commentary T H E O FFI CIAL M AGA ZINE O F CO K ER CO LLEG E – HAR T S V ILLE, SOU T H C AR O LINA
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: SENIOR EREN MOSES ON BECOMING A LEADER RECORD-BREAKING ENROLLMENT BY THE NUMBERS
REMEMBERING PIONEERING SCIENTIST DR. RUTH PATRICK
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COMMENTARY
A M E SS AG E F RO M D R. RO B E RT L . W YAT T PR ESIDENT of the COLLEGE
Winter 2014 | Vol. 42, No. 1 coker.edu | cokercobras.com facebook.com/cokercollege | youtube.com/cokercollege
Right now, the world of higher education is a volatile place. Not only are many institutions struggling to survive, but higher education itself is in the national spotlight with pressure from the president to prove the value of a college degree. And then here we are. In the midst of this nationwide anxiety, Coker is doing
TEAM
more than surviving. We are growing. We are moving forward. Looking
A R T D I R E C T O R
E D I T O R S/C O N T R I B U T O R S
Kyle Saverance ’06
Ben Beetch ’10
Vice President for Marketing & Communications ksaverance@coker.edu
Manager of Special Program Marketing bbeetch@coker.edu
WRITER
L aura Hoxworth Content Manager & Writer lhoxworth@coker.edu GRAPHIC DESIGNER
back at the past year—and into our potential future—if a single concept could capture the energy at Coker, it would be the force of momentum. For the third straight year, Coker has broken enrollment records (page 13).
Chris Dougherty
We opened Sullivan Hall, our third new residential facility in three years.
Manager of College & Athletic Media Relations cdougherty@coker.edu
And then there’s the DeLoach Center: the most ambitious campaign in
Seth Johnson ’12
If you look closely, you’ll find signs of growth and achievement in each of
Interactive Media Developer sjohnson@coker.edu
Coker’s history and one of the clearest signs of our growth (page 14).
the following pages, from senior Eren Moses’s personal growth as a leader
Norah Wofford ’11
(page 3) to the life and legacy of Dr. Ruth Patrick, a remarkable woman who
Publications & Web Designer nwofford@coker.edu
represents the tenacity and ambition we value (page 12). But amidst all the ribbon-cuttings, press releases and celebrations, we have not forgotten our purpose: to educate our students. The true force propelling this institution forward is our fundamental belief that a Coker College education transforms lives. Supporting this academic experience is always
The Commentary is the official magazine of Coker College and is published by the Office of Marketing & Communications.
COKER COLLEGE Office of Marketing & Communications 300 East College Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550-3797 843.383.8000 | marcom@coker.edu
COKER.EDU
the focus of our momentum. As momentum cultivates success, success cultivates more momentum—and the cycle continues. If we act boldly, we will only keep rolling faster. We’re so glad to have you with us on this journey. Sincerely,
Dr. Robert L. Wyatt
table of contents IN THIS ISSUE winter 2014
3 Born to Lead
7 Rejecting the Standards
13 A Record-Breaking Year
Student spotlight: Senior Eren Moses finds what it takes to be a true leader
Student spotlight: Senior Briana Lotan on drawing strength from adversity
A by-the-numbers glimpse at Coker's growing enrollment
6 nations
28 states 9 Winter Commencement What made Winter Commencement 2013 the most memorable yet
10 A Destiny Betrayed 5 Proud to be Smoke-Free Exploring how Coker made the transition to a 100% smoke-free campus
6 Homecoming Highlights A quick look back at some of the best moments from Homecoming 2013
Professor Mal Hyman reflects on the JFK assassination, 50 years later
11 News Briefs Highlights from a busy year in the Coker community
12 Dr. Ruth Patrick The life and legacy of one of Coker's most distinguished alumni
14 Campaign Update A progress report on Redefining Excellence: The Campaign for Coker Athletics & Residence Life
15 #cokerpride Students, alumni and friends of the college take to social media to share why they love Coker
16 My Coker Story Brian Fisher '94 on how one small suggestion helped him find his path in life
17 Class News Alumni news and notes from your Class Representatives
DEPARTMENTS CONNECT athletics & campus life
LEARN academics & faculty news
ACHIEVE awards & accolades
GROW looking toward the future
ENGAGE coker in the community
ADVANCE alumni news
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" I’m ready to embrace any challenge."
S UI N MTMEERR 2014 2013 CCAAMMPPUUSS I ISSSSUUE E 3 | W
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born to In basketball & in life, senior Eren Moses finds what it takes to be a true leader CONNECT
alkative and gregarious with an infectious smile, senior Eren Moses holds a certain presence when he walks into a room. Some of that, of course, can be attributed to his 6’6” frame—but it’s more than just his stature. Eren Moses was born to be a leader. He just didn’t know it until he came to Coker College. Growing up in New York and Massachusetts, Eren spent most of his childhood close to his two brothers—one four years older, the other four years younger. He describes himself first as family-oriented. “We looked out for each other,” he says with a matter-of-fact shrug. “That’s the way my mother raised us.” The first sparks of Eren’s strong character began to show early on in the way he always strove to be a good influence for his siblings. And now, with another little brother who’s only 5 years old, Eren feels being a supportive and positive role model isn’t a choice so much as a responsibility. “If I can help it, then I feel like I need to be there to help them,” he says. “That’s what any older brother or older sister should be, and I don’t take that lightly at all.” That innate drive and sense of responsibility is exactly what Dan Schmotzer, head men’s basketball coach, saw in Eren when he recruited him to Coker four years ago. “He’s gotten all this success that he’s had—in academics, and in basketball—he’s done it all on his own, and I give him credit for that,” says Schmotzer. But aside from being driven to accomplish his own goals, Schmotzer says Eren has an ability to inspire others, naturally leading by example in all areas of his life.
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“Eren is a born leader,” he says simply. “It’s not optional for him.” With Schmotzer’s coaching, Eren says he’s learned how to develop his personal leadership style—not only in the way he motivates a team, but also in the way he adjusts his approach to bring out the best in individuals. It all comes down to communication. “I feel like that’s my biggest asset, communicating on the court,” he says. “I’m definitely a vocal leader. I have to talk every possession now—it’s just a part of how I play basketball. My team thrives if I’m able to help them.” But what’s probably most telling about Eren is that his leadership doesn’t end when the clock stops running. “My teammates will come and talk to me about things,” he says, “and I take pride in that just like I take pride in being a role model for my little brothers.” Off the court, Eren has transformed his natural leadership abilities into success in the classroom. A business administration major and communications minor, Eren thanks his professors and Coker’s participatory learning environment for helping him improve on his strengths. “Coker has definitely helped me with interpersonal skills,” he says. “I don’t think you get that in many colleges, on any level. Coker is probably one of the best at forming people who know how to speak well and carry on a conversation or presentation.” Phyllis Fields, associate professor of theater, says Eren has always been a highly engaged student. “His hand is always up first,” she says. But throughout his time at Coker, Fields says she’s seen him mature and refine the way he leads other students.
“His growth and development as a leader was most evident when he elected to join a group of students with whom he had little to no relationship outside of class,” she says, “and then to take on the role of ‘silent captain.’” Outside of class, Eren honed his leadership abilities even more through his three years on the Coker Enactus team, a national student organization that aims to inspire progress through entrepreneurial action. At times, Eren says he’s struggled to keep up with the many demands of school, basketball, Enactus and responsibility to his family. But he has a motivation inside of him that he just can’t keep quiet. “I feel like if I’m not making sure that I have Option A, B, C and D, then I’m not doing something right,” he says. “If that fails, then what am I going to do? I’m always thinking about the future.” For Eren, the future can’t come fast enough. Eren is restless—driven by a natural motivation to succeed and ready to take the next step on his road to success. “It won’t do me any good to stay in the same place,” he says. “I have to make sure that I’m doing something that’s going to keep me on my toes.” As for what that next move is, he’s keeping an open mind. “I’m ready to embrace any challenge,” he says. Because in the end, Eren has confidence that his hard work, strong motivation and leadership skills will allow him to accomplish whatever he puts his mind to. “I’ve been a talkative person my whole life,” he says. “I’ve always been outspoken. I just didn’t realize that I was trying to be a leader.”
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
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Proud to be Smoke-Free CONNECT
January 1, 2014 As we begin a new year and a new semester, the Coker community can breathe a little easier: Coker College is now a smoke-free campus. As of Jan. 1, 2014, smoking is no longer permitted at any time on all locations of Coker’s campus, including all off-site ALPHA locations, Kalmia Gardens, the Sory Boathouse and Byerly Park. The same will apply for any tobacco product after Aug. 15, 2014. Announced in October, the decision to go smokefree is the latest of several student-led, campus-wide wellness initiatives. Other wellness programs include CobraFit fitness activities and classes, healthier options in the dining hall and expanded intramural programming. Altogether, these programs were created to support healthy living for all members of the Coker community. “We are committed to providing our students, faculty, staff and visitors a healthy campus, and believe this is a positive step in maintaining that,” said associate vice president for administration Brianna Douglas. We all know that smoking is harmful and even deadly—but even secondhand smoke can be a serious health concern. According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of exposure to second-
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hand tobacco smoke, and implementing 100 percent smoke-free environments is the only effective way to protect the population from the harmful effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition to protecting the community from harmful second-hand smoke, the move to a smoke-free campus also aims to promote pride and respect for the campus by reducing litter and waste, while fostering a supportive environment for those who are trying to quit using tobacco products. For anyone who would like help quitting tobacco products, resources and support are available through Student Services and the Office of Human Resources.
But most of all, the goal is to make healthy living a key aspect of the Coker experience. “It is important that students develop healthy habits,” said Jason Umfress, associate provost and dean of students. “With the emphasis on teaching our students to make smart decisions, this is a proactive step toward ensuring our campus is a place that promotes healthy living.”
by the undergraduate student body. In the spring of 2013, the Student Government Association (SGA) polled students, faculty and staff to gauge interest in switching to a smoke-free campus. The results were overwhelmingly positive in support of going smokefree. Since the policy was announced, students and faculty have been largely supportive of the change. “The overall consensus is positive, in that students are agreeing that it couples with the wellness initiatives that we have like healthier options in the caf,” said Sara Atkinson, president of the SGA. “The absence of smoking will help with the sustainability of those initiatives.” By going smoke-free, Coker joins a growing list of colleges around the country that have made the shift to smoke- and tobacco-free campuses. According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR), more than 1,127 colleges have adopted 100 percent smoke-free policies. But, more importantly, the change will help ensure a clean and healthy environment—one where all students, faculty, staff and visitors can enjoy working, learning and living.
But while the policy was created and implemented by college administration, the momentum was driven
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Terrance Hayes ‘94, accomplished poet and educator, received this year’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Hayes has published four widely acclaimed books of poetry. “Wind In a Box,” his third book, was named one of the Best Books of 2006 by Publishers Weekly, whose reviewer wrote: “In his hip, funny, yet no less high-stakes third collection, Hayes solidifies his reputation as one of the best poets—African American or otherwise—now writing.” His most recent collection, "Lighthead," won the 2010 National Book Award for Poetry.
“The round-table learning style at Coker made interactions with my teachers and classmates personal and engaging,” Hayes said. “I try to replicate this style in my own teaching by arranging desks in a circle before every class.” After receiving his B.A. in English from Coker, Hayes earned his M.F.A. from the University of Pittsburgh writing program. He currently teaches in the English Department at the University of Pittsburgh.
TIM HALVERSON '97 & ROBERT L. W YAT T
GAYLE SAW YER '70, TERR ANCE HAYES '94 & ROBERT L. W YAT T
AL OSWALD JR . W/ BASEBALL ALUMNI & FRIENDS
BASEBALL COACH DAVE SCHMOT ZER
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
BASEBALL FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY
Tim Halverson ‘97, regional director for Russell Investments in northern Illinois, received the 2013 Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Al Oswald Jr., a former Coker parent and a longtime supporter of the college, became the first non-Coker affiliated member to be inducted into the Coker College Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Coker College baseball program hosted a special alumni reunion and celebration during this year’s homecoming weekend.
After earning his degree in business administration from Coker, Halverson began his career as a regional consultant with Strong Investments. In his current position with Russell, Halverson is responsible for service, growth and expansion of the retail investment market in Illinois.
In 1994, Oswald began the annual Coker College Baseball Golf Tournament and Fundraiser, which attracts over 130 participants each year in Charleston, S.C. All proceeds of the event are donated to the Coker baseball program. Oswald’s son, Allie Oswald ‘96, was a member of the first baseball team at Coker.
“Going to Coker College was one of the best decisions of my life,” said Halverson. “I believe Coker College graduates are uniquely prepared to compete in today's global workforce, and I am proud to say I am a Cobra.”
Oswald recently retired after 39 years working at South Carolina Electric & Gas. He lives in James Island, S.C., with his wife, Sheron.
Alumni, friends and family of the program, including members of nearly every Coker baseball team since 1994, gathered to raise the championship flag from last year’s record-breaking season. The 2012-2013 Cobras took home the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship title, becoming the first team in Coker history to reach the NCAA Division II National Finals.
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REJECTING the STANDARDS ~
Senior B riana Lotan on drawing strength f rom adv ersity
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When Briana Lotan talks about musical theater, she doesn’t have to tell you how much she loves it. One look at the way her face lights up says it clearly enough. Briana (friends just call her “Bri”), a senior music major and an outgoing, vivacious student, has chosen to follow her passion and pursue a career in musical theater. She knows it won’t be easy, and she definitely knows it’s not practical—but for Briana, it’s hardly a choice. It’s simply what she’s meant to do. Which is why it might be surprising to learn that Briana hasn’t always felt that way. She may be sure in her conviction now, but it wasn’t a straight or easy path to get where she is. Her journey has been a little more complicated.
~ GROWING UP ~ Growing up with her parents and older sister in Macomb, Mich., Briana enjoyed what she describes as the stereotypical suburban childhood—from nightly family dinners to summer evenings spent playing outdoors. From the very beginning, she was constantly on the move. “I was always very active,” she says. “My mom would have to yell at us to come inside when the sun was coming down.” That boundless energy only grew as Briana entered school and joined nearly every squad or team she could manage—tumbling, gymnastics, volleyball, running, dance—you name it. But nothing matched her personality and enthusiasm better than cheerleading. “My mom was a cheerleader, so it really just clicked,” she says. “There was the performance element, and tumbling, and just that energy was amazing. I loved it.”
It w as a busy, activ e, normal childhoo d. Until the day ev erything chang ed.
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She was 11 years old, and it was early December. December 7th, to be exact—the date is the first thing she mentions, without hesitation. December 7th. She will always remember the exact date she found out about the tumor on her spine. The surgery was successful. But Briana, the active and outgoing cheerleader, so full of life and energy, was left paralyzed from the waist down and wondering where to go next.
~ STARTING OVER ~ After the surgery, Briana struggled to find an outlet for her energy and enthusiasm. “Seeing something that others do and not being able to do it … that is something that I have always struggled with,” she says. “One of my biggest challenges was accepting that I can be different, but just as good.” While she’s always loved music, she had never thought of it as a career. At first she tried playing basketball, but found her heart wasn’t in it. She briefly thought she might pursue a career in medical research, but 10th grade biology quickly put an end to that idea.
Luck ily, B riana’s not the ty p e to g et discourag ed easily. It started slowly—a keyboard her grandmother gave her for Christmas—and steadily grew, until one day in 9th grade when she attended a meeting for that year’s musical (The Wizard of Oz) and it all clicked. “I was just like, ‘I have to do this for the rest of my life,’” she says. She hasn’t slowed down since. “Her personality is just forward-motion, go get ‘em,” says Sarah Shealy, one of Briana’s closest friends and a fellow Coker student. “There’s not really any stopping Bri.” For Briana, this attitude isn’t anything special. It’s just how she is. “I don’t like accepting things for what they are,” she says. “As a person in a wheelchair—we're supposed to be low-key, you
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know? They want us to do a little activity here and there, stay inside. No. I don’t accept that.” During her time at Coker, Briana has been involved in everything from musicals to cheerleading to student government. She was even the very first chief justice of Coker College. Deep down, she’s still the same outgoing and energetic kid. “Every time I go to get a new wheelchair, they ask me how long I’ve had it. I say a year-and-a-half, and they tell me that it looks like I've had it for 10 years,” she says, laughing. “I’m a little hard on my chairs. I’m never sitting still.” Since that first show, Briana has taken on roles both fun and challenging, from Wilbur in “Charlotte’s Web” to Snoopy in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.” But her favorite was a recent role as Elsa in “Spring Awakening”—a suffering character who challenged Briana to reflect on her own experiences. “I started to figure that she and I weren’t that different,” she says. “We both had a troubled past, but at the same time we tried to make the best out of it and move forward toward a bright future.”
~ OVERCOMING LIMITATIONS ~ A bright future is exactly what Briana has ahead of her. “Briana is completely dedicated to becoming a well-rounded musician and performer,” says Serena Hill-LaRoche, assistant professor of music at Coker. “She understands the difficulties of the field she has chosen, but really commits herself above and beyond to prepare for the future. I feel confident that whatever comes next for her, she will meet it head on.” Briana credits her time at Coker and the close friends and mentors she’s met for helping her mature and gain confidence. “The professors are amazing, and so encouraging, and I think they helped me realize that just because I’m in a chair, it doesn’t mean anything,” she says. “It’s just an accessory.” In the end, Briana has realized that her love of music and performance is more than just a
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“ Your limitations should never stop you f rom b ecoming w ho you w ant to b e.” career goal. It’s a passion that has helped her to accept and love herself for exactly who she is.
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“There is nothing like just being on stage and singing your heart out,” she explains. “It’s really hard to describe. It’s almost like you truly just give yourself over to the moment, and that is the only time that I feel that people aren’t looking at me in my wheelchair, but at my person.”
~ LOOKING FORWARD ~ Unsurprisingly, Briana has quite a lot of plans for her life after college. Singing, acting, directing, writing and even opening her own theater are just a few of her long-term goals. And while she knows she’s entering a tough business, she clearly won’t get discouraged easily. “I have always been more mature than people my age, because I went through so much when I was young,” she says. “But now I really feel that it's transformed to the type of maturity that I need to go into the music world. “I am definitely willing and ready to be denied a hundred million times. But I’m holding out for that one opportunity.” The journey to get to this outlook—one of such contagious positivity and confidence—wasn’t always easy. But Briana sums it up best when she states her simple life motto: “Your limitations should never stop you from becoming who you want to be.”
She’s made it this far, and she’s not loo k ing b ack now.
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Commencement day is always full of excitement and pride—but this year, the ceremony was even more memorable than usual. A record 92 undergraduates received their diplomas in Watson Theater on Dec. 13, while six individuals also became the first class of students to receive their master’s degrees from Coker College. A surprise proposal to top it all off made this year's celebration one for the books. With the first class of master's graduates in college history, Winter Commencement 2013 was destined to be a significant occasion. "It was gratifying to finish the program, but to be the first graduating class is an exceptional feeling,” said master’s graduate Ricky Meinhold. “This graduate program has been essential to the growth of my career in college athletics.” Patricia Harris, global chief diversity officer & vice president of global community engagement for McDonald’s Corporation, delivered the commencement speech and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
And finally, the ceremony contained one last surprise. Graduate Billy Simpson proposed onstage to his girlfriend, Marisa Gurrera (also a new graduate), right after they both received their undergraduate diplomas. With help from Dr. Wyatt and the Coker faculty and staff, Simpson had been planning for more than two months to surprise Gurrera with a ring in front of all of their family and friends.
OLIVIA CRIBB & PROVOST TRACY PARKINSON
“I can’t be more grateful to Dr. Wyatt and everyone behind the scenes,” Billy said. “They pulled it together for me.”
“Opportunities will open up to those who are willing to adapt and take a chance,” said Harris in her address to the new graduates. “You are the people who will determine just how bright our future will be.”
The proposal went off exactly as planned, with Gurrera none the wiser. “I guess I was just so excited for graduation, I had no idea what he was doing until he pulled the ring out,” she said. “I was hysterically shaking; I was crying; I was so, so happy. It was incredible.”
In addition, Robin Foley, a student in the Marion Adult Learners Program for Higher Achievement (ALPHA), presented the Distinguished Adjunct Professor of the Year award to Olivia Cribb, an adjunct mathematics professor at Coker since 2001.
With a “yes” from Gurrera, the two new graduates had one more reason to celebrate. “To be able to share the biggest moment of my life with not just my family and my friends, but my Coker family,” said Simpson, “I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
PRESENTATION OF MASTER'S CANDIDATES
PATRICIA HARRIS & PRESIDENT ROBERT L. WYATT WILLIAM SIMPSON PROPOSES TO GIRLFRIEND, MARISA GURRERA
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a destiny betrayed Fifty years after JFK’s assassination, professor Mal Hyman prepares to publish a book on the unanswered questions that still remain.
That much we know. But 50 years later, many questions remain about the president’s sudden and shocking death. Despite the official government position that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in shooting the 35th president from the Texas School Book Depository building behind the plaza, the murder remains one of the most controversial events in American history. In November, a Gallup poll found that a majority—61 percent—of Americans still believe there is more to the story. Mal Hyman, associate professor of sociology and a Coker faculty member since 1987, is among that majority. But unlike most, Hyman is also a nationally recognized expert on the topic. He has been researching, writing, speaking and attending conferences on the subject for more than 20 years. Hyman is in good company among academics. Since 2000, at least five tenured academic historians have published books on JFK's assassination. Four of those five concluded that a conspiracy was behind the murder. Now, Hyman is preparing to publish a book of his own. He expects "Covering and Covering Up High Treason" to be published by the end of 2014. Hyman says his interest in the assassination began the day it happened. (With three generations of journalists in his family, innate curiosity is clearly in his genes.) He took a class on political assassinations while in college at UCLA, and his fascination only grew as he entered a teaching career and discussed the event each year with his students. A turning point came when, through a student in one of his classes at Coker, he was able to meet and speak to several former members of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), an investigative committee that concluded in 1978 that JFK’s death was, in fact, the result of a conspiracy. Through these conversations (and, of course, more research), Hyman began to understand the difficulties that researchers had faced in trying to uncover the truth—and the extent of the questions that still remained in the case.
