolina legisMiller served in the ident for academic lature as a page affairs. While there, 1949 session of and was class he was named one the North Carolina poet and viceof the youngest inpresident of his legislature as a ductees to Who’s graduation class page and was Who in America. of Whiteville class poet and Happy to return to High School vice-president of North Carolina, he in 1951. Prior was named Dean of his graduation to college he the College at Saint class of Whiteville was on the state High School in 1951 Mary’s in Raleigh. highway survey In addition to adcrew. After gradministrative duties uation from N.C. at Saint Mary’s, State University in 1956 with a degree in forestry, he worked in land Miller taught courses in environmanagement and wetland research mental biology, statistics, and busifor West Virginia Pulp & Paper ness law. A dynamic lecturer, he Company in northeastern North was popular with his students and Carolina; was chief forester, super- colleagues. vising timber acquisition, logging, and timber management operations for Tilghman Lumber Company in South Carolina, where he became a

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

After Miller earned his J.D. degree in 1985, he left academe to join the Patton Boggs & Blow firm, concentrating in the area of construc-

tion law litigation and later forming his own firm concentrating in immigration law, arbitration, and mediation of construction and environmental disputes. Upon retiring from law, Miller devoted his time to his family. Miller was born in Dunn, N.C., on January 14, 1933, to Edith Crockett Miller and Robert James Miller, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Patricia S. (Trish) Miller; his daughters, Patricia A. Miller ’78HS ’80C and husband Joe Barnes of Raleigh; Susan Miller Price ’80HS ’82C and husband Lee, of Raleigh; Nancy Miller Childs ’83HS and husband Edward, and grandchildren, Sarah Kate Childs, John Edward Crockett Childs, and Emily Louise Childs of New Bern; sister Meredith M. Bostic and husband Walter, of Topsail Beach, NC. Miller was predeceased by both parents; a sister Belinda; and brother, Bruce Miller.

CLASS NEWS ful fun and beautifully done, with bluegrass strolling minstrels and food. Hurricane Matthew came calling before suitcases were unpacked, but all is well now! I hope others of you have not been impacted by this storm - it was a doozie! Does anyone remember Sarah Esther Jones? Hint: English Lit., spooky, appropriate for Halloween!” Sharon Floyd Jones ’64C wrote from Florida that she was not terribly affected by Hurricane Matthew. Marion Purcell Whatley ’62HS ’64C says she is planning to come to our reunion. This is a special one! Martha Weeks Daniel ’64C says, “Our tribe of Daniels is hanging in there and everyone is growing up satisfactorily and maybe I am, too! Husband Curt has retired and is helping with my documentary film projects. He is a pretty good editor and patiently continues to be my go-to tech guy as we also create websites for businesses. I am getting interested in doing animated illustration when I guess I could (or should) be sitting a bridge table, but I continue to enjoy being a nerdy grandma at this age! Our oldest granddaughter is now a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill with two more granddaughters from Charlotte applying for colleges in the next few years. Clare Garden Maddison ’64C and I share two grandchildren in elementary school in Raleigh. She is the IN-LAW and I am the OUTLAW! But we see Clare and Larry often in Raleigh and really enjoy it. We still head for the hills and enjoy the mountains whenever we can with our newly-rescued dog, a female Corgi and Chihuahua mix that we adore and is our NEW BABY! Am looking forward to taking part in the upcoming Saint Mary’s 175th birthday events!” Lola Kearney Hines Summey ’62HS ’64C writes, “What a year and a half I have had! My husband, Bob, passed away in July 2015. In November 2015 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and in January 2016 I had a double mastectomy. In March 2016, I was in rehab and had started working out to rebuild chest muscles and met my current husband on the treadmill. We dated for three months and married on June 13th. He had lost his wife six months before Bob passed away. We immediately became great friends and supported one another. He is a mountain man from Saluda and reminds me so much of my daddy. He is a protector and works every day to care for me. He had taken care of his

previous wife for 10 years in her illness and he really knows how to spoil me. Our Christian faith is the focus of our relationship and everything else has fallen into place. We have fun every day and consciously make an effort to make a difference in other people’s lives each day. What a way to spend our last days on this earth. My name now is Mrs. Walter J. Summey. Getting a name change now is another whole story! You have to prove it, even to the cable company. Still enjoying my daughters and grandchildren, as well as Walter’s family. Still tutoring in algebra. We are looking forward to traveling some after we finish combining our households and selling Walter’s home. Walter and I have had so many blessings in the past three months and anticipate many years together.” Marilyn Stadler Gideon ’62HS ’64C says she will be glad when this year is over! “Starting with back pain in February and a week in the hospital, finally, after weeks and weeks and many different treatments, ‘dry needling’ did the trick! Cindy Schwartz Kelly came to Greensboro with her sister, Joslin, and we had a great time catching up. I see Cindy whenever I go to New York. She and her husband moved there in 2002. She’s loving it and gets to see all the good plays! Had trigger finger all summer, and when shots did not work I had surgery the end of September. Now I’m like a new person. Darn, old age is starting to kick in!” Marilyn was looking forward to a Saint Mary’s alumnae gathering in Greensboro in November. Ellen Scurry Reynolds ’64C is enjoying her two granddaughters, Emily (5) and baby Sidney. In addition to babysitting, she enjoys volunteering at a local hospital. She saw Anne Chamberlain Fowler ’64C at an alumnae event in Columbia, S.C., in September. Ellen notes that her birthday was marked with a hurricane this year and a flood last year! Once again, it has been a privilege in my role as secretary to hear from high school and college classmates from 50-plus years ago! Time has passed much too quickly, and our granddaughter is now a senior! Kimberly Wood ’17 has had the most wonderful experiences, and Tom and I are very grateful for the excellent guidance and nurturing that she has received. I know that some of the best memories during her lifetime will include her time spent at Saint Mary’s, where she not only received an excellent edu-

cation in a spiritually uplifting environment, but made friends, with whom she will always have a special bond! Tom and I love living near our son, Thomas, who is an attorney, his wife, Adrian, who holds a Ph.D. in education and is publisher of Tales of an Educated Debutante, and their four children: Thomas (10), Russell (9), Anne Blair (7) and Amos (3). Our daughter, Caroline C. S. Wood ’98HS works in Charlotte as a registered nurse at University Hospital. Our Mulberry Hill Inn, just outside of Edenton, is the venue for a Christmas gathering on December 8 for our Albemarle area alumnae. We are very excited that Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Emily Smith ’01 and Katie Bradbury will be coming for this special celebration. Frances Holton Maffit ’60HS, Debbie Ellis Boyle ’64HS ’66C, Amelia Yancey Bond ’59HS ’61C, Frances Drane Inglis ’47HS ’49C, Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C, Kathy Keel ’83HS ’85C, Anne Graham Rowe ’69C, Anne Detgen Ellis ’71C, Nancy Wood Mordecai ’45C, Kitty Campen Field ’55C, Dickie Robinson Tyler ’56HS ’58C, Boo Robinson Beasley ’54HS ’56C, Kay Kramer Shultz ’67C, and Jane Dowdy Winborne ’86HS are a few of the enthusiastic hostesses, who are making contributions to this fun event. Tom and I are extremely proud of our Saint Mary’s heritage, as it has been a family tradition on both sides to have attended this esteemed school since it opened in 1842! His fourth great-grandmother, Sally Paxton from Edenton, is shown in the portrait being blessed by Bishop Ives. We will definitely be looking forward to attending the anniversary celebration next May!

1966

COLLEGE

Skinner Anderson McGee ’64HS ’66C Lesley Wharton Marcello writes from Thibodaux, La., “One of the most enjoyable events of my life this past year occurred during Reunion Weekend when so many of my ’66C classmates gathered for our 50th reunion. We stretched the festivities from Friday night all the way to breakfast at the hotel on Sunday, but more importantly, we reconnected with one another before and after.” They had so much fun that their “First Holt group” from junior year planned to gather again in Raleigh in November, including their counselor, Gretchen

CLASS NEWS

College Class of 1968 classmates Cathy Swain Crossett, Beth Harris Isenhour, Mary Pearshall Maxwell, Frances Garris Jilcott, and Carla Heaton Bailey enjoyed a mini-reunion at the beach in June.

Fracher Hardage ’65C. Others who planned to attend included Susan Spiller Burnette, Libba Massey Greeway, Julie Dunn Arthur, Nancy Russell Norfleet, Cheryl Koenig Kelling, and Eve Brewer Harris. “I told them I’d be in North Carolina at that time, and they all agreed to drive from around the state so that we could visit!” Ebby Schmulling Crawford lives in Raleigh.

1966

HIGH SCHOOL

Junie Small lives in Raleigh and reports that she is retired and enjoying life!

1968

COLLEGE

Paula Johnson Stewart ’68C Dear Friends, It was good hearing from those of you who responded. I suppose the rest of you are busy with grandbabies and/or traveling in your retirement. I am sure you all have good excuses for not sending in your news. So just sit back and enjoy reading from those who did reply. Diane Stockard Wade had two bits of news. First, her oldest grandchild (of six) will turn 21 early next year. He’s a junior at N.C. State. “That makes me feel so OLD!” And secondly, as she was writing this in late September, she was going to Italy with her two daughters. They’ll be there with their Italian guide, Page Holbrook! One week in Rome and another in Sorrento. She was looking forward to being with her girls on their first trip to Italy. It was wonderful, earlier this spring, going to her Saint Mary’s high school

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

reunion and seeing so many of her classmates. They had a special weekend together (thanks again, Chris Crowley Andrews ’66HS ’68C for planning both nights!) and she knows everyone who attended is looking forward to our 50th in 2018. “The way my life is flying these days, that reunion will be here in no time! Good grief, I’ll be REALLY OLD then!” She and Louis are still living at Hyco Lake, going into their 16th year there. She had no idea they would still be there either. “My heart has always resided in Carteret County. I just can’t get Louis to move permanently there. Sigh.” Gray Brothers Winner and Bob are doing well. Thirty-eight years! Their son, Tom, and his wife, Megan, are living in San Francisco. Gray and Bob had a fun visit with them this summer when they went to High Hampton. Gray got her sixth year of clean health after a bout with cancer in 2010. It was a plasma cytoma. “Thank goodness it was not brain cancer but just rogue blood cells that lodged in the brain.” As she wrote her news, she was about to attend her 50th high-school reunion. She wrote that she had good visits with Arabella Nash Hubbard ’66HS twice last year! Mary Ann Allen Cowherd and her husband still live in Culpeper, Va., and enjoy being part time on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia’s Northern Neck. They also traveled to the Connecticut shore in August to host a family reunion. Health is good and they enjoy their three little grandchildren! Jessica Gillespie Gammon writes that she keeps her car on the road between Raleigh, Blowing Rock, and visiting three grands in Charlotte. She, Juliet

Smith Barrus ’66HS ’68C, and Cantey Tomlinson Tanner ’66HS had a blast in Scotland in August enjoying a week’s worth of golf. Pat Slater Holscher writes that she continues to work in her art profession, always searching for that “perfect painting.” She is also working on her golf, searching for that “perfect round,” plus balancing time with hubby and family, including five grandchildren. She still cherishes her friends, past and present, and prays for additional years of good health to continue to enjoy all of the above. She looks forward to seeing everyone at the next reunion. Duffy Beasley Gibbs and Ken continue to be thankful for their blessings. “It is such a special thing to have our boys, wives and four grandchildren (4, 1, 2, and 2) living right here in New Bern. My heart is so full.” She also enjoys playing bridge and running into a number of Saint Mary’s girls who play. She is still doing payroll for Gibbs Dentistry - her temporary job 22 years ago seems to have stuck. While Ken is still working, their son and daughterin-law allow him to take off when “they feel the need for the periodic jaunts!” “Life is good, and that is not something to take for granted at our age! Love to all!” Beth Harris Isenhour has a one-year-old granddaughter, Delaney, in Raleigh. She shares “nanny” duties with the other grandmother and absolutely loves doing that! Delaney’s mother, Tipton, is a math teacher at Martin Middle School. Daughter Whitney and Sean (married in October 2015) live in Cary, and her son, Carter and Kelly are in Mebane. So her three children are close by. She spent the weekend of the UNCUGA football game with Cathy Swain Crossett and Ed in Atlanta. She plays bridge once a month with Carolyn Bertie Goldfinch. Her volunteering is still with Preservation Chapel Hill and SECU Family House. She is giving some serious thought to downsizing. Georgia Henry Gates and husband Bob continue to serve on the board for their Farmer’s Market, and they’ve just completed another successful season. In June, they were able to go to a Henry family reunion. She writes, “Our family is so spread out, we rarely can all get together. We had three generations together and had a delightful time. We met a great niece (2) and a great nephew (3) for the first time.” She and Bob also continue to serve as chaplain to retired Episcopal clergy, spouses, and

1968 college classmates gathered at the home of Jo Crawford Phelps in Atlanta: standing: Cathy Swain Crossett, Bettie “Flake” Kellogg, Jeannie Hudson Williams, Susan Davis Virgin, Carol Malcolm Phillips, and Jo Crawford Phelps; Patsy Slater Holsher is seated.

widows in Oklahoma, which she says is a fun group. Cathy Swain Crossett wrote. “January 17 was a terrific dinner gathering hosted by Jo Crawford Phelps at her beautiful home with Bettie “Flake” Kellogg and Pat Slater Holscher in town, and Susan Davis Virgin, Carol Malcom Phillips, Jeannie Hudson Williams and me attending as well.” In June, Cathy took a quick trip to Frances Garris Jilcott’s house with Carla Heaton Bailey, Beth Harris Isenhour and Mary Pearshall Maxwell. She hosted a UNC/UGA party in her home on Labor Day weekend. With our 50th SMJC reunion not too far off, Cathy hopes we will have a huge turnout! And I do too! In the meantime, St. Mary’s (still can’t help myself from writing it that way) has a birthday coming up - 175 years young! The celebration will be Friday, May 12, and I hope to be there. I hope many of you will be too, but if not, please put next year on your calendars to come to our 50th reunion. Contact your roommate or suite mates or entire hall and let’s go back as the largest class reunion on record. As Peabody would say, “We’re the Class of ’68 and we are great!” Much love, Paula

1968

HIGH SCHOOL

Sarah Chamblee Childress ’68HS ’70C Sally Lennon Jerwey reports, “I have moved to a fabulous retirement community, the Cedars of Chapel Hill.”

