Class Notes

I read with deep sadness of the passing of three of our classmates. Having never met Virginia Crow Acors, it was an unexpected pleasure when she wrote a couple of years ago about events in her life. Some of us will remember Fran Guthrie Flynn most for her friendly smile and cheerful greetings throughout school. The loss of Christie Jaeger Thomas hit close to home. We went to rival high schools in Baltimore County but didn’t meet until college, where we were on the third floor of Russell Hall our senior year. Christie worked in the library at Johns Hopkins University and went on to become director of graduate financial aid. She met Glen Thomas, who was director of admissions and enrollment services, and they were married for 29 years. Chris later worked for several Baltimore law firms and for Thomas Havey CPA. When the latter closed in Baltimore, she started her own business, serving new and existing clients. She, Glen, and their friends sailed and often docked at Caribbean ports. Christie will be missed by all of us. Our condolences go to Glen and her family and friends.

Life stays busy in Baltimore. This summer I sang for various churches, and business was booming at my law firm. Dennis and I took trips to Delaware, Ohio, and Virginia and planned a longer vacation Thanksgiving week. I continue doing costumes for the Honfest and won the Baltimore’s Best Hon 2011 title. My first appearance in this capacity was at the United States Conference of Mayors. While this city may not belong to some of us like it did to William Donald Schaefer, our recently departed former mayor/governor, it feels like my city, and I look forward to serving it well in the coming year.

Nancy Mahone Miller and CG, who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary last year, both had surgery but had recovered and gotten back up to speed. They continue to travel to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina and love so much that is Celtic and sponsored the Clan Ramsay tent at last year’s Williamsburg Scottish Festival. Nancy is state vice chair of the Friends of the DAR Library Committee, national vice chair of the DAR Scholarship Committee, and president of her own United States Daughters of 1812 chapter. She still reunites with Mary Washington classmates in Kitty Hawk, N.C., and Nelson County, Va.

Sherrie Mitchell Boone keeps busy with piano tuning, art, and genealogy, while John continues in accounting for Hotel Roanoke. Their children and grandchildren are well. Son Trey, who is working on his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, came home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daughter Leighanne and husband Scott were house hunting in Sherrie’s neighborhood and want daughter Anna to go to school in that district.

Dave and Cheryl Prietz Childress keep on the go with equestrian and boating activities and colonial re-enactments. Dave does excellent car restoration, and their 1965 Morgan is beautiful. We visited them at their farm at Thanksgiving and at the Morgan meet in Staunton, Va., during Fourth of July weekend. Dave and Cheryl’s children, Thea and Alex, joined us for part of the trip. Thea and husband Eric, who is finishing an MBA at Radford University, live in Christiansburg, Va. Thea, who majored in theater and art history at Virginia Tech, volunteers at an art museum. Alex is studio manager for a Richmond radio station.

Plans are already in the works for our 2012 reunion. In the meantime, let me hear from you.