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“I met some of the staffers, and I learned that the military destroyed a lot of the files and the CIA did not cooperate,” Hyman says. “[CIA officer] David Phillips, when questioned by House Select Committee staffers, just folded his papers and walked out of the room. And the committee did not subpoena him, or call him back for questions. They were afraid to pick a fight with the CIA.” His research only expanded from there. In 1991, Hyman coordinated a forum on the JFK assassination that filled Coker's Davidson Hall—the largest dialogue on the assassination that year in the Southeast. The more evidence he examined, the more Hyman became convinced of an underlying plot. He lists off discrepancies with ease: The 51 witnesses in Dealey Plaza who say they heard shots from the front. The ballistics evidence that doesn’t align with the official “single bullet” theory. The Zapruder film (the most complete recording of the event), in which Kennedy’s head appears to move backward after being shot, suggesting he was hit from the front. The list goes on. Hyman says it wasn’t one piece of evidence that convinced him of a conspiracy in an “Aha” moment. Instead, it was the slow accumulation of facts that never seemed to add up. “The more you look at this case, the more you wonder what went on,” he says. Throughout his research, Hyman has studied not only the facts of the assassination itself, but also how the media has covered the event. His interest in the media was sparked by a 1963 edition of LIFE magazine that first printed stills from the Zapruder film. “They purchased the Zapruder film for $50,000, didn’t let anyone else use it, selectively printed the frames, and misdescribed what you see in the film,” he says. “The editor, C.D. Jackson, had worked at the highest levels of the CIA in psychological warfare operations during World War II with Eisenhower,” he adds. “That doesn’t prove anything, but it got my interest.” Hyman’s frustrations extend to all media coverage of the assassination during the past 50 years. “They tend to ask some questions, but not probe where they might,” he says. “The tendency is to report based on the parameters of what those in power are saying. If a congressman says something and another congressman disagrees, that becomes the range of debate.”
Even after decades of research, Hyman doesn’t subscribe to one theory in particular. He won’t tell you a definitive belief about what happened—or, if there was a conspiracy, who was behind it. The facts are still too unclear to make a solid judgment. But that’s exactly the point. Hyman is frustrated and fascinated most by the continuing misinformation (and outright missing information) surrounding the case. Because amongst all the uncertainty, there’s one thing we do know: that more than 50 years later, thousands of pages of documents remain classified. To Hyman, this is the biggest problem of all. He references the words of Kennedy himself, speaking on communism: “We seek a free flow of information, for a nation that’s afraid to let its people judge truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that’s afraid of its people.” Will we ever know for sure what happened that day in Dealey Plaza? Hyman certainly hopes his book could help the cause to declassify the remaining files. But despite his belief in a larger plot, he’s not counting on one document or piece of evidence to bust the case open in a dramatic revelation. “Whatever transpired isn’t going to be in the documents,” Hyman says. “Whoever conspired didn’t put it down on paper. But,” he continues, “it will lead us to a better set of questions. We’re still not going to be able to solve it at this point, but we will better understand our government and thus strengthen our democracy.” Even with so few answers, Hyman says we have much to learn from this immensely significant historical event. Most importantly, we must learn to never stop questioning and looking for answers—especially where powerful and established organizations are concerned. “Kennedy was taking on the powers that be,” Hyman says. “He was prosecuting the mafia, he was reigning in the FBI and the CIA, he was pulling out of Vietnam, he was reaching out to Cuba, he was moving toward an end of all nuclear testing … After Kennedy’s death, all those programs changed. We’re left with a destiny betrayed. “Government can be effectively used for the public good,” he adds, “but as Thomas Jefferson says, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”
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On Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas.
NEWS BRIEFS It’s been an eventful semester for Coker College. With continued growth in all areas of campus, the college is making headlines. Here are just a few of the highlights.
ACHIEVE
For full stories and more up-to-date Coker news, visit us online at coker.edu/current-top-stories
COKER COLLABORATES WITH WELLS FARGO FOR BUSINESS ACADEMY
lives of women on a local and national basis,” said McClerklin-Motley.
The council is responsible for the development of educational resources relevant to women’s issues within social work education. The council makes recommendations to the CSWE board of directors on all matters of policy. The council also initiates The academy will target rising high school seniors and coordinates programs and activities related to with a record of achievement and a demonstrated women in social work education. interest in business. Students participating in the academy will have the opportunity to spend a COKER STAYS CONSISTENT week on Coker’s campus learning about topics such IN SCHOOL RANKINGS as marketing, management and entrepreneurship from college faculty members, regional executives, Coker College once again received top marks in small business owners, entrepreneurs and student 2013-2014 college rankings from the Princeton Rementors. view, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Coker College Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tracy Parkinson teamed with Wells Fargo to create The Wells Fargo Summer Business Academy at Coker College, beginning the summer of 2014.
DAVE SCHMOTZER NAMED REGIONAL BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR Coker College baseball coach Dave Schmotzer was named the 2013 American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond NCAA Division II Southeast regional coach of the year. In his 19th season coaching at Coker, Schmotzer led the Cobras to a 38-16 overall record. Coker won the Conference Carolinas and NCAA Southeast regional tournament titles to reach the NCAA Division II National Finals for the first time in program history.
Schmotzer, the only baseball coach Coker has ever had, has a 588-443-2 record at Coker. He has a 673483-2 overall record as a coach. The 2013 season marked the second time Schmotzer has taken a Report. Upon successful completion of the academy, stuteam to the national tournament. In 1994, his secdents will be eligible for three semester hours of Coker was one of 138 institutions listed in the “Best ond season at Coker, he led the Cobras to the NAIA college credit for BA 101, Introduction to Business. in the Southeast” section of the “2014 Best Colleges: World Series. Region by Region” feature in the Princeton Review. McCLERKLIN- MOTLEY APPOINTED TO Washington Monthly ranked Coker College No. 73 ALPHA PROGRAM MOVES TO FLORENCE SOCIAL WORK COUNCIL among the baccalaureate colleges in the nation that contribute most to the public good—marking The Coker College Adult Learners Program for Shirley McClerklin-Motley, Coker College assistant the third consecutive year Coker has been ranked in Higher Achievement (ALPHA) has relocated its Lake professor of social work and department chair for the Washington Monthly’s top 100. Coker was also City, S.C., campus to a new site in Florence, S.C. The the social work program, has been established as named one of America’s Best Colleges for the 18th new site is located at the Poynor Adult & Commua member of the Council on the Role and Status of consecutive year in the 2014 U.S. News & World Re- nity Education Center. Women in Social Work Education. port’s rankings. McClerklin-Motley, a Coker faculty member since 2000, serves on the council which began Sept. 11 and runs until June 30, 2015. “I am excited about working with such a prestigious council and extremely happy to be in a position to impact the
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“Seeing Coker’s name listed again among the top institutions in the country reaffirms our belief that we are transforming students’ lives through rigorous academic pursuits and life-changing experiences,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.
The Poynor location opened for ALPHA Term III, which began in January. The new location provides several upgrades in resources for ALPHA students, including computer labs, additional parking, extra classrooms and on-site security at all times.
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1970
1977
1982 Join ed P Adv resi den isor y Co t Re aga mm n's Acid ission on Rain
1954
Rec eive Out d Co stan ker din Col gA lege lum ni A war d
Beg an d at th iato e Ac mr ade ese my arch o f Na Scie tura nce l s
1947
1975 Aw ard Tyle ed J r Pr ohn ize for &A Env lice Ach iron ieve me n me tal nt
Earn ed P Uni h.D vers . ity o in bota ny, f Vir gin ia
1941
12 th wom the an e Nat lect ion al A ed t cad o Scie em y nce o f s
1937
Fou Dep n artm ded Li m ent at th nology of N e Ac atu a ral S cien demy ces Inve nte (dev d th ice e to s amp diatom diat ete le a om r nd a com naly mu ze niti es)
1934
Join ed C oke Boa r Co rd o lleg f Tru e stee s
1929 Earn ed B .S. in Cok bio er C log olle y, ge
Bor
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Top e
k a,
KS
1907
Dr. Ruth Patrick (1907-2013) On Sept. 23, Coker College lost its most distinguished alumna when Dr. Ruth Patrick, a pioneer in environmental research and aquatic ecology, passed away in Lafayette Hill, Pa. She was 105. Patrick’s outstanding career in limnology, the scientific study of freshwater rivers and lakes, earned her worldwide recognition—most notably for her work on diatoms, a type of microscopic algae. She lived a life motivated by her devotion to science, her passion for knowledge and her aim to make the world a better place. Called the “den mother of ecology,” Patrick contributed eight decades of groundbreaking research that still forms the foundation of aquatic ecology. In 1948, she led the first multidisciplinary water quality study in North America in the Conestoga River of Lancaster County, Pa. This research led her to create an entirely new method—the “Patrick Principle,” as it’s now called—for measuring the environmental health of a body of water through its microscopic life forms. She also helped draft what became the central piece of legislation to protect streams and rivers throughout the U.S. from pollution—the Clean Water Act. “Dr. Patrick is an important part of the history of Coker College,” said Patricia Lincoln, former Coker biology professor and provost. “She essentially founded the science of limnology, developed methods still used today for measuring environmental damage caused by pollution, and was instrumental in awakening the public to the perils of unfettered environmental degradation. Her research and her public activism contributed to unprecedented national legislation to protect the environment, particularly the Clean Water
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ACHIEVE
LIFE & LEGACY
Act. And she did all that at a time when women scientists were something of a novelty and invariably assumed to be lesser in talent and importance to their male colleagues. “She served as a role model for me personally, long before I knew Coker College existed and had any reason to find her Coker College connection important.”
was the 12th woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and she was named the alumna of the century at Coker’s centennial celebration in 2008.
Born in Topeka, Kan., Patrick’s interest in the natural world started as a young girl. Her family encouraged her interest in science, and after receiving her first microscope at 7 years old, she was hooked.
But Patrick’s legacy will extend far beyond the reaches of her scientific achievements. Described as “bright, savvy and intensely likeable,” Patrick will be remembered for her contributions to ecology—but also for her pioneering character, her desire to protect the environment and her tireless dedication to the advancement of knowledge.
As a student at Coker, she excelled from her first day on campus to the day she graduated in 1929. In 1927, she was elected to active membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as a result of her work at Coker and in the marine biological laboratories at Wood’s Hole, Mass., where she attended summer sessions. “If there are any more girls at Coker with the character of Miss Patrick, send them along each summer,” said Dr. Lewis, a professor at the University of Virginia who worked with Patrick in Wood’s Hole.
“We lost both a groundbreaking scientist and a truly inspirational alum in Dr. Patrick,” said Coker president Robert L. Wyatt. “Her inquisitive spirit exemplifies the kind of lifelong learning that we value so much here at Coker. While she will be greatly missed, the impact of her life’s work on the biological sciences—and Coker College—will live on for centuries to come.”
After Coker, she went on to earn her master’s and her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. She worked for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University for more than 70 years, where she eventually served as Chair of the Limnology Department. She also taught limnology and botany at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 35 years. Throughout her lifetime of accomplishments, Patrick displayed an unfailing commitment to mentoring students and young scientists. Patrick received countless awards and recognitions for her work, including the National Medal of Science from president Bill Clinton in 1996. She
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
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GROW
A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR What does growing enrollment really mean? Here’s a look at Coker’s biggest student population ever: traditional undergraduate students
ALPHA students
new student enrollment (fall '13) graduate students
8 7 7
1,186
379
total
new freshmen
1 22
total student enrollment (fall '13)
other new students
374
GROW
29
For the third straight year, Coker has broken enrollment records. A total of 1,186* students enrolled for the 2013 fall semester—the largest fall enrollment ever. New student total (374) and new freshman total (252) also surpassed the largest in college history. As outlined in the college’s strategic plan, “Destination 1500,” Coker is aiming for 1,500 undergraduate students—1,000 day and 500 ALPHA and graduate— over the next few years. And if this year's enrollment is any indication, Coker is on track to meet those goals and beyond. “Coker has been fortunate over the years to have a quality faculty and staff that are committed to work together in growing Coker College, and our record enrollment is a testament to all of those who are committed to this great place,” said Steve Terry, vice president for enrollment services.
83%
freshman class living on campus
17%
total enrollment growth over five years
total
252
Wh at w as o n ce a g o a l is b eco mi n g a rea l it y .
17%
'08/'09
'12/'13
But for those who value the uniquely personal experience Coker offers, there's no need to worry. Booming enrollment doesn’t change the personalized learning environment that's the core of a Coker education. Instead, it only opens up more opportunities for Coker students to reach their personal best. “Growth is essential to continue to serve our students and uphold our mission,” said Adam Connolly, director of admissions. “Continued enrollment growth is going to improve what we can offer a student. “Plus, it’s just exciting,” he added. “A more diverse population on campus means more experiences that students, faculty and staff can all learn from together. The classrooms become more engaged, the stands are filled for sporting events, the seats are filled for performances—there’s just more energy on campus.”
freshman class living off campus
12:1
student:faculty ratio
*all values recorded on 10/24/13
states represented by freshman class
6 nations
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Last fall, the college broke ground on two major construction projects—a new residence hall and a new multi-use athletics complex—as a part of Redefining Excellence: The Campaign for Coker Athletics & Residence Life. GROW
Now, as we begin a new year, the campaign is well underway. Students are already enjoying the benefits of a brand-new residence hall, with construction on schedule for the DeLoach Center.
redefining-excellence.com | coker.edu THE BETTY Y. & CHARLES L. SULLIVAN JR. RESIDENCE HALL & THE VILLAGE AT BYERLY PLACE In August, Coker hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of The Village at Byerly Place and its first residence hall, the Betty Y. and Charles L. Sullivan Jr. Residence Hall.
THE HARRIS E. & LOUISE H. DeLOACH CENTER Meanwhile, much progress has been made on The DeLoach Center—the multimillion dollar athletics complex named for Sonoco Board of Directors Chairman and retired President and CEO Harris E. DeLoach and his wife, Louise H. DeLoach. Construction is on schedule to complete the 71,000 square-foot facility by the end of the spring semester. The Center, which will serve Coker's students, faculty and staff, will have a main gymnasium with a seating capacity of 1,832, plus features including a practice gym, classroom space, training rooms, offices, a conference room and a café.
The new apartment-style housing complex, which will eventually hold up to six buildings, is located at the corner of East Carolina Avenue and South Second Street on the ground that was formerly the Byerly Hospital. A generous gift from the Byerly Foundation helped make the new development possible. “Having the Byerly name on the Coker College residential village is a major tribute to the former Byerly Hospital that stood on that piece of ground,” said Richard Puffer, executive director of The Byerly Foundation. “Dr. Byerly made that hospital happen, and continuing to have the Byerly name in such an important part of the community will help remember his tremendous involvement in building the city of Hartsville.” A retired executive vice president of Sonoco Products, Charles Sullivan is a member of the Board of Trustees of Coker College and recently served as the interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement for the college. He is also cochair of Redefining Excellence: The Campaign for Coker Athletics and Residence Life. Mr. Sullivan is married to Betty Young Sullivan ’71, who received Coker’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2009.
“The DeLoach Center is progressing with the goal of late spring for completion,” said Lynn Griffin, vice president for athletics and facilities. “Coker will move into the facility over the summer and be ready for students when they return in the fall.”
WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP. percent raised
percent left
$9,170,012.17 in gifts and
“I certainly didn’t get involved in this campaign for recognition, but I am overwhelmed by it, as is Betty,” Sullivan said. “Our relationship with Coker began many years ago, and we are sincerely honored and humbled for this recognition.”
pledges raised toward a goal of $12,000,000.
The celebration marked the third consecutive academic year that Coker has opened a new residential facility for its students.
Director of Campaigns | wdaniels@coker.edu | 843.383.8178
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For more information, contact Wes Daniels:
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
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#cokerpride ENGAGE
Students, alumni and friends of the college are taking to social media to share why they love Coker College.
How do you show your #cokerpride?
Find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram and let us know why you’re proud to be a Coker Cobra!
ENGAGE
@cokercollege
facebook.com/cokercollege
@cokercollege
@kendrick_reed - Kendrick Reed
Debbie Schultz McLaren
@mattjarrett21
Having faculty and staff who are not only mentors but have become friends is one thing that sets this place far above any other #cokerpride
I am a proud Coker Alumni from the class of 79. I have very good memories of all the fun I had during my time at Coker. Especially the wonderful friends I made while there...priceless!
#CokerCollege #CokerSoccer #CokerPride
@StatCamel - Meredith Williams Visiting Granny's old stomping grounds @CokerCollege! #classof64 #cokerpride
Vernadette Barbour-Godfrey I love Coker College simply because Coker has wonderful professors, faculty, and staff. Everyone is so friendly. They will help you in every step of the way to succeed. I'm glad to be a Coker Cobra and I'm so excited for graduation in December. #Classof2013
Michelle Moody
@marabethd Volunteering with the team! #cobras #bikerace #cokerpride
A wonderful college, great professors that go out of the way to help their students. #Proud Coker Alumni
Travis Stephanie Murray @mandijo7 - Mandi Warner @CokerCollege alumni at the American Phytopathological Society meeting in Austin! #cokerpride
Best College in the South..... Great Memories...#Classof2002
Regan Ullom Levitt I loved the time I spent at Coker. I loved the faculty and the fellow students there. I came in as a transfer student my junior year and am proud to have received my degree from there!!! Dr. Clark helped to make my transition easier and I wouldn't have made it through my two years there without his guidance. Coker is an amazing school and I often find myself missing it!
For Athletics: @cokercobras | facebook.com/cokercobras | @cokercobras 2013 C A M P U S I S S U E
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@jordyn_marie95 Can't wait to finally be able to call this my home #cokercollege #cobra #college #blue&yellow
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background photo: Sory Boathouse
My coker story Brian Fisher '94 shares how one small suggestion helped him find his path in life.