1970

COLLEGE

1968 classmates gathered for a UNC/UGA football game viewing party in September. Left to right: Susan Davis Virgin, Molly Richardson Swan, Cathy Swain Crossett, and Beth Harris Isenhour.

Jane Wood Youngblood ’70C Mary Ruffin Regester Randolph writes from Virginia Beach, Va., “Dicky and I have enjoyed traveling since retiring. We’ve been to the Galápagos Islands, Machu Pichu, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and this spring, Greece and Turkey. We left Istanbul about 10 days before the bombings. We are looking forward to going to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand this winter. I would love to hear from my roommates and Tricia Hartsell.” Sally Lennon Terwey writes that she has moved to a retirement community in Chapel Hill called The Cedars. She says it is fabulous. Carole Beasley Kemp lives in New Bern and reports that “Life is good!”

1970

HIGH SCHOOL

Jane Weaver Rigby is having a busy year. Daughter Katie was married on August 20 in Atlanta; son Michael finished a sports medicine fellowship and is practicing in Greensboro. Jane says, “Michael and his wife, Lauren, welcomed child #3 to their busy household in late July! It has been a joyful year, working with my husband, Tim, planning a wedding, and enjoying grandchildren. Peaches Rankin reports that all is well in Charlotte. She is headed to Queenstown, New Zealand, to visit her sister and plans to attend a family wedding in Barcelona, Spain, next summer. Emily Dockery Carlson writes that she and Carl moved to Charleston, S.C., three years ago and have completed a total renovation on an 1830 house. Their daughter, Laurin, and her husband, Steve, are in Atlanta while Steve is getting his master’s degree in nuclear engineering. Their son, Carl IV, lives in Charleston and is a land developer. Their son, Smith, is a writer and music producer living in Los Angeles, Calif. He won a Grammy last February for Taylor Swift’s album, 1989. Emily says, “We have two adorable (I think!) grandchildren. Smith (girl) is almost four and Sage (boy) is two. Grandchildren are a lot of fun. Best to all! Hope to see everyone at the next reunion!”

1972

COLLEGE

Peaches Rankin reports that all is well in Charlotte. She is headed to Queenstown, New Zealand, to visit her sister and plans to attend a family wedding in Barcelona, Spain, next summer. Ann Elliott Newbern writes, “Life ‘down on the farm’ in Enfield is grand! I continue to sell real estate and Elton grows hay for area horse owners. Elton and I stay busy traveling to see our four grandchildren (ages 7-11) play basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, and perform in dance and piano recitals. Beach time throughout the year with family and friends is treasured time. In August, Elton and I toured London, flew to Paris, and enjoyed a Viking cruise. It was fabulous! Tradition was broken for Thanksgiving 2016, when we celebrated significant birthdays in Jamaica with my daughter and her family. Hope to see

CLASS NEWS each of you at the 175th celebration, May 12.” Ann Fulghum Hall says all is well in Pensacola, Fla. “Still married to Jim (41 years) with two daughters, Taylor and Morgan, and one granddaughter. Looking forward to retirement!” Emily Dockery Carlson writes that she and Carl moved to Charleston, S.C., three years ago and have completed a total renovation on an 1830 house. Their daughter, Laurin, and her husband, Steve, are in Atlanta while Steve is getting his master’s degree in nuclear engineering. Their son, Carl IV, lives in Charleston and is a land developer. Their son, Smith, is a writer and music producer living in Los Angeles, Calif. He won a Grammy last February for Taylor Swift’s album, 1989. Emily says, “We have two adorable (I think!) grandchildren. Smith (girl) is almost four and Sage (boy) is two. Grandchildren are a lot of fun. Hope to see everyone at the next reunion!” Libbie Bynum Ward writes, “We are thrilled to have a 19-month-old granddaughter, Eliza, in Charlotte, and David and Emily welcomed baby number two, Anna Bynum Ward, on October 25. I hope both Eliza and Anna will be Saint Mary’s girls one day! I love being in Raleigh with so many Saint Mary’s friends and hearing about the fun and great things going on at SMS. Hope we’ll have a good crowd at our reunion. How can it be 45 years since we graduated?” Sue Barham Moore writes from Stoneville, “Don and I just celebrated 40 years of marriage and 40 years of him practicing medicine. We are looking forward to our seventh grandchild. Hope to see lots of our classmates in May at our 45th reunion.” Lydia Schwartz Woodward opened her own dance studio in 2008 with just seven students. She now boasts over 100! “With eight children, 14 grands (soon to be 15), and two great-grands (soon to be three), life is wonderful!” Lynn Jonakin Royal writes from her new home in Hendersonville, “My husband and I have both retired. We are downsizing. I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and family in North Carolina. Our boys, Jon and Steve are doing well in Detroit and Chicago. Loving retirement!”

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

1972

HIGH SCHOOL

Susan Hundley ’72HS Diane Houghton Blanchard has been elected director-elect of the Music Teachers National Association Southern Division.

1974

COLLEGE

Melrose Whitfield Fisher ’72HS ’74C Holy cow! How can a year go by so fast? Here I am once again, typing up the news for THE BEST college class that ever passed through the hallowed halls of Smedes, and I feel fortunate to do so. Thanks to all who sent in their news. We didn’t have the number we usually do but I’m thinking we’re all busy with family and doing what we do. Some of you already know this, but for those who are not aware, our classmate Susan Stancil Plyler died in August 2016 from sepsis, which I think was a complication from the breast cancer she had been battling. Nancy Hunter Simpson went to the memorial service for Susan and said lots of friends and family were present. Just remembering how fun-loving and hilarious Susan was makes you smile. That’s a good memory to have. Laura Grimes Smith informed me that Cindy Erwin Keller died this past year as well. Many of you may not remember Cindy because she was only at Saint Mary’s our junior year (freshman year in college). Cindy was from Goldsboro. From North Carolina’s crystal coast, Libba Barbour Shelton sends great news of her retirement from Carteret County Public Schools as of July 2016. Libba served the children living in and around Morehead City for many years, and I know they will miss her. Congrats, Libba! Libba hopes husband Scott will join her in retirement before so long. As soon as Libba started jumping up and down celebrating her retirement, she broke bones (plural) in her foot. After weeks of rehab, Libba was able to heal and get back to what she truly loves doing - being a grandmother to her six grandchildren. In Libba’s own words, “They are the love of our life.” Still living in Morehead City, Scott and Libba remind everyone to please call if you are vacationing at “the beach.” Miracles do happen! Low and behold, Coco Pollard Davis sends greetings from Raleigh,

where she and her husband, J.B., continue to live. Great to hear from you, Coco! Coco is working for a political consultant but hopes to decrease her hours to do more of the fun things in life, like enjoying her grandchildren and bridge. J.B. and Coco are fortunate, she says, to have their three children living in Raleigh, along with their two grandchildren. Also in Raleigh, Emory Rogers Church and husband John are enjoying retirement, with more time at the beach and frequent travel. Their trip to the countryside of France in September was amazing. Shelley Tosto Snider got her news in right after Hurricane Matthew hit Mt. Pleasant, S.C., where Shelley lives. She says they fared well, unlike others in South Carolina and North Carolina. As a recent retiree from the school system, teacher Ms. Snider is thoroughly enjoying “staying in my nightgown till noon, drinking my coffee.” Oh, the small things in life. Being a full-time “SheShe” (her grandmother name) brings Shelley great joy. Being retired has allowed Shelley to travel to California to visit her son and his family, which includes two grandchildren. Recently, Shelley’s family took the grands to Disneyland, Legoland, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo, which she says was fantastic. Retirement gives Shelley the freedom to do what she wants, when she wants, which also includes visiting her mother in North Carolina, who is not in the best of health. We are keeping your mother in our prayers, Shelley. Rachael Holmes maintains her perfect record of submitting her news like clockwork. Rachael is another classmate who is soon to be retired. Rachael has worked for the University of Virginia’s Department of Nursing for 40 years as of last summer, but come May 2019, she’ll be “out of there!” Beware of the loud noise coming out of Charlottesville, Va., in May 2019. Rachael will be throwing a huge retirement party at that time and shouting from the rooftops, I’m sure. Congrats, Rachael! Mebane Ham, Ellen Henson, Margaret Stevens Mauney and Rachael Holmes had their annual mini-reunion in August at Ellen’s new home in Lexington. Rachael says Ellen’s new place is just fabulous! What a great tradition these ladies have carried on for all these years. Laura Grimes Smith lost her mom on November 4, 2016. Laura’s family had a memorial service for her mother in Plymouth. We are

so sorry for your loss, Laura. Losing a family member is never easy, and one’s mother is exceptionally hard, I think. Susan Byers Muir writes from Augusta, Ga. Susan will win the “fittest classmate ever” award at our 45th reunion in April 2019. I recently saw Byers and I must say, boy, she looks great! So gear up ladies and hop on those spin bikes, get walking, and tackle those Pilates classes. Honestly, life is agreeing with Byers and George. George is the minister at St. Paul’s in Augusta, which they love. Additionally, Byers has two grandchildren (1 and 5). As for me, I still have my Lots of Luxe business, which takes most of my time, along with working with a couple of research studies at UNC-CH School of Medicine. Son Rob is in Washington, D.C., working with D.C. United soccer team, and son Davis is in Charlotte working with a tech company. Recently, Susan Byers Muir, Sukoshi Williamson Roberts, Libba Barbour Shelton, Anna DuBose Doughton, Gail Shackelford Narron, Jane Howell Sharpe ’72HS, Becky Clark, Josie Rawl Hall, and myself rendezvoused for a long weekend at Atlantic Beach. Along with some R & R, we did a lot of catching up, chowing down on great seafood, consuming some great grape juice, taking pictures of beautiful sunsets, laughing, correcting everyone’s mistakes on who was whose roommate and such. We thoroughly enjoyed talking and laughing about our Saint Mary’s days. We all agreed that there is no other place like Saint Mary’s, where the friendships run deep and our love for her will never die. In closing, I want to encourage everyone to mark your calendars for Friday, May 12, 2017! We will all come together to celebrate Saint Mary’s 175th year of educating young women! May 12, 1842, was the date Saint Mary’s opened her doors, therefore, the date for the big birthday bash. More information from the school will be coming. Stay tuned. Love to all and thanks for keeping in touch! Melrose

Saint Mary’s

Month of Service

January 2017

1976

COLLEGE

Bess Knotts Walker ’76C Hello ‘76C Class! Thank you to Jean Walston Neese for once again agreeing to host our reunion party, and also, thanks to those that helped with food and beverages! We had a tremendous turnout and missed those who were unable to make it. Several classmates sent in the message that the reunion was really fun and they hope that we will have an even larger turnout in five years. We had 41 attend the 40th year party! I wish I had correct emails for everyone, so whenever you talk to classmates, encourage them to keep their emails current with Saint Mary’s. To start our news, Susan Bridger Ricks writes that her best news is their son, Hunter, has moved to Greensboro after living in Philadelphia for five years. She is hoping he will put down roots in the South and be closer to home. Gayle McConnell Tallardy is back in Charlotte. She and husband Carl have built a home there and are happy to be back in the South. They will continue wintering at Ocean Reef, Key Largo, Fla. Last spring, I had the opportunity to visit with Gayle in Florida. She and Carl graciously hosted my husband, my college-aged son with his three friends, and myself for dinner! Jill Ciccone Bagwell and her husband, Skip, are enjoying being grandparents to Liam (3) and Elizabeth (1). They have been able to spend more time at the beach since Skip is fully retired. Jill ran into Jean Walston Neese at a wedding where Jean was a friend from the groom’s side and Jill a childhood friend of the bride’s mother. Leesa Lybrook Goodson is excited to announce that her twin grandchildren, Louise and Jim, welcomed a new baby brother, Mack, this past August. Leesa is hot on the trail to Life Master in duplicate bridge. She gives credit to all the card-playing days of first floor Cruikshank, helping her on this journey. In January, she and her husband, Tom, will travel to Asia. Last year, her travels took her to Africa. Mary Flagg Nimocks Haugh has two children living in Raleigh. Her son, Jamie, graduated from Duke MBA school and is working for the family company, Terminix. Her daughter, Elisabeth, and her family relocated from D.C. to Raleigh last year. Mary Flagg loves having three young grandchil-

dren: Lilly, Lauder, and Owen. She hopes to see them become future Saint Mary’s students. Lou White writes that she recently lost her mother, but is so thankful for the time she spent caring for her, knowing she is now pain free and with Jesus. Lou just completed step one of her three-five year retirement plan. She just purchased a place in Beaufort, N.C., and moved in in early November. If anyone is in Beaufort, Lou says to look her up - she’d love to connect. Laura Frazier Norman said all is good, and her news is all pending, so she will update next year! I always enjoy seeing Laura’s brother and sister-in-law, Bryan Cheek Frazier ’75HS ’77C, in the summer at the beach. Civil Adams McGowan turned 60 like several of us! She celebrated with good friends Beth Dalton Neal, Betsy Hardwick Dawson, and Kate Taylor Hill, playing bridge! Civil also plays golf with Julie Andrews McAllister at Grandfather Mountain, where she also sees Dottie B. Edwards Nutt and Sandy Sherrill Womble. Civil has two sons (18 and 21) in college. She lives in Charlotte with three dogs. Caroline Long writes that she continues to live on the farm in northeastern North Carolina. She turned 60, and it wasn’t so hard. She says no more blonde jokes apply because she is becoming a white-haired, sassy lady. She has seen Peggy Manly Graddy and Mary Michaux Coleman within the last year and thoroughly enjoyed the visits. Jane Johnson Brady had an exciting start to 2016! Her daughter, Trina, was married in Raleigh on January 2, to Cahill Hooker. Alice Horton Wiggins retired from Wilson County Schools at the end of June 2016 after 30.4455 years of teaching elementary school. However, she says she feels too young to just quit, so she is looking for ways to put all that experience to good use. She is open for suggestions! Holly Harris Post lives in Sanford. She misses teaching reading, but is loving being a grandmother and helping with her grandson, Charlie (2). He is the son of her oldest, Chas, and his wife, Kim. Chas practices law in Sanford with Holly’s husband, Chip. Her other son, Harris, is married to Charlotte Saunders Post ’05 and they live happily in Wilmington. Daughter Anna and her husband, Jordan, recently purchased a home in Greensboro. Donna Sue Hessmer Browning reports that her daughter, Caroline, graduated from N.C. State in May

