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: KRISTEN OLIVER ON BIRDS, BIOLOGY, & CHASING A LIFELONG DREAM A LIFE OF PURPOSE: THE LEGACY OF DR. JIM LEMKE
INTRODUCING TWO NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
S U M M E R 2014
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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
Summer 2014 | Vol. 42, No. 2 coker.edu | cokercobras.com facebook.com/cokercollege | youtube.com/cokercollege
You’ve heard us talk quite a bit about growth in the past few years. And time after time, you've heard us promise to maintain Coker's unique brand of academic excellence in the midst of change. But what, exactly, does that mean? What makes the Coker educational experience so worth preserving? Early this year, our community suffered an incredible loss with the passing
TEAM
of Dr. Jim Lemke.
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
No one understood the importance of a true liberal arts education more
Vice President for Marketing & Communications ksaverance@coker.edu
Manager of Special Program Marketing bbeetch@coker.edu
than Jim. He lived his passion every day, and brought it to life for hundreds
Seth Johnson ’12
embodiment of what a Coker education means.
WRITER
L aura Hoxworth Content Manager & Writer lhoxworth@coker.edu
Interactive Media Developer sjohnson@coker.edu
of students during his 40 years with the college. In many ways, he was the
In this issue of the Commentary, we chose to celebrate what Jim dedicated his life to—the value of a liberal arts education. A Coker education.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Throughout the magazine, you won’t have to look hard for examples of
Norah Wofford ’11
what a Coker education can accomplish. Melanie McGrath '13 (page 16)
Publications & Web Designer nwofford@coker.edu
and senior Kristen Oliver (page 3) each tell a story of a life's calling found through Coker's unique academic opportunities. While learning about our two new degree offerings (page 14), you’ll notice a commitment to extending the defining qualities of a Coker education into every one of our programs. I hope you'll take the time to read more about Jim and his remarkable legacy
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
(page 7). We will forever be indebted to him for the energy he devoted to make the Coker education what it is. In his honor, we promise to keep making that education our number one priority. Sincerely,
Dr. Robert L. Wyatt
table of contents IN THIS ISSUE summer 2014
3 Taking Flight
7 A Life of Purpose
14 New Academic Programs
Student spotlight: Senior biology major Kristen Oliver’s path from animal-lover to research scientist
Remembering the wide-reaching legacy of Dr. James "Jim" W. Lemke, 1946-2014
Coker adds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Master of Education in Literacy Studies
9 Our Transformation Celebrating the Class of 2014
11 A Seat at the Table
5 The Next Level A look back at Coker's first year in the South Atlantic Conference
6 Coker Voices Thoughts on the future of business education from Karen Hamilton, associate professor of business and chair of the business department
Chris Dawson '93, producer for CNN Special Projects and Spring 2014 commencement speaker, on finding his voice at Coker
12 News Briefs
15 #OneForCoker The overwhelming success of Coker's first-ever 24-hour online giving challenge
16 Andorra Bound Fulbright Scholar Melanie McGrath '13
17 Q&A with B.J. Coughlin
Highlights from a busy year in the Coker community
13 You're Invited!
Artist and alumna B.J. Coughlin '61 gets back to her Hartsville roots
18 Class News
Mark your calendars: the DeLoach Center grand opening is set for August 23, 2014
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
CONNECT
Senior biology major Kristen Oliver’s path from animal-lover to research scientist WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
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Her mother was a veterinary technician who often brought her work home. This meant Kristen shared her house with everything from raccoons to cats to baby squirrels, which she helped care for and release back into the wild. “I grew up around animals,” she says. “We had four cats, a dog, a turtle, a fish, and two sugar gliders at one point. It was basically like a zoo.” And she loved it. “I’ve known since elementary school that I wanted to work with animals,” she says. Kristen speaks quickly and confidently, small owl-shaped earrings peeking out from behind her straight brown hair. This is someone who knows what she wants. Just like her love for animals, Kristen goal-oriented drive has been around since she was young. She says her family always encouraged her to follow her interests. Giving up simply wasn’t an option—if there were obstacles, you figured out how to get around them. “My mom’s always kept us busy,” she says. “I have to credit her because she keeps me going.”
For someone with a mind as inquisitive as Kristen’s, it was endlessly fascinating. “It’s like solving a puzzle,” she says. “It keeps me asking questions and answering questions, which is what I like to do.” But it wasn’t until the summer after her freshman year, when she landed an internship at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, SC, when Kristen really found a focus. “I knew nothing, absolutely nothing about birds going into it,” she says. “They educated me on birds, and why they’re important, and how gorgeous they are up close. I learned identification, anatomy, training and falconry techniques, husbandry skills—just an enormous amount of things.” Her interest only grew from there. On a study abroad trip to Costa Rica (when she wasn’t scuba diving, dolphinwatching or horseback riding through the tropical rainforest), Kristen completed an internship at a local zoo. There, she had the opportunity to train a small tropical screech owl—her favorite memory from the experience. The more she learned, the more Kristen realized just how much more was left to study. “Birds are…they’re pretty awesome to me,” she says. “I still don’t know a ton about them, and I think that’s why I’m interested in studying them.”
By the time she reached high school, Kristen knew a biology degree would be the first step toward her dream of working with animals. But she also knew she wanted a solid foundation of general knowledge, too. Coker was the perfect fit. “When I got on campus, I knew,” she says. “It just felt right.”
In the summer of 2013, Kristen took her passion to the next level. After writing a grant to secure her own funding, she led an original study on the bacterial inhibiting properties of the uropygial gland.
Kristen quickly succeeded in the close-knit biology department and thrived on the intensity of the coursework. “They always encourage us to ask questions and challenge us in class,” she says. But when asked what she loves most about studying biology at Coker, her answer is swift and emphatic: the focus on student research.
Located at the base of the tail, the uropygial gland releases a secretion that birds spread throughout their feathers while preening. Its purposes, however, are unclear. “Most people think of the uropygial gland as providing oil on the feathers to help with waterproofing, but normally that’s only found in marine birds,” Kristen says. “There’s not a lot of research done on it, and that’s why I did it.”
It didn’t take long for Kristen to get involved in research. In her freshman year, she began assisting with research in Coker’s labs, at Kalmia Gardens and the nearby Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. Kristen values her early research experience for helping her build specific skills (such as species identification) as well as a general understanding of how scientific research works. W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Kristen’s project aimed to figure out if the gland might serve another purpose—specifically, helping to stop the growth of harmful bacteria.
“We used two different types of bacteria: E. coli and bacillus licheniformis, which has a feather-degrading keratinase, so it can be really harmful to birds,” she says. “And that’s the one that we got really cool results with.” While previous studies examined whether or not the secretion affects bacterial growth (a yes or no answer), Kristen’s procedure—which she created—took it a step further by calculating a specific percentage of bacterial inhibition. The higher the percentage, the more bacteria was being stopped. The results? Almost 99% on some samples. While she’s quick to point out that the sample size was too small to produce statistically significant results, Kristen can’t hide her grin as she explains the potential significance of her findings. “It’s almost an antibiotic property, so, those are really big when it comes to human implications,” she explains. “If this gland can potentially help inhibit other bacteria, it possibly could be transferred into medicine.” As she dives into the scientific details of her study, Kristen exudes enthusiasm about gland secretions. You can’t help but share in her excitement. “Kristen started off at Coker with a high level of maturity,” says Jen Borgo, assistant biology professor. “The growth I've seen in her over the last three years has been in her excitement and certainty regarding her path in life. Every time I see her, she is even more enthusiastic about studying birds, and it's contagious.” Kristen will spend this summer assisting with postdoctoral research on grassland birds at the University of Oklahoma, only taking a brief break to present the findings from her study at the annual conference for the Association of Field Ornithologists. In the future, she plans on pursuing a PhD. She might work as a professor or at a non-profit conservation group. Making a scientific discovery is, of course, the ultimate goal—but mainly, she’ll be happy as long as she’s following her passion. Wherever it takes her, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning. Kristen’s career promises to reach spectacular heights.
To test her hypothesis, Kristen trapped small birds, sampled the secretion, and co-incubated it with bacteria. 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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In high school, Kristen Oliver kept herself busy—working as a waitress, playing varsity softball, excelling in multiple honors classes—and, sometimes, caring for baby squirrels.
CONNECT
THE NEXT LEVEL
A look back at Coker’s first year in the South Atlantic Conference 2013-14 was a year of transition for Coker Athletics. One year ago, the Cobras left Conference Carolinas on a high note with the baseball team’s historic championship run. This year, the Cobras made a strong showing in their first year competing in the South Atlantic Conference. Coker also saw a successful inaugural season for two teams: women’s lacrosse and men’s wrestling. And in March, the Cobras played their last game in Timberlake-Lawton gymnasium, as the Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center athletics complex opens in August. (For more information on the DeLoach Center grand opening, see page 13.)
CONNECT
As Coker Athletics prepares to begin a new era of continued growth, let's review a few highlights from an exciting year:
Women’s Golf Makes Historic Second-Place Finish at SAC Championship
Wrestler Charlie Huff Competes in NCAA National Championship
The Coker women's golf team captured second place at the 2014 Food Lion SAC Golf Championship on April 15 with a three round team total of 1,013.
In March, Junior Charlie Huff became the first Coker wrestler to compete in the NCAA National Championship.
The second place finish marks the best conference finish for the Cobras since the program started in 2010. Sophomore Taylor Demby led the Cobras all three days of the tournament with a three round total of 239, and finished the final day with a 79.
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Coming into the regional meet as an unseeded wrestler, Huff placed fourth out of 17 individuals and advanced to the 2014 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. At the national championship, Huff was able to capture 1-of-3 bouts before falling in the All-American round. Wrestling at 133 lbs., Huff led the Cobras with 28 wins on the year. With his leadership, the team was able to exceed expectations during their inaugural season and finish the year ranked No. 33 in the country with a 10-7-1 record.
Daniel Jackson Drafted by Real Salt Lake of MLS
Legendary Softball Coach David Hanna Retires
In January, men’s soccer player Daniel Jackson was drafted by Real Salt Lake in the 2014 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. He was the 13th selection in the fourth round (70th overall).
After 23 years as the Coker College head softball coach, David Hanna retired in June.
Jackson is the first soccer player to be drafted in Coker history. A forward, Jackson was a two-year starter for the Cobras after transferring from Cumberland University. As a senior, Jackson had 14 goals—including three game-winners—and two assists as he led Coker to a 9-5-3 overall record. The 14 goals were a single-season team record and good for second-best in the South Atlantic Conference. Jackson is the second student-athlete from Coker to be drafted by a professional sports team within the past year. Zach Loraine, a pitcher from the baseball team, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2013 Amateur Draft in June.
Hanna, who began his coaching career with the Cobras in 1991, will leave Coker as the winningest coach in school history. He surpassed the 700-win milestone during the 2012 season and he finishes his career with an overall record of 760310-1. Under Hanna's leadership, Coker won 14 conference titles, including four consecutive Conference Carolinas titles from 1996-99. They also advanced to the NCAA regionals 10 times and played in two NCAA National Championship Tournaments (1995 & 1998). The Florence, S.C. native led the Cobras to post season competition in 21 of his 23 years. He was also named conference Coach of the Year six times during his tenure and he was named NAIA District 26 Coach-of-the-Year in 1993 and 1994. In 2011, he was inducted into the Coker Athletics Hall of Fame.