Twenty years ago, I walked into Coker’s international affairs office, which at that time was directed by Sue Williams. I told Sue that I was very interested in applying for the Susan B. Coker Watson scholarship to study and travel overseas, but I wasn’t sure where to go. She replied, “Why don’t you go to China? No one from Coker has ever traveled there before.” Eventually, I applied and received the award. From July to August 1993, I studied at Yantai University to learn basic Chinese and taijiquan. Whether it was running on the Great Wall or sharing tea with my Chinese professors, I loved every minute of my trip. Before my departure from Yantai, my Chinese professors had all encouraged me to return to China and work as an English teacher. Just as Sue’s words had directed me to China, my professors’ brief words of encouragement sent me back. After I graduated from Coker in 1994 and spent a year working, I returned to China in 1995 to serve as an English teacher. The year in China was fantastic, but by the spring of 1996, I was struggling to decide whether to continue teaching or return to the states to pursue a degree in Anabaptist studies. My 90-year-old Chinese friend at the university where I was teaching took me aside and told me, “The students here need you.” There was no turning back. My one year of service turned into ten. During those years, I taught conversational English, writing, pedagogy, film, and reading courses. After five years of teaching English, I then studied Mandarin
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ENGAGE
Dear Friends at Coker, This morning, I was reminded of an important Coker memory that completely changed the course of my life. Specifically, I was reminded of how just a brief word can light the fire of inspiration. full-time for two years in northern China. Upon completing my studies, I was invited to stay on staff at the university to help other North Americans work through the Chinese language learning process. While studying Mandarin, I met my wife, Victoria, and we returned to the states to get married. A string of family and health issues kept us from returning to China, but an opportunity arose in my hometown of Lancaster, PA in 2008 to teach Mandarin full-time to high school students. Though it’s still a challenge for me to return to China, I am trying to share my own “brief words” to my students and open up the doors to a larger world. So far, since I started the Mandarin program in 2008, at least 15 of my graduating seniors have decided to either major or minor in Mandarin. Thank you, Coker, for all that you have done. Someday, I hope to return the investment that you have made in me. Sincerely, Brian K. Fisher, M.A. Mandarin Chinese Teacher Lampeter-Strasburg High School
Do you have a Coker story to share? Write to us at: marcom@coker.edu or Coker College Office of Marketing & Communications 300 E. College Ave. | Hartsville SC, 29550
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
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ADVANCE
CLASS NEWS • Gathered & Written by Class Representatives
ADVANCE
1939 It is with sadness that I present the news of a lost classmate. Patsy Prince Shuler died last fall at age 95. She was in a nursing home in St. Augustine, FL. She often mentioned her days and old friends at Coker. In fact, while in the nursing home, she was presented with a tiger paw throw, but she adamantly said that she wanted a Coker College throw. Her niece presented her with one, and she simply beamed. She was quite happy with her blue – not orange blanket. In fact, the family saw to it that she was buried with that treasure that meant so very much to her. Our sincere sympathy to Ned [son] and Teddy [daughter-in-law] Shuler and the entire Shuler family on Mrs. Shuler’s passing. I received a lovely note from Martha Gunter Caldwell. She continues to live in her home and is doing rather well. In April she celebrated her 96th birthday with all of her children and grandchildren. It was a most festive occasion. When I called Eloise Hayes Smith she was just returning from a trip to Charleston. Come to think of it, I have never called her when she wasn’t just leaving or just getting home from somewhere. I do declare, that woman does love to travel! Eloise continues to live in her home in Latta. News of Octavia Moses Mahon [‘Ta] comes from Marjorie Brunk Nettles ’40 who lives down the hall. They have lunch together nearly every day. ‘Ta’s children visit her often. Her niece will be married soon, and ‘Ta has lost some weight, so her dress for the big occasion has to be altered. Reminder… it’s all about the dress! Helen Montague James still lives in her home in Sumter. She attends church on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. She visits with Octavia Moses Mahon [‘Ta] and Marjorie Brunk Nettles often. Please write or call me with any news, address or phone number updates, or just a "hello". Your classmates would simply love to hear from you. A great big “thanks” for allowing me to serve as your class representative. And don’t forget to tell someone that you love them! Cordially, Connie
1940 It is with much sadness that I report the loss of some of your classmates and friends. Margie Brunk Nettles lost her youngest daughter Pat to breast cancer last year. Katherine Jackson Barton passed away in January. Our sincere sympathy goes to her son, Dr. Barton, her sister Grace Jackson
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Ingram ’44, and all of Kat’s family. I know her generous giving of her homemade knitted preemie baby caps to the local hospitals in Alabama will be greatly missed. Our condolences to Frances Humphries Price on the loss of her husband The Rev. Robert Hampton Price in March. Frances continues to live at Springmoor in Raleigh. Her son Ray and wife Ann and granddaughters Mary and Caroline are still living in Marion, Alabama. Her son Robert and wife Virginia and grandsons Logan and Mark and wife Heather still live nearby in Raleigh, NC. For all who grieve, may God’s love heal your sorrow, and may His peace replace your heartache with warm and loving memories. Gladys McNeill Bellamy still lives in her home in Conway. She has assistance, but gets around the house pretty well. Her daughter and granddaughter still live in Charleston and her son still lives in Greenville. Loree Harrington Gandy says she could be a lot better. Loree is still having trouble hearing and seems to be in a steep decline. Nell Godwin Morris celebrated her 95th birthday and still lives in her home in Hemingway. Nell has broken yet another leg and now spends her days sitting, but that does not stop her from her usual activity with the Three Rivers Historical Society. Nell and her three sisters still stay in touch; they get together even if by phone. Her oldest sister will be 100 years old in December. Marjorie Brunk Nettles said that she is looking forward to the festivities of the 200th anniversary of the First Baptist church of Sumter. Margie stays busy with Sudoku and crossword puzzles, but she admitted that she doesn’t have as much “get up and go” as she once did. She also reads a lot, and the library brings her four books every two weeks. Margie sees Helen James ’39 at church on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. If you recall, I had planned a trip with my daughter Natalie and grandson Austin to Grand Turk Island last December, but an 11-day stay in the hospital with three surgeries prevented my going. They sent lovely pictures and brought me beautiful jewelry from the Caribbean. I have planned trips to Key West in December, Bahamas in January, and my sorority sisters and I will take a cruise in April. I know what you are thinking… when does she have time to work? As always, a great big “thanks” for allowing me to serve as your class representative. And don’t forget to tell someone that you love them! Cordially, Connie
1952 Flora Collins Baker and I had a nice visit by phone. Her son Scott lives in Charlotte and son Norris lives in Wikesboro, NC. Ann, her sister, lives near Flora. Flora and Bill have six grandchildren. They also enjoy their sweet cat that they have had for years. I also spoke with Dorothy “Dot” Garrell Hanna who reports that she and Herb are moving right along. Her sister Sara Garrell Stephens ’49 lives in Dillon and gives me reports about Dot often. Wyness Lupo Thomas reported that she wrote a book recently which sounds very interesting. The name of the book is Spiritual Food from Tested Recipes. It is based on testimonies of people in her church, Tilly Swamp Baptist Church, who have overcome difficult times in their lives. Betty Wray MacDonald Jones and I talked about the “Good Ole Days at Coker.” She is doing well. She collects old postcards, and her son had purchased one recently in Florida and only to discover that the people on the card, which was very old, were relatives of a family member. Her daughter, Ann, lives next door to Betty Wray and that is very nice for them. Her son Jim lives in Pine Plains, NY, during the summer months and does his art and sculpture. My daughter Shelley and friend Mona have a home near Pine Plains and spend lots of weekends there so maybe they will meet this summer and share some updated information about what their moms have been up to for the past 100 years or so (small world). Betty Wray and I felt like we hadn’t been away from Coker for so many years. I talked with Miriam “Tiggie” Hooks Benfield’s sister Marjorie Bethea ’46 who lives at Methodist Manor in Florence, SC. She lived in Dillon before moving to the Manor. Marjorie said there are several Coker girls at the Manor. We enjoyed getting updates about various happenings in Dillon and at Coker. She graduated from Coker six years before us. Tiggie lives at Sea Island, GA, and we look forward to talking with her soon. Crickett Blackburn Rogers said that her three grandchildren are a very important part of her life now. My daughter Chris and I stay busy. We still enjoy auctions, yard sales and thrift stores. We have a very sweet dog named Nikaby who is so cute. He has some terrier in him. I am sure but don’t know all of his lineage. He came from the animal shelter and weighed 3 lbs. He is 1½ and weighs 15 lbs. now. I still work for the Dillon County Historical Society part-time and enjoy the job very much. I would like to invite groups to come visit our museum in Latta and the Court House and J.W. Dillon House Museum in Dillon. We give free tours and have fun. Shelley is working for the show UNFORGET-
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TABLE now which is to be on TV this summer. She comes home often and brings her dog Homer who has just started showing in dog shows. He won best in class recently. He is a PBGV and is really special. He and Nikaby get along great. Frankie and I hope to hear from you all soon. Love to all and remember Coker Alumni Fund contributions. Betty Lou
1953 Hartsville is buzzing with talk about all the building taking place at Coker. The college is growing by leaps and bounds and I have to ride by at least weekly to see the progress. You just would not believe the newly completed dorm and to think there will be five more just like it, and behind these dorms the new athletic facility is really taking shape. I had so much fun recently being on a panel of six alums telling the freshmen what Coker was like when we were there. There were representatives from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. The students were amused at my memories of my favorite tradition, the beauty-cutie contest and the nightmares I’ve had through the years of failing to get my diploma because I hadn’t passed my swimming test (I never took it!). Thank goodness Miss Mooty won’t be reading this. May she rest in peace. She was a wonderful P.E. teacher but she did not understand my fear of water! Betty Jean Lu Humsinger, Charlie Chewing, Mitzi DuPre Matthews and I enjoyed our annual week at Jean Fort McDaniel and Mac’s Pawley’s Island home during June. We did what 80-plus-year-olds do: we read, talked, napped, ate in, ate out, played cards and watched the college world series. We visited with Mickey McDowell at his daughter Cindy’s ocean front home and rocked to our heart’s content. While eating lunch one day at the Chive Blossom Café, who should walk in and sit beside us but Lois Hatfield Anderson’s ’54 daughter Electa Small ’85 and her husband. It’s a small world! What a delightful surprise to have a BIG box of delicious Florida oranges delivered to my front door with a sweet note inside from Peggy Warren Smith and Jay. I thought of that precious story telling couple with every bite. Toula Lutto wrote such a sweet note following our 60th reunion saying she could look forward to our mini reunion next April. By the way, all arrangements are in place. We are saddened by the death of Trueny Tarbox Thicker’s husband Forrest. This couple was so faithful in attending every reunion our class had. Our love and sympathy go to Trueny.
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Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger has just returned from visiting her first great grandchild in Texas, a little girl named Grace.
You would be so proud of a summer drama workshop held at Coker for children. It is unbelievable the performance that is done at the end of only two weeks. I have attended the last two, Annie Jr. and Beauty and the Beast. The acting, dancing, singing, costumes, scenery, etc. are amazing. Our president’s daughter is quite talented.
Mitzi DuPre Matthews has a granddaughter getting married next May. This is the daughter of Lettie Matthews Gilligan ’77. Mitizi’s grandson Clark DuPre Cothram, a freshman music major, toured with Carolina Crown throughout the country last summer. At a concert at the Koger Center recently he performed with the Symphony’s Winds and was honored by playing a trumpet solo part.
While Jean Fore McDaniel and Mac were here from Sacramento in July a group of us met them for lunch at Webster’s in Mullins. Betty Jean Lee Gunsinger and friend Dwight Hyman, Lois Hatfield Anderson ’54, Chuck Cottingham, Mickey McDowell, Mitzi DuPre Matthews and friend Ed Haigler, Charlie Chewning and I really enjoyed our visit with each other. We are honored that Mickey and Chuck want to be a part of our Coker group even though Anne and Sara Frances are no longer living. Betty Carol Mobley Bynum Bundy and I keep in touch on the phone. She has told me of an outstanding ’38 or ’39 Coker graduate, Nelle McMaster Sprott, they now reside in the Presbyterian Home in Clinton, still plays the piano and is the reason that Winnsboro, SC, is such a musical town. If you know her and would like to write her, her address is 801 Musgrove Street, Clinton, SC, 29325. Charlie Chewning and I enjoy lunch and cards pretty often. We have our routine: Spades, then Crazy 8’s, then bridge, lunch ending with the game Jean Fore McDaniel brought from California, 3-13. Charlie enjoys attending a monthly book club. She received a nice call from Doris Hixson Mattox one day saying she had seen a write-up in the paper about Charlie’s success as a girls’ basketball coach and her team winning two state championships. One very rainy Friday Mitzi, Charlie, Dr. Wyatt’s wife Nancy, and I braved the elements and met at Bizzell’s for a delightful lunch. Nancy entertained us with stories about her life. She is just one of us Cokernuts. My family thought I needed some modern technology so I received an iPad for Christmas. I’m on Facebook and play “Words with Friends.” One of my opponents is Dr. Wyatt and rarely do I win! Mitzi stayed overnight with me and we attended Leadership Saturday in August. Our new alumni president, Gayle Sawyer, is already doing an outstanding job. We had a delicious lunch in beautiful Drengaelen House catered by the college. Jennie Herlong Boatwright fell down a number of steps at her daughter’s home and was in the hospital and rehab for some time. She had a blow to her head causing some sight problems. She was assured this would improve with time. Daphne Yarborough Edge was hospitalized also during the summer and it took some time for her to regain her strength. Ina Jean Webster Godwin had a fall in her home and broke her hip. Now, ladies, at our age we had better beware of falling. I am one to talk for I have had a few spills myself!
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I had some really nice telephone chats with Cat Rice Thorin, Margaret Hewitt Hoffmeyer, Felicia Brown McElceen, Joyce Bell, Sarah Stevens Black, and Mickey McDowell who has recently moved to Clemson.
It is wonderful having Pam Huggins Chapman’s daughter Joyce and her husband Danny Sansburg in Hartsville. Danny is minister of First Presbyterian Church and we enjoy doing some things together. Pam and Frances Matheson Leppord, both 1950 graduates, attend a quarterly high school gathering in Cheraw and we saw each other. Ruth Kirkley Jackson ’50 came one time too. I forgot to mention that Beth DuBose Cottingham was at Leadership Saturday and we loved being with her. Life is good. The college is prospering. You are my good friends for 60+ years and I cherish that. Mitzi and I are proud to be your class reps. I love each of you, Pat Chapman Huff
1954 My major focus in this column of the Commentary is our big 60th coming up next spring. The “Save the Date” card was sent out weeks ago so you have been warned way ahead of time for this BIG reunion. I’ve made lots of efforts to contact you, but some of you don’t have answering machines and some of you didn’t give a recent number to the College. I’m so sorry I missed you. I will try again (and probably again) before April. Please prepare to come to the reunion. I know that our travels are getting shorter and shorter and our steam sometimes runs out before we plan for it—BUT! This is so important and almost everyone to whom I have talked has expressed a desire that we KEEP IN TOUCH! Frances Johnson McElveen is doing well and Don has had great reports from his doctors. Frances has been digging up and giving away and passing along an abundance of Elephant Ears. I told her in the spring that I’d like some, but getting to Hartsville from Hopkins has been like taking a trip to East Egypt. Frances and Don have a son who lives (with his family) in the same section of Richland County that I do, but our paths have not yet crossed. They have two daughters who live in Lexington and another offspring who lives in Sandhills. Frances stays busy! One of her favorite things is the Relay for Life. She asks for prayers for her daughter Jerri who has some serious health issues. Lucy Caldwell is doing well after some recent surgery. She still does a lot of reading and is looking forward to getting back to quilting. (She inspires me—I must have
five bushels of potential quilts but I just can’t get scissors, needles, threads and me together at the same time!) Lamar ’58 has macular degeneration but is still able to do a lot around the house. Lucy said she would try to make it to the reunion.
involved in her church. I told Lucy Caldwell that she and Mary Ellen should get together and compare quilts. Maybe each of them could bring a quilt to the reunion for a show-and-tell! I doubt that I could have mine ready by then!
When I talked to Laverne Hancock, he had a dreadful cold! He is planning for not too distant retirement. He is still serving as pastor of Mt. Elon Baptist Church in my area and I often go to his church for a meeting of an organization to which I belong.
It’s back home to Tampa for Joan Griffin Burpee. She sold her home in Tennessee and has hit the ground running in Tampa. She sounds wonderful and is planning now to see a bunch of 54’ers at the reunion next year. When we meet at the reunion, I want Joan to tell all of you about her goldfish pond.
Doris Rogers Page sounds WONDERFUL! Her big activity right now is joining with a group from different churches in the area and visiting nursing homes four times a month. What a great ministry. Those of us with more than a nodding acquaintance with nursing homes know how meaningful that is for the residents and their families. Pug (She said it was okay for me to continue calling her that!) plays piano for the residents and one of the ladies plays the guitar. I’m told they really have a good time! Pug’s kids are all okay and she said, “They have jobs!” Chris Bates Mink and I could have talked all afternoon! I started our conversation by thanking her for a birthday card she sent to me in May! (Miss Mills would chastise me for being negligent with my expression of thanks and she would be RIGHT!) Chris has had some rounds with medical things but that spunky girl is “hanging in there.” Al was reading a Louis LaMour book when I called. Call Chris at 803-279-6581 – she’d love to hear from you. Their two daughters, one son and grandchildren are doing well! Betty Stokes Cottingham goes often to the library in Florence and usually leaves with about fifteen books! She really whips through good reads! Some of her books she gets for a six year old granddaughter, whom Betty picks up from school every day. It’s been about a year since Betty’s son Mike passed away and now she has her daughter living with her. What a bonus! Betty still loves working in her yard—I need her here at my house to help rid my spot of Florida Betany. (That’s a terribly invasive ground cover that I’m told came in on the winds of Hugo.) Even though Ann Askins Thompson lives in West Columbia we don’t keep in touch. She stays busy with daughters and grandchildren. She wishes us a good reunion in 2014. Miriam Powers Jordon is still “up and at em!” I continue to see her and Chubby once a month at dinner (Woodmen of the World) that we all attend! Miriam and Chubby are such good cooks but I think they enjoy eating someone else’s cooking just like I do. Miriam is having eye surgery done right away to correct a problem of the retina. While I was in my doctor’s office recently I picked up a Columbia Metropolitan magazine and discovered a lovely article about Miriam and Chubby’s son-in-law, Tommy Phelps. He has recently enrolled in college and expects to get his degree in 2017. He has been—and still is—a very successful business man. Mary Ellen Williamson Sprawls is staying busy with grandchildren and the business that her two sons have. Every time we talk we lash ourselves for not pinning down a day to get together. When I first called her on a Sunday night she was out at choir practice. That means that she is still
Shirley Dobbins Middleton said, “I’ll try to be there” when I asked for a promise that she’d be at Coker to help celebrate 60 (SIXTY) years of being alumni. She had a wonderful day with her daughter and sonin-law since it was a holiday. Shirley had a free carwash done by a business that was honoring veterans! (I guess Herbert was the honored one but Shirley really appreciated that gift!) Herbert has had some health issues but is doing well now. They were very interested in the fire in Georgetown that destroyed seven historic buildings. That is where my Electa ‘85 and Joe live, so I felt a lot of the pain that the folks in Georgetown felt. They’ll bounce back, but there’s a long road ahead. Shirley and Herbert still have their place at the beach, but don’t get to go often. My call to Frances Fowler Williams gave me one more boost! She sounded great!! She said she is doing well and so enjoys having her daughter Eve live with her. Eve works at a nursing home and is getting her degree to be a registered nurse. What spunk! Frank still has a few piano students and fills in at her church when the regular pianist is not there. She is planning on joining us for the big SIX-O! As I referenced earlier in this column, Electa and Joe are still in Debordieu. Joe’s work keeps him in Tulsa a great majority of the time, but his “bosses” are wonderful to allow him time away from Tulsa and to work from his office at home. Joe’s mother passed away in May, so Electa holds down the fort at their home with some help from Charlie, Evelyn’s adorable Chinese pug. (He and I love each other!) Electa does volunteer work at the Kaminski House, so go take a tour. She also does hand bells and choir at Georgetown Presbyterian church, sings with the Indigo Choral Society, and is treasurer of her Garden Club. I am glad she is not bored! I don’t see her as much as I would like but what would be enough. I’ve tried as I said earlier to reach a bunch of you but have not been successful. I wanted to talk to Betty Reaves Herring and Martha Little Hunter before Commentary news had to be sent but have missed them. I’m hoping that each of them is constantly waving a magic wand so all of us can be at Coker for the reunion. They and I are really counting on each one of you to make a special effort to be together in the spring. Do you remember how, as students at Coker, we watched “those old gray haired women” come back for their reunions? Just think, now we won’t have to wear hats and all the grey (or brown, or black, or spiked, or curled, or straightened, or frizzed) hair can show! I am well (as far as I know!) I have had good reports from my doctors, and I continue to stay busy, busy, busy. What a blessing not to experience boredom! I still live where I
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
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We lost a classmate Mary Geton Huneycutt Sullivan. She was a day student from Hartsville and finished Coker later than our class. I will really miss Mary for she and I felt like VIPs sitting in the press box high over our Hartsville football stadium every Friday night. Her daughter Phyllis is the high school’s athletic director and arranged this meeting.
ADVANCE have been all these years, and I still love the yard and my garden! I’m sad to report my forty-one year old tractor has finally died of natural causes. When I learned the cost of a new one, I decided that I‘d be better off hiring someone to do my “jungle acres” for me. I confess—I miss cutting my own back lot! That was great therapy, so I’m looking around for something to take its place! I’m teaching Sunday school still and am involved in a bunch of Columbia things—I went to a “thing” at Coker recently and was reminded all over again of what a long-term blessing that place has been for me. Coker is beautiful! If you haven’t seen the campus lately, GO! Lots of changes in sixty years—and that’s as it should be! Coker is growing! The numbers are exciting and somewhat mind-boggling to us “older” folks! But that, too, is the way it should be!
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Coker is changing! Some master’s degrees are available and Steinway pianos are all over the place. You can’t drive a car on campus, but lots of golf carts shuttle us to where we’re supposed to go! The dining room is DIFFERENT! You’ll just have to see! You remember that traditionally each reunion class gives a monetary gift to the college at the Alumni meeting in the auditorium. Please send a gift to Coker for our big 6-0! Of course, it matters how much you send!! (The more, the better!) The critical thing is that you send whatever gift you can. Foundations and scholarship donors look very closely at the percentage of alumni giving and donate to the colleges and universities based on that percentage. I personally know the value of scholarships, so I urge each member of our wonderful class of 1954 to include Coker on your Christmas, or New Year’s, or Valentine’s or Easter gift list. You will enjoy knowing you are helping a student that might not otherwise to get to college! I am so thankful for Coker and the impact it continues to have on my life! Think of treasured moments at Coker decades ago and I believe you will feel the same way. We have so much to appreciate and so often take these blessings for granted. Our class and its extended members (spouses, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren) are all part of me—and I am glad for you. I’ll try to do better catching up with everybody. Call me (803-776-0926) leave a message— I’ll call you back! Let me hear from you. Tell me you will be at the reunion, Lord willing. I will see you there!! MUCH LOVE – LOIS
1956 Hello to everyone! I hope you are doing well and will be able to contact me for our next edition of the paper so I can get more important information out to our classmates. I heard from Liz Degenhardt Campanile that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last February and went through the surgery. After the healing, she began chemo in June and is tolerating it as well as could be expected. In August she was able to go on a cruise of the Mediterranean with her sisters. She is also planning a trip with a friend to Cuba in December. Her son, Paul, is still a pharmacist at Duke Hospital in NC; her daughter, Lisa, and her husband are still in Australia finishing up her work as the manager of an international language school and will soon be back in New York.