CLASS NEWS 2016 and lives and works in Raleigh. She is happy to have her near. Elizabeth Holt is a senior in high school and is applying to colleges. Donna Sue and her husband, Holt, stay busy. And, a big thank you to Holt for grilling the tenderloin for the reunion party! Ellie Maynard still lives in southern Virginia, just three miles from the North Carolina border, pretending she is in Tar Heel country! Her older son got married in early October. He and his wife opened a bar in Raleigh, The Blind BARbour. They have received great reviews in local papers and magazines. Her younger son just got engaged and his twin sister is going to school in northern Virginia for sports therapy. She is one proud mama! Ellie loves having Mary Rhett Sparkman as a Facebook friend. Anne Heartt Gregory has put painting on pause to work on a hip hop album based on recordings she made of girls in Cameroon. Mindy Bebee Egan’s daughter, Katie, got married last spring, and the newlyweds live in Washington, D.C. Her oldest son, Michael, is an organic farmer outside of Savannah, Ga. Son Jack lives and works in Newport Beach, Calif. Chas, Mindy’s youngest, is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and has accepted a job in Atlanta in banking starting next summer. Mindy and husband Mike are so happy to get one of the four children back to Atlanta! Other exciting news is that Mike has retired from 31 years practicing law with the same firm and has to gone to work for a longtime client. He is having a ball, since part of his job as in-house counsel involves working with the Atlanta Falcons and the new Atlanta United MLS soccer team. Being the sports fanatic he is, Mike loves it, and drags Mindy along with him to sporting events. With their empty nest, Mindy and Mike try to spend more time traveling, trying to cram it all in before the grandchildren come along. Laura Frazier Norman first wrote that her big news was pending. But, then one piece of her pending news became non-pending. On October 21, 2016, her grandson, Graham Norman was born to son Dean and his wife, Annabel. Laura writes that Graham’s grandfather and uncle on his mother’s side were both defensive lineman at SMU and Oklahoma, respectively. But coming from a golfing family, they are hoping for a PGA golfer. We all remember that Laura was a golfer on the Saint Mary’s team, and she still

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plays. Dean and the new family now live in Greensboro. Daughter Sally lives in Boston. As for my news, I am a grandmother, too! Robert Eugene “Bear” Bittner IV was born on October 20, 2016, the day before Laura’s grandson. My daughter, Ila Walker Bittner ‘05 and husband Robbie live in Morehead City. Baby Bear is nicknamed after my daddy, E.M. “Bear” Knotts. This is great time for our family after losing my mother unexpectedly January 2016. After Ila’s maternity leave, she will return to her job in January with AmRisc, an insurance company. Our son, Locke, is an engineer with Wakestone Corporation and lives in Raleigh (yea!). Our youngest is a senior at Clemson University. My husband, Win, has retired from the insurance business after 37 years with Moore and Johnson Agency. We are taking advantage of this time to be grandparents, spending time with family, and doing things that have been on the back burner. After a couple months, we will see what new doors open. As I stated earlier, everyone who wrote in with their news commented about how much they enjoyed seeing classmates and reconnecting at our reunion party at Jean’s house. Another thank you to our wonderful bartender, Jean’s husband, Johnny. I hope those who were there will tell others what they missed, and we will have an even larger crowd in five years. Being in Raleigh, I do see a lot of Saint Mary’s friends. Facebook is a great way to reconnect – let’s keep it going! Just as a reminder, let Margaret McGlohon ’81C (memcglohon@sms.edu) in the Alumnae Office know if you have email or address changes. It was fun to hear from everyone! Bess Knotts Walker

1976

HIGH SCHOOL AND

1978

COLLEGE

Bebee Bason Lee ’76HS ’78C So happy to hear from so many of my ’76HS and ’78C classmates! Thanks to all of you who took the time to write with your news and special thanks for all the well wishes I received on the birth of my twin granddaughters. Liza Lamm Gauss ’78C writes in from Wilson, where she still works at Greenfield School as the director of the Language Center.

She loves having Beth Kirkland Peters ’78C as the new head of school at Greenfield. Liza says it is not often you get to have your best friend as your BOSS! Liza gets to Atlanta as often as possible to see her daughters, their husbands and, of course, her precious grandson, Bill Stallworth! Liza’s oldest daughter, Mary Riddick Stallworth, still loves teaching at Westminster in Atlanta. Her husband, William, owns a boutique Bowling Alley called The Painted Pin in Buckhead. Liza says it is a fun spot and encourages all to check it out when in Atlanta. Their youngest daughter, Anna Wooten, was married to Randall Loggins last June in Atlantic Beach. Anna opened her own design business in Atlanta called A Wooten Interiors. Liza asks anyone with design needs in Atlanta to look up A Wooten. Lisa Lofton Tomlinson ’78C shares that her youngest child (of her four), Mary Helen Tomlinson, was married September 24, 2016, in Charlotte at Christ Church to Justin Davis. Lisa also loves getting time with her granddaughter, Maddie. She loves having Saint Mary’s roommate Jan Stewart Atkins ’76HS ’78C living in North Carolina. And, Jan Stewart Atkins ’76HS ’78C loves seeing more Saint Mary’s girls since moving back to North Carolina from N.Y.C. in 2014. She and husband Darren traveled to Australia in November to see his family. They have also just started a new catering company, il Centro, in Graham. I can’t wait to try it out! Marsee Edwards Lee ’78C lives in Charleston. Her daughter, Carter, married Geordy Johnson in November of 2014, and they live in Spartanburg, S.C. Marsee’s son, Pierce, returned from USMC deployment in the Mideast in April 2016 and he received Navy and Marine Corps medals in September 2016. Pierce works in commercial real estate in Charleston. Marsee and Doug love spending time in the North Carolina mountains each summer. Elizabeth Kerr Agnew ’78C writes from Alexandria, Va., and says she had a great visit this summer with Donna Sherrill Steele ’78C, Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C and Martha Murphy ’78C. Elizabeth was happy to see Eleanor Snell ’78C, Ginny Anderson Broughton ’78C, Susan Worth Costabile ’78C, Terry Dawson ’78C and Mary Butler Thorp ’78C at their high school reunion in Fayetteville. Elizabeth’s son, Pen Jr., works for Deloitte in

Charlotte; her daughter, Stuart, lives in Jackson, Wyo., and works for AmeriCorp; and youngest child, Duncan, is a senior at Episcopal High School. Elizabeth’s husband, Pen, still works with the State Department. Always love hearing from Wimberley Burton ’78C, who writes that she had a wonderful time at an alumnae get together in Boston recently. Unfortunately, no one from our ’78C class was there and she says the recent graduates look so young. Wimberley and Kathy have decided to move to Brunswick, Maine, and build a house in an active 55-plus community with a golf course, pool, and tennis courts. Wimberley is looking forward to our 40th reunion in 2018. She also says it meant so much to her—the cards and attendance from Saint Mary’s classmates at her mother’s funeral this summer. Anna Neal Blanchard ’76HS writes to say she really feels like she’s returned to her Saint Mary’s roots in the past year! She loved reconnecting with many classmates this spring in Emily Warren McNair’s ’76HS beautiful garden for our 40th reunion. Anna Neal is also very much enjoying serving as an SMS trustee - a position that allows her to see up close what an outstanding job Saint Mary’s is doing in preparing the “whole girl” for what comes next, personally, educationally, and professionally. Anna Neal is prouder than ever to be a Saint Mary’s graduate and so happy to reconnect with fellow alums on the board like Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, and others. Furthermore, Anna Neal says that even after all these years, she still loves the game of tennis. Every now and then, she and Mabel Geoghegan Pace ’76HS will still hit the courts. Anna Neal has been blessed with two grands! The young lady who Anna Neal has been a big sister/mentor to for 21 years, Andi Hughes Clark, is now happily married with two children, one of them Anna Neal’s namesake! “So thankful to still have my 93-year-old Dad happy and healthy and keeping me hopping! I’m still enjoying rewarding work as executive director of The Stewards Fund, a private foundation that makes grants to Triangle nonprofits. Sending love to all the Saints!” Eleanor Snell ’78C writes that she recently saw Elizabeth Kerr Agnew ’78C, Ginny Anderson Broughton ’78C, Terry Dawson ’78C, Susan Worth Costabile ’78C, and Mary Butler Thorp

College Class of 1978 friends gathered for a mini-reunion in Charlotte in October. Left to right: Laura Spencer Lee Spencer, Jan Stewart Atkins, Peggy Aiken Bridgforth, Lisa Lofton Tomlinson, Donna Sherrill Steele, Lynn Ledford Brown, Mary McCann Pate, and Ann Martin Cochran.

’78C at their 40th high school reunion in Fayetteville. Eleanor sees Ruth Woronoff Pellisero ’78C at the beach and also had a fun visit with Ruth at Lake Wylie. Eleanor lives in Wilmington and, at age 58, is “going steady” with a wonderful man and now has four “insta grands” (14, 8, 2 and 1). Being an instant grandmother is the greatest! Ginny Anderson Broughton ’78C writes that her younger daughter, Hunter, is happily working in Raleigh and her older daughter, Virginia, is known as “the baby whisperer” by her babysitting clients in Raleigh. Son Mel plays soccer for Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. Ginny is happy to still have her mother around at 92. Ginny and husband Mel bought an old red Corvette and are pretending they live back in the 80’s again - having fun! Emilie Lamb Freeman ’78C writes that she and husband Ron are still in Asheville. Emilie continues to volunteer and enjoy all the great things Asheville has to offer. Her daughter is married and lives in Raleigh, while her son is happily settled at SHS in Frankfurt, Ky. Great to hear from Beth Hardy Wilson ’78C that she’s been living on the Outer Banks, in Manteo, for the past eight years. Beth has two daughters. Rachel is a landscape design major at N.C. State and daughter Jane graduated from Saint Mary’s last May. Jane is taking a gap year,

working in New Zealand and Spain. She plans to attend Sewanee University in fall ‘17. Beth is a sixth-grade teacher at Manteo Middle School. She reports, “Would love to see my Saint Mary’s buddies at the next reunion! Life is good!” Pam Evans ’78C reports that she has been a flight attendant for American Airlines for 35 years and lives in the Raleigh/Durham area. She enjoyed going to reunions in Durham and Atlantic Beach this year and seeing old friends. Frances Schultz Dittmer ’76HS is still shuttling back and forth between New York and California, promoting her book The Bee Cottage Story, and writing for magazines. The Dittmer family welcomed a new granddaughter two years ago, bringing their grands to three. Frances enjoyed having the New York Saint Mary’s girls for drinks at their Manhattan apartment in October. It was great to see Debora Turner Oster ’76HS at our 40th reunion and she recently became a grandmother, too. Her granddaughter, Pearl Vanda Oster, was born September 9. Marjorie Berry ’78C writes that she is still in Elizabeth City, working part-time at Arts of the Albemarle. She is also the fundraising chairwoman for the Museum of the Albemarle, so she keeps busy with special events. She just completed her 13th year as researcher/scriptwriter for the Elizabeth City Historic Ghost Walk. Frauke