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COKER VOICES Our diverse community is made up of many unique perspectives. We want to take a moment from the people who work every day to bring the Coker experience to life. Today, Dr. Hamilton gives us a glimpse into how Coker is reinvigorating business education.
Karen Hamilton
Associate Professor of Business & Chair of the Department of Business Administration
Hello, Coker Commentary readers! Please allow me introduce myself: my name is Karen Hamilton and I joined Coker College in August 2013. I was drawn to Coker College for the reasons many of you went to school here or have become supporters of the College: it is a warm and supportive environment in which students grow personally and professionally by participating in round table discussions and reflections about course content. The relationships developed with students in and out of the classroom is most rewarding. Coker College continues to provide an engaging educational experience, and I am delighted to be a member of the Coker family.
lum provides students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in business today.
These are exciting times for the Department of Business Administration. During the 20132014 academic year, we have celebrated many accomplishments. Among these are the following:
We have reactivated the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) chapter, the college-level organization for the Future Business Leaders of America program found in many high schools across the country. Under the leadership of Dr. Darrell Holliday, the chapter has brought guest speakers from the local community to campus and has worked with Jeremy Nere, the Director of Career Development, to arrange internship and employment interview opportunities with various businesses. The PBL chapter will continue to provide professional development opportunities for our business majors and other Coker College students.
We have established a Business Advisory Council. The business professionals on the council will guide our efforts for developing students’ professional skills and help us identify and create opportunities for students to interact with business professionals through on-campus events, shadow days and internships. The members of the advisory council will also help us ensure our curricu-
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We have revised our degree requirements for ALPHA students. The new BS Business Management will replace the BS Business Administration in Fall 2014. The new program better aligns with the needs of our ALPHA students. In particular, it helps them build on existing business experience and prior coursework. Students in this program can now focus on the management skills and knowledge that will help them advance in their current careers or move into new careers.
Plus, we just finished one of our most exciting activities, the inaugural Summer Business Academy. In Summer 2013, Provost Dr. Tracy Parkinson proposed to Wells Fargo a program for developing high school students’ interest in business. Wells Fargo agreed that the program was quite beneficial and provided a grant to allow us to establish the program at no cost to the students participating in it. The Department of Business Administration partnered with Coker College Enactus to develop and deliver the program. Rising junior and seniors from area high schools came to Coker’s campus the week of June 16-20 to learn about business in a dynamic and interactive educational experience. During the program, students competed in a business plan event and were eligible to earn credit for one of our business courses, BA 101 Introduction to Business. What a great event for us to host! As we look to the future, our focus remains on preparing Coker College students for successful careers. We welcome your suggestions and involvement. With your help, the opportunities are unlimited.
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to give those perspectives a voice—to hear directly
LEARN
A LIFE OF
PUR POSE • DR . J A M E S "J I M" WAY N E L E M K E • LEARN
D ecemb er 21, 1946 - J anuary 26 , 2014 On a Sunday evening in late January, the Coker community was shocked by the sudden loss of a beloved professor and cornerstone of the college. Survived by his parents, four siblings and wife of 30 years, Harriet Courtney Lemke ’72, Lemke was a loving son, brother and husband. In his 67 years, he was also known as a scholar, political strategist, author, coach, mentor and community leader. But he was so much more.
THER E IS A W ELL-WOR N PROV ER B ON HOW TO EVA LUATE A PERSON’S CH A R ACTER. IT GOES SOMETHING LIK E THIS: “JUDGE A M A N NOT BY THE WOR DS HE SAYS, BUT BY THE LIFE HE LE A DS.” CLE A R LY, DR. JA MES “JIM” W. LEMK E WAS A PASSIONATE A DVOC ATE FOR LIBER A L
A RTS
EDUC ATION.
FOR
MOR E TH A N 40 Y E A RS, HE DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO IT.
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Anyone who knew Lemke will tell you of his incredible intelligence. A 1969 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a major in political science and a minor in history, Lemke went on to achieve a PhD in political science at Louisiana State University with a dissertation titled, "Political Theory and the Problem of Explanation.” But while he remained endlessly fascinated with politics throughout his life, Lemke’s expertise was not confined to one discipline—or even two or three. From athletics, to philosophy, politics, art, communications and more, he seemed to possess a stunningly varied and ever-expanding bank of knowledge. “Jim Lemke had as bright an intellect of anybody I’ve known,” said Sen. Gerald Malloy, a close friend of Lemke’s. “His approach was problem-solving, and he dreamed of possibilities. He had no boundaries in his thinking.” Patricia Lincoln, Coker College provost emeritus and another close friend, remembers Lemke’s unique ability to express complex ideas with el-
egant clarity. “Jim was the intellectual heart of the college,” she said. “Not only because he was remarkably intelligent, but because of his fervent belief in the transformative effects of a liberal arts education. The compelling and profound way in which he practiced that belief enriched the lives of virtually every one of his students.” That belief is exactly what set Lemke’s intelligence apart from the rest. “Dr. Lemke will always be remembered by all of us as one of the greatest minds that we have ever encountered,” said Liz Clack Freeman ‘95. “But his greatest gift was not his incredible mind. It was his ability to relate to people and build relationships that made it so easy for him to share his wisdom.” At just 27 years old, Lemke began his career at Coker College in 1973. A professor of both philosophy and political science, he was the only full professor tenured in two disciplines at Coker. Every day, he used his endless knowledge to awaken the curiosity and intelligence of his students. Lemke’s high expectations were well-known around campus. He demanded much from his students, in a way that garnered respect, not resentment. His classes often turned into lively debates that extended well past the allotted class time— debates that challenged each student to define his own viewpoint and learn to defend it. For 40 years, Lemke rewarded students not for regurgitating memorized answers, but for demonstrating critical and independent thought.
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Lemke’s influence at Coker extended far past his classrooms. Always an avid golfer, he began work as an assistant golf coach for the Cobras in 2006, focusing primarily on the mental aspects of the game. Using his knowledge of psychology and golf combined with his natural warmth and caring, “Doc” became a mentor for countless golfers. Lemke also spearheaded Coker’s annual Celebration of Academics (now named the Dr. James W. Lemke
gram at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., and a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Sigma Alpha and Pi Gamma Mu. But it isn’t his awards and honors that will ensure his legacy at Coker and beyond. Many will remember his dry sense of humor that was equally as sharp as his mind, or his tendency to launch erasers at students who had fallen asleep in class. One former student recalled the time Lemke, upon spotting a student
Celebration of Academics in his memory), a campuswide event showcasing scholarship in the liberal arts and sciences, since its inception in 2011. The threeday event, featuring student-faculty research, service-learning project presentations and more, represented everything that Lemke valued about Coker. These are just a few examples of the many ways Lemke left his mark at Coker. “The most important contribution I made to Coker College during my three years of service was leading the successful recruitment of Professor Jim Lemke,” said Rick Wells, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and former Coker professor. “Professor Lemke, more than anyone else, was most responsible for the founding and high quality development of Coker College's social sciences. He was deeply devoted to the college and four decades of students.” Lemke’s dedication did not go unrecognized. In April 2013, he was honored with the South Carolina Independent Colleges and University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Among many other honors, he was also named a Master Professor at Coker College, a Visiting Professor of the Preventive Diplomacy Pro-
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Lemke’s loss was felt, and will continue to be felt, deeply across the Coker community and beyond. “There are no words to describe the loss Jim’s parting creates for Harriet, his family, Coker, and the Hartsville community,” said president Dr. Robert Wyatt. “It is not an understatement to say that his influence touches nearly every aspect of our institution.” Lemke’s reach extends so far not because he valued a classic liberal arts education, but because he brought it to life. He lived his values every day of his life—and in the lives of each person he touched, they will live on.
skipping class out on the Bell Tower Lawn, opened a window to call out and summon him back to class (and it worked). But more than anything, Lemke will be remembered for the strength of his character. He will be remembered for his kindness, his caring, and how he welcomed anyone into his (meticulously clean and organized) office. “We loved him for his passion, we loved him for his grit, we loved his sense of humor, we loved his sense of loyalty, and we loved him because we knew he was fully vested in our lives,” said Jason Perkey ’97. At the heart of each anecdote and memory of Lemke lies one simple, common thread: He
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“Jim was the intellectual heart of the college. Not only because he was remarkably intelligent, but because of his fervent belief in the transformative effects of a liberal arts education."
cared. “The Jim Lemke that I loved was more passionate about listening than lecturing,” said Malloy. "He was more passionate about building bridges than taking territory. And he loved talking about tearing down walls.”
LEARN
OUR TRANSFORMATION Celebrating the class of 2014
LEARN
Saturday, May 17, 2014.
It was a cool, clear morning. Hundreds of beaming friends and family members gathered on Davidson Lawn. Coker College’s 106th Spring Commencement ceremony marked an ending, a beginning, and a celebration all in one for nearly 145 students, including the first spring graduate of the Master of Science in College Athletic Administration program. They shook president Dr. Robert Wyatt’s hand, turned their tassels and tossed their caps to mark the successful completion of their college careers. It was the end of a transformation—and, at the same time, it was just the beginning.
2014 Spring Commencement Honors Christopher Dawson ’93, producer for CNN Special Projects, gave the commencement address and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters (for a full interview with Dawson, see page 11). First Honor Graduates (awarded to students who earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.0): Holly Evans, Ryan Stephen Jones & Michael Tyler Staub Alumni Cup (awarded by the Coker College Alumni Association to the graduates who earned the highest academic averages for their junior and senior years): Michael Patrick Conley, Holly Irene Evans, Victoria Hardway, Ryan Stephen Jones & Leah Catherine Malasky Master Professor Award: Dr. Shawn Lay, professor of history and chair of the Department of History, Philosophy and Religion
MARCOM MULTIMEDIA CENTER Download digital images & videos of campus life and events Purchase printed, mounted or framed photos Create T-shirts, mugs, postcards, stickers, magnets & more
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
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LEARN
"The world is changing so fast. You, in many ways, are already the experts. We need you to lead the way." —Christopher Dawson ’93, 2014 Spring Commencement Speaker W W W. C O K E R . E D U
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Chris Dawson A seat at the table
ã
One thing that Coker gave me was the belief that I have a seat at the table. I have a voice. And because I believed it, others did, too.
ACHIEVE
"
As a producer for CNN Special Projects, Chris Dawson ’93 is in the business of telling other people’s stories. But in order to do that, he had to find his own voice first. Dawson has built an objectively impressive career as a journalist. In 2011, he received the ShelterBox USA Global Media Award for his coverage of the earthquake in Haiti. In 2013, he received InterAction’s Award for Excellence in International Reporting for his work informing U.S. audiences about humanitarian affairs. This May, he gave the Coker College 2014 commencement address and received an honorary doctorate of letters. With that list of credentials, some might be surprised to learn he never formally studied journalism. In fact, his story begins as a psychology and drama double-major at Coker. “I was a Head Commissioner, played soccer for the Cobras and took COW Days more seriously than most,” he says. “I tried to make contact with the ghost Madeline Savage. And I had way too much fun at the Cobra Den and the Boathouse.” But what drew him to Coker—and what helped him find success as a journalist—was the broad liberal arts education that defines the Coker experience. For example, he recounts how studying Islam in world religion helped him cover conflict in the Middle East. Or how, in writing about the anniversary of the JFK assassination, he recalled knowledge from history class. “I have direct memories of professor Mal Hyman on stage at Davidson Hall, with other experts in the field, explaining the theory of the magic bullet,” he says. “And that taught me to question everything, which is at the root of journalism.”
