Class Notes

From Kathleen: It seems at this age in life we’ve switched gears and are still quite busy, plus we have extended our families and friendships. Somehow, I feel I’m in American lit class again reviewing Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Do human beings realize the treasures of life while they’re living it? Many of you know I now live in Fredericksburg. I recently learned from my new neighbor that Betsy Williams Brothers and her husband played a great part in the restoration in downtown Suffolk, Va., located at the old high school and Main Street. They’ve won many awards, and historical markers are posted. Betsy’s health has greatly improved after treatment at Johns Hopkins. She hopes to visit Honduras soon with family.

Lynda Puckett Howell still lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., but was unable to join Marsha Arlott Wooster, Liz Kennedy Thomas Slate, and Betsy in her old Nags Head family cottage, as she spends lots of time caring for husband Dennis. Their stays on Emerald Isle and Wintergreen are very limited. Lynda has grandchildren nearby. Suzy Hawkins C. Thomas, my MWC choral buddy who still lives in Oregon, switched from counseling to being a Macy’s jewelry consultant. How does she fit it in with five children and grands around the country?

Peggy Downs Gerber and Joyce Wilborn Lacy and their golf-playing husbands are busy babysitting new grandbabies. Joyce teaches piano to some of her grandchildren. Louise Couch Girvin and John visited San Antonio, Texas, and assisted youth Bible studies in Kentucky. Several classmates and their husbands met in September in Richmond for their 55th reunion at Tee Jay High School. I had a wonderful time catching up on classmates and friends with Donna Floyd Parker and husband Scott of Georgia, and Gale Taylor Drew and husband Lewis. Joan Blesse Griffin, who left junior year to pursue a nursing degree, and her husband live in Smithfield near her brother Jim. Kay Christian Hunter and her husband still live in Richmond. She volunteers and keeps up with her nearby grandchildren. Even Archer Cassada Williams, who earned a master’s degree at MWC, and husband Tom were there. Forgive me if I left anyone out. This job entails lots of memory unless you write me some notes, gals!

Pat Mackey Taylor, who escorted me on my first teaching job interview in Tidewater in 1962, welcomed more grandchildren and traveled to places like Russia and Egypt. Jane Walshe McCracken seems lost in sunny California without us. Please write or call her.

I went with my Lynchburg daughter’s children and family to Disney World in June. I still make music with daughter Amy at church and town events. Son Matt and family manage the Goddard School in Williamsburg. My cocker spaniel was sporting a pink cast on a broken leg!

On a sad note, we extend our condolences to several classmates. If you know of any such news, please notify the Office of Alumni Relations or one of the class agents. Nancy Powell Sykes lost a special cousin, Newport News native Kathryn Ward Dickinson ’87, to cancer. Kathy had won the Teacher of the Year award in Spotsylvania County. Joan Akers Rothgeb and Ann Tench Huml emailed in November about the passing of Emily Lewis’ sister, Judy Lewis Clark ’61, who had a brain tumor. Joan went to the service, conducted by Emily’s  husband, Rev. Anthony Andres, in Waynesboro.

Joan travels and babysits, especially in Richmond. She and husband Eddie enjoy going to their Wintergreen-area mountain cottage. Joan shared news from classmates. Lucy Ritter Todd co-chaired her town’s November all-community garage sale in Bastrop, Texas, to benefit the historical museum. Donna Floyd Parker and husband Scott, in Virginia for his fall high school reunion, visited Sue Grandy Farrar, Gale Taylor Drew, and Gale’s husband, Lewis. Gale invited Joan and husband Eddie to spend the night when Donna was there. At the reunion, Donna spent time with Kathleen Lisagor, who helped plan it. Donna and Scott planned to return home to Atlanta to visit their daughter, then head to Louisiana.

Mary Lott Haglund was in Virginia for her fall high school reunion and a wedding. She also attended a gathering at Wintergreen, organized by Gale Taylor Drew. Mary and Gale, along with Sue Grandy Farrar, Betsy Carper Cole, and Joan Akers Rothgeb, spent several days exploring the area and catching up with each other. Betsy bought a condo at Pawleys Island, S.C., where they planned to spend part of the year. Her son, his wife, and Betsy’s grandson live there. Barbara Schwab Jesser and husband Bill visited the Galapagos and Peru in fall with friends.

Please share your news. Any news you might receive would make 2014 special! As I wrote this, we were entering the cold spell of winter. May your homes be filled with happiness and your hearts with love and sweet memories. Please share news, names, and addresses!