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UMW Magazine – Class Notes
1301 College Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

1947

Betty Moore Drewry Bamman
classnotes@umw.edu

Margaret Thatcher Brigham appreciates receiving (every year) the UMW Magazine and all the news about what is going on. She doesn’t see much, if anything, about the class of ’47. The names of those she can remember who would have graduated in ’47 are Mary James Hayes, Roony Barton, Betty Proctor Groseclose, Anne Hendricks, and Doris Jean McCullough Alford. Doris was from Elmira, New York. She roomed with another from Elmira. There were a couple of other girls from Richmond, but she doesn’t remember their names. They all lived at Mrs. Haupt’s house off campus, but within walking distance.

Her sophomore year, Margaret was in Virginia Hall and Miss Bushnell was the house mother. Her roommates were Donna Lipman and Nancy Poehlmann Colwell ’46. Her favorite subject was horseback riding—Mr. Walthers was a good instructor. She was inducted into the Hoofprints Club, which meant she was a pretty good rider. This was her sophomore year and she did not see her name in the yearbook. She was also in the cavalry.

They were getting ready for an event and practicing when her horse slipped on a rock and she wound up with a slight concussion and a badly skinned up face. After she recovered, it was spring, and another horseshow was coming up and she didn’t participate. She could have, but didn’t. So, maybe because of this decision not to ride they took her name off the equestrian activities, she doesn’t know. It was spring and she knew she would not be coming back the following year. She was married October 5, 1945. She says she was smitten by the love bug in her early sophomore year and her grade reflected that.

Margaret and her husband were married for 51 years. They had three children. All graduated from college and are successful in their careers. They have 10 grandchildren; eight graduated from college and are successful in what they do. The last two were adopted from the Ukraine at age seven. They were in an orphanage from birth. Both mothers were drug and alcohol people, so these two boys have struggled. They’re now 23, not twins, and Betty’s son and his wife have not given up on them. Margaret says God works through Kathie and Chris to very much help these boys with life

Margaret says, “That’s my story. I’m pushing 93 years in June and you may do with information as you see fit. If you just read it and throw it away, that’s ok too. If, by chance, you remember me, let me know. I’m glad I’ve been able to share my story with you.”