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Most importantly, Dawson values the intense discussions and debates that built his confidence. “You cannot be passive at Coker,” he explains. “You have to be active. And that empowered me. Every class that I attended, because of the way it was taught, I felt that I had a voice.” In fact, it was a Coker professor who first noticed the power of Dawson’s voice—hearing him shouting across the quad, she admired his projection and encouraged him to audition for the fall theater production. After graduation, he briefly worked as an actor in Atlanta before moving to Los Angeles to chase a dream of becoming a television producer. Eventually, after settling down with his wife and son back on the east coast, he landed his first position with CNN in 2004. It was a winding career path, as he freely admits. But through his struggles and tough decisions, Dawson relied on the sense of self he developed at Coker. He tells the story of how, as a low-ranking employee in his first job working at CNN, he showed up at an executives’ meeting and boldly volunteered his ideas, kick-starting his 10-year career at the major media powerhouse. "One thing that Coker gave me was the belief that I have a seat at the table,” he says. “I have a voice. And because I believed it, others did, too.” In the end, that belief led him to the project that has made his career—CNN’s Impact Your World. From natural disasters to humanitarian crises, Impact Your World covers stories of great need. Dawson became the Lead Producer in 2007, and over the next four years, he built the project into an award-winning, cross-platform initia-
tive for CNN, CNN International, HLN, CNN.com, CNN Mobile and CNN Radio. But Impact Your World does more than tell stories. Whether it’s by donating money, volunteering, or spreading the word, Impact Your World connects those who need help directly to those who can give it. The underlying goal, Dawson says, is to both inspire and empower his audience. “If the viewer is only receiving bad news, then they’re left with the feeling of being, in a way, a victim of the events of the world," he says. "By giving them an opportunity to take action, we hopefully are making them realize that the stories aren’t finished yet.” There is certainly plenty more to come in Dawson’s story, as well. “I still feel like I haven’t done my big thing yet,” he says. “I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to get there, but I’m just going to keep pushing ahead.” Which, of course, is exactly what he told the new graduates to do in May. In his commencement address, Dawson encouraged Coker’s newest alumni to blaze their own trail, persevere through difficulties and strive to become change agents to lead us into the future. How can they do that? By listening to their own unique voices. “When I look back at my college days, learning who I am was my most important accomplishment,” he says. “It has been by looking inward, at who I am, where I have found my compass and found my way. And that was the greatest gift I received from Coker.”
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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. For full stories and more up-to-date Coker news, visit us online at coker.edu/current-top-stories
ACHIEVE
TONY FLOYD NAMED AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FELLOW
ensure a positive and effective learning environment for her students.
Tony Floyd, vice president for administration and THREE HARTSVILLE STUDENTS BECOME legal counsel at Coker College, has been named an FIRST GRADUATES OF PULSE PROGRAM American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for academic year 2014-15. Floyd will be the first ACE Fellow Hartsville High School students Sarah Floyd, Nicole Hyman and Alex Morrison performed senior vocal rein Coker College history. citals at Coker College in February, becoming the first The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is de- graduates of the PULSE program. The three students signed to strengthen institutions and leadership in have been enrolled in courses at Coker since 2011 American higher education by identifying and pre- through Accelerated Learning Opportunities (ALO) paring emerging leaders for senior positions in col- offered as part of an initiative known more broadly lege and university administration. Thirty-one Fel- as PULSE, Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic lows, nominated by the senior administration of their Excellence. institutions, were selected this year following a rigorA one-of-a-kind public-private partnership formed ous application process. to implement a comprehensive scholastic excellence program in Hartsville public schools, PULSE BANKS RECEIVES SCICU EXCELLENCE IN expands curriculum opportunities and improves stuTEACHING AWARD dent achievement through collaborative initiatives. Through the program, Coker College provides colJill Banks, Coker College professor of psychology, was lege-credit courses to eligible high school students honored with the South Carolina Independent Colin art, music, theater and dance, among other ALO leges and University’s (SCICU) Excellence in Teaching opportunities. Award in April. The Excellence in Teaching Award was created to COKER ANNOUNCES THREE ASSOCIATE honor those faculty members from SCICU’s member VICE PRESIDENT APPOINTMENTS institutions who demonstrate the highest standards of teaching that encourage students to strive for ex- William Carswell, previously associate professor of music, has been appointed associate provost for acacellence in their studies and intellectual pursuits. demic affairs. Carswell will work alongside provost Banks has served Coker College and its students since Tracy Parkinson as a representative of the academic 1987 and is regarded around campus as one of the division of the college, while providing leadership for College’s most engaging faculty members, regularly curriculum implementation, personnel management making use of creativity and innovative pedagogy to and budget planning.
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Brianna Bunce-Douglas, previously director of human resources, has been appointed associate vice president of administration. Bunce-Douglas’ responsibilities include overseeing the office of human resources; the office of college services; campus retail operations; and Kalmia Gardens fundraising, marketing and maintenance. Adam Connolly, previously director of admissions, has been appointed associate vice president for enrollment management. Connolly’s responsibilities include overseeing undergraduate admissions and financial aid, representing enrollment management on administrative committees and predicting future and consistent enrollment growth with the retention committee.
SODEXO TO MANAGE COKER'S FOOD SERVICES & FACILITIES Coker College has entered into a new contract with multinational food services and facilities corporation Sodexo. Effective at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year, Sodexo will handle all dining and facilities management services. Sodexo currently provides on-campus facilities solutions to more than 200 colleges, universities and private schools. Sodexo will bring to campus many improvements, including extended dining hall hours, a new coffee shop that proudly serves Starbucks coffee, and a WOW Chicken & Sauce—a New Orleans-inspired cafe serving wings, sandwiches, nuggets, wraps and more.
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YOU'RE
GROW
INVITED
GROW
...to the grand opening we’ve all been waiting for!
On August 23rd, grab your friends and family and help us celebrate the start of a new era of Coker Athletics in the Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center. From 11:00am until 1:00pm, this community-wide celebration is free and open to the public. You’ll learn all about the DeLoach Center and Coker Athletics while enjoying carnival refreshments and entertainment for the whole family. So whether you stay for the full event or just drop by to snap a quick photo with Striker the Cobra, you won’t want to miss it!
SATURDAY AUGUST 23rd 11:00AM - 1:00PM
• Behind-the-scenes tours of the new facility • Popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream & drinks • Live DJ • Photo ops with Striker the Cobra • Cornhole, giant jenga & other lawn games • Temporary tattoos, facepaint, & activities for kids of all ages
IT ’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A COBRA!
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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Coker adds two new academic programs At Coker College, growth doesn’t just mean increasing the number of buildings or students on campus. Growth means bringing a quality education to as many students as possible—and that includes expanding academic offerings.
GROW
MASTER OF
BACHELOR OF
i n Li t e r a c y S t u d i e s
in D a n c e
EDUCATION
FINE ARTS
On June 16, 2014 Coker College welcomed 10 new students as the first cohort in its second postgraduate degree program. Graduates of the new program will earn a Master of Education in Literacy Studies and qualify for the South Carolina Department of Education’s Literacy Teacher add-on certification.
The Coker College Dance Program will launch a new Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program, beginning in August 2014. The new degree, which will be offered in addition to the current Bachelor of Arts program and dance minor, will make Coker the only school in South Carolina with a BFA program for dance.
“Designed with classroom teachers in mind, this degree will help educators gain and practice valuable content knowledge in order to help their own students become better readers and writers,” said Susan Henderson, associate professor of education and director of the Wiggins School of Education.
“The establishment of a BFA in dance at Coker affords us the opportunity to leverage the rigor already in our program, along with the talents and skills of our faculty, to provide an exceptional course of study for current and future students,” said Coker College Provost Tracy Parkinson.
The new program comes at a time when many stakeholders in South Carolina have recognized literacy as a growing educational issue statewide. Currently, the SC Senate and House are poised to address this issue with the Read to Succeed Act.
With nearly twice the amount of required credit hours, the BFA will be a more rigorous degree than the BA. Three specialized degree tracks will help students hone and polish their raw skills, while personalized, professional training will give BFA students even more opportunities to choreograph and perform—all while fostering close ties with faculty and other students.
The 12-month program comprises seven six-week terms and runs on a cohort structure, meaning students can enter the program once a year. The schedule includes intensive daily courses in the summer and a practicum in the fall that allows teachers to immediately impact their current students’ literacy abilities. From instructional strategies to pedagogy, the program’s courses cover both theoretical and evidence-based foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction. Each course is a hybrid structure, including both in-class time and online coursework. Beginning the following academic year, Coker will also offer six credit hours of additional courses leading to a Literacy Coach add-on certification.
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“I am very excited that Coker is now offering this degree,” said Angela M. Gallo, associate professor of dance and coordinator of the dance program. “This will give our students a tremendous opportunity. We are also happy to be starting the K-12 certification in dance, as it will fill a void in this area of the state.” Approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Coker’s program will offer three specialized degree tracks: Performance and Choreography, Dance/Movement Therapies and Dance Education (with K-12 certification to begin Fall 2015). The selection of an emphasis area allows the dance major to tailor the BFA program to his or her personal career goals.
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ENGAGE
#OneForCoker
ENGAGE
On Thursday, June 26th at 12:00pm, Coker College kicked off its first-ever one-day online giving campaign. The challenge: raise $10,000 for the Annual Fund in just 24 hours.
SCAN ME TO WATCH THE VIDEO
Coker alumni and supporters rose to the task—and then some. The campaign reached its initial goal in just four hours, then surpassed the secondary goal of $15,000 to raise a total of $21,914—more than twice the initial goal! Combined with matching gifts, the final amount was a whopping $39,414 raised in support of transformative education. Coker College would like to extend an enormous “thank you” to everyone who donated, shared, tweeted, or otherwise contributed to the success of this campaign. Together, we are all for one and #OneForCoker!
TOTAL RAISED
$39,414
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/ cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
One day can make a HUGE difference.
facebook.com/cokercollege Devin Jennings I made my donation, it's your turn :) support my wonderful Alma mater! Kevin Pittman The Coker Experience is definitely a life changing event!!!
Jeanne Cerquone Yohn Count me in! #OneForCoker. Nannette Skinner Moore I just gave. Thanks Coker College for being such an important part of my kids’ journey in life.
Chris Dooley It wasn't until my daughter starting looking at colleges that I really sat down and thought about how Coker helped make me the person I am today.... Coker folks....I gave back today.... have you? Only a few hours
left to meet the additional challenge! Patricia Tomlinson A good cause for a terrific school!
@cokercollege @MosserDonna Donna Mosser I just donated! Every dollar counts! Let's all do our part! #OneForCoker
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@jasonperkey Jason Perkey I just donated to @CokerCollege #OneForCoker fundraising drive. Visit the event website and donate today!
@cmmeinhold Christel Meinhold Donated to #OneForCoker because #ibelieve in the power of #highered and the sense of community there.
@kendrick_reed M. Kendrick Reed Hello 15K!!!!! #OneForCoker @ CokerCollege #cokerpride
@rapuffer Richard Puffer just donated 2 one-day online blitz giving for #CokerCollege Don’t forget to tweet, email, share, and challenge your friends #OneForCoker!