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Liz is still the president of their local Historical Society there in Spring Lake, NJ. Liz is quite a traveler and actually had her car packed in February ready to take a six week tour down through the South including a stay in Florida when she found out about the breast cancer. Keep traveling, Liz! Some of you already know about Neil, but for those of you who don’t, I’ll tell my news. But first, let me say I am physically pretty well and am improving in my ability to handle all of this. Neil’s kidneys began failing last spring and we knew he had to go on dialysis so began the preparations. During this time he had several trips to the hospital dealing with the problems caused by the kidneys. We decided to do the peritoneal dialysis at home and went through the training and began the dialysis. Then the doctor called to come for an MRI on his lungs where they had found a nodule. From there we went to do a PET scan and found cancer in the lung which had moved to the liver. He began the treatment just after Christmas, which turned out to be worse than the disease. He was in and out of the hospital from January to March when he went in on March 3and was never able to leave. He passed away on April 9 of this year. I’m still trying to adjust to living by myself. But the children are all doing fine, and I am most thankful for that. Just keep me in your prayers. Don’t forget to let me hear from you!! Barbara
1957 Sorry I let the last newsletter deadline slip my mind (probably should not put THAT in print!). I did not have any news, so it really did not matter, BUT I have two pieces of news this time that are not personal. Frances Bishop Wray writes that she and Joe are selling their home in the beautiful foothills. They will move to a retirement village in Winston-Salem, NC, to be near their son and grandchildren. Joe has been in a nursing home for therapy to regain mobility following pneumonia—he will be home on Oct. 8. (Thanks, Frances, for giving me something to write about!) I know everybody joins me in wishing y'all a smooth transition in one of life's most difficult situations—leaving home and friends. Ann Gay Blakeney Duvall has moved to the Methodist Manor in Florence. We have lunch together often. My news is traveling, nursing and mowing!! Last Spring I went to Prague, sailed down the Danube and flew home from Budapest. What a wonderful trip—never dreamed I would see things we studied in "Civ" classes. In Oct. I am going to Grand Canyon and other points of tourist interest. My daughter had surgery so I had nursing duty for three weeks. Between our monsoon summer rains—I mowed!!!! If you want to read about something other than MY life, let me hear from you. (When will you people ever learn??!!) Hope all is well with all of you, Lynn
1958 Joanne McFaddin O‘Bryan and Cecile have moved into a retirement community and their new address is 4275 Owens Road Cottage 509, Evans, Ga. 30809. Telephone num-
ber is 706-829-8813. They are now living, in half the square footage, just two miles from where they have been living. Joanne says “Now we have only 1640 sq. ft. We have two bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage so please come to see us.” Betty Barnes Walpole stays busy with family nearby (daughter and family two blocks away—what a blessing!) Beth recently had surgery, so Betty became mother and grandmother for awhile during her daughter’s recuperation. Betty has been busy helping at her church where they have begun a columbarium and memorial wall. She says “it is going to be very beautiful reflecting the Trinity in the architecture and design. We were so fortunate to find a quarry in Mass. Where the stone for our church (1924) and chapel (1954) was still available.” Betty is planning to take her seven grandchildren next July on a cruise to Athens, Greece and some Greek Isles, with the cruise ending in Rome. She writes; “Then, a dream come true for me will be to stay in Italy a little longer visiting some of the places we studied about in "Civ." and seeing some of the art works I have wanted to see all these years.” Betty’s garden is still a passion although she has had to hire help to keep up with the roses due to…what else but an aging body! Mary Kay Rickenbaker had a rather exciting summer traveling in July. She went with her daughter and son-in-law to Prague where she met her granddaughter who had taken a course there. The four of them traveled to Switzerland for six days. In her words: “Switzerland is as beautiful as all of the pictures that we see! While there we did all of our traveling by train. What a train system they have. If it is scheduled to leave at 3:23, it leaves at 3:23!! Of course, had I not had my daughter I would never have figured out which train to take. I was very proud of myself for two things: 1) I packed EVERYTHING in a carry-on size suitcase. (2) I kept up with the younger ones. In other words, they never had to wait on me or put me in a wheelchair! Miraculous!” Two weeks after she returned, she went with her three daughters on a wonderful trip to New York. “It is always fun to be with my girls. That doesn’t happen much and I was thankful for this getaway—not quite as strenuous as the first trip. Otherwise, my life is busy, but not particularly exciting. I am grateful for good friends and fun times.” James Lamar Caldwell, Jr. and Lucy celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary last August. They were selected as the city of Hartsville’s Recyclers of the Month for May and had their picture in the paper and a nice write-up. Lamar also celebrated his 83rd birthday in October. This is the first year since the 1970s that Lamar did not have a vegetable garden. “Lucy had shoulder surgery that put a damper on that. Several weeks of rain in the Spring ruined our large crop of blueberries. The rain made them mushy, so our friends and neighbors were without those this year. Our peaches were good though. No grapes due to the weather. Maybe next year will be better. At least I got a break from upkeep on all those things except the peaches that have a lot of attention.” Annette Cooke Stokes and Gordon “made a long weekend trip to Austria in June! Supposed to be taking a two week river cruise, but enormous floods in Europe broke locks and though the travel company canceled
the prior trips, ours was to go....only we got to Vienna and they canceled...so we opted not to take the land tour by bus and 11 hotels, but came home, bitterly disappointed. I was not physically up to that strenuous a trip. So it was a long weekend! However, doctors gave approval for us to test my lungs at higher altitude. We drove to Santa Fe in August, 7,000 ft, and I did fairly well. My pulmonologist insisted I take along oxygen, but I only used it a couple of days. Loved the cooler weather, the atmosphere, Georgia O'Keefe museum, great food... 'Twas fun. We came back to central Texas via Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in N. America at Amarillo. Stunning! And still cooler than central Texas. Entering Lago Vista, my car read 104 degrees, so welcome back!” They went to their grandson’s wedding and babysat their 10-year old triplets. Virginia Blakeney Case writes, “Not much to say. Six hours in the hospital—kidney stone 2mm. Threw up for 3 hours. (A week and a half later) Del went in. Diagnosed, one said finally it was a stone. Stint inserted up to the kidney (and) a wash done. Still in pain, they took his gall bladder out. It turned out to be a 2.7cc. stone. A lithotripsy was done only on ½ of it. Spent five days in the hospital as a result. They will decide in October what to do with the rest of it. Then he had to collect the stones blasted in a filter. No history of stones on either side of the families. Life is funny sometimes.” Jane Howie Correll and her husband Max write that they “just returned from a lovely trip in our Airstream to Green Ville, Ohio. We went to a museum to see that Annie Oakley was from there. Also, it is a very historic place—the Northwest Treaty "ending" the Indian Wars was signed there!! Not only that, but we toured the KitchenAid factory where 7,000 mixers a day are made!!! Who cooks that much?? We also toured a dry ice plant which uses the CO2 from an adjacent ethanol plant. NO, they did not give out the ethanol samples! Anyway, Airstreaming is FUN. We are on our way to Florida soon following a high school reunion in good 'ol Monroe, NC. ….Love to the class of '58.” (They left Ohio when the leaves began falling, “a sure sign it’s time to head south,” stopping in North Carolina and Gatlinburg, TN, on their way to Florida for the winter.) Frances Gurley Carpenter writes, “My new life in Sun City Carolina Lakes in Fort Mill, SC, is fantastic. I have a loving caring family, neighbors, church family, Bible study and go to chair yoga M,W,F. I’m getting back into my art work by doing posters for Volunteer Helping Hand. Thank you God for taking care of me in my new single life.”
1959 The Class of ’59 has always claimed intrepid travelers, but none more than Shirley Land Lupfer and husband Mike who travel to Brazil in October and to Moscow and St. Petersburg in June. We’re hoping they sandwich in a Hartsville visit for our reunion on April 4-5, 2014! Molly Creadick Gray also has a trip in the works. Pete will take care of the Poms at home while she and a friend journey to New Zealand, probably at the end of March. We want Molly to enjoy her trip AND get back in time for our reunion, though her presence with us also depends on when the horse show in Hitchcock Woods is scheduled. She and Pete continue to love the
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woods and to promote its well being, with Pete serving as an ex-officio member of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation, with which he’s been involved for over thirty years, including as chair. Bonnie Cone Sawyer, Faye Gurley Reynolds, Doris Kirk Miller, and Elizabeth Whittle Baxter took a 17-day “Rocky Mountain High” tour in September and enjoyed getting to know western scenery and culture. Bonnie’s favorite part was Oklahoma City, where she found the Oklahoma City National Memorial touching and the Cowboy and Western Museum informative.
Anne Davis Glass gets her taste of exotic cultures at home. Twenty-two year old Emmanuel from Haiti now occupies her basement rooms. He plays French horn, sings in the church choir, and studies music at Austin Peay University, one of the Tennessee state universities, where Anne teaches piano. Besides frequent accompaniment of recitalists, Anne continues as Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Clarksville. Warren and I had difficulty with a squirrel who tried to invade our house by creating two holes in the bathroom drywall. Molly told me she had similar problems when they lived on Colleton Street here in Aiken. A house cleaner discovered a drowned baby squirrel in an upstairs toilet and was so distraught, Molly thought she’d never come back. Elizabeth Whittle Baxter had “roof rats” and a raccoon in the basement that cost her more than $1,000. Not only did the critter require professional trapping, but the air conditioner needed considerable repair due to raccoon damage. Mary Holmes Burkett had the best story. She had an aunt and uncle in Florida who had a mama raccoon with babies nesting in the attic. Despite the uncle’s thought that they should be removed, the aunt insisted that they remain there—at least until she felt tiny hands grasp her from behind. Mama raccoon had been washing food in the toilet. The raccoons were soon removed! Betty Crawford Moore became a greatgrandmother in July 2013 when Emma arrived to Erica and Richmond. Betty remains amazingly active, as I could see in a picture posted on Facebook of her and some friends on a hike to Mt. LeConte in NC. Another picture, of her beautiful backyard filled with summer flowers, also spoke of the time she had spent cultivating it. Faye has one granddaughter who is working, two grandchildren who are in college with one of them ready to graduate in nursing, and two who are making their way toward college. Faye, tell those two to think Coker! Molly’s grandson Connor is in the Honors Business College of his university, where he is a freshman. Her son Geoff cycled in “24 Hours of Booty” for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, raising $1,455 for the cause.
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I appreciate Pat Crawford Fields’ offering to help me gather news by telephoning some I had not then heard from. Here’s what she found: Sylvia Pennell Lemelin is doing well after surgery. She enjoyed a vacation in Hawaii and remains active in her church in Matthews, NC. A mother of three, Sylvia has nine grandchildren. Laurens McMaster Livings still pursues music in Winnsboro, SC, teaching piano and serving as organist and choir master in her church. Her son lives in NYC. Joyce Tolson Warr has three children, one of whom went to Coker, and recently became a great grandmother. After dealing with some medical problems, she is in better health and feels fine. I mentioned holes in drywall created by a squirrel. Pat found that Nancy had a slow leak that did some wall damage. Ouch! To celebrate my 75th birthday on September 13, Warren and Lauri put together a wonderful birthday celebration at a nearby restaurant, with a few Coker connections in attendance: Molly with Pete; Sara Anderson Kummer ’62, who was a freshman when we were seniors; and her sister Charlotte Anderson Ross, who was in the class behind us for two years. I look forward to celebrating more Coker connections in April 2014, when we will have our 55th reunion, beginning with dinner in the lovely Drengaelen House! I do hope to see you there. Please keep in touch with both me and Pat so that we can have some class news in every issue of the Commentary. Also, check out our Class of 1959 group page on Facebook—and join Facebook so you can be added!
1960 We send our best to Liz Huggins Barrow who suffered a stroke in June. Ann Parker Gallop called me with this news. I recently visited her and thought she was getting better. It was October before I was able to reach her because she had been staying with her brother and sister-in-law. She was still staying nights with them. The stroke affected her reading and speaking, but she reported she was getting better. She was still taking physical therapy and was upbeat. Liz, you’re in our thoughts and prayers for a complete recovery. Judy Watson Dew reports that her retirement is spent going to lots of doctors with Jim who has health issues and struggles with diabetes. Judy’s oldest grandsons, Susan’s sons, are in college. Gil is a senior in college and wants a military career and Skyeler is a college freshman. Becky’s son Lucas is 8 years old and daughter Camdyn is 10 years old. Tammy’s son Jack is 9 years old and daughter Addie is 12 years old. Judy was looking forward to having them all for Thanksgiving holidays. I’m blessed to see Patti Posey Bullen and Don fairly often as they stop for an overnight, traveling to and from Virginia. Patti stopped in September when she visited a good friend recently diagnosed with cancer.
Patti and Don made two stops in October when they went to see their daughters and grandchildren. Their older daughter Dawn lives in Richmond with her two daughters. Hannah is a senior who is an excellent runner and also a good student. Colleges are looking at her and Patti and Don got to see her run. Other daughter Sarah is a good sprinter. They also enjoyed a good visit with Melanie and family in Virginia Beach. Their big trip for the year was a river cruise in Europe which they enjoyed very much. I’m still adjusting to my new normal. I stay busy teaching in my Senior Ladies Sunday School class at Lake City First Baptist, taking short trips with my church friends who are mostly widows and spending every other weekend with my 98-year-old mother. Bill and I are still working on estate business, but hope to have it completed by year’s end. I’ve adopted two cats that I enjoy and my son Brian who resided in Orlando for six years moved back home in July. He’s been a big help to me and I enjoy his company. I especially enjoy being with Mama who has home hospice care, but one of her four children is always with her. Her short-term memory is fading, but she still has a sharp long-term memory. She still resides in the home at Coward where she was born and she will die there. I think that’s quite a legacy. It has been very painful adjusting to William’s death, but I know I’ve been blessed in so many ways by having good friends, family and my faith in God to carry me through this difficult time. Please send Christmas cards with your news. My next deadline is April 15. I hope the upcoming holidays will be special for you and your loved ones. Love, Ann
1962 As you will note later in this newsletter, unfortunately, Bea Duncan Weston and Rosalind Carrigan Hearnon have lost their husbands, and we have lost two classmates, Mary Bailey King and Rev. James Thomas Browne. News of our classmates is listed in alphabetical order by the last names we used while students. After what I hope was a relaxing and pleasant summer, it is time to send year-end holiday wishes. Please remember to let me know if your contact information has changed and share any news of you and/or our fellow classmates. Of course, I hope we will all be able to donate what is possible to Coker to help with scholarships and so many other school projects. Sara Anderson Kummer sends greetings to all classmates. She and sister Charlotte '60 joined family and friends of Holly Mims Westcott '59 to celebrate her 75th birthday. Charlotte and Sara will travel to Tanzania and Zanzibar in February. Gail Arnette Sinclair and I have just had a lovely long telephone chat. She and James are delighted to have their daughter, Sharon, living close to them on their family farm which is now Sharon's home and which she manages, while Gail and James live in town. Gail mentioned that unfortunately Mary Bailey King '62 has died. Gail and Mary had both taught in Camden after graduating from Coker. Mary Bailey King died on June 6, 2013, in Charleston after 21 years of battling cancer.
A widow, Mary has left three children and six grandchildren. She had taught Spanish for 30 years and served as a translator on medical missions to the Dominican Republic and Honduras. She was an active member of Saint James Church for 60 years, serving on the vestry and being inducted into The Daughters of the King. Sherrie Berry Wolski's garden has produced some wonderful vegetables this summer. Husband Pat emailed a picture of an old sweet potato, measuring 11 inches and weighing 2 3/4 pounds! Sherrie sent a couple of smaller (this year's crop) sweet potatoes for my birthday. Gayle Brandt Faust wrote that she and Ida Pace Storrs attended a Coker gathering in September and enjoyed hearing about proposals for a new gymnasium and the new residence halls. Gayle plays bridge with two clubs each month. She goes to Bible Study regularly and is beginning to tutor again, which she really enjoys. Peggy Brown Buchanan writes that their children, Margaret, Mary Ryan and husband Alton gave a wonderful birthday party in May to celebrate John's 80th. In August all the Buchanans met at Kanuga, near Henderson, NC, to enjoy a retreat with new and old friends and families. They stay in cabins, enjoy meals in the big dining room with other campers and participate in so many activities. Their now 11-year-old grandtwins always look forward to these annual gatherings, too. Rev. James Thomas Browne passed away in October. Tommy was a minister in Protestant churches throughout the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. In addition, he was an educator with a special love for Adult Education. Many residents of the region gained their GED diplomas through his leadership in this field. He volunteered countless hours of his time to be chaplain for both the Disabled American Veterans and Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville. Tommy first attended Coker in 1946 and was one of the first male students to ever attend Coker. After leaving Coker to attend Seminary, he later returned and completed an additional degree in Education in 1962. His daughter Tiletha works at Coker as the Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events. Rosalind Carrigan Hearon's husband Edwin Herbert Hearon, III passed away on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 in the Lexington Medical Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with Roz. Doris Duke Straight successfully moved into a new house in Elgin, SC, near Columbia in April. One of her daughters and her 9-year-old granddaughter have moved in with Doris while her daughter works and attends nursing school. Her granddaughter has been homeschooled and Doris is now in charge of her schooling. Doris’ son and his family live nearby in Columbia and her other daughter lives in Delaware. When I spoke to Doris she and her granddaughter were visiting Doris’ aunt and uncle at Cherry Grove Beach and are enjoying the break. Bea Duncan Weston's husband died on September 15th after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Peggy McCue Freymuth was kind enough to let us know. Carol Elting Richardson visited her daughter, Georgia, in Las Vegas last winter and returned home with a sweet, affectionate cat that talks/purrs to Carol and had belonged
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Nancy Phillips Sebastianelli and husband Armie went to Virginia Beach for a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary with children Julie, Daniel, Lisa, and Lisa’s husband Walker. Her sister Libby and her family also came. Nancy says, “They all gave us a wonderful dinner, then showed a video they had created with 50 years of memories. Finally, they gave us a memory book filled with good wishes and pictures from friends and family. It was a time to count our blessings!”
Barbara Dibble Dixon writes that Bubber’s granddaughter Isabella was married in July at Litchfield-by-the-Sea. The groom is a Marine Corporal recently returned from Afghanistan, and they hope that he will not go back any time soon. The couple now live at Camp Lejeune.
ADVANCE to a friend. This summer Georgia came East to take Carol and a high school friend for a week in a wonderful spot in the mountains near the NC and TN borders. Carol reports that Charlotte Cothran Taylor is well. Edith Ganelle Watts has been enjoying her mountain house at Linville Land Harbor, NC and hopes to stay there until the weather gets much too cold. She keeps in touch with Henrietta Chapman Moore and her husband, Henry. The Moores have a wonderful summer house in Black Mountain which they call "Hen House" and are still very active with their activities. Henry is a Master Carver - just like Mary Anne Wycliff Johnson.
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Judy Griggs is hoping to make it to Myrtle Beach for a few days this weekend (midOctober) and it was good to be able to catch up a bit. She continues to work hard for her church and is serving on the Session. She expects to have relatives stay with her for Thanksgiving, when all sorts of family will get together for the big celebration. Molly Holbrooke Birchler and Al are seeing Purdue play Nebraska this weekend and plan to see friends in Toledo, OH. This is an annual trip they make and love. Sometime this fall Molly is hoping to gather with a few classmates to have lunch in Hartsville. She has spoken to Ida Pace Storrs about this and loves having others join them. Beverly Jones Dinkins retired from education in 2008 and has been the property manager for an apartment complex in Sumter. The job was supposed to last for one year, but she is still doing this and enjoying it. Anita Jones Stanton has thankfully found help for problems with her Scleroderma and is feeling better than she has felt in many years. She and a good friend have decided to buy two baby Shih Tzu puppies and are visiting them at the breeder once a week until they are old enough to be taken home. Harriet King van Norte and Bob continue to enjoy taking care of quite a few feral cats, which involves a lot of work and attention. When she last wrote, a new kitten appeared in their yard, probably left by an Emory student. The problem is that the feral cats would never accept a regular kitten. Karen Mansfield visited a dear friend in FL this summer. She has plans to visit Thailand, Singapore and Bali in November. She feels so lucky to be able to have found a good friend who has been a world traveler since she was 18. Peggy McCue Freymuth is gratefully recovering from a right shoulder surgery. She sounds well and cheerful. Wayne is considering purchasing a laptop so he can download and store all sorts of photographs. Their daughter, Anne, is enjoying softball, as is granddaughter, Harleigh. Nine-year-old Tanner is doing everything he should be doing at that age! Pat McTeer Hughes’ son, Patrick, was married on October 5th and it was a wonderful celebration. Patrick, an urban planner and landscaper lives in Roanoke, VA and the reception was held in his beautiful yard. Pat’s other son, Carl, is taking Pat with him on an annual trip abroad. On October 31st they plan to leave for Amsterdam for three days and then they will cruise down the Rhine for eight days by riverboat, ending up in Basil, Switzerland. When life is normal, Pat still enjoys working at the Hartsville library.