CLASS NEWS LEADING LADIES OF SAINT MARY'S Martha Dabney Jones ’26C January 15, 1910 – February 15, 2014 In 1937, Martha Dabney Jones, a 1926 Saint Mary’s graduate, returned to her alma mater to teach English. As a student at Saint Mary’s, she was a member of volleyball, basketball, and track teams, and a member of the Virginia Club, the Pan Archon Council, the College Club, the Dramatic Club, the altar guild, and associate editor of The Muse, among other activities. After Saint Mary’s, she graduated from Sweet Briar College, earned her master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed further work at the University of Virginia. “Her keen intelligence and lively sense of humor made her an interesting as well as a strong teacher,” writes Martha Stoops in The Heritage. Jones served on Saint Mary’s centennial celebration committee, appointed by President Margaret Cruikshank, when the alumnae planned the largest reunion ever. For the 100th anniversary celebration in 1942, Jones wrote a historical pageant that emphasized “the continuity in daily Christian life at Saint Mary’s.” In 1943, Jones was among four female faculty members who left the school for the armed services in World War II. She was a member of a company of WAACs that landed in Normandy in July 1945, the first American women other than nurses to be sent to Europe during the war. She was stationed in London during the buzz bombing and later in Paris. In 1945, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Etoile by the French government. She returned to Saint Mary’s after the war and became dean of students,

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supervising daily life at school from 1947-1955 during the administration of President Richard Stone, the eighth head of the school. The students wrote of Dean Jones in the Stagecoach, “Her guidance has helped to uphold the high standards and ideals of Saint Mary’s. Her friendliness, helpfulness, consideration, and genuine interest in each girl has fostered school spirit. She is our guiding star.” Jones’s grandmother, Mary Smith Ruffin, had attended Saint Mary’s, and Martha Dabney had been a member of the faculty during the administration of President Margaret Cruikshank. Thus, she became a link in the “golden chain,” spanning several generations at Saint Mary’s. It is said that Dean Jones “ran a tight ship,” but also during her tenure, there was a gradual relaxation of the social restrictions in keeping with the trends of the times. By 1955, Jones had spent 20 years within the Grove, as a student, teacher, and dean, having left a permanent imprint on Saint Mary’s. She left in June that year to become head of another Episcopal School, Stuart Hall, in Staunton, Va. She filled that position with distinction until her retirement in 1972. She served a term as president of the Virginia Association for Preparatory Schools. Other highlights of her life and career included work as a missionary in Christian education in eastern Oregon, a public school teacher in Princess Anne County in Virginia, teacher at the Hannah More Academy in Maryland, and director of development at Stuart Hall. She was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Staunton, serving as treasurer and senior warden of the vestry. She was also active in the

local affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of American, the Mental Health Association, Meals on Wheels, and on the boards of Kings Daughters Hospital and the Community Concert Association. After moving to Charlottesville, Va., in 1988, Jones was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, where she served on the vestry, sang in the choir, and served as president of the St. Margaret’s Guild. She died February 15, 2014, at the age of 104. In all of her roles and positions, Jones exemplified the three themes she expressed as paramount in her life: learning, service, and thankfulness. Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Sources: The Heritage: The Education of Women at St. Mary’s College, Raleigh, N.C., 1842-1982, by Martha Sprouse Stoops The obituary of Martha Dabney Jones

Engel Mirenda ’78C writes that she is living in Raleigh again and loves it! She gets to hang with her old friends and family and it truly feels like she is home. Frauke works at WakeMed as a systems analyst (she builds Epic), has two grown and wonderful children, and feels very blessed. Allison Dorr Daniel ’76HS writes that by time the newsletter comes out she will have finished with her Peace Corps service in Aus, Namibia. She arrived in the country in April 2015, had 10 weeks of cross-cultural, language, and technical training before heading to the deep south of this very young and very beautiful, arid land – her service will finish June 2017. Allison has been a community health worker, mainly providing education about HIV and TB. She’s also had a girls club, taught business development skills to young adults, and taught women how to make crafts to increase their earning power, just to name a few projects. Allison writes that the people there are warm and welcoming and have really exemplified that we don’t need possessions to be happy. She has lived in a small flat with very few amenities but has been lucky to have running water and electricity. The community where she lives is the highest elevation in Namibia, where it even snows occasionally. This has been an incredibly rewarding experience that Allison is so glad to have had. She is not sure what’s next for her but plans to relax and get re-acclimated to American life for a few months. She notes that if anyone has job opportunities or ideas, she’d welcome the help! As for her three children, they are doing well. Her oldest (son) is out of college and now designing apps. Middle child (son) got married (she came home for the wedding) and manufactures boat lifts as well as owns his own jet ski rental business on Lake Gaston. Her wonderful daughter-in-law is a pharmacist. Allison’s youngest (daughter) just got her master’s and lives and works in Wilmington. Great to hear from Blanche Williamson ’76HS. She is excited to share that after many temporary moves she finally found her new home back in Raleigh. She enjoyed the Board of Visitors at SMS in October and loves serving on the SMS Alumnae Council. Blanche plans to be on the committee to make our 175th gala the best celebration Saint Mary’s has ever known. Hoping all who can will attend and share that special

SMS love! Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS 78C writes in from Wilson that husband Pat is still practicing law. Oldest son Patrick is in D.C., working on the Hill; middle son Alex is in Charlotte with TIAA; and youngest son Jack is finishing up at “the other Carolina,” University of South Carolina, and he loves it! Jane and Pat get to many UNC-Chapel Hill football games and to the beach often. They have also learned to appreciate SEC football and advise, “Never go without earplugs!” Jane hopes everyone will make a huge effort to come for the 175th! Mary Lawrence Hicks ’78C has been living in the Bay Area for 22 years now, and life is good! She is determined to attend our 40th reunion after missing the last two. She writes that the last time she was in Raleigh was for our 10th reunion. Sally Allen Watkins ’76HS writes that her first horse show after knee replacement this summer was fun and she even got some ribbons. Raz, her horse, was an excellent “Granny Mobile!” So good to see Sally at the reunion too! Mary Rogers ’76HS says she is vertical and happy! Mary is living in Columbia, S.C, working at the veterans’ hospital on the psychiatric ward as a social worker. Mary has started to think of work as being in downward slope and is aiming for the mountains of Brevard to be the next chapter of life. Mary hopes all is well with others. Mary Crenshaw Spalding ’78C lives in Nashville, Tenn., and is semi-retired from her interior design business. She still does projects here and there, and sells antiques online through 1stdibs. Mary has two beautiful English springer spaniels, named Sammy and Lily, and three grandchildren. Husband Michael is retired from his medical practice and has started a foundation to help kids with college tuition. They travel often and enjoy their lives in Nashville. If anyone is in the Nashville area, give her a call! Dillon Robinson Manly ’78C is still in the mountains of North Carolina. Dillon visited with several SMC girls at Figure 8 this fall. She was so happy that Liz Wright James ’78C was able to join them. Liz’s sweet husband, Alex, had the Cold Cuts in his downloaded music, and the ’78 Cold Cuts sang to her. It was such a happy night. So happy to hear from Mary Jane Given Devins ’76HS, who lives in Dedham, Mass., outside of Boston, and welcomes any Saint Mary’s visitors. She and Jim are new

empty nesters with their third and last daughter a freshman at University of South Carolina, where her older sisters graduated. Both girls stayed in the South, so Mary Jane is frequently back in Virginia, visiting her parents, at the beach in North Carolina, and making trips to South Carolina and Florida to visit her girls. I am thrilled to have my cousin, Susan Langley Elliott ’76HS, back in North Carolina. She moved from Atlanta this summer and is working as counsel with Parker Poe. Susan is happy to reconnect with family and old friends! I had a fun, fabulous dinner this summer with Susan and Frauke Engel Mirenda ’78C. Beth Ryan Winstead ’78C writes that she and Kurt are still in Franklin, Tenn. Beth has her own state government relations firm and Kurt has his law practice in Nashville, Tenn. Bridget, their oldest, just left D.C., where she worked for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to get her master’s in strategic public relations at the Annenberg School of Journalism at USC in Louisiana. Mary Hannah graduates from Auburn in December and plans to go to dental school next year. Always good to hear from Donna Sherrill Steele ’78C, who enjoyed seeing lots of Saint Mary’s friends over the past year at the beach, in Charlotte, and in Greensboro. She was recently with Sally Dillard Cohen ’78C, Elizabeth Stewart Long ’78C, Kappy Carr Black ’78C, Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS ’78C, Dillon Robinson Manly ’78C, Lee Archibald Taylor ’78C and Libby Holding ’78C, a.k.a. “The Berthas,” to celebrate and catch up. The best part was Alex James brought Liz Wright James ’78C down for 24 hours to join them. Donna writes of a favorite day this summer when Elizabeth Kerr Agnew ’78C came to Charlotte for a visit. Donna sees a good bit of Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C, and loves seeing and chatting with Martha Murphy ’76HS ’78C. Martha makes an overnight road trip from Columbia, S.C., to Charlotte often, to catch up with the Charlotte Saint Mary’s girls (wish I’d get invited to one of those Charlotte gatherings). Donna says that though her life at Saint Mary’s was only two years, the friendships that evolved are there for a lifetime. I totally agree. On a side note: Donna’s son, Harrison, works with my husband, David, at Wake Stone. Julie Little ’76HS writes that after 30 years in academia,

CLASS NEWS as a K-12 teacher, a university faculty member and administrator, and recently as a higher education information technology professional association administrator, she plans to retire at the end of 2016. Julie and husband (who retired last year) look forward to spending more time with her 90-year-old father, who still lives on the family’s North Carolina bicentennial farm. They also are enjoying hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from their east Tennessee mountain home, and figuring out what her next adventure will be that “pays it forward.” Julie wishes all of her Spirit of ’76HS classmates great health and much happiness! Martha Murphy ’76HS ’78C writes that she has just celebrated eight years of business and it is going like gangbusters – who knew! Mary McCann Pate ’76HS ’78C and her mom, Betty Sickles McCann ’53HS, came down to spend the night while attending parties in honor of Mary’s son, Thomas Manly, who is marrying a Columbia girl. They had a lot of fun talking about Saint Mary’s from the 1950s through to 1978. Libby Holding ’78C writes that she is working as the Alumnae Council liaison for SMS 175th Gala on Friday, May 12, 2017, and she would love to see her ’78C classmates there! This event promises to be extraordinary in celebrating Saint Mary’s and all that it stands for and means to the women it has educated in the past 175 years. She hopes that all our classmates will make every effort to attend. Kathy Reynolds Phillips ’78C writes, “Nothing new to report from here. Same job, same house, same husband. Ha! We are looking forward to going back to Charlotte for Thanksgiving.” She notes that her hometown of Lumberton was hit very hard by Hurricane Matthew, and though her family no longer lives there, she feels for the many classmates who have been impacted by flooding in Eastern North Carolina. Beth Kirkland Peters ’78C is pleased to share that she has been named head of school at Greenfield School in Wilson. After teaching math there for 31 years, she began her new position in July. “It is quite challenging but the school year is off to a great start. I get to see Liza Lamm Gauss ’78C quite often since she is the director of our Language Center.” As for me, I’ve had a busy summer with the September 13th birth of my twin granddaughters, Procter Grace O’Neal and Sadie Allen O’Neal.

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I am so happy to spend time with them and am so impressed with my son, Will, and daughterin-law, Hunter. They are doing a wonderful job in this new parent role. My daughter, Anna O’Neal ’05 lives in Raleigh and works for Red Hat. She loves her job, and I love getting to spend time with her. Son Sam is a project engineer in San Diego and is loving Southern California life. I continue in my role with Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, and husband David is still at Wake Stone.

1980

COLLEGE

Cissy Lofton Elmer ’80C Hi, everyone. It’s hard to believe it’s been 37 years since we were all together taking classes, singing in the choir, exploring Hillsborough Street, visiting the Car Shop, and maybe watching a few soap operas. Here’s the latest from our class. Tricia McLean was the first responder, and she is enjoying the design scene in Atlanta. Her St. Regis Residences model home won a 2015 International Property Award. Tricia is also featured in Traditional Homes magazines, so be on the lookout for her 2015 Atlanta Symphony Show House in upcoming issues, and she will be featured the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine as well. Her 2013 ASO Show House living room is featured in a book entitled Scalamandre Haute Décor. If you’re in the Atlanta area, look for Tricia at Patricia McLean Interiors, Inc. Sara Vestal Morgan is enjoying smaller town life after making the move from Raleigh to Rolesville. She and husband Tim enjoy having both of their children close by – Melissa and Daniel live in Wake Forest with their 18-monthold daughter, and James and Kimberly live in Raleigh with their 4-month-old daughter. Sara and Tim love being grandparents and they spend a lot of time with them all. Missy Underwood Miller is in Charlotte and enjoys making trips to Atlantic Beach and Blowing Rock as often as possible. Her son, Rob, works in Charleston, S.C., and her daughter, Liza, works in Atlanta, Ga. Stepdaughter Katie is a senior at St. Andrews in Delaware and is busy applying to colleges. Missy attended a luncheon this past summer in Blowing Rock with Nancy Scott Grantham and was also able to catch up with Terry Dabbs Lewis at the same luncheon. Hannah Wood Hepburn is in her

