IN MEMORIAM John Bourdeaux ’59 died on October 9, 2020 at his home in Lecanto, Florida. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a graduate of Davidson College. John began his career in the building material and aggregate business, where he became an internationally known expert in the field as the CEO of North American operations for Blue Circle Inc. Mr. Bourdeaux led the Serving Our Savior food pantry at Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church.
William Jack Fuller III ’72 of San Antonio, Florida, died on January 23, 2021. He was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University and earned an MBA Doctoral degree in theology from Kingdom Life University. After a career in commercial real estate and medical software sales, Mr. Fuller and his wife Beverlie became Christian missionaries in Zambia. An active athlete all his life, he joined his passions when he served as chaplain to the Zambian Green Eagles Football Club.
Nicholas Michael Hood ’14 of Atlanta, George, died on May 20, 2021. He loved music, steak fajitas, camping, hiking, playing video games with his cousin Nash, hugging his mother, and being with friends. He spoke with conviction on the topics he cared most deeply: peace, harmony, love, community, unity, and family. He was spiritual and curious. His long blonde hair and mix-matched attire hid a fierce, loyal soul who refused to accept injustice in the world.
Robert Scott Wilson ’72 died on May 7, 2021. He was a graduate of Oregon State University and known for his love of music, sensational adventures, and hilarious stories. Mr. Wilson lived life with abandon and enjoyed festivals, camping, and nature. He was an imaginative tie-dye artist who loved sharing his talent with friends and family.
William Caddall Carson ’76 of Pulaski, Virginia, died on January 21, 2021. He was a graduate of St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, and was retired from James Hardie Building Products. In addition to a favorite pastime of restoring vintage farm equipment, he was an avid outdoors man, marksman and archer. His natural skills and athleticism were obvious whether he was on horseback, strapped into a pair of skis as part of the ski patrol or deep underwater with a scuba tank on his back. He was a PADI Scuba instructor and volunteered as a diver for the Pulaski County Rescue Squad. Claude Mastin “Chip” Jones III ’75 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on July 14, 2021. He first worked in the family floral business, Claude Jones Jr. Florist, followed by a career with Colonial Williamsburg. He retired in November 2017 with over 30 years service. Following his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his family and providing care for his grandchildren. James Bryant Pikula ’85 of North Carolina and Georgia died on October 24, 2021. He was a graduate of Guilford College and served multiple communities as a police officer for 25 years. He was a prefect and a member of the Honor Council at BRS, as well as a devoted student of Jordan Churchill. Katherine “Kit” Turnbull Bainbridge of Easton, Maryland, died on February 9, 2021. She was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and earned advanced degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and Northeast Louisiana University. She spent much of her life teaching as she and her husband Rev. Harry Bainbridge moved around much of the country working in the ministry. Mrs. Bainbridge was the granddaughter of BRS founder George Mayo and she worked as a fundraiser for the School for some time. Patricia McCormick McNeel passed away peacefully on July 18, 2021. Ms. McNeel is the mother of two BRS alumni: Morgan McNeel ’87 and Steven McNeel ’76. She was a graduate of the University of Georgia. She was a member of many social clubs in Marietta, Georgia, an avid athlete of tennis and golf, and a passionate fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves.
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Leigh Whitfield “Buddy” Johnson, Jr. ’69 of Nags Head, North Carolina, died on August 7, 2021. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and moved to the Outer Banks where he quickly gained a loyal following as talented and friendly bartender. He enjoyed spending time with his wife Hollis, reading the daily newspaper and completing the crossword puzzle, and playing with his dogs. Edward Spencer Graves II ’71 of Lynchburg, Virginia, died on October 7, 2021. He was a graduate of St. Andrews University and had a long career as a builder. He fulfilled his father’s wish of rebuilding Graves Mill on its original foundation on Rosedale Farm. He loved spending time with his family on the Outer Banks, camping on the Cow Pasture River, and cheering on the Hoos. Blue Ridge Industrial School’s oldest living graduate, Cornelia Victoria Snow Mathews ’35, died on February 3, 2021, at the age of 104. She lived in Vista, California and had retired from Bernardo Medical Center where she was in charge of the collections department. She is remembered as an exceptionally kind and gentle person. Amos Sumner Bumgardner III ’83 of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on December 6, 2021. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a graduate of the University of Texas, San Antonio. He was retired from a career as a registered sanitarian for the city of San Antonio. Sumner was a dedicated husband to Barbara and father of three loving children. Thomas Huston St. Clair, Sr. ’78 of Richmond, Virginia, died on November 13, 2021. He was a well respected manager for Stewart Enterprises. He loved life, always rooted for the underdog, never met a stranger, and always saw the good in humanity. Michael Arnold ’98 of Boulder, Colorado, passed away on November 21, 2021. He earned the Purple Heart while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq. He was a graduate of George Mason University and the founder of SnapBack Energy.
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