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background photo: Sory Boathouse
Melanie McGrath ’13 / 2014-15 Fulbright Fellow
ENGAGE
Melanie McGrath has loved the English language for as long as she can remember. As a child, she recalls being an avid reader and constantly correcting her family’s grammar. “I should have always known I was going to be an English teacher,” she says. But she never imagined herself teaching English in Andorra. After graduating in December 2013 with a bachelor of arts in English Education and a minor in History, Melanie taught high school English in Charleston, SC for a year. In April, she received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship for the 2014-15 academic year. She will be teaching English to high school students in Andorra, a small country in the Pyrenees mountains. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international education exchange program. Participants are chosen, through a rigorous application progress, for their academic merit and leadership potential. “When I found out I had been accepted, I couldn’t believe it,” Melanie says. “It took me a few days to actually absorb that I’ve been given this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.” At Coker, Melanie was a highly involved and engaged student. A soccer player and member of honor societies, Melanie also worked in the writer’s studio and went on several study abroad trips. In short, succeeding academically came naturally to her—but she says she never would have pursued the Fulbright without Associate Professor of History Kevin Kenyon. Melanie first became interested in Andorra while on a study abroad trip to Catalonia in 2012. Kenyon, who led the trip, noticed her interest in the region and encouraged her to continue her studies. After returning
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to Coker, she completed an independent study course on Pyrenean history and decided to pursue the Fulbright Program.
side of where we live,” she says. “You have these limits that you set in your mind. But once you reach past those boundaries, you figure out that where there is a will, there is a way.”
“It was a natural process just because of the environment that Coker offers," Melanie says. Because Kenyon knew her well enough to recognize her strengths and interests, she felt confident enough to apply for the program. Now, Melanie tries to emulate that environment in her own classroom. “When the teachers know your limits and they are pushing you to reach beyond those limits to where all of this great knowledge is stored, then you are actually learning,” she says. “You’re actually getting something done in the classroom.” Kenyon, of course, was not surprised by Melanie’s success. “Hard-working, intellectual and level-headed, Melanie is in many ways the perfect Fulbright candidate,” he says. “Her experience at Coker was the ideal combination of professional training in a major field and broad education in the liberal arts—an experience that is aimed at life-long intellectual engagement.” In Andorra, Melanie will teach 14-16 year old students the mechanics of the English language, while providing context through lessons on American history, literature and culture. “I’m super excited about getting to know all of my students and having them teach me about themselves, their culture and their language,” she says. She also hopes that her experience will help her to “think globally” and better connect with students from all backgrounds in the rest of her teaching career. “Sometimes in America, especially in smaller places like South Carolina, we forget that there are places out-
Located between France and Spain, Andorra is the sixth smallest nation in Europe. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish, French and Portuguese are also commonly spoken.
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
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ADVANCE
ADVANCE
with B.J. Coughlin ’61 B.J. Coughlin ’61, Atlanta-based artist and sculptor, recently returned to her hometown of Hartsville to unveil an original fox sculpture that she created for the city. We sat down with B.J. to talk about her journey as an artist and her memories of her time at Coker. Located in Burry Park, Coughlin's sculpture is the final stop for “Tales on the Town,” a downtown scavenger hunt celebrating Hartsville’s art, history, education and economic development. For more information on her work, visit www.bjcoughlin.com.
What was it like growing up in Hartsville? “It was just a lovely place to grow up as a child. It was roller skating on the weekends and riding your bike anywhere you wanted to go. I remember coming back when I was in my 30s or 40s and walking into what was the Hartsville Retail Store (where the YMCA is now), and one of the clerks said, ‘Isn’t that little Betty Robinson?’ That just kind of epitomizes the type of environment we grew up in.”
the times, too—but I think it has retained that nucleus of support and camaraderie among the students.”
How did you create a career as an artist? “After graduating from Coker, I went to work for the government for 30 years. I kept my interest in art but didn’t have the time to practice. When I retired, I started painting again—then I took a workshop in sculpting and never picked up another paint brush. I loved getting my hands in the clay; I like doing the research for these projects like the fox. I love it. It is just a passion that I have, and I am so glad that I am able to do it. I feel very honored to have a piece in my hometown.”
I am a traditionalist and my work is pretty traditional, but I’m recently trying to loosen up my work, because that’s a lot of fun. You have to branch out every now and then and try something new.”
that I feel coming back to Hartsville. It really makes me feel good to come back and participate in something like this.”
How did your experience at Coker influence you as an artist? “It helped me grow as a person who appreciates art. It helped me so much at evaluating art. I have a lot of friends who are looking to buy, and they don’t feel confident—so they’ll ask me to go gallery hopping with them. My art education emphasized the basics of composition and form, making sure that we understood what good art was.”
How you would describe How do you feel that Coker yourself as an artist? and the city of Hartsville work What was your experience at “I observe a lot as an artist, and I really together to create a commuCoker? try to capture the grace of a human nity here? “When I went to Coker I was an art major. There were only about seven or eight art majors. Coker was sort of an extension of this town at the time—it was almost like not leaving home. It was a ‘one for all and all for one’ kind of environment. Things have changed, and certainly Coker has changed with
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figure in daily activity such as work or athletics. Something that people can identify or relate a story to. I feel very strongly about figurative work because there is a grace to the human figure, and it is in everyone you see. Just watching people is very interesting for me, because in my mind I’m figuring out how that can be portrayed.
“There is a vibrancy about Hartsville now that was not here when I was growing up. I think Coker is a major factor in that. All the new buildings, and the number of students, and the competitive teams that are doing quite well—I think it definitely is a huge factor in that feeling of vibrancy
"Red Fox Tales on the Town" by B.J. Coughlin
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CLASS NEWS • Gathered & Written by Class Representatives
1951 Dear Classmates,
I had a great “telephone visit” with Faye Herring Floyd recently. She and her husband, Burnie, moved to North Myrtle Beach several years ago. Faye told me that she had a brain aneurysm 10 years ago and spent three months in the hospital and rehab. She beat the odds and is doing well now. Her granddaughter Amanda is the program director at he Presbyterian home here, and it was through her that I “found” Faye. Faye’s address is 316 25th Avenue, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. Doris Johnson Gray is adjusting to life without her Sammy. Many of us know how difficult that process is. She has three grands in college. Doris stays busy enjoying her usual activities. Her daughter Margaret and her family will be moving to Charlotte in the summer. That’s not a happy thought! Mary Lou Nye Holley has had some health problems but is doing well now. In fact, she was planting flowers when I talked to her. I’d say that’s a good thing. I was sorry to learn of the death of Sadie Rae Huggins Hutchinson. Four weeks after her death, her husband died. They had both been in failing health for some time. Our sympathy certainly goes to their only child Al and his family. Jean Snoody Hoffmeyer says she is “hanging in there”…I call that doing well! I saw Jo Hunter Watson on my recent visit to Conway. She is doing well—stays busy with church, bridge, and grands. As always I want to remind you to send your contribution to Coker College if you have not already done so. AND send news! Love, Betty Lee
1952 Once again, we would like to hear from more of you "Select Few of '52." We are so happy to have talked with a few of you. We were sorry to hear from Flora Collins Baker that she had a fall and broke her hip and sprained her ankle. She is in physical therapy and is doing well considering. Dot G. Hanna and Herb are happy to have their daughter Beth and her husband move back to Elizabethtown, NC. Beth retired after teaching 30 years and has a son and daughter who live in Asheville, NC. We agreed that we are very thankful to still be able to do as much as we do at our age and stage of life.
Jane Woodward Truett is doing well now. She and Frankie N. Townsend had lunch together recently and enjoyed themselves. Jane's son Stoney is still a pilot. Teresa, Jane's daughter, lives in Hartsville. Betty Lou M. Barclay's daughter, Shelley, is still working in NYC with the TV Series "Unforgetable." She stays busy and comes home to SC often. Hope to hear from you in the near future. Take care and continue to support our Coker Alumni Fund. Betty Lou
1953 Hello Classmates, What a great mini-reunion we had on Friday, April 4, 2014! We had a small select group. Peggy Warren Smith and Jay came all the way from Jacksonville, FL. They are so faithful to our class. Others there were: Charlena “Charlie” Chewning, Jennie Herlong Boatwright, Pat Chapman Huff and Mitzi Dupre Matthews. Chuck Cottingham, husband of the late Sara Frances Coleman Cottingham came also. Our guests were the president of Coker College, Dr. Robert Wyatt, and his wife, Nancy, Dee Pierce, and Dan Shanks. Dr. Wyatt reported on all the many new exciting developments going on at the college, including the new DeLoach Center (gym/fitness center) that will soon open. The campus was so beautiful! Thank you so much, Pat, for doing such a wonderful job planning for our luncheon. Please keep Sarah Sampson Bell and James in your our prayers as he can no longer receive chemo. Pat and Betty Jean Hunsinger are great about calling them. James was unable to attend their granddaughter's wedding in June. Sarah and James have been very faithful in attending our reunions. Also, pray for Fran Worley Bond and John as he has been undergoing chemo treatments. Fran and John flew twice to attend mini-reunions, once to Myrtle Beach and then again to Hartsville. We really enjoyed seeing them. We love ya’ll! Pat attended Alumni Day in April when Tommy Graham was awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Award. Tommy died in January after a long battle with cancer. A recording of his trumpet music was playing as alumni entered Davidson and a portrait of him was displayed on the stage. It was a very moving presentation when his wife, son and grandson accepted the award in Tommy's memory.
Barbara Spears Baird and I had a nice phone visit. She is doing all right and has children living nearby.
You may want to check Facebook as Dr. Wyatt posts some good things about Coker College, among which he talked about Davidson Hall being a signature building on the campus. He also told of his daughter Lara being chosen to participate in Broadway’s Artists’ Alliance in New York’s leading training program for talented young professionals.
I also talked with Betty Wray M. Jones recently, and she sent me a nice picture of
Last fall Jennie Herlong Boatwright fell down many steps. She was in the hospital for five
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days and in rehabilitation for two weeks. She experienced some blindness from hitting her head, but can now see again and her bones have healed. She looks good now and feels much better now. Betty Carol Mobley Bynum and Bundy have enjoyed a nice trip to Lake Junaluska. Betty Carol is planning to have cataract surgery soon.
PS - Our total for the Class of 1953 Endowed Scholarship is $49,226.20. Imagine if we could reach $50,000 so we could help five students with the education we enjoyed.
1954
ADVANCE
It is a gorgeous spring day in April as I write the letter. I’m sure the campus at Coker College is breathtaking!
her and her family and they all looked so well and happy.