28th year working for ECA Recruiters in Radnor, Penn., placing medical and pharmaceutical sales managers and representatives across the country. Hannah’s oldest, Hep (21), is a junior at Washington College, playing lacrosse. Second child, Elizabeth, is a sophomore at University of Pittsburgh studying business, enjoying Delta Zeta, and was “Clara” this year in the university’s ballet performance, The Nutcracker. Hannah’s third child, Annie, is a junior in high school at The Agnes Irwin School for Girls. She has recently committed to play lacrosse at West Point, class of 2018. Hannah’s husband, Austin, has his own construction company in its 25th year and recently started a fishing business on the side. He is guiding trips to Guatemala for marlin/sailfish on a fly rod. Libby Blum Brown is a new grandmother. Charles Lee McPherson (Charlie) was born on his mommy’s birthday, June 25. Libby is enjoying every minute! Karen Turner is still with Parker Poe in Raleigh and loves living by herself with her sweet doggie, Annie. Karen is a fabulous watercolor artist and recently painted a gift for the daughter of Ann Browder Branch ’78HS. It’s a beautiful painting of a kitty playing in Ann’s veil when she was trying on her wedding dress. Karen enjoys an annual beach trip with Maupin Taylor friends, one of whom is Betty Smith ’79C from Whiteville, and Karen recently met one of the new attorneys with Parker Poe who is also a Saint Mary’s gal – Susan Langley Elliott ’76HS ’78C. Edie Lindsey Eckman is in Waynesboro, Va., and she travels all over the country teaching knitting and crocheting, both in person and online. Edie has a new book coming out: Every Which Way Crochet Borders. Mary Stowe ’80HS and Edie are in the same industry and the run into each other several times a year. Edie’s son, Charles, works in Mountain View, Calif., and her daughter, Margaret, works in Charlotte. Helen Parker sent a note saying that she could write a book about her life happenings but she just wanted to keep it sweet and simple and so she left off the news. Keep smiling, Helen, you have the warmest and biggest smile and bring happiness to so many. Jill Turner Kearse made the move from Columbia, S.C., back to her hometown of Spartanburg, S.C., just before the flood hit her old neighborhood in Columbia. She is settled in Spartanburg and her daugh-

ter, Rachel, attends Spartanburg Day School and recently got her driver’s license, which makes for some nervous days. Jill’s son, Drew (28), is doing very well with Millikin, traveling the Southeast and based out of Columbia. Drew’s house survived the flood but only by a mile or so. Terry McLennan Whitney, my childhood friend and former roommate at Saint Mary’s, is in Charlotte, working with Reid’s Fine Foods. I remember riding my bike to Reid’s when I was little and they were on Providence Road. You just signed a ticket for whatever you picked up, great memories. Reid’s is still a Charlotte favorite and they have evolved with the times, thanks to Terry’s style and grace. Terry’s son, Josh, is in the banking world in Charlotte and son Hayes is working in Austin, Texas. Joni Eargle Case is in Waxhaw, just outside of Charlotte, and stays very busy with her family (four grown children, two of whom are twins, four dogs, husband, and parents who are on the verge of assisted living) and her community involvement. She also makes beautiful beaded jewelry and needlepoints in her spare time. Probably not too much spare time in Joni’s life at this moment. Kelly Crouch lives in Dallas and is buying for a large western retail company. She travels a lot with her work and escapes to her family home in Kiawah, S.C., as often as possible. Though I didn’t receive official news from her, Elizabeth Kelly Hoeffer is in Columbia, S.C., working with Synovus and enjoying her horse, Kidd, and a few grandchildren thrown in for fun. Didn’t receive official news from Colleen Smith Turner either, but she is in Charlotte and has one son at N.C. State and one at the University of South Carolina: fun times for the Turners. I love staying in touch with my Saint Mary’s friends and between beach trips, N.Y.C. trips, emails and phone calls, we always pick up right where we left off. Good friends always, no matter what. We need to hear from more of you, even if you think you have no news. We would all like to know where you are and what you’re up to, so please consider sending a short note the next time around. Danny and I are still in Asheville, working with Christ School, the boy’s version of Saint Mary’s, which is fun and really busy as you can imagine! Our oldest, Ben, is a fly fishing guide with Brookings in Cashiers, and he loves his life, doing what he loves and mak-

ing a living at it. Sam is a senior at the University of Georgia and loves Athens, but will be on the job hunt in the spring of 2017, so if anyone has a financial type position open for him, let me know. Best to all of you, and please be in touch if you find yourself in the Asheville area. Cissy

1982

COLLEGE

Virginia Holland Brewer writes from Rocky Mount, “All is well with the Brewer family.” She and Joe have been busy attending sporting events for Clemson, N.C. State and UNCChapel. “Last year was especially fun pulling for Clemson! After attending the Notre Dame monsoon, ACC Championship, Orange Bowl, and national championship, we were of so close to seeing a perfect season. Fun but exhausting! Maybe this year.” Their older son, JB (26), is in his second year at Campbell Law School in Raleigh. Virginia enjoys babysitting his lab, Banks. Their younger son, Bill (22), is at Clemson, hence their avid interest in the Tigers. He has been interning there will graduate with a degree in sports marketing.

1982

HIGH SCHOOL AND

1984

COLLEGE

Beth Morris Gobble ’82HS ’84C Katherine White Messenger ’84C Laura Reiley Dean ’82HS ’84C left her previous surgical tech job of three years to take a new position as senior surgical tech with Northside Outpatient Surgery Center in Alpharetta, Ga. She is involved with a wide variety of specialty and general surgeries. Her daughter, Meredith, left New York after nearly two years to start working in Charlotte as studio coordinator for Ryan Seacrest Studios at Levine Children’s Hospital. Laura’s son, Harrison, is a junior at GCSU, enjoying life as a Theta Chi, spending time with his girlfriend, and squeezing in some time in for academics. Laurie has enjoyed having the kids just a short drive away. Marion Farrar Dalgleish ’82HS was looking forward to traveling to Korea, New Zealand, Australia (including Kangaroo Island), and Hong Kong in December 2016. She is currently staying

busy with home renovations and taking care of the family. Sadly her mother, Elizabeth (Betsy) Graves Burke Farrar ’42C died in May 2016, and Marion is now trying to adjust to life without her. Our sympathies are also extended to Virginia White Pou ’84C on the loss of her father, Charlie—a sweetheart of a man if ever there was one! Virginia and Wilson now have all three children swimming in college: Sara Morgan at East Carolina, and Cameron and Cary at Gardner-Webb. Virginia continues to teach and spend as much time at the beach as possible in the summer. Rhetta Cooke O’Quinn ’84C continues to love retirement and is living the good life in Emerald Isle. Meredith Casey Bourne ’82HS declares that, “Life is good!” Her son, Alston, is a sophomore at Hampden-Sydney College and she is still working with BB&T bank. Her family enjoys visits to Bald Head Island every chance they get. Mandy Bass Hudson ’82HS ’84C checked in from Chapel Hill, where she has lived with her husband and two kids for the past 10 years. She enjoys seeing SMC friends when they pass through. She is looking forward to our reunion. I happen to know that Sarah Wannamaker Karpie ’82HS ’84C and family finally left New York and moved to Nashville, Tenn.—a respectable distance back over the Mason-Dixon line and as close to God’s Country as she could get! Katherine White Messenger ’84C enjoys playing tennis and attending her children’s activities. Her oldest, Jack, is still swimming and is applying to colleges. He was the state champion in freestyle in 2016 and hopes to continue to swim in college. Hank is playing soccer, and Stewart enjoys cheerleading. Katherine and her family enjoy their home-away-from-home, on the White Oak River in Stella, whenever possible. Dan and I are still in Greensboro, where we are able to enjoy such events as the National Folk Festival. I stay busy attending to the never-ending challenges of a family business, serving on the board of Senior Resources of Guilford, and proclaiming the wonders of ShelfGenie. (We’d like to kayak more, however.) Remember our high school reunion in 2017 – 35 years! Beth

SAINT MARY'S REMEMBERS

LAURENCE GRAY SPRUNT FORMER TRUSTEE 1927-2016 Laurence Gray Sprunt, former Saint Mary’s trustee and loyal supporter, died peacefully Wednesday, September 28, 2016, at home. Mr. Sprunt served Saint Mary’s with distinction as a trustee from 1991-1995 and as a member of the National Leadership Council for Saint Mary’s Beyond Imagination Capital Campaign. Mr. Sprunt was born April 3, 1927, in Wilmington, N.C., to the late James Laurence Sprunt and Annie Gray Nash Ruffin Sprunt, Saint Mary’s high school Class of 1904 and the first female trustee at Saint Mary’s from the Diocese of East Carolina. Mr. Sprunt was preceded in death by his brothers, James Laurence Sprunt, Jr., Peter Brown Ruffin, Kenneth Murchison Sprunt, and Samuel Nash Sprunt. Mr. Sprunt attended Tileston Elementary School in Wilmington, Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., and he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1949. During WWII, he spent three years and five days in the U.S. Navy, aboard the USS Chester T. O’ Brien. He was a partner in the Carolina Pacific Plywood Company and later owned and managed Farmer’s Supply Company, where he was known for his amusing sayings on the front sign. To his knowledge, he was the last surviving employee of his fam-

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ily’s cotton business, Alexander Sprunt and Son, where as a teenager he learned to grade cotton. Mr. Sprunt’s heart and soul was his family home, Orton Plantation, which he managed with his brother, Kenneth, for the last half of his life. A nature lover, he was especially interPast, A Stairway to the Future, ested in pine trees, alligators, birds, Venus flytraps, and which was a compilation of stories camellias. He enjoyed seeing Or- from his wonderful life. ton transformed He is survived into the setting by his wife of 52 Mr. Sprunt was of the first major years, Elizabeth the quintessential movie filmed in Harriss Sprunt Southern the area, Fire’50C, daughters gentleman, starter, starring Elizabeth Harknown for his wit a young Drew riss Dunn and AnBarrymore in the and his clever nie Gray Sprunt early 1980s. Johnston ’83HS story telling ’85C, and son DaMr. Sprunt was ability. vid Harriss Sprunt the quintessenand wife Louise tial Southern Liggett Sprunt. gentleman, known for his wit and He is also survived by his beloved his clever story telling ability. He was involved in numerous cul- grandchildren George Edward tural and charitable organizations. Holt IV, Annie Gray Holt, MargaHe was an avid hunter, fisherman, ret Murchison Sprunt, Louise LeBsailor, and was proud to have com- lond Sprunt, and Virginia Elizabeth pleted several YMCA triathlons at Sprunt, as well as a gracious plenty Wrightsville Beach. He was an en- of nieces, nephews, and cousins. thusiastic member of the Tuesday A celebration of his life was held Night Poker Club. Sunday, October 2, 2016 at St. He wrote a delightful book, The James Parish in Wilmington.

CLASS NEWS

1986

HIGH SCHOOL

Susan Sommers Crisp ’86HS Elizabeth Stickley Scott ’86HS ’88C Meg Arey Bell writes from Rocky Mount, with news of a new “Goldendoodle” puppy. “I hope by the time this is published he has stopped chewing on everything and everyone! Arby is in fifth grade and seems to be doing math that we did at SMC. Loved seeing all at the reunion!” McLean Bradshaw writes, “Giving a shout out to all my high school and college pals, sending SMC hugs, kisses, and well wishes. Per my last transmission, am celebrating 10+ years “Livin’ the Lenovo Dream,” and still loving what I do, more so as I am lucky to cover “Partners/Customers” in the great state of North Carolina—woo hoo!” McLean continues to enjoy travel for work and fun, with her headlining 2016 adventures being tropical fun in Nevis, West Indies, and Salt Lake City. She plans to reconnect with Lisey Wilson while checking out what Utah has to offer. McLean is thrilled to continue keeping in touch with Harriet Adams Harvey , Stepha-

nie Yelton Williard, Shore Tucker McCall ’88C with special appearances by Corinne Kirksey Alavi ’88C between alumnae weekends. Neely Barnwell Dykshorn moved into a Federal era home next door to the one she had been living in. She just finished working with Chris and Beth Van Dorp Collier at the High Point Furniture Market, where VanCollier had another successful showing. Susan Sommers Crisp bought and renovated a new home, and is still getting settled, but happy to finally be moved in.

1986

COLLEGE

Susan Langston ’84HS ’86C Margaret Efird Edwards still enjoys living in Kinston with her husband of 26 years, Win. Their oldest daughter, Margaret Ellen, graduated from East Carolina in May and is teaching kindergarten at Snow Hill Primary. Their middle daughter, Claire, is a freshman at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Their youngest daughter is a junior at Parrott Academy in Kinston. “I am at Parrott Academy also, as a first grade assistant,” reports Mar-

garet. “I am continuing to enjoy spending lots of time in Kinston with Mary Catherine Hardy Williams.”

