Get the Picture

We knew that the gentleman in this photo is Dr. Burney L. Parkinson, a professor of education and psychology at Mary Washington from 1952 to 1956. Thanks to several readers of the spring issue of UMW Magazine, we now know the names of the young ladies pictured with him. On the left is Julia “Judy” Ann Graham Kanakanui ’54. On the right is Joan Piedmont Gruppe ’55. Sadly, both have passed away. But their classmates remember them fondly. Ann Grubbs Blitchington ’55 recognized Joan, her suitemate for two years, and remembered that Joan was from Norfolk. Beverly Carmichael Ryan ’55 also recognized Joan and recalled playing bridge with her and other friends in Westmoreland Hall. She writes, “I’m afraid we spent lots of time playing bridge when we probably should have been studying, but we did have fun.” Ellen Wheby Witherspoon ’56 commented that as a transfer student new to campus in 1953, she was happy to see the familiar face of Judy, whom she knew from their hometown of Beckley, … [Read more...]