•
We’re very happy to hear that Daphen Yarborough Edge’s husband, A. J., has completed his chemo treatments and is cancer free now!!! We rejoice with you. We’re sorry to hear that Joyce Bell recently lost her sister and sister-in-law. Also, Charlie lost her sister Barbara Griggs. Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger and I met over at Pat’s house in Hartsville and went to Chesterfield for Barbara’s funeral. It was so nice. Our sympathy goes out to Joyce and Charlie. Charlie really needs prayer as she is having some health problems too. Jean Fore McDaniel and Mac spent some time this spring at their Pawleys Island home. Betty Jean visited with them while they were there. I for one would like it if they lived closer to us as they are a lovely couple. Pat talked with Felicia Brown McElveen recently. She is now living in Florence at Laurel Manor. She had three strokes in December and could not live alone any longer. She has recovered from the strokes but has some problems with her eyesight. Her telephone number is 1-843-687-4225. Beth Dubose Cottingham went to Alumni Day on April 4. Pat chatted with her. Pat had a nice telephone visit with Margaret Hewitt Hoffmeyer recently. She was doing well after she fell down this past fall. Pat’s granddaughter, Erin Stewart from Marion, is engaged to Dusty Floyd from Mullins. They plan to be married in October in Marion. Erin is the daughter of Brenda Huff Stewart and Keith. Their other daughter Ansley is married and has a darling little 2-year-old boy. Three of my grandchildren got engaged to be married this past fall! These are the first of eight grandchildren to get married! Patrick Gilligan married Katie Douglass in Gaspirilla Island, FL on March 15. Then Meggan Gilligan will marry Corbin Catt in Gaspirilla Island, FL on May 23. Patrick and Meggan are children of Lettie Matthews Gilligan ’77 and Tom. Then Cade Matthews Weatherly will marry Angela Hornby on July 26 in Due West, SC. Cade is the son of Kay Matthews Weatherly and Alex. Maybe I’ll have some great-grandchildren someday. Pat represented our class at a lovely retirement party honoring Pat Dampier. Pat had served faithfully as Alumni Director and was a special friend of our class. We have done so much in the last six months. Hope I haven’t missed anything. Please send us a note or email us with any news you might have. Please remember the Annual Fund and our 1953 Endowed Scholarship Fund. Much love, Mitzi
(Names listed from left to right) First Row: Lois Hatfield Anderson, Ellen Bramlett Clark, Frances Fowler Williams Second Row: Jo Simmons Aiken, Sara Ashley Hollowell, Betty Reaves Herring Third Row: Shirley Dobbins Middleton, Martha Little Hunter, Gerry Griggs Boone Dear ‘54ers, Delicious agony! That’s exactly what our 60th reunion was! Delicious for those of us who experienced some really sweet togetherness—and agony, too, because we so missed those of our class who were not there. Many of our original group are no longer with us; several of our original group were not physically able to be with us for the reunion, and several of our group gave no response to our communication. We wished for you! The weather was glorious for our big day and Tiletha Lane, our wonderful Director of Alumni, had absolutely knocked herself out though she looked beautiful and as fresh as a daisy through it all. I was delighted to see Jo Simmons Aiken and Sara Ashley Hollowell who had driven down from North Carolina. What a joy to see them and, as you can imagine, time just dropped away and we were back where we left off! Of course, there were other Coker nuts coming in for their reunions and I enjoyed seeing and talking with several whom I knew. Like most Coker folks, no one stayed a “stranger”! The 1954 class members who came in were Shirley Dobbins Middleton and her husband, Herbert; Ellen Bramlett Clarke and her husband, Jim; and Martha Little Hunter. (Shirley and Herbert are from Charlotte, Ellen and Jim live in Columbia, and Martha had come in from St. Simons Island, Ga.) Our first “official” activity was dinner at Bizzell’s, a lovely restaurant within walking distance of the Fairfield. Meeting us there were Betty Reeves Herring; Frances Fowler Williams and her beautiful daughter, Ivy;
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Beth McMillan Fore and her two beautiful daughters, Lori and Leigh. I sat back and watched while all of us tried to “catch up” with each other. After dinner, most of us turned in early so we could be ready for the big day on Saturday. Again, the weather was glorious – and the campus looked beautiful! We gathered in the beautiful Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center for registration and refreshments. All of us were drawn to Tiletha’s presentation of a “memory tree.” She used a beautiful tree branch to which she had attached a beribboned name tag of the class members who are known to have passed away. It was very moving, as we looked at names of our classmates and members of other reunion classes. There are, of course, members in all classes who are not findable. All kinds of efforts are made to locate Coker alumnae, but not all efforts are successful. If you know of anyone who has been out of reach of Coker, please let me know. We don’t want a single one to be lost to us. You really missed a treat (if you weren’t with us) when we were entertained by some very talented drama and music students on Saturday. The newly-formed men’s ensemble was superb—and shortly after that day, sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the BIG NASCAR Darlington 500. I saw them on TV and they were, again, superb! Beth and Walter Cottingham came on Saturday for the class meeting—It was great to see them! We all spent a good bit of time going through the class list and updating as much as possible. Far too many of our Coker bunch are unheard from. Joan Griffin Burpee really wanted to get to the reunion, but was bogged down in some goings-on in Tampa, where she now lives. She’s active in art circles there and is still doing so many things for the art patrons in her city. She is no longer back and forth from Tampa to Tennessee—she put her house in Tennessee on the market and sold it in 24 hours! How’s that for a fast turn-around?
grandchildren and all their activities. She doesn’t do as much “alone” traveling abroad as she did a few years back, but spends a good portion of the year at her home at Edisto Island. She keeps in touch with Betty Bull Asnip (who has recovered from recent health issues) and June Marvin Ervin. Ellen and Jim Clarke are in Chester a lot. They have restored Ellen’s childhood home and thoroughly enjoy it. I wish I could remember all that Jim told me about his pine trees and other interests in that area. I was trying to absorb everything that I heard, but plainly couldn’t. Martha is STILL Martha! And for that we are grateful. She and Reid love St. Simon’s Island and Martha told us of her water aerobics class which she faithfully attends. She described the new health center (my words, not hers) that now sits on the spot where the old Cloister was—different, to say the least. Betty Herring and Frank and Ivy came back to campus on Saturday morning and we were all together for a luncheon in the newly done dining room. It is my understanding that some of the students were recruited to move the new booths in the dining room and set up beautifully appointed tables for us! The food was excellent! I even asked the chef if he’d tell me how he made the best mango salsa I’ve ever tasted. He did!! The table settings were beautiful— even our napkins were folded and each napkin was adorned with its very own fresh flower, matching those that paraded down the long tables. Gerry Griggs Boone zipped in from Florence for Saturday. She was not a dorm student when we were at Coker, but she is a vital, active part of our class and all of us so enjoyed being with her. I’ve had a call from Shirley Dobbins Middleton who had checked up on Joyce Barton Toole after the reunion. Shirley learned that Joyce has recently passed away. I know no particulars.
Miriam Powers Jordan had planned to meet with us on the Coker campus, but some health issues prevented her traveling. I still see her and Chubby when we have dinner once a month at our local Woodmen of the World meeting.
It seems that several of our classmates have passed away since our reunion five years ago. I’m afraid to list them without verification, but if you know of any such thing, please let me know so that I can keep our class roll updated.
Chris Bates Mink is still “hanging in there” in spite of some serious health issues. She and I talk occasionally and I am amazed (and inspired) by her handling of the big bad rheumatoid arthritis and its complications. She has recently had foot surgery but is doing well. Her health issues kept her at home in North Augusta while we were “reunioning” at Coker. I told her that I had taken an unofficial poll at the reunion to see how many would be interested in trying to cram in a visit to my house at Inlet Harbor. She was all for it. How about the rest of you? Would you make any attempt to come if we could work out a weekend in the not-too-distant future?
My Electa (Coker grad of 1986) continues to be my right arm! She lives in Debordieu, out of Georgetown, and keeps the home fires burning with Charlie, their Chinese pug, while Joe flits here and there from his office in Tulsa, OK. You may remember that Electa came back from Tulsa to help care for Joe’s mother, who passed away several months ago. Miraculously, Joe’s job allows him to be at home in Georgetown a portion of the time. I see them pretty often and Electa and I keep the telephone companies alive and well. We (Electa and Joe and I) have some exciting trips coming up right away!
Shirley and Herbert were delightful. They live in Charlotte and are active in several things there. They make an occasional trip to their beach place but don’t get down as often as they’d like. I didn’t get to visit with Sara Ashley Hollowell nearly long enough. She didn’t feel very well on Friday night and missed the dinner at Bizzell’s. She was fine on Saturday, but there were so many things going on. She’ll come to the beach if we get together. We’ll visit there! Jo Aiken has not changed a bit since we saw her last. She’s still involved with her
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We surpassed our class reunion goal of $4000.00 by several hundred dollars! I am very grateful to each of you who sent a gift to Coker. I know that I sound like a broken record, but I continue to urge each of you to make a contribution of ANY size to the College for the scholarship program. It helps in several ways: (1) Foundations which offer grants base their giving on percentage of alumni participating in giving programs, no matter what the size of the gift, (2) The vast majority of college students (including Coker students) receive some sort of financial aid, (3) Since Coker is not a state school, the state budget allocations are not there, (4) As a student at Coker on scholarship, I know personally the value of gifts
for a scholarship program. You have heard and read more than a dozen times, my comments about what Coker meant to me in the 50's and what it continues to mean to me. I’m aware that some of you did not have the same circumstances and needs that I did, but I still treasure the friendships formed on the campus of my Alma Mater those six decades ago. I still love to hear from you—other classmates would like to keep up better than we are doing now—so fill me in on what is happening to you and your family. Stay well, drive safely, have fun—and be thankful for all your blessings!! Still with love, Lois
1956 Hello to all of you and a sincere wish that you are healthy and enjoying life. I haven’t heard from many of our classmates, but will pass on to you all what I’ve learned. Barbara Joyce Chambers writes that she and her husband George are doing well. He still has terrible eyesight and walks with a cane, but everything else is doing okay. He has regular visits to the VA which is not far from their house. Barbara is staying active with the organization's hospital, volunteering and being on the auxiliary board. She is still playing Canasta and goes to a book club. She says there is one BIG change— she’s back in the Baptist Church and George is okay with it. She was raised in the Baptist Church, joined Methodist Church when she was married, but about a year ago she rejoined the Baptist and is very happy there. Their almost 19-year-old granddaughter, Anna, is a college freshman and attended the Western NC Ball in June 2013 in Shelby, NC. Both sets of grandparents were there and Barbara actually wore the same dress to her presentation that she had worn at her daughter’s presentation in 1977. Way to go, Barbara! Their 11-year-old granddaughter lives in Shelby, NC and since they can’t travel much, they don’t see her very often. Their son has taken a new job in Greer, SC with a chemical company and will be traveling extensively. Liz Degenhardt Campanile is still in New Jersey and reports that her daughter, Lisa, has moved from Australia to Jersey City and she is really enjoying her being so near. Liz is still on chemo and taking it day by day. She is definitely looking for spring with the winter they have had this year. She did make it to Florida for February and escaped some of it. Her grandson, Cole, is playing baseball for his high school team in North Carolina. Her son is a pharmacist. I received Christmas cards from two of our classmates, Lib Plowden Anderson and Joyce Johnston Utt. Lib wrote that she and Spencer “are fine, just aging, but staying very busy” and “moving at a slower pace.” I know the feeling, Lib. Joyce is still living in Myrtle Beach and doing okay. Her son is nearby and that helps, I’m sure. I heard through the grapevine from Manning that Peggy Cantey Gardner has had some medical problems, but I’m not sure exactly what it was. If anyone knows, please contact me. I’m still in Greeleyville and have had to make a big adjustment this past year without Neil. It is a totally different life living alone as many of you know. I’m staying fairly busy. I’ve had cataract surgery, but will still have to wear glasses. Church, politics, family, and friends help keep me occupied. There are four grandchildren in school ranging from grades 7 to 11 that keep me busy
following them with ball games and plays. It is a lot of fun to be with them. There are so many people that I tried to contact with no results. If you know about some, please let me know so we can share it with others.