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Elizabeth Moore Weir and Tom are looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their children are hosting a party on October 26th. She wrote "Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were getting married." It is wonderful to think we can all relate to this whole bit about what was. Paula Moran sounds cheerful as always. She still enjoys working at her Publix grocery store with good managers and nice long-time customers. Her son is still enjoying his boat and covers quite large areas of water. He also is a good fisherman and does very well in his water-related businesses. Paula's cats are properly spoiled and the stories I heard today were very funny and sweet. Ida Pace Storrs and her Bichon Frise, Archie, love to perch on their front porch to greet everyone who walks by. Ida spends her time looking through the hundreds of catalogues she receives and Archie loves to run around the yard and protect Ida from any creature or person who might decide to come too close. She enjoyed attending a Coker get-together with Columbia alums. Ida says the new dorms are like spas, absolutely elegant and beautiful. We were reminiscing about how times have changed! Valerie Powell White had a most wonderful trip with her daughter, Vanessa, visiting relatives and old friends in Scotland and England. They also were able to visit Val’s brother and his family in the state of New York. Val continues to enjoy teaching yoga and working in massage therapy. Fortunately her Missouri neighborhood has not been damaged by the storms. Henri Ramsey van Arsdale is happy to be living in Columbia again. She enjoys her crossword puzzles, gardening and seeing her children, grandchildren and good friends. Nancy Rogers and her husband, Law, are taking a trip to Italy and Salzburg in October, celebrating 10 years of marriage. They plan to explore Apulia and then take off to visit Salzburg and Munich. Nancy is looking forward to sharing her love and knowledge of Salzburg with her husband. She had organized international conferences there in concert with the Salzburg Global Seminar and fell in love with that beautiful city in 2009 and 2011. Nancy is so happy that her daughter, Ellen, has become engaged to a splendid young man. Frances Segars Kelley has been asked to serve on the executive board of Ladies of Coker. She has begun serving as president of the Magnolia Garden Club of Hartsville and after studying her genealogy, has joined the DAR. She has also been helping a cousin downsize and move into a retirement apartment in Augusta, GA. Her girls (daughter and granddaughters) are all playing tennis. And in spite of all this, Frances is finding time to quilt. Eleanor Sharpton Pitts and her husband have just returned from a trip to England, Scotland and Wales, which they loved. She is still working in her very special shop, Eleanor Pitts Jewelry and Gifts, and so enjoys seeing classmates who drop in when visiting Pawley’s Island. Flo Staklinski Taylor and Bill celebrated their 50th anniversary in July and August with the “trip of a lifetime” in Africa, safari and all. They enjoyed spending Labor Day Weekend at Hilton Head. Flo still works at
the gift and clothing shows at the Atlanta Mart, and enjoys playing tennis several times a week in spite of an unhappy knee. Bill is consulting and loves playing tennis too. They are still very involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in their church. She invites anyone coming to Atlanta to visit. Flo’s mother, Evelyn Staklinski, died on June 17th at age 94. Flo and Bill had been able to have a lovely, cheerful visit with her mother before visiting Bill’s 96-year-old mother just days before Mrs. Staklinski suddenly died. Gwen Thomason Adams has been to the beach twice and she and Herbert were taking friends in October after which they planned to attend an Alabama concert at the Peace Center in Greenville. They have been attending lots of college football games and look forward to heading for Columbia, MO to enjoy an away game this fall. Nancy Thornhill Bolden gave me the most wonderful surprise this summer! She brought her daughter, Molly, and grandson, 7-year-old Luke, to visit NYC and me for most of a week. Now this was in my bitty apartment and was such a treat for me. I realize how old I have gotten—with three generations used to different schedules and interests. It was really nice for me and I loved every minute. Joanne Tuten Bellamy was invited to visit a very special animal park with some good friends on June 1st. At T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station in Myrtle Beach, she was thrilled to be able to visit and play with a huge variety of animals. There were all sorts of tigers, monkeys and apes, a wonderful elephant and some fascinating cats of all sizes and genes. She fell in love with a gorgeous orangutan and he adored her! Bruce Williams and Mary-Frances ‘64 are planning to take an October cruise from Quebec, Canada around Nova Scotia and down the East Coast to Fort Lauderdale. Then in March they plan to head for the Caribbean on another cruise. They went to Dollywood (Tennessee) for a week. They report it was a very nice place to visit and had a lot of entertainment. There was also a hotrod and antique car show in Pigeon Forge where there were at least 1,000 beautiful old restored cars. Linda Williams Stanton and I had a wonderful chat about fall and what we need to do with our plants to prepare for this winter. It is time to use our basil. We also discussed the many changes going on at Coker and in the town of Hartsville. She enjoys reading (and had been a school librarian for years before retiring). Two cats and a dog keep her company and try to handle any squirrels. Mary Anne Wycliff Johnson sends love to all classmates. She is learning to live in the HOT AZ desert., where she lives in a condo at the Racquet Club but does not play tennis. She has met some nice people from all over the USA and there is a nice pool that they all enjoy outside her front door. She moved here two years ago because her daughter wanted her to live closer to her family. Mary Anne lost her husband Jo, to Parkinson's disease in '08 after 48 wonderful years of marriage. She has her Schnauzer, 16, and her husband's Shih Tzu to keep her company. Mary Anne is in three carving clubs and has been painting cards and pictures. She has also made the illustrations for a children's book. She plans to teach a stained glass class in March.
Peggy Zeigler Reeves is en route to San Juan to attend a Board of Governors’ meeting for the Stuart Cameron McLeod Society of the Institute of Management Accountants and is looking forward to touring a rain forest and attending the education sessions. She is looking forward to seeing IMA friends from across the country. In August Peggy and Donny really enjoyed attending her 55th high school reunion in Orangeburg. They enjoyed seeing Susie Watkins Hadwin and her husband, Tom, who were there too. I have had the most wonderful year of pleasant surprises. My 55th high school reunion in Charleston was wonderful. Two weeks later I was able to use my new feet during two wonderful weeks visiting lots of dear cousins in Paris and London. Then by Memorial Day I began to hear from dear friends and a few cousins who wanted to come to visit and they came until the end of July. What a wonderful treat that was to have chances to reconnect and catch up! Sending so much love and very best wishes to each of you, Gaby
1963 Carolyn Hawkins Hopper and husband, Robert, are retired in Sylva, N.C. and they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on May 2, 2012. They are leading interesting lives. Robert woodturns wooden bowls and recently demonstrated his craft at the N.C. Mountain State Fair. Carolyn is busy with a great variety of activities. She leads a large group of hikers on twice weekly five mile hikes. Spring wildflower hikes are her favorite. Her newest activity is volunteering at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park at Oconaluftee (Cherokee) Visitors Center. She is a “Luftee Rover” patrolling the area to protect the herds of elk and the people who come to visit them. I would like to see her “Smokey the Bear” type hat. Carolyn and Robert’s son, Russell, is a violin maker in Birmingham, Al. He was recently featured on the cover and in an article of Alabama magazine. He works with Scrollwork, an after-school strings program. One of his students, Malik Kofu,a cellist child prodigy, performed at Kennedy Center in September, 2013. Carolyn and her son were invited to Washington, D.C. for the event. Malik received two standing ovations. Carolyn’s son, Elliot, lives with his wife and two children in Tennessee. The 6-year old granddaughter enjoys dance and 4-year-old grandson is great at scoring soccer goals. Edith Reynolds welcomed great granddaughter Harper Reese Kavanaugh on July 15, 2013. At the time of collecting our news, she was awaiting the birth of her fifth grandchild due in October, who will be here by the time this goes to press. The world is much brighter for Edith now with the addition of babies and cataract surgery in late summer. She reports that the only downfall is seeing her wrinkles better. What wrinkles, Edith? Nancy Wilhelm and Budgy joined Goode and Gail Mobley for two road trips this year. They enjoyed Florida in February and Atlanta in September. They always have fun together and hope to have another trip before December. Nancy and Budgy’s oldest
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grandchild, Byerly, was married on July, 2013, to Jimbo Spann of Murrell’s Inlet. The lovely bride and her groom are residing in Murrell’s Inlet. Jennie Turner Gustafson is continuing to fight her cancer and started chemo again in June. She will have continued the second series of six treatments when this is printed. She and Gus and their two sons and some extended family vacationed together this summer. Jennie and Gus also traveled to Washington, D.C. for a party at their son’s home. Gus and the sons have been very supportive during Jennie’s illness. We continue to hold good thoughts for you and your family Jennie.
Erskine Clark has written another book released in October, 2013, entitled By the Rivers of Water- An Atlantic Odyssey. Your representative and Jim recently returned from a cruise to Alaska for their 50th wedding anniversary. In October our grandson, Vladimir Golishev, a U.S. soldier, proposed to his girlfriend Jamie atop Pike’s Peak in Colorado. She accepted and they are looking forward to a May, 2015 wedding. Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family Of Mary Bailey King ’62 who passed away the summer of 2013. Mary graduated with the class of 62 but was originally with us. Nan Warren Clark and Tammy Caskey McGuire attended from our class. Please allow these sentences to serve as a gentle reminder to continue presenting funds to the class of '63 Endowment Fund. If you haven’t seen the campus recently, give yourself a treat. In closing, It is a pleasure to be your class representative, BUT please be in touch. I need your news! Fondly, Kay
1964 Can you believe that plans are in the making for our 50th Class Reunion on April 4 and 5, 2014? Classmates will gather Friday evening at Naomi Kelley Jackson’s house in Kelleytown. The fun begins at 6:00pm! There will be plenty of time to enjoy a catered dinner,
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“Naomi Kelley Jackson, Jean Smith Sansbury, Mary Ann McCaskill Tomlinson, Anne Lamb Matthews and I had lunch at Mr. B's in October,” writes Nell Bates Beasley. “As for me, I'm picking up grandchildren from school, doing homework, attending football games for grandson Chad and dancing events for grand-daughter Haley. We sold the house in Bishopville, so we are Little River residents.” Along with friends, Pat Holland Chapman and husband Frank planned a Danube River cruise this past summer. Unfortunately, Europe had as much rain as the US did in June with many cities being flooded. “We had to evacuate but completed most of the tour of the five European capitals using buses. We also went to North Dakota—to complete my visit to all 50 states. What beautiful farm land and wide open spaces!” Sons Jim and Leighton and all five granddaughters are doing well. “We try to visit Jim and family in New Jersey as often as we can. On a recent trip to North Carolina, I visited Bobb Riggs, former Coker Registrar, at his new community in Burlington. It was great to see he is doing fine and enjoying life.” Nita Nunn Danenburg and husband Marshall conduct worship services at Green Leaf assisted living facility just seven miles from their house. “What a blessing to us," she says. "A former member of our previous church is there, and it is good to reconnect with her.” The Danenburgs operate a "pick your own" orchard of peaches and blueberries and enjoy meeting the people who come to pick. During a late summer week spent with grandchildren Cameron and Morgan and family at Emerald Isle Beach, they taught them how to play Bingo. Cameron was an enthusiastic competitor! Carol Chastain Dietrick sends her best wishes to everyone. She and Joe continue volunteering at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden several times a week and at major events throughout the year. They also play golf several times a week. When Carol wrote her big news was a trip planned to Hawaii Oct. 1- 21, 2013. Their itinerary included Kauai, The Big Island and Maui where they would visit Pam Whisenant Miller, a former Coker roommate. Carol was excited at the prospect of reconnecting after 50 years. She is sad, however, that she can’t attend our 50th reunion, because she and Joe are hosting a Chastain family reunion April 4, 5 and 6, 2014. Kinfolks from all over the country will join them for a busy weekend of entertainment. We’ll miss you, Carol, but all your plans sound fabulous. You should have lots to share for Commentary’s spring issue! All is well with Susan Frank in California. She had a great time in Ireland again this summer at Caherconnell Fort. Lots and lots of artifacts and shortly after she left two burials were found. “We don't know how old they are yet, but they were under the fort’s wall which was started in 900. So these will be very old and of the original residents of Ireland. Can't wait to get back next year. In September I worked on a paleo Indian site here in California with a different archaeologist and on a new culture. Members of the
local tribes, the Maidu and Washoe, worked with us and that was an amazing opportunity. I wonder what Dr. Davidson would think of my adventures!” “On the home front my children and grandchildren are all well, and it is such a joy to see them grow and thrive. My youngest grandchild started kindergarten and my older two are continuing in college so lots of excitement for all. I hope to retire at the end of 2014 and am starting to plan what I'll be doing then. More time in Ireland for sure!” After you come to reunion, we hope, Susan! Ann Dobson Hammond and Tom stay busy going to grandsons’ baseball games and cross country track meets. Members of a square dance club, they enjoy activities such as picnics with the group, also. Ann plans to be at our reunion. In 2002 Karen Harper Armstrong retired from education with 28 years in the classroom. She taught Accounting and Office Systems Management. Her husband Sam taught seventh and eighth grades. Karen also began and enjoyed The Teacher Cadet Program at Andrews High School until her retirement. Now she loves to spend time reading, working in her flower garden and enjoying her her family, which includes six grandchildren—three boys and three girls. Their ages are 14, 13, 10, 10, 6, and 5. Karen and Sam have two sons, Stephen and Philip. Stephen taught PE and was Varsity Baseball coach for ten years, then went to work with the railroad as a conductor. He just could not support three children and a wife on what they pay teachers in the south. “As of now I will be at our 50th and look forward to seeing everyone,” writes Linda Milam Law. “Charlton and I had a very busy summer. We spent five days in Virginia with our 13- and 15-year-old granddaughters. We did history in the morning and shopping in the afternoon! The other three grands came for a week each here. It was fun having oneon-one with them. The grandparents left for Scotland a week after the last grand’s visit in August. Charlton and I flew into Glasgow and rented a car and for eight days we were in southwest Scotland. What an adventure it was driving, but we saw beautiful countryside. After returning our car we met with a Reformation Tour group and spent eight days in Edinburgh and London. We need a vacation now!” Sarah Ann Alford Horton and Wendell love to scour the countryside finding antiques for his booths in Savannah’s antique malls. They went all the way to the Pacific Ocean on one search! Both their sons retired but are now employed in other meaningful situations. Allen is a major in the sheriff’s administration area for Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, while Van enjoys his work as the conservationist on Parris Island. Daughter Reaves is the speech language pathologist at Okatie Elementary, a National Blue Ribbon School. All three children live nearby. Five grandchildren complete the family circle: Granddaughter Sarah Jamison,14, enjoys being in high school. The three grandsons, 13, 11 and 8, are all avid three season baseball players. Granddaughter Ava, 4, may have a very exciting fifth birthday, as her baby sister is due about that time! Sarah Ann says she is blessed to be volunteering at Holy Trinity’s Food Closet in Grahamville each week. The Hortons stay
at the family’s Chechessee River cottage during October and November, where they celebrate Thanksgiving and appreciate nature’s beauty. Sarah Ann‘s update ends on this happy note, “I really look forward to being together again at our 50th reunion!” Now that daughter Kelly is doing well and enjoying a normal life post transplant at home in Charleston, Lorena Cook James and Doug have gratefully resumed a less stressful lifestyle, too. We continue to be “on call” as needed. Granddaughter Bella is a happy middle school scholar in a gifted and talented program and continues to train and compete as a gymnast. Between son Bryan’s cabinetry business and leisure time pursuits, he stays on the go. His Mom and Dad think staying at home is a vacation after being away so much during the last couple of years. Even a summer break-in couldn’t chase us away! Life is good again. Shortly before our reunion Anne Lamb Matthews will be in Korea, but she will join us at Coker if possible. We hope you make it, Anne! Elizabeth Johnston Pearce’s daughter Jane and her husband Chris, who now live in Pisgah, have very busy lives with two boys, two homes, and two very demanding jobs. Chris started The Pearce Law Group two years ago and has been so blessed. In order to grow the business he had to relocate his office, and Lib spent most of the summer facilitating this move. Jane is at a wonderful church, and the community is a great place for the boys. “This fall brought lots of ‘firsts’ for us,” Lib writes. “One granddaughter off to college, one starting high school and our oldest grandson starting kindergarten. August 25th Randy and I celebrated 50 years of marriage. Blessed with family, friends, health and so many good memories, we are also very fortunate to be associated with three local churches from Aynor to Myrtle Beach. While all are United Methodist churches, they are each different, meeting the needs of a variety of people. God is good.” Abigail Etters Pilger says she’s really looking forward to the class reunion next April, but it’s hard to believe it has been 50 years! Gail and John’s grandson, Jonathon Eck, who graduated from college in May Magna Cum Laude, is in Kaohsiung, Taiwan teaching English for a year until he enters medical school. He is traveling and learning about eastern cultures and, hopefully, may even learn some Mandarin! John and Gail spend winters in Naples, FL. She looks forward to seeing all of you at Coker in April and hearing your news. It was a joy for Becky Sparrow to have a visit at her church with Bleeker Sisk Cannon ’61 and family! Bleeker’s daughter Martha and her family attend Holy Cross Faith Memorial in Pawley’s. They gave a presentation during the service on their Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic which Holy Cross Faith Memorial church sponsors every year. Bleeker, Bubba, and Martha said it was a “life changing experience!” Cameron Council Speth and Gus continue to enjoy life on their little farm at the end of the road and the top of the mountain in Strafford, VT. They raised 25 chickens and 14 ducks this summer (now in the freezer to eat all year long). They also have a huge vegetable garden, the fruits of which are
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Nan Warren and Erskine Clark traveled to Costa Rica since the last Commentary. I will have to share details next time. They enjoyed a trip to Germany and Austria in the fall of 2013 with two other couples who were friends from Columbia Seminary days. They visited medieval walled cities along the Romantic Road, many museums, castles, monastaries, palaces and art galleries. Some villages and cities they liked were Garmisch, Oberraegau, Munich, Skochelam See, Starnberg, and Innsbrook. I know that Dr. Davidson and others would be pleased that Nan enthusiastically visited these places. Nan’s grandchildren, daughters and sons-in law all live within twenty miles of them in the Black Mountain area. Loryn, Nan’s 18-year-old granddaughter is a freshman in college. Colleen, her 16-year-old sister, enjoys gymnastics and is on the Presbytery’s Youth Council. Samuel, 10 years old, is enthusiastic about soccer while little brother 7-year-old Lucas knows all about Star Wars and superheroes.
and then we form that famous conversation circle when the laughter begins and memories flow! Naomi reminds each one attending to please bring something to add to our “Brown Bags,” which have become a fun tradition.
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also in the freezer, and the garden is now free range for all the deer daring enough to jump the fence.
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In July they spent a glorious week in Grand Teton National Park with their three children, their spouses and 6 grandchildren. It was a wonderful celebration of life with activities for all generations and a lot of bonding time among them all. In 2014, Cameron and Gus will spend February, March and half of April in SC at their beach house on Isle of Palms. Cameron is looking forward to our 50th reunion and hoping that some old friends who have not come to previous reunions will surprise us with their presence. So mark your calendars for our 50th Class Reunion April 4 and 5, 2014 and remember to bring a “Brown Bag” treat for our Friday night gathering at Naomi’s Kelley Jackson’s home when our Reunion fun begins! Expect a letter in early February with final plans for this special weekend. Please contact us if you have questions! Don’t miss the fun and the opportunity to see the Coker College campus today, Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden, and much more!