1988

COLLEGE

Olga McCoy Faison ’88C McLean Bradshaw writes, “Giving a shout out to all my high school and college pals and sending SMC hugs, kisses, and well wishes.” She is celebrating 10+ years “Livin’ the Lenovo Dream,” and still loves her work. She enjoys travel for work and fun, and reconnected with Lisey Wilson ’86HS on a visit to Utah. McLean keeps in touch with Harriet Adams Harvey, Stephanie Yelton Williard, Shore Tucker McCall, and Corinne Kirksey Alavi. Niki Eubank writes from Greensboro. Her son, Carter, is a high school senior. Meg Arey Bell writes from Rocky Mount. Her husband is a builder and son Arby is in fifthgrade. Julie Rochon wrote from Quebec City, Canada, where she is starting an executive program in social impact strategy. Julie’s daughter, Coralie Trudeau, started college this year. I was happy to see Mary Virginia Swain ’77C and Kim Norfleet Collie last year in Raleigh. Kim’s daughters are both SMS students. My oldest in in high school, and the two youngest are close behind. Love from Charlotte, Olga

1988

HIGH SCHOOL

College Class of 1988 friends gathered for a weekend reunion at Atlantic Beach in October. Front row, left to right: Michelle Beuchler Richards, Melissa Powell Leak, Kelly Piggott Mortemousque, Liz Fletcher OHerron, Melissa Gibson Estes, Leigh McAdoo Kempf; second row: Elizabeth Vandiver Harris, Tracye O’Bannon Wheless, Kathryn Swing Smith, Tracy Woolard Mayo, Jane Pattishall Snyder (Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)

Melissa Morrisette Tillman ’88HS Oh my! Our beloved High School Class of 1988 must be very busy - only three responses. Please do let us hear from you next time. I’ve had the great pleasure of seeing Heather Moore Thompson at a number of SMS events. Heather reports that her daughter, Grace Battle Thompson ’18, is taking full advantage of the SMS experience, which is filled with endless opportunities to be prepared for college and life. Another bonus: “It’s super fun to reconnect with alumnae who are now proud SMS parents.” Heather has left the comforts of home to serve as director of development for The REALTOR Foundation of Wake County. It was a treat to visit with Joelle Doane Pemberton at the pool this past summer. Joelle’s two girls (7 and 10), keep her busy, as does teaching pre-school two morn-

CLASS NEWS ings a week at White Memorial Church. Alisa Evans Murray celebrated the marriage of her daughter this past summer and also shares that her son, Edward, is training to compete as a fencer. Her photography studio in Houston continues to thrive after 12 years, and Alisa has taken up writing (Living the Sweet Life is her column) and plans a March 2017 book debut. As for me, I stay busy with our two children, Rollie (16, now driving, yikes!) and Eliza Dunn (12). In addition to family life, I’m fortunate to have a wonderful position in human resources at First Citizens Bank and am serving a second year on the SMS Alumnae Council. It’s wonderful being back on campus, and mind boggling that we graduated almost 30 years ago. Please consider coming to Raleigh for our 30th reunion. Hugs, Melissa

1990

HIGH SCHOOL

Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS Hello, fellow classmates and friends! Sarah Coleman Wilson lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in her free time loves yoga, running, and traveling with her husband, family, or friends. She writes, “I am a Gynocology Nurse Practitioner and am on the board for Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Cincinnati and volunteer for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio.” Heather Walker Youskauskas recently went through brain surgery in late May to remove a tumor and then had to undergo radiation treatment for six weeks. She reports, “Everything went extremely well and I am on the road to recovery. I’ll return to work soon as well. Our son, William (23), moved out earlier this year and is working for a telecommunications company locally in Charlotte and is doing quite well. Our daughter, Robin, turned 14 in August and started ninth-grade this year. She made the JV volleyball team for her high school and is having a blast! My husband is still enjoying flying jets, often with an office view of the clouds. It’s been a challenging year for all of us but we are excited about the future and years to come.” All is well with me and my family in Richmond, Va. I’ve been married to my husband Marty for six years, and we have one son, Henry (2). He is the most fun we’ve ever had and we love watching him grow and learn every day. I still love my work as the deputy director of the Depart-

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ment of Historic Resources. I also really enjoy reconnecting with my SMS family as part of the Alumnae Council as well. I love keeping up with everyone on Facebook and seeing you all and your beautiful families. Stay in touch and all the best, Stephanie.

1992

COLLEGE

Michelle McLaughlin Cheshire ’92C Weldon Jackson Byrtus writes, “I still enjoy working at Saint Mary’s School and am excited about our 175th celebration. It wasn’t too long ago when we celebrated our 150th! I’m hoping to see all of you at our reunion/ birthday party!” Weldon’s daughter, Liza, is a first-grader.

1994

COLLEGE

Andrea Staunch Green ’94C Adrienne Skarzynski Beauchamp and her husband, William, currently reside in Lewisville with their two children. Will is a sophomore in high school, and Maggie has started middle school. Both kids are active in church and various sports. Adrienne and William are looking forward to starting the college search process with Will very soon. Angie Bunn has moved back to Raleigh. She loved Alaska, but was ready to be closer to family and N.C. State athletics. She had an amazing journey driving almost 5,000 miles across Canada and the United States! Grayson Hux Chase just moved with her family to a new house in North Raleigh. Carter (5) is in kindergarten and Jackson (3) started his first year of preschool. Margery Knott Clifton and her husband, Ben, are having a great time with their two-year-old twin boys, Frank and Walker. The boys are growing so much and have recently started preschool at Hayes Barton Methodist Church, where they are loving the freedom away from mom and dad for a small part of the week. Their fall has been busy with travel to the North Carolina mountains and plenty of football games in Chapel Hill and Boone. Sally Howell Donaldson and her husband, Sean, have had a busy year with work and travel. They took Sally’s parents to Mexico in January for their 50th wedding anniversary. Sally enjoyed two special trips with her mother this year, to St. Martin and San Fran-

cisco. Sally and Sean love seeing SMC girls. Mary Pat Phillips Radford’s oldest daughter, Isabelle, is Sally’s goddaughter. They were fortunate to spend a lot of time together this past year in Sarasota and Raleigh. Sally did her annual fundraiser for ovarian cancer, of which she is a survivor, and many friends and family attended again this year. She enjoyed having Mary Pat Phillips Radford and Ann Green Floyd stay with her. She says there are no better friendships than the ones you create at SMC. I agree! Amy Warren Dowdle is still in Wake Forest. Her oldest daughter, Clayton, started high school, and her youngest daughter, Campbell, started kindergarten. In between, her daughter, Baity, is ending middle school, and her son, Walker, is finishing elementary school. Lots of firsts and lasts. They spend most holidays at Ocean Isle Beach, and get to Disney or Universal in Florida once a year. Amy is still working for her father as a legal assistant. She lost her beloved grandmother, Hilda, in August, but she had 99 wonderful, healthy years, so Amy is grateful for that. Amy’s brother, Tom, and his family are moving into their grandmother’s house, which is right around the block from them, so that’s exciting for their two families. She misses all of the girls from Saint Mary’s, and would love to see everyone again soon. Meredith Toomes Gibbs loves living in Orlando, Fla., with her husband and nine-year-old twins, Joshua and Lily. She stays busy working in downtown Orlando at the same school her children attend. They still like all things water-related, and she loves building “Breakouts” for her students (think Escape Room but a classroom). Her favorite time of day is when everyone winds down and they all snuggle and talk about their day. Susan Taylor Hawes lives in Charlotte. Her kids are Catherine (16), Wilson (14), and Matthew (11), and yellow lab, Rosie. Her daughter is excited to have gotten her driver’s license, and Susan is one scared mama! Susan has dated her boyfriend, David, for eight years and he is still helping her get a private pilot’s license. She is currently a nanny for a family, but her all-time dream is to pursue a career in aviation. Emily Jackson Hines has been living in Charlotte for about 15 years. She is a stay at home mom with a son, Thomas (2), and an infant daughter, Emma. Joanna Weatherman Huskey and her hus-

band, Matt, still live in Winston-Salem. On September 8, her grandson, Dawson Coleman, was born! He’s the son of the son she had her senior year of high school, and placed for adoption. He found her a little more than three years ago, and she feels so blessed to have both Aaron and Dawson in her life now, along with Aaron’s adoptive family who helped him find her. Joanna and Matt also have another addition to their family, a new Ragdoll kitten named Oliver (Ollie), who they brought home in August. Finally, she celebrated her 15th work anniversary last February with Wake Forest Medical School in the medical school library as the administrative manager. Robin White Mangum lives in Raleigh with her husband of 13 years and three boys, Bear (12), Gus (8), and Hugh (5). When not playing chauffeur to her boys, she has a food business called The Sunshine Kitchen, making family dinners and treats. Amy McIlvain Powell lives in Raleigh and enjoys spending an occasional girls weekend with some of her SMC friends (Stacey Stallard Shaughnessy, Katie O’Neil Hortsmann, Ellie Jarman, Allison Partridge Beckham, and Anne Glenn Rettiger). She has two kids, Hartley (11) and Hays (8). Mary Pat Philliips Radford is living in Sarasota, Fla., with her husband, Kevin, and their two daughters, Izzie (13) and Eliza (10). She stays busy encouraging both her daughters’ love of the arts, Izzie with her ballet, and Eliza with her singing and theater. Her family enjoys spending time on the water, boating and paddle boarding. Mary Pat spent a lot of time in North Carolina this past summer and enjoyed seeing many of her SMC friends. She says if anyone is ever in the Sarasota area, she would love a visit. Austin Staunch lives in San Francisco, and is lucky to still be there with a rent-controlled apartment. She misses North Carolina and visits at least twice a year, but the artistic and progressive nature of the Bay Area is more her speed. She never went the marriage and kids route, and the freedom suits her just fine. Austin still loves to take off on a moment’s notice for something that sounds interesting. She works with the local stagehand’s union, building events and shows: anything from Google conventions and the Super Bowl, to Beyonce and Metallica concerts. Last year, she was a writer for SF Weekly’s Exhibitionist blog, covering strange,

countercultural events. Austin also works seasonally for Burning Man as an assistant manager for the construction crew of their largest center structure. In her spare time, she helps throw conceptual underground artistic events and goes sailing with friends. She welcomes visitors. Alison Britt White remains in Asheville with her husband, Tilden, and their two daughters. Sara Grace (15) started high school this year, and Sailor (10) is in the fourth grade. The real estate business is going strong, and she works with Beverly-Hanks & Associates. I, Andrea Staunch Green, have been in Charlotte for several years. Caroline is in the fourth grade and Alex is in the first grade. This has been a challenging year for us. My husband and I separated after 15 years, under unexpected circumstances. I’ve spent the year trying to stay positive and keep busy with my PTA and room mom responsibilities, charity work, and lots of hot yoga. We lost our beloved mutt, Gumbo, so Bucky is an only dog now and does an exceptional job keeping me company. A highlight this year was spending almost a week with my twin sister, Austin Staunch ’94C, in San Francisco, and we had a ball exploring her city and playing twin tricks on her friends. It still works!

1994

HIGH SCHOOL AND

1996

COLLEGE

Julieanne Arnold Thomas lives in Wilson with active twin boys (10) who keep them going with sports, surfing, and school activities. She enjoys seeing many SMS friends throughout the year.

Save the Date!

175th

Anniversary Gala May 12

1996

HIGH SCHOOL

Christina Lind Overby ’96HS Hello Class of ’96! My husband, Chris, and I, and our two daughters Anna Kate (5) and Allison (3), continue to call North Raleigh home. Anna Kate began kindergarten this year at my school, Heritage Elementary, where I am teaching fifth grade for the second year (14 years teaching there total), and she loves being a “staff student!” Allie is doing well at Bedford School of Discovery in the 3’s class. We unexpectedly lost my dad, Bob Lind, in December of 2015. Life has been hard this year as our family adjusts to this huge loss. I hope all of my SMS friends are doing well. LauraBurke Davis Kerr enjoyed seeing everyone at the reunion in summer 2016! Laura-Burke continues to live in Raleigh with her husband, John, and her two girls (5 and 9). She is working part time as a speech pathologist in several independent and assisted living facilities in the area, working with patients who have had strokes, brain injuries, dementia, and other neurological disorders. Leslie Allred Yates is still head of the catering division at K&W Cafeterias. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Raleigh with their daughter, Vivian (2), who keeps them very busy, and their two standard poodles. Laura Lee Raynor Martinez and her husband, Matt, welcomed their son, Robert Matthew Martinez, in July 2016. Laura enjoyed seeing Adrianne Stone Wegner, Angie DeMario McGovern, Ashley Twiggs, Courtney Weill Doi, and Sarah Givens in North Carolina this past spring.

1997

COLLEGE

Kristin Woods Williamson ’97C Dear classmates! Wishing you all the very best as we draw close to our 20-year reunion this spring. Isn’t it amazing how two short years shaped our lives? Hard to believe we are nearing this milestone. Whitley Adkins Hamlin is busy in Charlotte chasing her boys, Hank and Worth, and managing her wardrobe styling business. She is thrilled to have found a way to professionally pursue her passion. She is still running and qualified for the 2016 Boston Marathon. She has enjoyed watching her Tar Heels, Panthers, and Clemson Tigers excel.

CLASS NEWS The past year has also brought its challenges. She and her husband Jon separated, and while it’s been difficult, they are working together to raise their boys with love and respect. Her father continues his battle with Parkinson’s disease and lives on their family farm in Fort Mill, S.C., and her mother and stepfather are also nearby. Whitley sends her best to all! Leigh South Howell also lives in Charlotte with her husband, Kevin, who works for Saedacco in Fort Mill, S.C., her children, Chase (7), Simmons (4), and Bailey, the dog. She is working as a dental hygienist three days a week for Drs. Markham and Hair. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteers at Chase’s school, is a team mom for his baseball team, and mentors for the Bruce Irons Fund. Katherine Holt Kochakji is in Wilmington and continues her work as a gifted education specialist at Wrightsville Beach School. Her husband, Gregg, works with special needs students at a local high school. Her daughter, Kate (10), plays soccer with the Wilmington Hammerheads youth program and takes tennis lessons, although her favorite sport is body surfing. Katherine’s son, Holt (8), has chosen to play the most dangerous contact sports of all, in her opinion. The more football, lacrosse and rugby, the better! Jennifer Locke McCann and her husband, John, renovated a 100-year-old house in her hometown of Enfield. It was a huge undertaking and they’re still getting settled, but she’s excited that it will be on a colonial homes tour. She loves her career with Petroleum Marketers, providing energy efficient incentives for Duke Energy, primarily in the Carolinas. And, Outer Banks Tennis Contractors is still building courts everywhere. She and John enjoy splitting their time between Atlantic Beach and the country, but with two nieces, they find that they’re in Halifax County more and more. She is celebrating eight years cancer free and appreciates every minute she has with her family. Jenkins and I are still in Columbia, S.C., and busy chasing our daughter, Mercer (2). I am enjoying my interiors shop, upholstery line and design business, Travertine Home. Wishing you all the best! Kristen *This newsletter was inadvertently omitted from the summer 2016 magazine, when the odd-year classes were published.