1957 Dear Class of '57, Most of my news this time is not good, but what can we expect at our age!!! I know you will all join me in extending our deepest sympathy to Ann Dubose Smith. She just lost her 21-year-old grandson in a car wreck in April. Ann gave me some news about Pat Hosey Edgeworth. Pat survived a car wreck in December but broke both feet and spent four months in the hospital and nursing home. She is at home now with help. Ann reports that she has not lost her sense of humor. Send her a card: 4307 Edwards Road, Apt 8-A, Taylors, SC 29687-3305. I just returned from a trip to Paris with a very emotional side trip to several of the Normandy Beaches and the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. Hope all of you are well. Would love to hear from some of you. Love, Lynn
1958 Connie Booker Moe writes: “It has been a very "interesting" winter. Well, I tried another ankle replacement. I'm very happy to report that it seems to be going quite well. In comparing notes on the other ankle replacement nine years ago, which failed because of infection in the bone, this one is a snap! I'm back teaching the sit and tone exercise class at church just six weeks after surgery. I have felt well from the time I was over the first very painful 48 hours. Again, so different from nine years ago. My desire was to be able to enjoy the beach with our family the middle two weeks of July. That seems to be a given at this point." Connie and her husband Don will again this year drive to the West Coast to see friendsand relatives. Don was raised in Seattle and Alaska, so they always have fun on their trips out west. Closer to home, they are fortunate to have their three grandchildren, ages 7, 8 and 10, and are able to celebrate birthdays and major holidays together. Connie is still busy with church work, her investment club and her book club. She is looking forward to getting back to the gym. Annette Cooke Stokes writes: “Even central Texas was not immune from the chill of ole man winter, but we did not get ice except for the day of set up for our Women's Club Gala, our scholarship fundraiser. Scary, but instead of 9 AM we set up at 5 PM and made lots of money! Now my job is to go through applications and see who gets money! Such lovely girls, so accomplished at 18. We gave $15,000 last year! I am so proud of our Women's Club.” Annette was due to have a total knee replacement on Dec 29, but she was rushed to the ER with pneumonia on Dec 19. The surgery was postponed for a month, but January 22 she had pneumonia again. Now she is on permanent antibiotics and scheduled for total knee replacement on May 19. She is doing well and learning to control her activities. She is still busy with church and her “wonderfully large family.” Katie Thomason Ballenger writes: “The W W W. C O K E R . E D U
months of October-April I prefer staying at home! Birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter I enjoy sharing with family. After all, that is the reason we moved to Maryland. There are some “Snow Birds” in our community for 55 and older who “flee” to Florida for the winter months. We anticipate travels and visits this spring and summer. I close with the words of Garrison Keillor, “Be well, do good work and keep in touch.” Thanks to Susan Shumaker for helping us keep in touch!”
Betty Connor Senn has sad news to share: “I have recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will begin chemo to see if it can be shrunk. If it can be in the next 2-3 months, then I’ll have surgery at Piedmont hospital. I know I have a hard road ahead of me, but your prayers would be appreciated.” We can certainly do that! Patricia Clark Jackson also has sad news to share: “I just wanted to let you know that Kirby passed away on Monday, Feb. 10th. He had been very low for a week, and we were expecting it. I am at peace because I know in Heaven he can walk again, talk, and he is whole.” On a lighter note, I just returned from a week at Myrtle Beach. I still go a couple of times a year even though the Gulf Coast is much closer. Yesterday I was at the Augusta National Golf Course watching the players on the last round of the Master’s Golf Tournament. I broke my shoulder last year so did not get to play golf, but I am looking forward to getting back out on the golf course this spring. I would love to hear from more of you so we can keep in touch with what has been going on in your life during the 56 years since we were all together at graduation. Susan Holroyd Shumaker
1959
(Names listed from left to right) First Row: Bonnie Sawyer, Mary Kay Huggins Hennecy, Elizabeth Whittle Baxter, Patricia Fisher Williams Second Row: Faye Reynolds Third Row: Joyce Tolson Warr, Betty Crawford Moore, Pat Crawford Fields, Shirley Land Lupfer Once again it is time to let the fifty-niners (and perhaps others) know what is going on with our classmates. If you are not included, please contact me or Holly so we can all keep up with what is happening in your life. We had a wonderful reunion in April on the campus at Coker—and it looked beautiful! Springtime is a great time to see the south, W W W. C O K E R . E D U
I personally had a couple of disappointments: there were only nine of us there, but there just was not enough time to talk to everyone about everything! I’ll try to keep you up to date on what I learned. Joyce Tolson Warr taught kindergarten, then she became a mail carrier. Unfortunately she has had several bouts with chemotherapy, though she seems very optimistic about the outcome. She has three children and one great-grandchild. In talking with Camellia Chinnes Lane she told me the sad news that Keith had passed away in 2013. They had one daughter who lives not far from Camellia. Camellia told me that she is now legally blind, so she does not drive. Doris Kirk Miller was not at Coker in April, and I have since learned that she has had a pacemaker installed. I know we all send her (as well as the others who have had medical procedures) our very best wishes for a great recovery. I did not talk with Doris, so I can only report what others have told me. When I called Molly Creadick Gray she spoke of her grandchildren and their activities. They are running half-marathons, and her son’s son is in college. Molly is painting again and in exercise classes. Doris Ann Maxwell English has had a hip replacement and was recovering from that when we talked; she is very positive about the results. She also has had a stent. Her three granddaughters live nearby. Several classmates mentioned travel, and though we are certainly not in completion, no one could out-travel Shirley Land Lupfer! The trips have taken her and Mike to Cuba, Brazil, and two cities in Russia— St. Petersburg and Moscow—as part of a riverboat cruise. November of 2014 will find them in London with their son and daughter-in-law Victoria. Shirley and Mike often travel with them and have taken trips to Ireland, Berlin and Prague. Cynthia Sullivan Anzolut and Dick continue to be involved in the sports world. They have a basketball team which has just finished the season and won their championship. And, of course, they still are involved in golf. Cynthia says that their health has been good and though Dick has had some replacement surgery, he is doing well. Cynthia wanted to come to the reunion, but the timing was bad for her. In speaking with Sylvia Pennell Lemelin it was like a conversation with her at Coker. Her voice was exactly the same, and she had the same way of saying things that would make you smile. She has an enlarged thyroid gland which was removed in May, but she has a wonderfully optimistic attitude—which you would probably expect from Sylvia. Mary Holmes Burkett is involved in oil painting. She has always been an artist, so we should not be surprised. This does not include as much class news as I want, but even by calling classmates I have bad luck in finding them at home. You can certainly help Holly and I by sending your news to one of us. We always enjoy keeping up with our classmates and friends from those years ago; make sure you are included in the next Commentary.
1962 News of our classmates is listed in alphabetical order by the last names we had
while we attended Coker. Everyone seems to have weathered this winter in spite of snow, wind, hail, rain and cold! We've had a real winter at long last. Now it is time to wish you all a very nice spring and a safe and relaxing summer. Everyone seems very impressed with the many changes happening at Coker and I hope we all will remember that Coker needs any support we can give. Please remember to share your news and that of any classmates with whom you have been in touch. And please remember to keep us posted if any of your contact information has changed. Sara Anderson Kummer writes, "What a crazy winter this has been!" She and Charlotte '60 missed the snowstorm, ice storm, and the earthquakes that others in Ninety Six had, since they were in Tanzania! It was probably the best trip (Feb 3rd - 22nd) they have ever had! They joined safaris in two game reserves, Tangerere and Serengeti, staying in platform tents in Tanzania and regular tents in Serengeti. They saw the Big Five: rhino, leopard, elephant, lion, and Cape buffalo as well as multiples of others like hippos, giraffes, six species of antelope, thousands of wildebeest, zebra, birds, baboons, mongoose, "you name it, we probably saw it!" The trip concluded with six days on the island of Zanzibar. White sand beaches, coconut palms, coral reefs, spice plantations, ancient Persian baths, secret slave-trading caves and wonderful fresh-caught fish. Zanzibar's Stone Town is a vacation on its own—twisting streets and alleys with little shops spilling out onto the street, ancient carved doors, veiled women and little girls, men with long gowns and round flat caps. There were lots of mosques. Since then Sara is settling down to get her garden started and do some long-postponed major cleaning and sends love to all. Mary Bell Kittle wrote that they and some friends from VA were planning to visit San Miguel de Allende for a week in February. She says it is charming and has lots of American expats. Quite a few Texas friends enjoy going there. Lately Mary has been doing a lot of closet sorting and tossing. Sons Adam and Andrew are well and busy. There is a fundraiser for the Historic Fort Sam Houston Foundation on Easter Eve: an All-American Canteen, World War II vintage. This is part of San Antonio's annual two-week-long Fiesta. Mary and Joe are preparing a bit earlier this year to head to Orkney Springs, VA, in mid-May, hoping to find some of their garden has survived the brutal winter. There will be a Shrinemont fundraiser and the wedding of a friend's daughter. They do enjoy their mountain retreat every summer and fall. Sherrie Berry Wolski and Pat really enjoyed celebrating her brother's 50th wedding anniversary in Whiteville, NC where she was able to see many old friends from Mullins. It was wonderful to realize everyone at their table was still married to their original mates. I had asked Sherrie (a seamstress and internet searcher) to help me figure out where to find a slipcover for a small day bed which I use as a sofa and guest bed. She had no better luck than I in her search. Soon I received a fairly large package and inside was a wonderful cover for me to use which she had pieced together with gorgeous fabric in my favorite colors and zippers! Gayle Brandt Faust wrote that Columbia is beautiful in the spring. Her oldest son and his girlfriend invited her to see Jersey Boys, which she described as wonderful. Peggy Brown Buchanan reports that life
is good and busy. She and two friends from Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston recently attended a meeting of the Anglican Women at Prayer at the Virginia Theological Seminary, sponsored by the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross and the center for Anglican Communion Studies. Peggy is in the process of becoming a companion of SCHC. John promises to retire at the end of this year. He is an Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago about eight days a month. Peggy goes with him every other month. Granddaughter Mary Ella had fun playing the role of Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians, her school's spring musical. Grandson John loves baseball. Their mother, Margaret, is a nurse at East Cooper Hospital in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Their other daughter, Mary Ryan, and her husband, Alton, live in Savannah, GA five minutes away from Isle of Hope where they were married and where they now dock their boat at the marina, which they enjoy. Mary Ryan was 2013 employee of the year for the Chatham County Department of Aquatics. Alton is busy with his handyman business. Peggy and John came to a church conference in NYC and stayed with her for a long weekend just after Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. Roz Carrigan Hearon's husband, Edwin Herbert Hearon III, died on December 19, 2013. Ida Pace Storrs reports that Roz has been very busy taking care of all the important details one must face when losing a spouse or parent. Roz's daughter and son are living with their mother. Doris Duke Straight is homeschooling her 9-year-old granddaughter who moved in with Doris last August. Doris says that the flowering trees are gorgeous and that one week in March Columbia had snow, sleet and an earthquake! Carol Elting Richardson is looking forward to attending an Elting family reunion this June in Pigeon Forge, TN. She and Charlotte Cothran Taylor have a lot of fun searching for treasures and find fabric to use reupholstering chairs or various things which are useful for themselves and others. Daughter Georgia has been teaching at the University in Las Vegas and has been offered a wonderful opportunity to begin working at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas where she will be in charge of wardrobes for productions. She will begin that after the school semester has finished. Son Brad works in the automotive business and on his time off works on computers. Carol still enjoys her art work. Dot Herlong Hay reports that she and Charles enjoyed a mostly warm and sunny winter. This year Charles will turn 80 and Dot will be 75. They are planning a 50th wedding anniversary vacation in June with their family in the North Carolina mountains. They stay busy with their old house, big yard, things going on at church, almost daily trips to the gym to work out and volunteer work. "Life is good and we are truly blessed." Molly Holbrooke Thomas Birchler really enjoyed attending the Ladies of Coker meeting with Frances Kelly Segars, Ida Pace Storrs and Nancy Thornhill Bolden in January. Molly and Al enjoyed winter visits by their children, one family at a time, which made each visit special. She sent a wonderful photograph of the snow in their back yard and the Birchlers were very happy to have had a generator when the electricity was lost for a few days. Anita Jones Stanton has two adorable Shih Tzu 7 month old sisters. They keep her very busy and are interested in anything planted
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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Lucile Parker Stranch and her husband Lawrence are enjoying being retired. Last year they took a cruise up the Danube River and hope to take another cruise in 2015. Their other travels are to visit their 3-yearold granddaughter and their annual June and October trips to Maine. All of Lucy's other days are spent doing household activities, church and reading.
and we did appreciate how delightful everything looked.