1968 Looks like retirement is keeping everyone very busy with travels, grandchildren, home renovations, and personal enrichment. Faye White Coan and Gil have been enjoying the view from their own back porch, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They have extended us all an opportunity to come visit and enjoy making s’mores in their outdoor fireplace. Also, a sad reminder that a classmate, Pansy Lou Bazen, has recently lost her son, Stacey. He taught agriculture at the high school level and leaves behind small children. Martie Dobson White and Jim recently enjoyed a visit to both New Hampshire and Boston with some friends from church. They also had a fun week with their grandchildren at Holden Beach, a summertime treat for all. Jim was headed for some additional surgery this fall. Barbara Nexsen Lansche spent several days in Saluda visiting with Charlotte Hamer Moulton and Wallace who are now in their new home. Bonnie Kearney then accompanied Barbara to Denver on a visit to see her son Will. They took in all the sights, touring the Denver Botanical Gardens, the Red Rock Amphitheatre, the Garden of the Gods, Broadmoor Hotel, Brown Palace, and Georgetown, Colorado. Their trip was over just one week prior to the first snowfall in Denver! Judi Hege Bailey reports that her “news” sounds like more like a travelogue. She and Bren celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary visiting Myrtle Beach and the Spoleto in Charleston. A “girls beach week“ at Atlantic Beach was followed by visiting Virginia Beach and then traveling to Rhode Island to celebrate Bren’s 50th Class Reunion and Judi’s Birthday. They packed once again for Maine and then made it home just in time to start traveling on the road for football season. When she’s not traveling, Judi volunteers for the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem, is involved with the Ladies of Coker, and is a member of the Deans Advisory Council for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Studies at Virginia Tech. In May she was honored by being
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named President Emeritus of Northern Michigan University. Nancy Strahn Hall has recently been absorbed in the tales of Curious George with her 2-year-old grandson, Drew. In July she and Weller spent ten days in Norway, then five days in Paris, followed by a river cruise on the Seine. When the leaves turn, they plan to spend time each month in New Hampshire in Waterville Valley where they can relax walking or cross-country skiing. Can you believe, Judy Hesley Toney and David will be retiring on the exact same day in December? Her retirement plans include both some beach trips and a sentimental journey back to her birthplace in Philadelphia. She definitely plans to begin sleeping in late, enjoying an extra cup of tea each morning, mentoring high school students, and spending more time with her six grandchildren – the lights of her life! Barbara Whitaker Terry and George made a trip to the North Carolina Mountains, where he unfortunately suffered a stroke. Their visit ended up in Tennessee at the Johnson City Medical Center before returning home to Florence where he is undergoing physical therapy. Wilson and I have been spending time on renovations. I can direct you most anywhere in both Lowes and Home Depot for whatever you might need. We are planning a Floridian Christmas with Mom and my sister, Donna. After all, that’s what holidays are all about—family. Don’t forget to stay in touch with classmates. Contact someone you haven’t heard from in ages and it will be a joy to both of you! Take Care, Joni Ladinig Abernathy
1970 I want to thank everyone who contributed their family news for our fall commentary! It seems each of us has been quite busy with the goings on in our lives. I surely did receive much information from our classmates which was a delight! Diane "Thrasher" Mills has recently retired from the teaching profession and adores it!! She is especially pleased that she can sleep and get up as she wishes and doesn’t cringe when she hears a bell. Diane is free to go out on a week night without worrying about the next day. The best part is she doesn’t have to ask anyone for permission. What’s not to like? Ray Torrance Vance says she is like most of our class. She and husband Mike are enjoying their 3 grandchildren who live nearby. She is designing their Halloween costumes. Martha Flowers Herbert and Ray enjoy quilting together and making road trips to different events. She is especially excited about a beach vacation with their entire family of eight! Brenda Thompson Stewart and her husband have a son Brandon who was recently married in Hawaii. He has joined the Air National Guard after being in the Air Force. Their daughter Margaret and her husband have three children. Brenda is asking for volunteers to help them with these three while their daughter and her husband visit Hawaii! Brenda and Larry enjoy playing golf, taking care of the yard, entertaining friends and definitely keeping busy! Jane May Gable is delighted that their
daughter Margaret was married this past summer. Jane admits she wanted to dance a jig down the aisle! She continues to work as a Title One Reading Specialist. Their other daughter Laura and her family (one child 14 months old) live in Raleigh. Jane’s car is frequently on auto pilot for Raleigh! Maxine McGarity has joined the elite group of retirees in our class. She taught Health and P.E. for 38 years. She lived in several places while doing this. She also served in the Air Force for 4 years. Nell Cutts Daniels and husband Ken are just ecstatic about the birth of their first grandchild this summer. This was a little girl. They are currently making quite a few trips to Florida. I hope each of you enjoyed the holidays. Your Co-Rep, Harriett Council
1971 Jan Bonnette Frye is headed back east after her move in 1988 to Washington. She and Carroll will move to Charleston, just a mile from her sister Libby and Ron. They will be in Carolina Bay in West Ashley. Jan and Carroll’s home is still on the market, for anyone looking for a home in Puyallup. Their daughter Julie and family are back in Germany for another two years after spending the summer with them. Son Darren is in Tacoma, but his parents hope he will decide to head east at some point. Wendy Lamm Leonard reports that she and hubby, Danny, returned to Virginia from North Carolina in 2010. They moved into their new home in March, 2012, right before their son, Wayne, married and moved into the farm house. He and his wife blessed them with a grandson in March 2013, just after Wendy's hip replacement surgery. They have four grandkids, and Wendy relishes in her role as Grammie. The hip surgery delayed a planned trip to Hawaii, but Wendy and Danny are headed there in March 2014. She said she enjoys keeping up with her Coker friends on Facebook and invites others to "friend" her. She'll accept. Teresa Burrell McKenna reports a busy summer with their barbeque business Lillie’s Q in Destin, FL. They packed up their 27-foot trailer and traveled to The Citadel in September to cook for the LT Dan Week 4 Event, serving several hundred hungry folks in Brittle Bank Park on the Ashley River and enjoying a VIP reception and dinner on campus. In July Teresa was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer, had a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy in August and is undergoing 33 radiation treatments. She says she is doing great and stays busy with weddings and catering. She, too, enjoys keeping up with her Coker friends via Facebook. Kathryn Latimer Welch cannot seem to get enough of first grade. She retired after teaching 30 years at Bishopville Primary and moved straight to RE Lee, where she is now in her 14th year. She says she just doesn't know when she will retire again. She and Benny's sons, Benny and Stephen, have given them four grandchildren, and all live nearby. She fills her car daily with her grandchildren and a niece to take them to school with her at Lee. The proud grandparents follow 10-year-old Conner from ball field to ball field. He is a fourth generation pitcher for the highly ranked 10 and under Dirtbags, a travel baseball team. The entire
family belongs to Bishopville Presbyterian Church, where Kathryn grew up and she and Benny were married. Ginger Haselden’s Celebration Singers of Asheville, a community children’s chorus she founded in 2007, will be busy in December, performing with the Asheville Choral Society and presenting a musical sponsored by Macy’s, “Yes, Virginia: The Musical.” Her singers performed at Carnegie Hall in 2011. Katherine Ledbetter Meyer is celebrating the arrival of a new grandson, Ethan, born in June, who joined cousins Dylan, 6, and Brandon, 3. She is thrilled the latter two will be welcoming a baby sister in October. “A girl finally,” Ledbetter exclaims. She and Fred enjoyed a Viking Rhine River Cruise in May with three other couples, traveling from Amsterdam to Basel. If you were a Facebook friend, you followed her journey through posted photos. She is enjoying semi-retirement, especially lots of golf, grandkids and travel. She also shared news of her annual get together with Beth Poole Garrett and Julie Stackhouse Eggen in Hiawassee, GA. Julie is about to move from Florida to either Georgia or North Carolina. Christiana Glover Wallerstein continues to crisscross the States from Pasadena to Lynchburg, VA, to spend time with her mother, Phil, who has been very ill for five years. Chris’s business, Playworks.net, which specializes in toys for special needs children, keeps her busy. Chris and David’s son, Edward, is a contractor in Pasadena. Leonard and I are relieved to have our daughter, Mary B., back at home after her World Race Christian mission trip that took her to 11 countries across the globe in 11 months. In April I joined Mary B. and 40 other parents and World Racers in Kenya for five days of mission work in Kijabe. Before heading to Kijabe, I spent an afternoon with Mary B.'s team of seven remarkable women, delivering belated Christmas gifts from their parents. The young women had spent the morning of their day off at West Gate Mall in Nairobi. I continue to serve on Coker’s Board of Trustees and remain in awe by the growth, changes and educational opportunities offered. A new field house, years and years overdue, is under construction, the music department is working to become an allSteinway program, the School of Education has moved to what we remember as the Hartsville Messenger building, the men’s baseball team made it to the College World Series (what a ride!)… Keep up with the happenings by checking out the college website regularly or “friend” Robert Wyatt, the president. And “friend,” me, too. I’ll link you to 14 or so I keep up with regularly via Facebook.
1972 Congratulations to Janice Wilkins, who was recently inducted at Woodmont High School in to the Athletic Hall of Fame for 25 years of coaching (volleyball and softball). She reported that it was quite an honor and she was humbled to be included with many others that were inducted into this initial class of 20, some who are really great athletes that she coached as well! It was a very exciting event! She also shared that she retired in June after 38 years of teaching and coaching! She says that she is really enjoying it and doesn’t know why she didn’t do it sooner! Her mom is 93 and she W W W. C O K E R . E D U
is getting to spend a lot of time with her and loves it. Andy Morrison came through Greenville this summer and we spent some time together… It was great to see her!! She is still teaching in Elmira!
If you get sick of hearing about Coker let me know.... I just know that if we had not come together as the class of '72 our lives would have been very different. I met the love of my life while here...and even though I swore you would have to be insane to stay in this town....here I am still crazy after all these years....and love living here. I am within driving distance of anywhere else I really want to be. I may not get there as often as I like, but I'm close. Hope some of you will stop by to visit where we all developed our friendships and bring prospective students when you come. My office is over the Dining Hall so I'm easy to find. Put our next reunion on your calendar. We will be some of those old ladies we used to laugh at, but we will be better looking! Keep in touch. We have much past and future news we need to share." JoAngela Sasser Fierman: "We are returning from a week in Los Cabos… a beautiful place but there's no place like home. My contact info is as follows: mailing address: 296 N. Main Street, Madison, GA 306501313 Tel contact: 706/342-1661, Email: jfierman@fiermanlawfirm.com. Great to hear from you." Margaret Bissell Walker reports that they still live half of each year in Lincoln, NE, and half at Litchfield (Pawleys Island, SC). Congratulations to Carol Ann Hackney Bingham, who was blessed with two grandsons in one month! Welcome to the world Whitefield Harvest LaVerdiere and Leo Anthony Schmidt. She now has five precious grandchildren! She continues to enjoy teaching 4th grade and also supports the BodyByVi Challenge. She says to feel free to ask her about it and how you can benefit from it. She is so proud of Kate Bingham Kincaid, my daughter and BodyByVi Ambassador, for entering the Vi Model search. She is so dedicated to all that ViSalus stands for. She has such will power. Reed McSwain Jackson shared that she and Bill are both retired educators still living in Rocky Mount, NC. They are both in good health and she highly recommends retirement… it’s soooo good to be able to live life without stress and schedules! When she retired in 2009, she was Executive Director of Research and Accountability at Nash-Rocky Mount Schools. She received her doctorate in educational leadership from East Carolina University in December W W W. C O K E R . E D U
tive at the VA. Susan says she enjoys helping veterans understand and get their benefits as they leave the service. Her family gets together as often as possible. They try to go to Boise once a year or Suzanne and family come home at least once a year. We hope they eventually will move back to good old South Carolina!
I’m enjoying spending time with my daughter and her family. My grandson, Ryan, just turned 8, my granddaughter Logan will be 6 in January and my granddaughter Teagan just turned 2. Ryan loves baseball and Logan loves soccer and ballet. Teagan is just a mess…LOL…strawberry blonde with blue eyes.
Carolyn Little Smith is still working at the Department of Commerce. She says that Hartsville has a couple of CDBG grants with them so hopefully we are doing some good things down there. She has two precious granddaughters - Sarah (6) and Abby (4). Her daughter Mandy decided, after getting married and having 2 children, to go to law school. Luckily she has a very supportive husband. She graduated last May (2012), passed the Bar and is currently working with the Dept. of Social Services. She seems to like it. Carolyn’s email is clsmith617@ hotmail.com. She would love to hear the latest on everyone.
Harriett Courtney Lemke: "Sarah McCanless Haarlow and I traveled to Raleigh in September to participate in a 5K and two mile walk for ovarian cancer. We motored to Pinehurst on Friday for a 'back in time' lunch at a Tea Room. The food was delicious and served on beautiful china. We were served by twin sisters and entertained by the chef…a great beginning to our weekend. We continued on to Raleigh for the main event which took place early Saturday morning. The ovarian cancer 5K run and walk was an amazing event. We met the hostess for the event and were so impressed that Sarah and I have volunteered to help with next year's Run and Walk. I ran the 5K with Sarah cheering me on and we walked the two miles together with families, caretakers and dogs. The turnout has grown every year since the event's inception five years ago. There were 3,000 runners and walkers. They raised a total of $500,000.00 for the Duke Cancer Center for research. During the presentation of the check to Duke, the ovarian cancer survivors were asked to say a few words about themselves, including the date of their diagnosis, how they were diagnosed or misdiagnosed and how many years as a survivor. I am proud to say there were 20-year, 23-year and 34-year survivors.
My mother was diagnosed about a year and a half ago with mild dementia. It has affected her speech and she is pretty much non-verbal. She still seems to know what is going on around her, although she will not remember it the next day. I asked her the other day if she knew she had a birthday coming up and she nodded. I asked if she knew how old she was going to be and she looked like she was concentrating. When I told her she was going to be 90, she had this look of total unbelief. Then we laughed. We’ve been very fortunate in finding wonderful caregivers to help during the daytime hours.
Bet Birdsong Matthews Home sweet home! At the time of collecting Commentary news, she was just returning from a month long "retired road-trip adventure" covering 22 states and around 7,000+ miles!!!! She shared that… “it was WONDERFUL...what a beautiful country we live in... and the spur-of-the-moment side road trips we took led us to so many interesting folks and sights! Loving this retirement freedom.” (We have seen pictures of Bet on facebook, modeling a Coker shirt in the Grand Canyon.) Sarah McCanless Haarlow It is quite an honor for me to replace Harriett Courtney Lemke on the 2013-2014 Alumni Association Board of Coker College, where I will serve for the next three years. We had our first meeting in August, led by the Chairman, Gayle Sawyer ‘70. Gayle is currently Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Winthrop University. Yes, we knew her back when and we are very proud of her now!!! I enjoyed being back on campus for the meeting. It is amazing to see how Coker has grown since we were there. It’s worth a visit. Our reunion class donations kicked off the much needed refurbishing of the Bell Tower. The work has been completed but much more is needed to cover the cost. Hopefully you will designate your donations to Coker for this project and encourage any friends and relatives to do the same. My son continues to be the Mayor of Hartsville for a second term… I enjoy seeing my Coker buddies who live here…Life is good! Sara Hart Hope reports that she is doing great… retired and living at Lake Wylie. She has a 12-year-old grandson and four dogs who keep her pretty busy. Susan Hendley Key retired in June, 2013 from teaching 8th grade science in Greenville County Schools. Whoopie! Her husband, Jim, is semi-retired and they now live on Lyman Lake in Lyman S.C. This is a quiet lake located between Greenville and Spartanburg. She is learning to relax after 22 years of middle school chaos by reading, kyaking, and playing with her two grandsons who live in Greer about eight miles away. Her oldest daughter, Suzanne, lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and daughter and her middle daughter, Katie, lives in Greer with her husband and two boys. Her youngest, Sarah, lives in Columbia, S.C. where she works as a veterans representa-
Sarah and I would welcome you to join us next year for this incredibly inspiring and fun event. Thank you, Sarah for being there with me in Raleigh. Looking forward to more 'walking weekends' to support this worthy cause. (P.S. Sarah, we are buying you a pair of real walking shoes!)" Next year will be Harriett’s 35th anniversary of being cancer free… Join us in Raleigh to walk/run and celebrate! (Sarah) Amarinthia Webb says: "Not much changing in my life, except my age - day by day! I'm still in TN working for the state in the DHS/Child Care Assessment Programs. My children are 32 and 28. Daughter Amarinthia is in Seattle, WA. and son Matthew is in Murfreesboro, TN. We are sad to hear that Frances Sadler passed away on July 21, 2012.
Well, that’s most of my news for now. I hope to hear from you soon. ~ Jane
1975 Elizabeth “Brown” Glenn Marvin has retired and now has time to cook, read, garden, craft, volunteer and enjoy time with family and friends. “Freedom is all it’s cracked up to be!!” says Liz. Deborah Scarboro Snyder continues to work with student teachers at UNCCharlotte. Daughter Hannah is in college in Boone and husband Tom teaches duplicate bridge, makes pottery, and works on his photography. Mary Jo Thompson Stemple would like to organize a mini-reunion in Charleston. She’s thinking about a Saturday of lunch, shopping, sight-seeing and, of course, catching up! Interested? Get in touch with Mary Jo or Scarboro via Facebook or Coker Peeps. Date to be determined…. January will find Betsy Mauldin McCray and daughter Elizabeth in Mexico with six of their very good friends. Sounds like a party! In October, Lisa Hardwick McCutchen sent greetings from ringside at the Bassett Hound Nationals in St. Louis. In addition to the dogs, Lisa enjoys auctions and working in the yard. She’s just about gotten the house like she wants it!
I have tried to contact a number of you for information, but I have not gotten a response. I am reaching out, once again, to get help. I not only need e-mail addresses, I need help with class news. I have a lot going on in my life right now, from a very involved career, to helping with my mother on weekends. I would love to have someone step up and assist or take over as Class Representative.
Susie Dunklin Guerry and Bert attended a christening in Princeton, New Jersey and visited Diane Roden Dinneny and Owen in Long Valley where the leaves were just starting to turn. Susie and Bert are now “new best friends” of Darcy, Diane’s twoyear-old golden retriever! Diane and Owen celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Amsterdam, Germany, and Switzerland which was followed by eight days in Paris where daughters Kate Lyn and Megan joined them. Diane continues to work part-time for a non-profit and Owen in with Merck.
Update on my news: I’m currently working as the Finance Manager for Family Connection of SC. Our mission is: “To strengthen and encourage families of children with special healthcare needs through parent support.” I have really enjoyed working here and I’m learning a lot of things I never knew before. Most of the staff members have a child with special needs and it is amazing that they are able to do what they do.
Dabney and I have had a tough year. His dad passed away in March (the day after his 93rd birthday) and my dad died in April. Since then, my mother has had a series of strokes and is currently residing in assisted living in Greenville, where my sister lives. Many of you had been through similar circumstances and know what a difficult time this has been for us. On a lighter note, in August we attended a family wedding in
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Janie Cleckley Campbell sent us this information: "Working at Coker was especially exciting this year as the first new residence hall since Grannis Hall (that we lived in) was built. The beautiful apartments, with a full kitchen, opened to 48 students on the site named the Village at Byerly Place. The Village at Byerly Place is across the street from Coker where the Byerly Hospital used to be and will eventually house more residential facilities. I'm glad they kept the name Byerly in the whole facility. Of course Coker wisely reused the old library building as beautiful suite style apartments housing 38 residents. The groundbreaking for the wellness center (gym), that will replace our old gym, has taken place. It is scheduled to open in the spring.
2004…a large goal she had always wanted. She said that “It almost 'killed' me as I had to work full time as well as be a full time grad student. We never had kids (he has a son by a previous marriage), but we do have 5 cats. We love ’em all dearly, but they have put a huge restriction on travelling for more than a day or two.”
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New Orleans. All the festivities were in the French Quarter and we enjoyed being part of “the second line march” from the church to the reception. The fall finds me hard at work for The Morehead-Cain Foundation, the oldest merit based scholarship program in America. I’ll soon return to Undergraduate Admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill to review applications for the Class of 2018. All the best to everyone and please keep in touch… Rose
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Hello Classmates! Here we are another year older and another year better. It is my hope that everyone is well and blessed. Call me, message me on facebook or email me (ddshouse@yahoo.com) so I can add your news to the Commentary. We want to keep in touch and it is exciting to hear what is going on in your life. Gwendolyn Crawford Clark ’82 sent a message on Facebook and I was so excited to see that someone had responded to my request for news. Gwendolyn recently graduated from Art Instruction School and is publishing her first children's book that is scheduled to be released by the end of this year. Congratulations Gwen! Let us know when your book is released. We would love to pick up a copy. After being out of the classroom for over seven years, I am now embarking on a new adventure with the school system. I will be team teaching in kindergarten for half of the day and fourth grade gifted for the other half. It is exciting and my youngest children, Zoe (8) and Zia (6) love that I will be at their school everyday. Some on you have been emailing and keeping in touch on Facebook. If you want to share something for the class news make sure you indicate that and I will share it. Blessings to you all. Dee
1987 I've enjoyed being able to be on campus several times over the last several months. It is always good to be in Hartsville and on the Coker campus. In July, I attended a gathering of class representatives and was happy to see Phyllis Atkinson Palmieri. Phyllis is still as lovely and kind as ever. Other 80s folks present included Dawn Nelson, Donna Craig, Michelle Wiscovich King, and Electa Anderson Small. It was so nice to see all of these beautiful ladies. Of course, every one of us still looks as fantastic and young as we did in our school days. Homecoming was the first weekend of October, and while we didn't have the big showing of 80s classmates, a few of us were there. I won't try to name people for fear of leaving someone out. If you weren't there, you missed a good time. Mark your calendars now for next year! Homecoming is always the first weekend of October. Facebook is another great way of keeping up with people. Jennifer Halls has written a book. It has been out now for over a year and it's doing well, Jennifer says. The book is called The Runes Workshop and is available on Amazon.com as a real book or on Kindle. Jennifer also teaches classes on the Runes as a way to communicate with your intuition better. All the workshops she does
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focus on intuitive connection. Jennifer and her husband live in Fort Mill, SC. Donald and I are keeping busy with work. I'm a regional manager with Quintiles, a company that monitors pharmaceutical research studies. I just celebrated my fifth anniversary with the company. Donald is manager of Health and Safety and Property Manager at Savannah River Ecology Lab. He has been there since 1990, and he is counting the days to retirement, I think. There are still many days (years) until he can retire, but at least those years are now in single digits. We've also been focusing on our diet and overall fitness. Now that my health is doing better, we are becoming more active again with regular workouts at the local Family Y or taking advantage of our town's biking/walking trail. Donald also enjoys kayaking, but I've not gone with him yet. I did participate in my first 5K during Homecoming, the Coker College Canine 5K which Emily and I did together. I walked most of it, but ended up coming in 4th in my age group. With Donald's help, I am training for more 5Ks and am signed up to do Run or Dye with Emily in Augusta in November. I'm also planning to do Run or Dye in Charleston in December with my brother. I'm not a great runner and definitely not fast, but I am determined to be fit and not fat before I turn 50! Something I learned at the Class Rep meeting in July is that we have several classmates who are listed as "missing" in Coker's database. That means there is no current contact information for them, so they are missing out on cool things like getting The Commentary mailed to them. If you have contact info for anyone listed below, please pass it along to the Alumni office. Better yet, have the MIA classmate contact the office. I'm sure the staff would love to hear from Alumni. Darin Beasley, Kathy Cassidy Brock, Kevin Dunleavy, Susan Floyd-Graves, Herbert Greenwald, Allison Hall, Paulin Halle, Jennifer Hemler, George Hogan, Colin Howard, Joyce A. Marsh, Karen L. Meyer-Jordan, George W. Posey, Levander Robinson, Amy E. Myers-Sabin, Freida D. Smith, Cheryl L. Warner-Sridej, Yvonne B. Strohman, Maureen Woods, Anthony N. Zammarelli Well classmates, this is all I have to share with you now. Please keep in touch, or get in touch and let me know how you are. I'd love to see some of you either at Alumni Day in April 2014 or at Homecoming in October 2014. Feel free to email or call me, or connect with me on Facebook. Take care of yourselves, and as we head into the holidays soon, all the best to you and yours from me and mine. Warm regards, Donna
1990 We heard from Jessica Sellers Bagwell ’04. Congratulations are in order for Jessica and her husband Shane on the birth of their son, Weston Drake Bagwell. Weston was born on June 19, 2013. We look forward to hearing more news for the next edition. Please call or email us with what is going that you would like to share. Kathy and Amy
2002 Collin Liggett ’04 and Susanne Watts Liggett celebrated their 7th anniversary in July, and are patiently awaiting the arrival of their third child, Michael "David," who was due to arrive on Dec. 4, 2013. They are still living in Columbia, SC, where Susanne teaches English at Ridge View HS and Collin teaches PE and health and is the head baseball coach at Spring Valley HS. Life is busy and great! Here's some info on other classmates: Gina Blackwood Cavalier is enjoying married life and recently relocated from Baton Rouge, LA to Raleigh, NC. Keri Martin Smith recently welcomed another sweet boy to her family. His name is Samuel Martin Smith. Stephanie Carwile Murray ’02 is still living in Texas with her two sons and wonderful husband Travis Murray. Stephanie is an Adult Protective Service investigator for the state of Texas. Stephanie and her husband are the owners of Murray's Automotive Shop.