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1998

COLLEGE

home soon! Jen loves returning to Raleigh as often as possible to spend time with some of her favorites from SMC and their sweet little ones. Blair Key Carter is teaching outside of Winston-Salem, where she lives with her two kids (7 and 10). She has recently begun selling Lularoe and is loving being an independent business woman! Lynn Scholtz Roberts lives with her husband and three kids in Asheville. She is now a yoga instructor and loves sharing her passion of yoga with others! Can’t wait to catch up with everyone at our next reunion. xoxo Liz

Liz Knox Bottoms ’96HS ’98C Hey, y’all! Every time I drive past SMS, my little Emma (2) yells, “Saint Mary’s!” I took her with me to my high school reunion last year and bought her an SMS sweatshirt. It’s the cutest thing, and Leslie Allred Yates and I talk about our girls being able to attend together in the future. It definitely holds a special place in my heart! My husband, Tommy, and I live in Raleigh with our Brewer (1) and Emma Reese (2). Even though they are 14 months apart, I feel like they are twins. They definitely keep us on our toes! This is my 15th HIGH SCHOOL year teaching, and this year I was awarded Mary Catherine Grooms Walker has a new Teacher of the Year. My twin sister, Laura job as executive assistant at Mann & HumKnox Yarbrough had a crazy 2015-2016. She mel Filtration Technology in Gastonia. She is battled oral cancer, survived radiation, chemo, working on her MBA at Queens University in and a 12-hour surgery to remove part of her Charlotte, and lives in Gastonia. right jawbone—which was replaced with part of her left leg bone. After months and months, she is healing and cancer free! Laura’s munch- Katherine Cvetko McElroy ’00 kins (5 and 7) pulled her through it! During Anna Dale Bazemore and her husband, that same time, she was awarded the Remax Jonathan, live in Raleigh with their two sons. Hall of Fame honor. She truly loves selling Hudson is a second-grader at Root Elemenreal estate in the Triangle. Laura’s husband re- tary and Myers just turned two. Jamie Miller cently joined her team. They are truly blessed. Brown lives in Wilmington with her husband, Laura-Burke Davis Kerr and her husband, Mike, and son Corbett (2). They love living John, are in Raleigh still, and have two girls (5 near the beach and spent a lot of time there and 9). She works part time as a speech pathol- this summer. Between moving into a new ogist in several independent and assisted living facilities in the area, working with patients who have had strokes, brain injuries, dementia, and other neurological disorders. Leslie Allred Yates lives in Raleigh. She loves working with her family at K&W, and K&W is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. Leslie and her husband, Kevin, enjoy raising the funniest 2-yearold on the planet and playing with their poodles. Jennifer Davis Salley lives in Richmond, Va., and teaches first grade. She and her husband, Eric, are continuing Dorothy Matteson Pierce ’04, center; husband Jason, left; and Devan, left; welcomed a son, Smith Rhodes Pierce, in their journey of adoption stepson Dorothy’s arms, December 5, 2015. Proud grandparents, pictured and hope to welcome a child right, are Ann Watters Matteson ’75HS and husband Glenn Matteson.

1998

2000

CONNECT ONLINE

home and looking after a toddler, life is busy for Jamie, but wonderful! Michaela Idhammar Ketpura loves her new position as executive director of Aspen Youth Center in Aspen, Colo. She married her husband, Nick, in 2014 and they just welcomed their first little one on September 7, 2016, Sylvie Ingrid. She and her family are enjoying Aspen, the outdoors, and skiing! Latane Crittenden Miller currently lives in Dallas and has a daughter, Harper, who was a year old on November 30. Sarah Rose Nordgren and Kathleen Kelley are still artistic soul-mates. In October they produced a performance and video installation called Digitized Figures in New York City, under their collaborative name, Smart Snow. Sarah Rose’s second poetry collection, Darwin’s Mother, is forthcoming from University of Pittsburgh Press in fall 2017, and she also recently began publishing her creative nonfiction writing in national journals. She lives in Cincinnati with her partner and stepson, and she’s a PhD. candidate in poetry at University of Cincinnati. She says, “Cincinnati is a cool city - come visit!” Ashley Lillian Erickson

Reineman works as assistant director for law and policy at the Center for Ocean Solutions as a part of the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. She enjoys living in Palo Alto, Calif., with her husband, Dan, and their golden retriever, Lou. Anna Burkhart Turner is in product management at a software company in Charleston, S.C. She and her husband, Matt, spend most of their free time chasing around their two high-energy boys, now 3 and 4. They spend a lot of time outdoors, at the beach, and in parks. Anna looks forward to seeing everyone at the next reunion! Katherine Cvetko McElroy lives in Charleston, S.C., with her husband, Richard, and their three children, Mac (6) , Gray (3), and baby Eve Capers McElroy, born November 10. Katherine Kemp Robbins writes, “Matt and I welcomed our son, Henry Daniel, on March 22, 2016. Our daughter Sarah Leighton (3) is thrilled to be a big sister and loves helping out and loving her baby brother well! We are settling in as a family of four. I am still at St. David’s School as the lower school librarian and loving it! It was great being back on campus for the Wake County alumnae event, and I hope more girls can make it to the 175th party!”

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2002

Jennifer Sutton Selph ’02 Tiffanie Agee graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2013 with a J.D., and then graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2016 with an LL.M in business transactions. She began working as an attorney in 2015, and recently opened her own firm, Agee Law LLC, located in Birmingham, Ala. She is involved in several civic and community organizations and sits on the board of Women for Political Progress. She also tutors high school students and speaks at community events. Joie Emerick Austin enjoys life in the country with her husband of six years. They

have two beautiful children: Sam (2) and Daisy (4). She is working full time as a veterinary assistant while attending school to become a registered veterinary technician. In her spare time, she and her husband continue to work on the house they built together. Ellen Johnson Bailey, formerly a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, has recently taken a position at BB&T Scott & Stringellow, coordinating the Rakestraw-Malloy Wealth Management Group. She and husband Rhett have two children, Davis (3) and Virginia “Sloan” (2). They live in Raleigh. Becky Bengel is a realtor for Keller Williams in New Bern, and she and her brother own and run three restaurants there: Bakers Kitchen, Beer Army Burger Company, and Lawson’s Landing. Becky has a little girl named Emily Kathryn (4). Adair Calamos Blount and Michael welcomed a baby girl, Laura Anderson “Sunny” Blount, on October 4, 2016. Christine Hodge Christ and husband Jeremy welcomed a daughter, Cameron Rose Christ, on October 9, 2015. They live in Charlotte, and Christine is now the controller for all North Carolina and South Carolina H&M stores. Hallie Sessoms Kennedy and husband Griffin are living in their new home in Durham. Hallie is working as a project manager with New Media Campaigns of Carrboro, where she specializes in law firm web design and digital media strategy. Jillana Lamm and Adam Richard Zipf were married on Saturday, November 26, 2016, at the Saint Mary’s School Chapel. Jillana lives in Greenville, N.C. Jessica Burke Mulkey lives in Raleigh, and loves her current job as stay-at-home mom to her three kids with husband David: Regan (5), Conor (3), and Quinn (9 months). Erin Pope and Tate Allen Jr. welcomed a son, Tate Boys Sterrett Allen III, on May 20, 2016. They live in Greenville, N.C. Katie Stuart Power lives in Nashville, Tenn. She is a nurse in the emergency room at Nashville General Hospital. She is currently in graduate school for a master’s in nursing: family nurse practitioner. She and husband Andy have a son, Conrad (4). Jennifer Sutton Selph married Robert Lewis Selph of Palmyra, Va., on June 29, 2016, and gained three children: Anna (11), Vincent (9), and Audrey (7). Jenny and husband Bob recently moved to the Outer Banks and have started a furniture and art business, specializing in reclaimed wood: Pirate Nation Pallet

CLASS NEWS

Britt Carl ’04 holds her goddaughter, Wilsie Antigone Gillespie, daughter of classmate Nia Triantis Gillespie ’04, pictured right.

Productions. Alison Stahl lives in Charlotte and just celebrated her 10th anniversary with Cisco in the sales organization. Anna Johnston Surratt married Daniel Bynum Surratt of Mount Airy, on October 29, 2016. They recently bought a home together in Garner, just outside of Raleigh. Anna started as an account manager at Global Knowledge in May 2015, and was promoted to assistant manager South East Regional Team in August 2016. Hollan Rudolph Young is married to Glenn Young, and they live in Raleigh with their twin boys, Glenn and Mack (2.5). Hollan is a stay-athome mom. Lindsay Speros Robbins writes, “Henry and I are loving life in Chapel Hill with our two boys, Henry (3) and Calder (born in April). I’m in my third year of Ob/Gyn residency at UNC-Chapel Hill. Looking forward to our reunion weekend.”

2004

Katie Whitmore Allred ’04  Ryan Anthony Marston lives in Atlanta, Ga., with her husband and fur baby, Penny. She was married in July 2015 and they both quit their jobs to travel around the world for seven months. They returned to the United States in March 2016, and they are enjoying getting settled into reality! Hannah Barker lives in West Hollywood, Calif., and celebrated her four-year anniversary in September at the

Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu

Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, where she works in communications. Alaina Boyle is a doctoral candidate in the human development and family sciences department at University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on how school, family, and socioeconomic factors affect psychological adjustment and academic outcomes of low-income and ethnic minority youth. While Austin is a blast, Alaina misses the four distinct seasons of North Carolina! Emily Brooks Rowe was married on September 17, 2016, in Raleigh, to Patrick Ambrose Rowe. Fletcher McNair Mebane was a bridesmaid in their wedding ceremony at Holy Trinity Church. Their reception was at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Emily and Patrick reside in the Five Points area in Raleigh. Britt Carl enjoys being a student success coach and co-coordinator of the Summer Experience Program at High Point University. She is also a proud godmother to Nia Triantis Gillespie’s new baby girl. Anne Futrell Farless lives in Merry Hill, with her husband, Elliott, and their daughter, Ridley, who turned one on October 8. Anne owns Summerhouse, a design studio and storefront located in downtown Edenton. Dorothy Matteson Pierce and her husband, Jason, welcomed a son, Smith Rhodes Pierce, on December 5, 2015. They are living in Benson, and love being new parents! Dorothy works at Fuquay-Varina Presbyterian Church as the director of administration, while also handling the marketing for her husband’s company. Cameron Moss is lives in Raleigh and has worked with Barnhill for almost four years now—they keep her busy! She enjoys spending time in the country with her dog, Miley; her boyfriend, Rance; and his daughter, Taylor. She can’t believe it’s been 12 years since we graduated! Lesli Oakley opened her own Merle Norman store in her hometown of Roxboro in July. Merriweather Raidle Mulé lives in Charleston, S.C., with her husband, Michael, and their daughter, Camille (1). She recently accepted a new position as the director of financial planning and wealth management at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management. In her free time, she continues to enjoy doing marketing and development for ChezBlanc, LLC. Emily Stocks Walker lives in Dallas with her husband, Austin. They were blessed with the gift of a son, Stocks, on December 22, 2015. Nia Triantis Gillespie

welcomed a baby girl on June 23, 2016, in Santa Fe, N.M. Her name is Wilsie Antigone after her paternal great-grandmothers. Nia also completed one year with Santa Fe Public Schools, teaching English language arts at a bilingual school. I, Katie Whitmore Allred, live in West Point, N.Y., with my husband, Ryan, who is currently stationed at The United States Military Academy at West Point as a dentist and Captain in the Army. I am working in the West Point admissions office, and we stay busy exploring the Northeast. While we miss our home state of North Carolina, we love being part of the West Point community. Go Army! Katie

2006

Caroline Ward Manning ’06  It was so wonderful to get to see many of our classmates at our 10-year reunion this past spring. Saint Mary’s had a beautiful gathering for all of us on Friday evening, and we were thankful to both Caroline Williams and Lauren Robbins Dickson for their southern hospitality through dinners and parties hosted by them. Julia Coleman is excited to have moved back to Charlotte from Colorado. Anna Dowling is working on her doctorate in clinical psychology at California Lutheran University. She graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., in May 2016 with a master’s in psychology. Paige Nelson Grimball welcomed a son, Nelson Heyward Davenport Grimball, on December 15. Leigh Habegger lives in D.C. and works for Pike Associates, where she has had the opportunity to lead the legislative strategy for a national fishing coalition. She enjoys working with Congress and the administration to promote sustainable fisheries. Kate Horney Hutchison married Wylie Hutchison in High Point on Sept. 26. Charlotte Horney ’09, Alexandra Speros and Carly Phillips Duguid were bridesmaids in her wedding. Kate has started her own successful interior design business, Kate.H.Design, in Raleigh, where she is beautifully transforming homes around the region. Britt Lang moved to New York City in June for her dream job as a commercial interior designer with Yabu Pushelberg, where she is working on the design for a five-star hotel in London. Taylor Rice graduated from nursing school in May

Taylor Rice ’06 and Sarah England May ’03, graduate nurses at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, were happy to discover each other as fellow Saint Mary’s alumnae working, studying, and attending classes together in the hospital’s fellowship program.

and became a registered nurse. In June, she started as a nurse in the new graduate fellowship program at WakeMed, where she works in the children’s hospital. Taylor is pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing online, through Appalachian State University. I, Caroline Ward Manning, still live in Augusta, Ga., and have had the pleasure of traveling to Hong Kong, Korea, and Panama this year for work. It is always great to get to hear from each of you and to build upon the bonds that we created at Saint Mary’s.