ADVANCE in the garden. Anita is now on Facebook and hopes interested classmates will join and "friend" her.
ADVANCE
Harriet King Van Norte sent an email just as she was closing the house in GA and packing up to leave for Maysville, where they have been busy decorating Bob's "Sans Souci" (old Victorian) cottage as it is becoming a showcase on the National Historic Register. Far more exciting is the fact that Bob (who has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States) has been invited to participate in a Study of International law at The Hague Supreme Tribunal. He has orchestrated Harriet's participation as an Ex Officio member of the seminar so she can also study at the Hague Tribunal for two weeks. They plan to extend this time to visit some of Bob's relatives in Holland and Germany. They will be gone for over a month. "I do miss all of you and cherish my time with you and being at Coker!" Lee McCown Huey kindly sent an email clearing up a misunderstanding from the last issue of the Commentary to those of us who had read of the donation that Nancy Rogers had made to Coker in her memory. Actually, Gaby was grateful to receive concerned telephone calls from Nancy Thornhill Bolden and Peggy McCue Freymuth. Lee is actually alive and well and appreciative of Nancy's generosity. "It was intended to be in my honor, quite a difference. However, my husband Al does have stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed last fall and has been undergoing treatment here in Spartanburg. Our lives right now are quite simple, mostly staying home except for trips to our local Cancer Center. Last summer my youngest niece (22) and I went to London. She had not been out of the U.S. so everything we did was a new experience for her. Her enthusiasm and excitement were contagious. Although I like to think of myself as youthful and vigorous, she said to me, 'Let me carry everything, and you concentrate on walking.' Clear message?" Peggy McCue Freymuth and her family are well. And those adorable grandchildren are really growing up—almost too quickly. Peggy was good enough to call when she discovered that there was a notice in our last Commentary that a classmate had given a memorial gift for Lee McCown Huey. Thank heavens we found out that this was only a poor choice of words. Lee is well, as you can see in Lee's news above. Elizabeth Moore Weir was good enough to share the sad news of the loss of her husband, Thomas Weir Jr., On April 1st. Tom died of a brain hemorrhage. His career was in the furniture industry. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last October. Liz adds that "It has been rough." Paula Moran still has a wonderful sense of humor. She is still working at Publix, which she enjoys. She also loves her cats and likes walking a lot and often. Ida Pace Storrs and I had a very nice telephone visit. Three friends are going to shop, cook and prepare Easter dinner for Ida in her house. Ida plans to attend another high school reunion with friends in Mullins. She found some wonderfully fresh strawberries recently and was happy to be able to share some with Gayle Brandt Faust and Henri Ramsey Van Arsdale. Archie, Ida's Bijon Frise, has a wonderful time frolicking in the yard, garden and house and letting Ida know if anything is moving near the house. Henrietta Ramsey Van Arsdall sent a lovely Christmas card when the weather was dreary and rainy and she was curled
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up under a warm comforter. Her children (and grandchildren) have been thriving, other than one son-in-law having suffered through and successfully beating a ruptured appendix. Oh, how I would love to see Henri's beautiful garden! Nancy Rogers and Law recently had a wonderful reunion with Lee McCown Huey and Al with three other friends. They had dinner together at a fancy new seafood restaurant in Georgetown, D.C. They had a spectacular view of the Potomac, Roosevelt Island, and the Kennedy Center, but the best thing was that Lee and Nancy were able to talk nonstop for hours and that their husbands got to meet each other. Frances Segars Kelley writes that she enjoyed the Ladies of Coker meeting in January. As program chair for a DAR meeting about Veterans, she presented five Quilts of Valor to Veterans made by Frances and four friends. The QOV Foundation is trying to give a quilt to each veteran to thank them for keeping us safe. Nationwide over 98,000 quilts have been presented. These are made with love and the quilters are working hard to say thank you to our Veterans. Flo Staklinski Taylor finally decided to "bite the bullet" and had successful knee surgery in January. She writes that it was a great thing to do and has been working hard to do exercises before and after the surgery. What a pleasant surprise it was to hear that she will be able to play tennis soon, in about a month. Flo and Bill are still reading and doing casework for the St. Vincent de Paul Society at their church. Since their trip to Africa was so outstanding last year, they have plans to take a sevenday cruise and 4-day land trip to Alaska in August. Gwen Thomason Adams has been working on a special project, looping cut plastic grocery store bag strips into a long string called "plarn" (plastic yarn). The plarns are then crocheted into a mat. The mats are delivered to Atlanta in the summer for the homeless to use. Many groups near Laurens have been working hard to make these. There seem to be other similar projects in other states. It really is amazing to see how attractive and pretty they look when finished. The mats do not rot, bugs don't eat them and this keeps the plastic bags out of the landfill. You may want to look plarn up on the internet to get the picture. Nancy Thornhill Bolden is looking forward to attending the West Virginia Hall of Fame honoring her husband, Harold, for his years in the class of 1959 playing winning football games at Blue Creek High School in War, WV. While the school has been closed and consolidated by the McDowell County School system, alumni of Big Creek continue to meet for reunions. Nancy recently spent a weekend at Harrah's Casino with an 82-year-old friend and is happy to announce that she has now "been there, done that," although it was interesting and in beautiful Cherokee, NC. Daughter, Molly, is happy in her new house and grandson, Luke, is enjoying his new school. He loves playing baseball and visiting his Hartsville grandmother from time to time. Nancy was good enough to call when she read about Lee McCown Huey and made a lot of calls to discover that Lee was alive and kicking. Joanne Tuten Bellamy has a huge yard in Pawley's Island and is thrilled to have her many varieties of flowering trees in full bloom. Her three rescue sheep dogs and lots of rescue rabbits keep her busy. At Easter the rabbits are borrowed to entertain the town's children. She has been busy
knitting socks and slippers for Operation Toasty Toes, a volunteer program to support American's troops serving overseas. Another project is to knit for Babies in Crisis to help newborns in need. Son Matt lives next door and is such a big help to his mother. Son Dave, his wife Julia and two precious grandchildren are visiting from Charlotte for Easter. Joanne saw Eleanor Sharpton Pitts recently and says Eleanor always looks wonderful and pretty. Bruce Williams and Mary-Frances '64 completed a 21-day cruise in the Caribbean in March, and were awarded their 300 day medal by Holland America. Bruce claims he gained five pounds in 21 days and is now trying to trim down a bit. They have also booked an Alaskan cruise for August. Bruce wonders if he will eat less, but doubts it as their food is delicious. They still enjoy retirement in SC and send best wishes to all. Nancy Wilson so enjoyed seeing Mary Ann Wycliff Johnson after so many years. Nancy is a warm weather person and does not mind the heat in Phoenix because the humidity is so low. She is a "HUGE" sports fan and had her brackets printed up so she could keep up with March Madness. Mary Ann Wycliff Johnson is living in a condo in Scottsdale, AZ. She met Nancy Wilson for lunch. She says Nancy is as pretty as she was at Coker and it was nice seeing her again. Mary Ann is in three wood carving clubs there and has just finished teaching a stained glass course at the senior center in Fountain Hills, AZ. They made sun catchers. Mary Ann's daughter and family are close by and Mary Ann's band saw is in their garage. She entered three of her woodcarvings in the BIG Desert Wood Carving Show in Mesa last February and came home with three ribbons: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. She now has a Schnauzer puppy, Franz. Mary Ann is learning to live in the desert and says when it reaches 115, those who have brains "stay inside where it's cool" and read a book or paint or carve! "Love to all my classmates. God be with you all." Peggy Ziegler Reeves thought their February snow of 7-9 inches was beautiful and although the sun came out, she hoped the snow would melt in a few days. My son, John, and I have a wonderful adventure planned for June. Descendants of my French grandfather's grandfather have been invited to participate in a huge family reunion in the Loire Valley, France. We have made reservations to fly to Geneva, SW on June 9th and return to NYC on the 25th. We plan to spend one week in a town near my grandfather's house and to visit some of the chateaux and churches reconstructed by Jules Potier de la Morandiere after the French Revolution. He was a famous architect. Then we will head back to Geneva to return our rental car and begin using our Swiss Rail Passes to explore a lot of beautiful and interesting towns. We are hoping there will be wonderful weather one day so we may travel up to the top of the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest mountain and back using different train routes. Please know you are wished a lovely spring and summer and please remember to keep in touch! Love, Gaby
1963 Dear Classmates, I’m happy to start this Coker College Commentary with some hopeful news on Flora Galloway Burkholder. She lives in N.Y. and sometimes visits her sister in Myrtle Beach.
Upon her next trip, she will be sure to notify us when she is coming, as she says she would really like to see everyone. Georgia Ann Jenkins Porcher and her husband, Phillip, along with three of his siblings live on a family compound near Charleston. Georgia Ann and Phillip celebrated their 50th anniversary in November 2013 with their three children and eight grandchildren. The actual anniversary date was August 24, 2013 but the celebration was delayed while Phillip recovered from bad fall from a ladder. They have been very fortunate over the last 22 years to visit their daughter, Kelly, many times at her home in Alaska. Kelly’s children are 12 and 11. Georgia Ann and Phillip’s other daughter Lisa lives in Charlotte with her four children. Son Phillip also lives in Charlotte with his wife and young children, ages 4 and 2. Georgia Ann was a volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem program for many years, but recently decided to take a break from volunteer work. She and Phillip attend Grace Church in Charleston and Phillip helps out on Sunday mornings. Sadly, Joy Shirley’s brother, Marvin Shirley, passed away in Hartsville in November 2013 and Jennie Gustafson’s mother-inlaw passed away in December of 2013. We express our sympathy to Joy, Jennie and her husband Gus. Nan Warren and Erskine Clarke’s home in Montreat on Black Mountain is very beautiful and Nan says she found that a mountain home brings many guests. Nan is fortunate to also have her children and four “wonderful” grandchildren living in the general area. The grandchildren are Loryn, 19, Colleen, 16, Samuel,11, and Lucas, 8. Loryn is in her first year of college and Colleen has a beautiful singing voice. Samuel is quite a reader and Lucas has a talent for public speaking as he enjoys project presentations. Nan enjoys her book club, church circle and volunteering at the local Swannnoa Valley Christian Ministry in the clothing and styling department. She says, “Yeah-the styling department.” She loves it when someone finds an outfit that looks brand new and it puts smiles on the ladies’ faces. Nan hopes this kind work will help someone get a job. During the rough winter weather she worked more than her usual hours, as the Ministry responded to the community’s needs. Lastly for Nan, she and Erskine will travel to Scotland and Ireland for their 50th Anniversary. Happy trails to you! Libby Whitescarver Privette and her husband, Roger, enjoyed a trip to Tucson, AZ where they played golf on the desert courses with friends. They reside in Charlotte but enjoy visits between Mt. Pleasant and High Point, N.C. seeing their four grandchildren ages 15 years down to almost 4 years. Libby and Roger will take time out from these activities to volunteer some and then head to France for a cruise on the Seine. Who can think of the Seine without thinking of Dr. Grannis? Ou est le stylo? In February, 2014, Margaret Brown Young and husband Jim went to Big Sky ski resort in Montana with their oldest daughter, Beth, her husband Paul and their three children, Meg, 16, David, 14, and Robert, 11. She reports that the skiing and snowshoeing were great. According to Margaret, the highlight of the week was a day spent touring Yellowstone National Park. “Snow makes a beautiful show”, she says. Margaret’s new email address is mbyoung63@gmail.com. Carol Phillips Kirven and husband Larry are going to celebrate their 25th anniversary by flying to Anchorage on July 29 and W W W. C O K E R . E D U
renting a motor home for two weeks. They plan to drive to Denali and then back down around the Kenai Peninsula. She would love to have suggestions for the trip from veteran Alaska travelers. Lynda Morillo Hord Tells is glad to say that her husband Dick who has Parkinson’s is doing fine. Lynda observed his symptoms early and was able to get medication started in a timely manner. She continues with her water aerobics three times a week which keeps her moving better. Joy Shirley Edgerton and husband Bill are retired and busier than ever. Grands and great-grands take up most of their time. Church activities and speaking engagements take up the rest of her time. She shares that life is great and “God is greater!” She considers her family blessed.