2003 Happy 10th anniversary from our graduation class of ’03! I know many of you got together at Homecoming this year to celebrate 10 years since our graduation. I was unable to attend since I had my first baby only 2 weeks prior! A lot has changed for me over the last year. My husband and I moved from California to Dallas last November and bought our first home in February, hoping to put down some roots here. We had our first baby, Jackson Ray Tupper, on September 13, 2013. I am still working for the consulting company Accenture but enjoying my five-month maternity leave while I navigate the new adventures of being a mom! I’m not the only new mom or mom again from our class. Cristy (Howell) Dyar and her husband JP welcomed their daughter Gabby on October 11, 2013. Cristy and JP celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary on December 11th this year as well. Cara (Wilkerson) and Conrad Deese ’05 just had their 3rd little boy, Paxton, at the end of September. Jessica and Rob Christenson welcomed their 2nd baby girl, Scarlett Mary, on April 18, 2013. And not to be outdone by the ladies, Wes Daniels and his wife Lacey are expecting their first baby in March 2014. They also just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary in October of this year. Chris Taylor and his wife, Beth welcomed their daughter in May of this year. Congrats to all our new/again parents!!! We have some new weddings from our class as well. Jeff Baker married Dawn this past summer. Sarah Monakes and Derek Whitmire ’04 just got engaged this past July. They are planning to get married next June in Asheville. Sara just moved from Charlotte from Texas this summer and is currently a full time professor teaching graduate students in Clinical Mental Health. Derek is a financial advisor. I still talk to Courtney Smith often; she is living outside of Daytona Beach, Florida with her boyfriend Mike Geiger but travels up to the Carolinas a lot for work still and to play with her beautiful niece. My old roommate Erin (Earle) Owen is doing well living it up in Australia with her husband Gary and daughter Cooper. Erin recently received a
promotion at work with the mental hospital which she enjoys. And Erin’s parents just retired and moved from Canada to Australia which has been a great bonus to have her family nearby. I didn’t hear from many of you but would like to for our next class update or anytime. Please feel free to email me (emilymarovich@yahoo.com) or our other class rep, Wes Daniels (wdaniels@coker.edu), anytime for class updates which will be published yearly in the Commentary. Take care class of 2003! Emily Marovich Tupper
2005 Currently, I am very blessed with teaching my largest number of private voice and dance students this year. I also still teach dance classes, which are going very well. I added a technique class, which allows me to re-live the dance days at Coker! For my fellow dancers, I have a lot of “Wanda” moments, and I pulled out the song “Angel” for cool down. On the recording contract from Tate Music Group, I have submitted five original songs with hopes of getting three more completed before the end of October. I hope that I will have an estimate for the album release by the next time I talk to all of you. Our daughter, Tori, just celebrated her fourth birthday, and she is such a drama queen! Curtis (’02) is working mostly from home now, which allows him to be Daddy regularly. Tori loves “Daddy-Tori” days, and I am super thankful for the help at the house. Brantlee Yarbrough Kirven is a Clinical Nurse Manager for McLeod Health. Brantlee and her husband, Chris, are very excited to announce that they are expecting their first child in March. I’m sure that you all would like to pass on your congratulations to them. Remember classmates, add SmileRainmaker@aol.com to your inbox, so you can receive my updates and reply with the exciting events of your life. Wish you well, and remember that we would really like to hear from you. You can also find me on Facebook, so if you are currently on Facebook, send me a friend request, and I can set up a group for our class! Remember that I am in Birmingham, Alabama if you have trouble deciding which Jessica Lloyd to friend. Jessica Lloyd
2009 Hello Class of 2009! I hope this Commentary finds you all well! I just wanted to let everyone know about the class news that has happened since the summer! My hope is that we hear more from our fellow class members in the future! Keep in touch! Richard Deleandro '09 married Kristen Evans Deleandro '10 July 6, 2013 Kelsey Carlson Ziemnik '09 married Jeff Ziemnik June 14, 2013 Shelly Catlett Watts '09 married Stephen Watts June 22, 2013
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CLASS REP DIRECTORY The following classes are in need of a class representative: 1937, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1955, 1966, 1967, 1969, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Classes 1993, 1996 and 2006 are in need of co-reps. If you are interested, please call the alumni office at 1-800-65-COKER (26537) or 843-383-8082.
1938
Florence Houck Steele | P.O. Box 9005, Orangeburg, SC 29116 | 803-460-7877
1939
Connie Bell ’93 EV-FJ | 104 Cooper River
Rd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 | 843-650-4791 | CokerGrad@aol.com
Lisa Miller Sneed ’98
1940
Connie Bell ’93 EV-FJ | 104 Cooper River
1942
Fran Lambe
675 Wedgewood Dr., Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
1945
Katherine Still Campbell | 295 Club Acres Orangeburg, SC 29118 | 803-534-6594
1947
Pat Crawford Fields | 1713 Scenic Valley Lne., Knoxville, TN 37922 | 865-675-3013 | jcfields@tds.net
1948
Pat Hesse Hardison | Southminster; 8919 Park Road #148, Charlotte, NC | 704-373-3056
1949
Electa Andeson Small ’85 | 204 Lantana Circle | Georgetown, SC 29440-7278 | 803-348-6748 | andee33@aol.com
Lois Hatfield Anderson ’54 | 210
Saddlebrook Lne. | Hopkins, SC 29061 | 803-776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com
1951
Betty Lee Jordan Gandy | 1201 Wisteria Dr., Florence, SC 29501 | 843-662-2797
1952
Betty Lou McIntyre Barclay |329 Lee
1960
Millicent Chewning Macchione | 3011
Hwy, Lake City, SC 29560-6202 | 843-389-4401 | wbragdon@ftc-i.net
1975
Mitzi DuPre Matthews | 200 Juanita Dr.
Lexington, SC 29072 | 803-808-8462 | Bmatthews4@windstream.net
1961
#59, Hockessin, DE 19707 |302-239-0641 | sylviabs@aol.com
1976
Regina Swygert-Smith | 5206 Main St.
Hanahan, SC 29410 | Drb90@att.net
Sylvia Beard Seppala | 726 Loveville Rd.
Stephens City, VA 22655-2632 | 540-868-1055 randm@bilbroughterriers.com
1977
St. #7-K, New York, NY 10022 | 212-832-7462 |
1978
Gabrielle (Gaby) Morandiere |300 E. 54th
Mullins, SC 29574 | 843-464-7056 | suchysuchy@aol.com
1990
Kathy Harsh Cunningham | 6004
1979
1964
Hartsville, SC 29550-6948 | naomijac@roadrunner.com
1980
Lorena Cook James | 24 Dearborn Rd
29526 | 843-248-3925 | lhickman@sccoast.net
Naomi Kelley Jackson | 2302 Bay Rd.
North, SC 29112-8201 | 803-874-3332 | lorenajames@windstream.net
Becky Sparrow | 306 Salt Marsh Circle
5B, Pawley’s Island, SC 29585 | 843-237-7525 rgs01781@gmail.com
Cameron Council Speth | 89 Jordan Rd.
Strafford, VT 05072 | 203-641-5871 | cece@speth.com
Eleanor Powell Clark | 106 Arapaho Circle
1968
Joan Lading Abernathy | 20037 Oak River
Court, S. Chesterfield, VA 23803 | 804-590-1644 | jabernathyva@comcast.net
1970
Harriett Council Candee Constable Craven Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32205 | 904-384-8650 | stjohnsjane@bellsouth.net
Sarah Jo Wood Safrit | P.O. Box 388
Sarah McCanless Haarlow | 369
1972
Hartsville, SC 29550 | 843-332-5998 | Chaplins4@aol.com
Lee H. Hickman | 703 Beaty St. Conway, SC
Susan D. Weathersbee | 137 W. Home Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550-4123 | 843-383-4692 | CIRCEmyTW14/Sunbeam@hotmail.com
1981
Barbara A. Britton ’82 | 6716 St. Julian Way, Fayetteville, NC 28314 | 910-860-7650 | jmb1jmb2@aol.com
1982
Charlotte, NC 28214 | 704-575-1314 | helenm.allen@cms.k12.nc.us
1992
Kelly S. Jenkins Fredie James Williams | P.O. Box 2734 Evans, GA 30809-2734 | fredie.williams@gmail.com
1993
Angela Hodges Taylor
1994
1983
Viola DeDe Lawrence
Bluffton, SC 29910 | 843-815-4745 | daddydolphin@hargray.com
1995
Glenn Douglas Bridges | 18-F Old S. Court
dede_lawrence@yahoo.com
1984
Heather McConnell Buckelew | 1606 Duckhorn St NW, Concord, NC 28027 | 704 786-1857 | nj2sc2nc@ctc.net
Charlotte, NC 28211 | 704-365-6763 | djcraig@bellsouth.net
Sam J. Fryer III | 1610 S.wood Court
Donna Craig | 801 Longbow Rd.
Michelle Wiscovitch King | 400 Gandy Dr. Hartsville, SC 29550 | 843-857-0084 | michaelbking@bellsouth.net
1985
Tracie Johnson Paschal | 1111 W. Roseneath Rd., Florence SC 29501-5745 | TraciePL@aol.com Electa Anderson Small | 204 Lantana Circle,
Georgetown, SC 29440-7278 | 803-348-6748 | andee33@aol.com
1986
Lynn Williams Oates | 3417 Oates Hwy,
Harriett Courtney Lemke | 411 Prestwood
Irmo, SC 29063 | 803-749-3922 | triggermartin@aol.com
Janie Cleckley Campbell | 2045 E. Carolina Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550 Dr., Nashville, TN 37205 | 615-352-5732 | Susan. 843-332-1547 | jccampbell2@bellsouth.net Shumaker@comcast.net
Helen Mason Allen | 1823 Misty Vale Rd.
Jennifer Spray Blankenship | 2977 Dance Dr., Hartsville, SC 29550 | 843-332-9835 blankcamp@aol.com
Brookwood Dr., Hartsville, SC 29550 843-816-4995 | sarahhaarlow@gmail.com
Dr., Hartsville, SC 29550 843-861-6005 | hlemke19@gmail.com
1991
Port Orange, FL 32127-6136 | 386-760-6430 ddshouse@yahoo.com
Debra Holt Zsembik | 325 Moss Ave.
Greeleyville, SC 29056 | tnmishoe@ftc-i.net
Teresa "Trigger" Martin | 133 Tall Oaks Dr.
Florence, SC 29505-3195 | 843-629-8372 | S_Fryer@fsd1.org
1996
Karol Lowery | Klowery727@aol.com
1997
Regina Bacote Donithan | 5482 Rosehall Place , Atlanta, GA 30349 | 404-344-0692 | rbacote518@hotmail.com
Alison Elizabeth Wood | 2400 Pine Haven St. | Beaufort, SC 29902-6042 | 425-338-9760
1998
Ashley M. Pruett | apruett76@yahoo.com
Rebecca Lynn Teal Sheila Brodie Trapp | 1343 Antioch Rd. Hartsville, SC 29551
2000
Keelea R. LeJeune
Keelea.LeJeune@hotmail.com
2001
Roslynn D. Elom | 572 E. McIver Rd. Florence, SC 29506 | 843-667-0502 | Ravenrose3@aol.com
2002
Stephanie Carwile Murray | P.O. Box 299 Panola TX, 75685 | 318-773-0133 | Stepahnierodeo@aol.com Blayke Epley Turrubiartes | 1847 Arnold Dr., Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-535-1504 | blaykee@gmail.com
2003
Wes Daniels | 201 Chester Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550 | 843-616-2485 | wdaniels@ coker.edu Emily Marovich Tupper | 5809 Yeary Rd., Plano, TX 75093 | emilymarovich@yahoo.com
2004
Selena Davis | 410 Emmary St., Hartsville, SC 29550 | SelenaCobras20@hotmail.com
Julia Cox Kokemor | 12787 Hwy 90 Kenner, LA 70070 | 504-466-3096 | jucarcox@hotmail.com
2005
Jessica Brill Lloyd | 1241 Old Oak Rd., Birmingham, AL 35235 | smilerainmaker@aol.com
2006
Jennifer Jackson | 200 Cedar Branch Rd. Loris, SC 29569-5834 | 843-756-4469 | jenmarie_john315@yahoo.com
2007
Kristin Caswell | 141 Pacific Ave. Chapin, SC 29036-7315 | 706-394-9122 | kcaswell@vertixinc.com Ladrica R Jones-Christain | 2612 Wisdom Lne., Effingham, SC 29541-6392 843-667-3400 | ladricaj@hotmail.com Nikki Daniell Johnson | 843-669-1083 |
nikkidaniell@gmail.com
2008
Veronica Gallo Bambery | 502 Cashua St.
Darlington, SC 29532 | veronicagallo@hotmail.com
Shereza Mazyck Middleton '07 | 5145 Seymour Rd. , Dalzell, SC 29040-9144 | smiddleton26@yahoo.com
2009
Shannon Crouch Bowers
bowers.shannonc@yahoo.com
2010
Chad Daniels | 134 W. Home Ave. Hartsville SC, 29550 | 843-709-7507 | chad.daniels@sonoco.com
1999
Susan Sweatt Robey | 1 Cobblestone Court Columbia, SC 29229 | 803-699-6620 | susansrobey@earthlink.net
1987
Cynthia Lee Hylton | 14405 Woodswalk Court | Midlothian, VA 23112-2412 804-519-6192 | hyltonci@verizon.net
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Pennie Cathey Peagler | 183 Royal Oaks Lne., Lexington, SC 29072 | 803-926-8410 | penniepeagler@hotmail.com
Debbie Schultz McLaren | 20184 Foothill Terrace, Ashburn, MD 20147 | 703-726-1190 writerdeb1@aol.com
Barbara Ward Mishoe | 154 S. Main St.,
Susan Holroyd Shumaker | 315 W. Meade
Palmyra, NJ 08065 | 856-303-1090
Amy Gibson | 6 Corby Court, Columbia, SC 29229 | 803-462-9851 | Algibson90@bellsouth.net
Kay Elder Williams | 411 W Windward Landing Place, Hampstead, NC 28443-2476 910-270-0122 | tapperkay@charter.net
Peggy Cantey Gardner | P.O. Box 42
1958
Meg Quilty Liebe | 803 Washington Ave.
Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440 | 843-344-1492 | khc1224@aol.com
Beaufort, NC 28516-0388 | 252-728-3213 | sarahjo@centurylink.net
Lamar, SC 29069 | 843-332-3040 | lwoates@roadrunner.com
1989
Vicki Smith Chaplin | 839 Bethlehem Rd.
1971
1957
Lisa Bryant McDowell | 9 Alison Way Columbia, SC 29229 | 803-699-7924 | mcdowellx5@aol.com
1963
Lne., Hopkins, SC 29061 | 803-776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com
Manning, SC 29102 | 803-410-0003
Marilyn Mros Belotti | 1118 Inverness Lne.
Jane McCrackin Suchy | 5303 Bluff Rd.
Jane Brown Riechmann | 2970 St. Johns
1956
Raleigh, NC 27612 | 919-789-4829 | dsmithii@nc.rr.com
1962
1954
Lois Hatfield Anderson | 210 Saddlebrook
Stone Bridge Trail, Conyers, GA 30094 | 770-388-0067 | Millicentmacchione@yahoo.com
Rose Patrick Smith | 1801 Stannard Trail
Darlington, SC 29532 | 843-395-2173
Hartsville, SC 29550 | 843-332-3755 | carl.huff@att.net
1988
Pat Newman | 352-792-3565 |
Ann Matthews Bragdon | 1563 Johnsonville Libby Smith
Frances "Frankie" Nicholson Townsend
Pat Chapman Huff | 507 Wilmar Ave.
Phyllis Atkinson Palmieri | 1819 New
pnewman224@yahoo.com
615-673-7949 | hwestcott@atlanticbb.net
1965
1953
Lugoff, SC 29078 | 803-438-5638 | pjclyburn@att.net
N. Augusta, SC 29841 | 803-640-5695 | dfmosser@comcast.net
1974
Holly Mims Westcott
Circle. Dillon, SC 29536 | 843-774-6122 | Bbar830771@aol.com
201 Kinney Circle , Bennettsville, SC 29512 | 843-479-9398
Donna Farrell Mosser | 1003 Tamarack Dr.
Jane Clyburn | 1002 Starcliff Dr.
Market Rd., Hartsville, SC 29550-9303
Lee Blake Stevenson | P.O. Box 660, Beaufort, gaby.morandiere@verizon.net SC 29901 | 843-524-5860 | Lbs26@islc.net
1973
Shonda Miles Knotts | 4915 Langston Rd. Timmonsville, SC 29161-8370 | 843-346-5126 Shonda.Knotts@PalmettoGBA.com Dean S. Legge | 808 S. Poplar Ave., Andrews, SC 29510-3032 | 843-264-9398 | dean@dawgpost.com
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
C O M M E N TA RY
| 26
ADVANCE
Rd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 | 843-650-4791 | CokerGrad@aol.com
1959
ADVANCE The Office of Institutional Advancement would like to thank the friends, alumni, faculty, staff, foundations and corporations who gave so generously to Coker College this year. MEMORIALS The following memorials were received July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
Opal Abbott Pat Huff Tom Andress Dr. & Mrs. C. Brooks Bannister & Family Lillian L. Andrews '48 Delaine Garland Childress Elizabeth Tomlinson Atkins Pat Chapman Huff
Mr. & Mrs. C. Frank Hays III
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Jacqueline Segars
Pat Chapman Huff
Pat Chapman Huff
Jane Elliott Bacot '55
Betty Culbreath Barnwell
ADVANCE
Anne Huggins Brown
Mrs. Trudy Brown Ms. Edith F. Reynolds Eloise Rabon Browne
Betty Culbreth
Peggy Newsom Jacqmein
George Anna Chambers Setzer
Adrienne H. Rogers
Mrs. Jacqueline Newsom McKenzie
Barbara Chambers
Dr. Paula Samiec Bailey
Pat Chapman Huff
Ruth Earnhardt
Pat Chapman Huff Jacqueline Segars Florence County GIS, Planning & Building David E. Thompson Betty & Dan McEachin Gordon McBride Merle Davis Baxley Dr. & Mrs. C. Brooks Bannister Judy & John Walker Howard & Donna Tucker Lee & Wade Hicks Greg Reaves Mr. & Mrs. William K. Farris Sara K. Wilds
Mrs. Barbara Kirkley Kelley
Pat Chapman Huff
Dr. Joseph A. Stevano
Mrs. Lee Blake Stevenson
Ms. Gabrielle Potier de la Morandiere
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin W. Molony
Mrs. Selma Stogner LeHardy
Mrs. Selma Stogner LeHardy
Will Carswell
Pat Chapman Huff
Timothea F. McDonald
Forrest H. Thieker, Jr.
Mr. Murray Frank McDonald, Sr.
Pat Chapman Huff
Ms. Edith F. Reynolds
Dexter C. Vaughan
Pat Chapman Huff
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Gable
Ms. Edith F. Reynolds
Mr. Fred Eisele
Betty Wray MacDonald Jones
Pat Chapman Huff
Pat Chapman Huff
Mr. Fred Eisele
Mrs. Sara K. Wilds
Harris & Louise DeLoach
Dr. & Mrs. Louis M. Stephens
Mary Coker Joslin Ellen Devereux Joslin
Mr. & Mrs. Rodger Williamson Frank Bush Jr.
Elizabeth Cockfield Buchardt
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Letherwood Howard & Donna Tucker Jeanne Strode
Pat Chapman Huff
Pat Chapman Huff
Dr. & Mrs. C. Brooks Bannister & Family Mr. Ben Kilpatrick & Family Jody & Melisa Lane Dr. & Mrs. Howard W. Tucker, Jr. Ms. Tammy Huskey Rick & Jackie Jordan Jeff, Rhagen, TJ & Tyler Harsey Brock's Mill Baptist Church Carolina Radiology Associates, LLC H.M.A. Corporate Offices Mrs. Judy W. Rabon Ms. Gabrielle Potier de la Morandiere
Rev. James Thomas Browne '62 & Mrs. Eloise Rabon Browne Ms. Ethel W. Derrick
Melody Trimble New Hope United Methodist Church Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center Mr. & Mrs. Howard Dubose Brown, Jr. Carolina Dental Care
Ms. Gabrielle Potier de la Morandiere
Kay Lawrimore Byrd
Howard Brown
Rev. James Thomas Browne '62
Dr. & Mrs. C. Brooks Bannister Mr. & Mrs. Sandy Strickland Ben & Andy Kilpatrick Familes Tamela Watkins & Family Sallie Bailey The Auxiliary of Carolina Pines Mr. & Mrs. Gus Hoffmeyer Dorothy M. Grainger Ed Davidson Family Mr. & Mrs. John B. Campolong, Jr. Health Management Associates, Inc.
Joyce Barnwell Caine Mr. & Mrs. Robert Van Norte Sharon Elmore Case Carol Ann Elmore Mrs. Hazel McConnell Cason
Ms. Edith F. Reynolds
Lou & Kathryn Chastain
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Campanile
Cecil Clanton
Pat Chapman Huff
Buddy Clark
Pat Chapman Huff
Lorena Cook James
Gwendolyn Terrell Cook '35
Dr. Jim Daniels
Katherine Kalber Dunlap
Dick Edgeworth
Jerome Fowler
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Floyd
Dr. John G. Yager
Pat Chapman Huff Mrs. Mitzi DuPre Matthews
Pat Chapman Huff
Dr. Nancy Rogers Watkins
John French
Norwood Hatfield
Information received July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
Paige Phelps ‘99 in the loss of her mother, Anne
Howard D. Brown, Sr.
Howard D. Brown, III ‘03 in the loss of his grandfather, Howard D. Brown, Sr.
Rev. James "Tommy" Browne ‘62 in the loss of his wife, Eloise R. Browne
Pat Dampier ‘90 in the loss of her sister, Anne Huggins Brown
Anne Brown Dawkins ‘54 in the loss of her brother, Howard D. Brown, Sr.