2008

Annie Whitmore ’08 It’s hard to believe it has been eight years since our time at Saint Mary’s. In these past eight years, the Class of 2008 has reached some of life’s biggest milestones. We have had college graduations, first jobs, first houses, countless moves, weddings, a few babies, and that is just the start. My classmates never cease to amaze

me in all they continue to accomplish in their lives. So, let’s check in with them, shall we? Claire Murray is completing her last year of grad school for speech-language pathology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Nancy Stewart McLendon recently moved back to North Carolina after living in Jackson Hole, Wyo., for two and a half years. She started physician assistant school at East Carolina University in the fall and is studying hard and living in Greenville with her golden retriever, Hootie. Martha Cloud Josey is completing her last year of nursing school at the University of South Carolina Upstate and is hoping to move to Greenville, S.C., or Charlotte once she graduates. Mady McLeod graduated from physical therapy school in Austin, Texas. She accepted a position in travel physical therapy, and her first assignment will be in Indiana. Jessica Clark Stewart was married in the Saint Mary’s Chapel in March 2016 to Andrew Stewart. She is in her fifth year of teaching seventh-grade English at Franklin Academy Middle School in Wake Forest. Diane Tyndall reports that she has received a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She greatly enjoys being on staff with InterVarsity International Student Ministry at UNC-Chapel Hill, her alma mater. Mary Brown Taylor lives in Raleigh and works for Peter Millar. Suneha Sundaram lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she is finishing up her last year of medical school. Sara Walker lives in Raleigh and works in marketing for Cameron Village. Julie Bynum recently relocated to Jackson Hole, Wyo., after living in Denver for a year. She is an account manager at Warren Miller Entertainment. I, Annie Whitmore, am a registered nurse in the neonatal progressive care nursery at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. I am currently on night shift, writing this article at 3 a.m., while listening to the tiny, bird-like chirps of my beloved premature babies talking to me in the background. It was wonderful to hear from everyone, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Class of ’08!

2010

Emma Powell ’10  This has been another busy year for the class of 2010! Caitlin Monahan works at Davis Kane Architects in Raleigh, while also apply-

ing to graduate school for her master’s degree in architecture with a focus on construction engineering. Chandler Black completed her work with Teach for America in June, and is teaching fifth-grade for her school in Nashville, Tenn., all while applying to Ph.D. programs. Elizabeth Grigg lives in Greenville, S.C., and sells pacemakers and defibrillators for Medtronic. She is also working towards her MBA with a focus in health care economics. Sarah Blake lives in Pensacola, Fla., and is learning to fly Navy helicopters. She anticipates getting her wings in February. Catherine Doyle started her Ph.D. in plant and microbial biology at N.C. State as a National Science Foundation graduate fellow and provost scholar. She is studying how temperature affects viral evolution of Cassava Mosaic Disease. Lisa Michelson has started her second year of work towards her master’s in bioethics and medical humanities. She also just started working for one of the first eating disorder and anxiety treatments labs in Louisville, Ky. She hopes to apply to medical school over the summer. Peron Graeber is in her sixth semester of veterinary school at Ross University in St. Kitts. She will move back to the United States early this summer to start her year of clinicals. Alexandra Minor moved to Salisbury in March and gave birth to a baby girl, Caroline-Reece, in early June. Kacie Thompson moved to the United Kingdom to pursue her master’s of science degree in corporate environmental management at the University of Surrey. Rachel Finney is teaching second grade and coaching field hockey and lacrosse at Charlotte Latin. Macon Cornick is in graduate school at Meredith College, working on her master’s of nutrition with hopes of being a Registered Dietician. Louise Orr works for the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, promoting the state’s attractions, and spending lots of time with her puppy, Bear. Catherine Reynolds is teaching English in Pranburi, Thailand. Anna Lynch is working on her doctorate in physical therapy at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Gates Killian lives in Atlanta and began work at IBM in October. She is a marketing coordinator for the video streaming team. Griffin Hewett graduated from Meredith with honors and a B.S. in general biology. She is completing an additional

CLASS NEWS B.S. in molecular biology with a business minor, and applying for veterinary school. Tory Daley graduated from East Tennessee University with her master’s in speech language pathology this past May. She is completing her clinical fellowship year as a contracted speech language pathologist in the schools and homes of Eastern Tennessee. Olivia James is working in Raleigh as a public records manager for the governor. Other than being consistently impressed by my fellow classmates, I am recruiting for Ajilon, a specialty recruiting firm in Raleigh, and spending every free weekend on the Pamlico River. I hope to see everyone at the Saint Mary’s 175th Anniversary Gala on Friday, May 12th! Love, Emma

2012

Hailey Hart ’12  Thank you to everyone who sent in a class news update. It is so exciting to hear about what everyone’s up to! Upon graduating from UNCChapel Hill in May, I moved to Washington, D.C., where I work for U.S. House of Repre-

sentative member George Holding (NC-13). I am looking forward to our fifth-year reunion in May and can’t wait to see everyone! Sophie Bird is a kindergarten teacher in Chapel Hill. Hutter Black is working as a snowboard instructor in Park City, Utah. Margaret Blincow is attending nursing school at the Medical University of South Carolina and looks forward to graduating in May, 2017. Carrie Coleman resides in Charlottesville, Va., where she continues to run her wedding photography business, and recently had the privilege of taking engagement photos for Hannah Moore ’11. Carrie was honored to have images featured on Buzzfeed and in Richmond Bride Magazine this past year. She is looking forward to photographing her first international wedding in Mexico. Claire Connaghan graduated from Auburn after winning two national championships and an SEC championship with the Auburn equestrian team. She is now working as a graphic designer at The Splinter Group in Carrboro. Taylor Currin attends Wake Forest University School of Law, and plans to return to

Charleston, S.C., after graduation. Mary Davis reports that after graduating in May, she drove cross-country on Interstate 40 through Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, finally ending in Santa Monica, Calif. She moved to San Diego to work full time at Keller Williams Realty. On the side, Mary is also a writer’s assistant for a local writer in the area who is working on publishing a memoir. Super fun! Darby Fallon lives in Altanta, Ga., working for Fallon Benefits Group. Taylor Hawkins graduated from Denison University in May, and moved to Washington, D.C. She is now working full time as an account manager at the world’s largest privately held language services company, TransPerfect. In July, she adopted a Goldendoodle puppy named Bentley. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in May, Olivia Lanier relocated to Manhattan with her Goldendoodle, Mr. Big. They both work full time in customer operations at an ecommerce start-up, Spring. Cate Lyle is working in New York City doing food and beverage public relations. Jane Lyle lives in Charleston,

SAINT MARY’S PROUD As part of a legacy of generations of women who have benefitted from a Saint Mary’s experience and gone on to live lives of purpose and intention, Saint Mary’s alumnae stand tall and proud from coast to coast and continent to continent. Here are some ways you can show your pride for your alma mater and inspire others about Saint Mary’s:

• Include Saint Mary’s on your resume or whenever you are listing or discussing your education. • Remember to wear that beautiful Saint Mary’s ring. • Get some Saint Mary’s gear at our school store, shop1842, and wear it often. • Send Saint Mary’s your news so we can share it with others. We love to hear about your personal and professional aspirations, achievements, and milestones. • Mentor a Saint Mary’s student through an internship. • Like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn • Keep the Alumnae Office apprised of your current contact information. • Attend your Reunion Weekend.

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! s t n i Go Sa

S.C., and is working as a public relations intern for Garden and Gun. Corinne Rixey is an inside sales associate at Keller Williams in Charleston, S.C. Eliza Stoughton works for A. Wooten Interiors, a residential interior design company based out of Atlanta. Mia Schneider graduated with honors from Clemson University in May, with a B.A. in communication studies and a public relations minor. This past summer, she spent her time working in Raleigh, traveling two weeks to Kenya for a family safari, and getting ready for her big move to New York City. Mia now lives in Manhattan, and works in sales at an incredible software startup company called Greenhouse. She feels she is surrounded by the best people and truly believes in the product. She is loving the city and has two awesome roommates from North Carolina schools. Mia is looking forward to hopefully spending the next few years in New York and seeing what surprises N.Y.C has in store for her! Hayes Snipes has recently started her career at Burns and Wilcox, an insurance company, in Morehead City. Hayes had the chance to take the summer to travel with her family and work at a waterfront restaurant at the beach. After her job training in Morehead City, she will be moving to Charleston, S.C., in January. She is looking forward to moving to a new city and meeting new people. She’s excited for her big move, but also looking forward to our Saint Mary’s reunion that will be here soon! Sarah Scott Worth graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill in May with degrees in public relations and political science. She is working at Capstrat, a full-service strategic communications agency in Raleigh. Berry Williamson graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in December and is looking forward to relocating to a new city this January! Grace Dudley is an assistant buyer at Belk Corporate and lives in Charlotte with Kassi Whebie.

2014

Mary Stuart Fountain ’14 Mary Stuart Fountain is excited to serve as class secretary for the Class of 2014. She reports, “I am currently studying abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay, for the first semester of this year and have been here since the end of July. I am living with a host family and six other students of exchange and have had the

best time so far! This past weekend I participated in a service project building houses in a poorer neighborhood here in Montevideo and it was a wonderful experience. My sister Caroline Fountain ’16 is doing well at UNC-Chapel Hill, and I have heard from sister Margaret Fountain ’18 that the school year is off to a good start at Saint Mary’s.” Frances Cayton is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, studying history and political science. She recently studied abroad in London, where she completed an internship for a member of Parliament in the British House of Commons. Maddie Wood is president of philanthropy at Chi Omega sorority in Chapel Hill. She plans to study in Melbourne,

Australia, and is sad to miss the graduation of her younger sister Virginia Wood ’17. “SMS is still my home, and my life-long friends.”

2016

Ruthie Brady writes, “I am loving life at UNC-Chapel Hill! I have pledged Tri Delta and it is ‘the bomb.’ Missing my SMS friends, but of course the Sweet Southern Girls are staying in touch. GO SIGMA!” Callee Boykin is at the University of Alabama and loves it! She joined Delta Zeta sorority and is having fun meeting girls from everywhere. Maribelle Scoggin spent three weeks doing mission work in Haiti. She is also interning at Beauty Ethics at Cameron Village.

Remember Saint Mary’s with a special 175th commemorative item from our school store, shop1842. We have a great selection and a range of price points, so there’s something for everyone! Pick up a few commemorative coasters for just $1 each; toast your alma mater with a $15 etched champagne glass; or get cozy in a long-sleeved 175th t-shirt for only $27. Visit www.sms.edu/student-life/saint-marys-school-store or scan the QR code below to see all the available items and place your order.

Happy birthday, Saint Mary’s! 71

I DIDN’T KNOW

WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.

NOW I DO. ____________ Mary Hunter R., 10th grade ____________

It takes courage to try new things. Like Mary Hunter, we at Saint Mary’s believe in giving girls the chance to expand their boundaries and discover what’s possible. That’s why we offer AP and honors courses, three languages, arts programs, 11 sports, leadership opportunities and real-world experiences — so girls are inspired to explore, discover and achieve more than they ever imagined.

DO YOU KNOW A GIRL WHO IS READY TO FIND HER COURAGE AT SAINT MARY’S SCHOOL?

Contact our Admission Office for more information or to schedule a personal visit. 919-424-4100 or admission@sms.edu.

The Future of Saint Mary’s is in Our Hands A Message from Sally Dalton Robinson ’51HS, Honorary Chair, Heritage Society When I think about the impact Saint Mary’s has had on my life, making a planned gift isn’t all I can do. It’s the least I can do. Whatever I’ve been able to accomplish as a community volunteer over the past 65 years comes directly from the confidence that a Saint Mary’s education gave me. How could I not want to give back in some way! Decades before you and I stepped foot in the Grove, people connected to our school had already dreamed of the day we and our

Saint Mary’s sisters would arrive. A plan for future students like us had been buoyed by past testamentary giving; giving by alumnae and donors who knew their support would be critical to continue the legacy of excellence in education for young women. Today, Saint Mary’s endowment stands at $21 million dollars, which places us in the lower tier of peer schools. It is simply not enough to plot the course for a future we haven’t yet imagined, in a place that connects us all to each other.

During this very special 175th anniversary year, there exists a unique opportunity to make a remarkable difference in our school’s future and in the lives of the young women who will someday also call Saint Mary’s home. I hope you – the nearly 3,700 graduates between 1933 and 1960 – will join me in safeguarding our legacy by documenting your own planned or estate gift. Tomorrow is in our hands. Together, it is the least we can do for Saint Mary’s.

If you are interested in leaving a legacy at Saint Mary’s through a planned gift, contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C, director of alumnae relations, at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171, to learn about becoming a Heritage Society member.

900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603–1689

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Scenes of Saint Mary’s Stately oaks and Christmas tree lit for the Christmas season at the 36th annual Lighting O’ the Grove, Dec. 4, 2016 (Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)

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