James L. Dunlap, Jr. ‘74 in the loss of his mother, Katherine Kalber Dunlap
Margaret Fort in the loss of her husband, Rev. David A. Fort
Jim & Jean Fort in the loss of his/her brother, Rev. David A. Fort
Barbara Kalber Frampton ‘38 in the loss of her sister, Katherine Kalber Dunlap
Lois Hatfield ’54 in the loss of her brother Norwood Hatfield
Huggins Brown
Electa Anderson Small ’85 in the loss of her uncle, Norwood Hatfield
Sharon Sturdivant ‘80 in the loss of her sister, Anne Huggins Brown
Truey Tarbox Thieker ‘53 in the loss of his/her husband, Forrest Thieker
Beverly McLaughlin
Ruth Patrick
Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Stogner Mary Honeycutt Sullivan
Charles S. Vaughan Jean Virgin
Robert Wallace
G. James Wilds III
Jean Campbell Williamson '45 Martha Langford Derrick Sara Williamson Mr. & Mrs. David C. Cannon
Mr. Edward J. Quilty
Anne Rudick
Lee McCown Huey
Mosteller, MD
Pat Phillips McEwen
Mr. Richard Perry
James Marim Gray
James Mosteller Jr in the loss of his father, James
W. Reaves McCall
Pat Patrick
Rev. David A. Fort
Karen LaTorre Stitely
Mary Bailey King
Cheryl Nagel
O C Elmore
Carroll Stevenson
Diane Kimbell
Clement LeHardy
Anne Shaw
Sally Stanley
J. Dick Kelley
Elizabeth S. Meigs
Cheryl Leilani Eisele
SYMPATHY
Howard D. Brown, Jr. ‘87 in the loss of his father,
Miriam Powers Jordan ‘54
Walter Rutledge
IN MEMORIAM
LIBRARY
Information received July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
The following gifts of books and/or media were given to the Charles W. and Joan S. Coker Library Information Technology Center July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
Elizabeth Tomlinson Atkins ‘49 Miriam Corbett Brinkley ‘43 Rev. James "Tommy" Browne ’62 Katherine K. Dunlap ’44 Rodney C. Hardee '94 Julia W. Hart ‘80 Sadie Rae Huggins Hutchinson ‘51 Monica Jackson ‘92 Michael Leighton ‘81 Joan Stephens Lovell ‘63 Uclete Thurmon McElhannon ‘45 Danny C. McElveen ‘77 Beverly Armstrong McLaughlin ‘70 Florence H. Moore ‘33 Ruth Patrick ‘29 Amy A. Perez ‘44 Blaine Rogers Attd. Patricia D. Ross ‘01 Frances P. Sadler ‘72 Douglas Michael Shirley ‘76 Willette Gault Smith ‘60 Mary Huneycutt Sullivan ‘74 Bette E. Thomas ‘48 Pat Young ‘56
Janet Lee Burnet James Christian Charles W. & Joan S. Coker Dr. Cathy Cuppett Jean Grosser Mr. Sam Huggins Dr. Julia Klimek Dr. George Lellis Kay McCutcheon Angela McKnight Dick Puffer Brandy Roscoe Sonoco Products Company Mr. Bill Timberlake Dr. Tracey Welborn
Rosalind Carrigan Hearon ‘62 in the loss of her husband, Edwin Herbert Hearon, III
Janice Lane ’69 in the loss of her husband, Richard M. Lane
Ethel Virginia MacKinnon ‘55 in the loss of her sister, Elizabeth Tomlinson Atkins
27 | W I N T E R
2014
C A M P U S I S S U E
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
SCHOLARSHIPS & ENDOWMENT The following gifts to Scholarships & Endowments were received from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Endowed Scholarship
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation
Dr. Anne Lamb Matthews
Anne Lamb Matthews Endowed Scholarship Barbara D. Dixon 1959 & Osmund Dixon Scholarship Fund Mr. & Mrs. O. W. Dixon, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Brooks Bannister Merle Davis Baxley William K. Farris Mr. & Mrs. Wade H. Hicks III Ms. Crystine Hoge Mr. & Mrs. Gordon McBride Mr. & Mrs. Daniel M. McEachin Mr. Gregory L. Reaves Michael M. Reaves Mrs. Jacqueline J. Segars Mr. David E. Thompson Mr. Peter F. Toy & Ms. Jeanne M. Thomasson Dr. & Mrs. H. W. Tucker, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John C. Walker Sara K. Wilds
Carrie Lee & Gustave Kalber Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Christine & Brent Weaver Endowed Scholarship
Mr. & Mrs. Brent Alan Weaver
Library of America
CIC's Engaging Evidence
HONORARIUMS
Joyce Elaine Bell Sarah Sampson Bell Betty Carol Mobley Brynum Jean Stevens Edwards Pat Chapman Huff Mr. & Mrs. K. H. McClain Mr. & Mrs. James U. McDaniel Felicia Brown McElveen
Class of 1956 Endowed Scholarship Shep Porter Wallace Class of 1963 Endowed Scholarship Belinda Duckworth Copeland
Mr. & Mrs. Roger B. Privette Margaret Brown Young
Dr. & Mrs. Steven Jay Jacobs Mr. & Mrs. Douglas A. James Dr. Anne Lamb Matthews Ms. Becky Sparrow Mr. & Mrs. Gus Speth, Jr.
Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Hammond
D. L. Scurry Foundation Scholarship The D. L. Scurry Foundation Edna Earle Poyner Endowed Scholarship
Suzanne's Specialties; Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. L. Robert Vaughan
Eleanore Whittinghill Vaughan Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. James Vaughan Erby & Katie Sue Duffie Jackson Scholarship Hellen Jackson Jackson General Scholarships BB&T Charitable Foundation
Duke Energy Scholars Prg S.C. Student Loan Corporation SCE&G Sonoco Foundation The Bailey Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation UPS Foundation
Leon & Elaine Towne Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hassman
Piedmont Technical College Library
Marguerite Assey
Mr. & Mrs. David V. Wallerstein
Joe Flaherty
Dr. Valeria Avanzato Dr. Paula Bailey Joe Flaherty Dr. Jen Borgo
Joe Flaherty
Elizabeth Cockfield Bushardt
Priscilla Perry Arnold, MD
Dr. Will Carswell
Cathleen Cuppett
Samantha Celek Grandparents
Coker Singers
Mr. & Mrs. Andy Eaddy
Priscilla Perry Arnold, MD
Pat Chapman Huff
Mrs. Tiletha B. Lane
Mrs. Katherine Ledbetter Meyer
Don & Heather Fisher Ms. Peggy A. Fisher
JoAnn C. McCaskill
Marguerite Assey Mrs. Katherine Ledbetter Meyer
Mrs. Katherine Ledbetter Meyer
Julia Klimek
Trisha Braid Collins Pat Dampier Wes Daniels
Julie Stackhouse Eggen Jay Fisher
Mr. Pearl Fryar
Jan Bonnette Frye
Beth Poole Garrett
Dr. Lois Rauch Gibson Tim Halverson
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Mr. & Mrs. Rodger Williamson Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Greer
John C. & Leland S. Hungerpillar Scholarship Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain John M Williams, Jr. Study Abroad Scholarship Ms. Laura B. Williams Katherine & Charles Kirkland Dunlap Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Kirk Dunlap, Jr. Kenneth Lewis Wilmot Endowed Scholarship Pat J. Wilmot Kim Chalmers Art Travel Fund Jean Grosser & Larry Merriman
Ms. Barbara A. Steadman Mr. Roy Tucker Pat J. Wilmot
Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Jean Grosser & Larry Merriman
Dr. & Mrs. Walter Cottingham
Mr. & Mrs. Dewey Benefield
Mr. & Mrs. Kim Harrington Nan Carter Howard
Sarah Jo Wood Safrit
Parents of Hellen Jackson
Mr. Ben Outen
Jo Anne Boyd Sires '53
Hellen Jackson Jackson
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Coach Jerry Josey
Bob Sloan
Henry Alewine, II
Pat Chapman Huff
Barbara Nexsen Lansche '68
Chase Spivey
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Richard & Darlene Spivey
Toula Latto '53
Yvonne Floyd Stuckey
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Marguerite Assey
Mr. Millard Choate
Willie Calcutt Saleeby '50
Charles Sullivan
Dr. Richard Swallow
Dr. Joseph E. Flaherty
Henry Alewine, II
Dr. Pat Lincolm
Judith Ann Hesley Toney
Henry Alewine, II
Mrs. Barbara Nexsen Lansche
Will Carswell
Marguerite Assey
Wendy & Dave McCracken
Anne Dennis Trotter
Christina Glover Wallerstein
Cathleen Cuppett
Marguerite Assey
Sarah Mims
Wiggins School of Education Facutly & Staff
Priscilla Perry Arnold, MD
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Henderson
Marguerite Assey
Cathleen Cuppett
Pat Huff
Marguerite Assey
Adele Williams
Elizabeth P. Gnann
Marguerite Assey
Ms. Marilyn J. Blakely
Cathleen Cuppett
Priscilla Perry Arnold, MD
Susan Bartenstein Necci
Marian Jordan Pate Velna Rollins Patrick Ann Rice Phillips Brittany Pink
Holly Prescott Linda Phyne
Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Greer
Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain
Susan Melody Frank
Wells Fargo Foundation
Sloan H. Brittain Endowed Music Scholarship SNATS-Music Department Kiwanis Club of Hartsville Sparrow Scholars Program The Inabnit Family Endowed Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. W. F. Palmer, Jr. Wells Fargo Summer Business Acadamy
Congratulations to Cristy Howell Dyar ’03 and her husband Judson had a baby girl named Bonnie Gabrielle Dyar on October 11, 2013 Congratulations to Susanne Watts Liggett ’02 and Colin Liggett ’04 on the birth of their son Michael David Liggett on December 4, 2013 Congratulations to Cara Deese ’03 and Conrad Deese ’05 on the birth of their son Paxton William Deese on September 27, 2013 Congratulations to Brian Ponticello ’03 and and his wife Jennifer had a baby girl named Ruby Shayna on December 10, 2013 Congratulations to Keri Martin Smith ’02 and her husband Chad Smith on the birth of their son Samuel Martin Smith on October 21, 2013 Congratulations to Emily Tupper ’03 and her husband Greg Tupper on the birth of their son Jackson Ray Tupper on September 13, 2013
Dr. Mac Williams
Ellison Outen
Linda Lovett Parker
Nancy Barrineau Endowed Scholarship
Nadya & Kris Collins Adrea & Warren Owens Annette & Lawrence Hope
Mr. & Mrs. P.L. (Roy) McCall, Jr.
Betty J. Robertson Coughlin
Rev. James Thomas "Tommy" and Eloise Rabon Browne Endowed Scholarship Tim & Nancy Browne Ruth Lawton Wilds Endowed Music Scholarship Mrs. Sara K. Wilds Ruth Ludlam McClam 1946 Endowed Scholarship
Miriam Hooks Benefield 1952 Library Scholarship
Dr. Lemke Mr. & Mrs. William M. Timberlake Dr. James W. Lemke
Mary Elizabeth Dubose Cottingham Scholarship
Marguerite Assey
Elaine & Frank Hays
Nickey Brumbaugh Endowed Art Scholarship
Leona Davis Perry Endowed Scholarship Drs. Paul & Priscilla Arnold Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Lettie Pate Whitehead Fdn. Inc Malcolm C. & Jacqueline E. McLeod Doubles Endowed Scholarship ANONYMOUS
Terrance Hayes Information received July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
George Sawyer Kalmia Endowment Drs. George & Gayle Sawyer Jean Ludlam 1951 Endowed Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. Greer Jean C. Williamson Endowed Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bush
ADVANCE
Class of 1953 Endowed Scholarship
BIRTHS
Congratulations to Blayke Epley Turrubiartes ’02 her husband Eduardo had a baby girl named Marley Daun on November 5, 2013
Information received July 7, 2013 through December 31, 2013..
Congratulations to Terie Watkins Rousseau ’04 and her husband Bob Rousseau on the birth of their son Finley Allen Rousseau on November 22, 2013
Congratulations to Jessica Sellers Bagwell ’04 and her husband Shane Bagwell on the birth of their son Weston Drake Bagwell on June 19, 2013
SEND US BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN!
Congratulations to Caroline Benson Beasley ’09 and her husband Jason on the birth of their daughters Stella Rebecca Beasley on May 13, 2010 and Natalie Boyd Beasley on February 13, 2013
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
C O M M E N TA RY
| 28
ADVANCE
KALMIA GARDENS DONATIONS
ADVANCE
Information received July 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013.
Lois Anderson Dick & Michal Baird Tyler & Ellen Baldwin Judy Barefoot Ruth Baronda Merle Davis Baxley Dennis & Lyndell Becker Dr. & Mrs. Jimmy Bell Cliff & Shirlyn Bellum Dr. Caroline Benser Charles & Janice Bethea Ritchie & Heidi Bond Charlie & Renee Bowman Sloan Brittain Dorothy Camp Brown Michele Burns Stanley Byrd Bill & Helen Chaplin Chase Oil Company, Inc. Ray & Mary Clanton Charles & Sylvia Coker Charlie & Joan Coker Howard & Rhonda Coker Dr. & Mrs. Dick Conner Gregory & Barbara Connor Coldwell Banker Deborah Gandy & Associates Bob & Betty Corning Pam Cox Hal & Melissa Cummings Chuck & Carole Davis Harris & Louise DeLoach Bobby & Cindy Dempsey Mary Esther Denny Ann Dixon Osmund & Barbara Dixon Eddie & Linda Drayton Graham & Frances Drayton Duke Energy Ann Gay Duvall Andy & Vicky Eaddy Dr. & Mrs. Fred Edinger Edward & Edith Flaherty Wade & Mary Lutie Fletcher John R. Folsom Jim & Jean Fort Larry & Virginia Gantt John & Trish Gainey Carol Godwin Bobby & Jeanne Goodson Dr. Jean Grosser Drew & Bonnie Hamilton Keitt & Evelyn Hane Hartsville Fuel Company Anna Hill Dan Hill Daniel & Betty Hardaway Charles & Bettis Howard Charles & Frances Hupfer Mal & Carole Hyman Ruth Iseman Jay James Drs. Keith & Jordi Jones Kalmia Garden Club Robert & Diane Kerzner
James & Nettie Kilpatrick Harold & Libba King Edgar & Nan Lawton Ed & Tru Lawton Curtis & Barbara Lee Dr. & Mrs. John Lee Dr. & Mrs. Jim Lemke Jeff Maddox & Anne Pearce Kevin & Tina Mahoney Reverand & Mrs. Mike Malone Gordan & Bernice McBride Kathy McCall Jim & Claire McGee Kaye McElveen Dr. Larry Merriman Virginia Miller Kathy Moore Harry & Rita Moran Vern & Nancy Myers Scott & Jo Nelson John & Pam Newsome Betty Jo Nichols Ruth Rogers Nielson Chandler & Martha Peel Carl & Brucie Pennington Mel & Kerri Pennington Walt Peterson Buddy Plummer Richard & Brenda Porter Frank Prehoda Jim & Holly Prescott Hazel Puyet Phillip & Sara Odom Ellen H. Rogers Jenny Rogers Steve & Alice Rumpf Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein John & Carol Ruthven SPC Credit Union Drs. George & Gayle Sawyer Roger & Connie Schrum Goz & Pat Segars Ralph & Pat Sims Jim & Dot Stone Ida Storrs Clyde & Mary Catherine Stuckey Bill & Olive Timberlake Sara Timmons Danny & Margaret Thomson Derek & Andrea Trader Howard & Judy Trout Bob & Peggy Trowell Howard & Donna Tucker F. Allen & Louise K. Turner Foundation John & Judy Walker Jon & Martha Ward Sara K. Wilds Bob & Hannelore Wilson Clyde Weaver, Jr. Lex & Sheryl West Jane Wheeler Elaine Whittle Bud & Joanne Zobel
MEMORIALS
HONORARIUMS
Information received July 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013.
Information received July 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013.
Tom Andress Dr. & Mrs. Brooks Bannister & Family Elizabeth T. Atkins Rose Marie Newsom Dr. Gilbert Bradford Rose Marie Newsom Howard Brown Adrienne Rogers Tommy & Eloise Browne Lois Anderson Minnie Bryant Adrienne Rogers Emmie Catoe Eddie & Linda Drayton Mrs. James Cox, Sr. Rose Marie Newsom Barbara Davis Frank & Elaine Hays Alma DeLoach Haigler T.E. Haigler, Jr. Keitt Hane Mary Ridgeway The Reverand David A. Fort David & Patsy Cannon Bruce Traywick Gettys Hope Gettys Dunlap James Riley Gettys Hope Gettys Dunlap A J Gilbert Tammy Huskey Alma DeLoach Haigler ‘19
Merle Baxley JoAn Hoffmeyer Jeanette Bledsoe Dr. & Mrs. Jim Lemke Frank & Frankie Bush Charles Maddox Ed Flowers Chris & Dee Pierce Bert & Susie Guerry Bobbie Kelley Terry Harrington Caroline Harrington Bobbie Kelley
Peggy & Ted Haigler
Maria Powell Harvey Walt & Susan Harvey Joanne Hill Lois Anderson Gus Hoffmeyer Eddie & Linda Drayton Berry Litsey Patricia Wilmot McManis Family Donald & Phyllis Sheeley Carol Ann K. Register Rose Marie Newsom Mary Rita Murphy Schlitz Harry & Rita Moran Melba Seals Lois Anderson Salley Stanley Rose Marie Newsom Haroldean Sturgeon Nita Howard
Mary Ridgeway Adrienne Rogers
David & Patsy Cannon Nita Howard Mary Ridgeway Adrienne Rogers Ben & Ann Williamson
JoAn Hoffmeyer
Mary Alice & Julian King
St. Bartholomew Choir
Dr. & Mrs. Jim Lemke
JoAn Hoffmeyer
Rose M. Quilty
Louis Rauch Gibson
JoAn Hoffmeyer
Martha Herbert
Anna Hungerpiller
JoAn Hoffmeyer
JoAn Hoffemyer
Holcomb
Candy Holcombe Dr. Pat Lincoln
Mary Jane McDonald Edward J Quilty Bobb Riggs
Willie Saleeby
Dr. George Sawyer Mary Segars
Jackie Segars Jane Truett
Betty Wiggins Lynch & Melanie Christian Pallie Wiles Keitt & Evelyn Hane Sara Dargan Williamson David Allen
Thank you for all of your support on behalf of the faculty, staff and students.
29 | W I N T E R
2014
C A M P U S I S S U E
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Gayle Sawyer
elected as Alumni Board Chairman In October, Coker College announced that Gayle Sawyer ’70, assistant professor of educational leadership at Winthrop University, was named the 2013-2014 Alumni Association Board Chairman. “As Coker’s future flourishes with growth in student numbers, programs, degrees and residence halls, the role of alumni of all ages – both ‘Coker Nuts’ and Cobras in promoting the goals and sustaining the vitality of the college becomes more viable,” said Sawyer. “I am proud of Coker’s strong tradition of academic rigor and am honored to serve my alma mater in a leadership role during this era of energizing momentum, strategic design and critical dialogue.”
ADVANCE
As part of her duties, Sawyer will preside over meetings, serve on nominating and awards committees, participate in commencement exercises and appoint chairs over volunteer initiative groups. “Dr. Sawyer has been instrumental in assisting with the development of our alumni strategic plan, and it’s an honor to work with her,” said Tiletha Lane, director of alumni services and special events. “She brings so many fresh and exciting ideas to the table as well as a wealth of experience. It’s going to be a great year for our organization and the college.” "It is our distinct honor to have Gayle Sawyer leading the Alumni Association Board,” added Tricia Meinhold, vice president for institutional advancement. “Her passion and commitment to Coker and higher education is such a benefit to our institution and to our alumni.” Sawyer is a 1970 graduate of Coker. She received her master’s in education from Clemson University and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Carolina.
A N N UA L SCHOL A R SH I P F U N D
THE GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY A gift to the Annual Scholarship Fund is more than just a gift. Every contribution, no matter the size, goes directly toward scholarships and programs that create valuable opportunities for current and future students. Your gift is an investment that makes it possible for Coker students to build a better future—for themselves, for Coker, and for our world. GIVE ONLINE AT COKER.EDU/GIFTS
IT ’S SAFE. IT ’S SIMPLE.
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
WEB E X TR A S
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GIVING TO THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND PLEASE CONTACT: Johnna Shirley at jshirley@coker.edu or 8 43. 383. 8016
To view our Annual Scholarship Fund video visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
C O M M E N TA RY
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID OFFICE OF M A R K ET I NG & COM MU NIC AT IONS 300 East College Avenue
843.383.8000
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COLUMBIA, SC PERMIT 1204
Hartsville, South Carolina 29550
1.800.950.1908
facebook.com/cokercollege
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coker.edu
youtube.com/cokercollege
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Coker welcomes Mindy Taylor, Justin Towey and James Linville
MINDY TAYLOR Taylor, who earned a B.S. in economics from Clemson University, is a Duke Energy district manager for government and community relations. She is responsible for issue management, public relations, corporate contributions and community relations for an eight-county region in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina. In 2000, Taylor was one of 100 women nationwide to receive the 2000 Saturn Women at Their Best Award.
JUSTIN TOWEY Towey, a ‘97 Coker alum, is the managing director of HighTower’s Morse, Towey and White Group, a leading financial services company. He has been handling the financial affairs of high net-worth clients for 16 years and was the recipient of Coker's 2012 Outstanding Young Alumni award. He also serves on the board of the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund, which helps provide low-cost capital to community-based organizations and projects.
JAMES LINVILLE Linville has a B.A. with High Honors in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. As a Ph.D. student at Princeton University, his research focuses on public deliberation, political polarization and the role of education in democratic life. Linville has won numerous awards at Princeton and U.Va. for both his academic work and his leadership in public affairs. He is also a three-time USA Triathalon AllAmerican.
Published on Mar 7, 2014
Campus & Alumni Issue - Vol. 42, No. 1