Barbara Holmes Willis and her husband Jim survived a truly awful winter in New England, as it was one of the coldest on record. Their daughter and her family are living in Cambridge, MA for the school year where she is a teacher. Barbara says that she and Jim have had the good fortune of spending time with their grandgirls, Mira (3) and Danica (16 months). Their daughter and her family will be returning to the warmth of Berkeley, CA at the end of the school year. Jim and Barbara plan to return to Sullivan’s Island for their annual trip where they will visit with family, walk the beach, eat good food and recuperate from the New England winter. Lana Suber Barnett is pleased to announce that grandson Hunter is graduating from high school and is off to college in the fall. Lana has been very involved in Hunter’s activities. Nancy McConnell Wilhelm and Budgy reside at Surfside Beach. They enjoy watching the growth and development of their grandtwins, a girl and a boy. Speaking of Nancy, she, Edith Reynolds, Jennie Gustafson and Kay Elder Williams get together for a lunch and mini-reunion at the Sea Captain’s House in Myrtle Beach around the first week in December and the Wednesday after July 4. Kay lives in the Wilmington area but says it is worth the trip for the fellowship and good food. If you are interested in joining them for reminiscing and giggling, contact Nancy or Kay. Sadly, Jennie Gustafson’s cancer has returned for the third time. She is on Doxil as of the last of March. She will be on this chemo every four weeks for an unknown time and will appreciate prayers and cards. Nancy Fairey Forbis, whose 16-yearold granddaughter Cassie lives with her, recently got her driver’s license and Nancy says this will allow her more free time and she looks forward to seeing old friends more frequently. Kay Elder Williams’ daughter Caryl and her husband, Barry, are leaving their beloved Tryon, NC. Caryl, who works for Carolinas Healthcare System, is being transferred back to Charlotte. Kay’s son David is running for a fourth term as a Pender County (NC) Commissioner and his daughter Anna, 14, was just selected to be a Page in the NC Senate. Caryl’s middle child, Vlad, is an Army Sgt. and is currently serving in Kuwait. W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Please help the Coker College Commentary by sharing this with others you may be in contact with, and if you know of classmates that do not receive the Commentary, let us know. The contact information is in the back of the Commentary. Thank you for your help in keeping us all informed by sending us your latest news. PLEASE SEND YOUR COKER GIFTS WITH A NOTATION TO 1963 ENDOWMENT FUND. Be in touch! Kay Elder Williams
1964
(Names listed from left to right) First Row: Mary Gibbons Stewart, Sybil Bell Carson, Pat Holland Chapman, Anne Lamb Matthews, Cameron Council Speth, Nell Bates Beasley Second Row: Shirley Norton Coleman, Judie S. Shiver, Karen M. Kuehner, Naomi Kelley Jackson, Lorena Cook James, Burney Bristow Byrd, Abigail Etters Pilger Third Row: Ann Dobson Hammond, Kay Rogers McLean, Linda Milam Law, Joyce Askins Forth Row: Nita Nunn Danenburg, Susan Frank, Becky Sparrow, Sarah Ann Horton, Diane Barber Our 50th Class Reunion, April 4 and 5, 2014! What a marvelous time we had, both at Naomi Kelley Jackson’s lovely Kelleytown home Friday night and on campus Saturday. Her husband John greeted us with a “Welcome Ladies of Coker” banner, and we reconnected with each other via many smiles, hugs, pictures shown and taken, and life updates. Those in attendance on Friday night but not Saturday: Mary Ann McCaskill Tomlinson, Jean Sansbury, Dale Galloway Davies, Gay Taylor Morrison, Johanna Haun Morrison, Pamela Goode Jacobs, and Betty Morrell Pait. Thanks to Burney Bristow Byrd’s creative table decorations, we had the faces of every classmate before us. So if you weren’t there, you were remembered, missed and talked about very fondly! Following a delectable dinner, we all formed a big circle in the living room to share more conversation, memories and much laughter. Naomi brought us news of classmates unable to attend and read us her “Ode to Coker College and the Class of 1964!” So cute, entertaining and right on target. As we left, we received our traditional “Brown Bags” full of delightful goodies contributed by all. Saturday at Coker was amazing with one good event following another! The day and the campus were both beautiful and the
schedule well-planned, beginning with registration and a continental breakfast in the Martin Stein Gallery of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. We moved into the Watson Theater for a “Stroll Down Memory Lane” via a great video highlighting each of the six reunion classes present, updates on the college, a business meeting and outstanding performances by very talented students from the music and dance departments. Then on to Davidson Hall to have our group photo made on the front steps, followed by a class meeting inside. A General Session of the Alumni Association followed with the presentation of Class Reunion Gifts (ours was $5,400.00). A feast awaited us in the Susanne G. Linville Dining Hall, which was beautifully decorated with spring flowers throughout. We enjoyed the delicious food and seeing the current Commissioners in their striped aprons! Afterward, we visited the Student Center, where the bookstore was open and campus tours were available. Present for both the Friday night fun and Saturday campus activities were: Mary Gibbons Stewart, Pat Holland Chapman, Anne Lamb Matthews, Cameron Council Speth, Nell Bates Beasley, Shirley Norton Coleman, Judie S. Shiver, Karen M. Kuehner, Naomi Kelley Jackson, Lorena Cook James, Burney Bristow Byrd, Abigail Etters Pilger, Ann Dobson Hammond, Kay Rogers mclean, Linda Milam Law, Joyce Askins, Nita Nunn Danenburg, Susan Frank, Becky Sparrow, Sarah Ann Horton and Diane Barber. Sybil Bell Carson, an elementary education major, couldn't be with us on Friday, so we were happy to see her at Coker Saturday! Sybil lives in Camden. With our tummies full and our hearts warmed, we bade adieu to classmates and Coker, inspired by the immense progress made in so many ways and very proud of our Alma Mater. If you haven’t been there in a while, you would be amazed; so visit when you can. You will be warmly welcomed! Classmates, we wish that we could share all of the highlights featured in the reunion keepsake booklet, but the space allowed for class news prevents that. At least all who were there have “the rest of the story!” The Alumni Office has a few more Reunion Booklets available; please call 843-383-8082 if you would like to purchase one. We extend heartfelt condolences to Gay Taylor Morrison, Ellen Harden Rogers, and Linda Traynham Prior in the deaths of their husbands: Thomas “Tommy” J. Morrison on January 28, 2014; Charles Nicholas “Nick” Rogers on March 22, 2014; James H. “Jim” Prior on March 15, 2014. This is Lorena Cook James’ final contribution as a class rep. You’ve read enough about me in our news, so I’ll catch up with you in another issue. The best thing is that life is normal again for the James family, and what a great gift! Becky is bowing out, also. Ever gracious Naomi says she will continue to plan for Reunion Friday night gatherings at her house, as long as she is able! Endless thanks to those of you who have regularly submitted news. Now “Help Wanted” for some of you to step up and serve as class representatives. Cameron will stay on as class rep if we can get help for her! Now there should be at least two of you out there ready to accept this special offer in time to make the October news deadline! Let the Alumni Office know! Thanks to Cameron, Naomi and Becky for being for being amazing human beings and co-reps.
The Alumni Office staff is extremely helpful (alumni@coker.edu or 843.383.8082) and kindly make themselves very available. Finally, a plug for our Class of ’64 Endowed Scholarship. We have $8,967.00 now and need to push it over the $10,000.00 minimum needed for endowment, so that students can begin benefitting from it. We’re so close. Please help when you can.
1968 Yes, the class of '68 is turning 68 this year, and many are making plans to attend their 50th High School Class Reunions. According to all the activities that this group of Coker nuts participates, no one seems to be slowing down at all. Barbara (Nexen) Lansche has recently been in contact with so many of our classmates that she needs to be nominated for class “socialite” of the year! Among those retirees that she has been visiting are Judy (Hesley) Toney and David, Charlotte (Hamer) Moulton and Wallace, Lyn (Murph) Bartley and Tony, Anne (Davis) Darby and Jimmy, and Bonnie Kearney. Gayle (Grubbs) Stoll and Phil are still working “some.” To quote Barbara, “Isn’t it fun to have whole weeks of Saturdays?” She also manages to stay in touch with Martie by phone, and Ellen (Tollison) Hayden and Walt when visiting grandchildren in Columbia. Last fall she also had the opportunity to have lunch with Charlotte and Pansy Bazen. Martie (Dobson) White and Jim are both retired but stay quite busy. They travel to Fountain Inn frequently to visit with Jim’s Mom who will be 91 in the fall and living independently. Their youngest, Michael, is getting ready to graduate from his six-year surgical residency and then move to Los Angeles for a two-year fellowship. He and Shannon are expecting a second child in November, so it appears that Martie and Jim will be California bound again to visit with their family. Jim is waiting prayerfully once again for good news from a May CT scan. Nancy (Strahn) Hall and Weller have had a cold and snowy winter, so they ventured to New Hampshire for some cross-country skiing. She’s enjoying spending time with her grandson Drew, who at 2 expresses his favorite word “no” quite frequently. His mom, Aley, continues to work on helping Drew become bilingual in Spanish and English. Weller is looking forward to spring and spending time in his garden. Their sons continue at their jobs, John teaching history and Will a librarian at the NY Public Library. Nancy continues her quest to speak fluent Spanish by meeting weekly with a small group of friends to practice and then they head out for “el café y torta”. Betsy (Walker) Chambers and her husband Jerre are feeling blessed as they enjoy spring in their home in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Over the last two years he has been successfully treated for lung cancer. Their daughter Kelly has been visiting from Los Angeles, a real boost for them both. Their son Geoffrey and wife Caroline live on their sailboat and work in Columbia. They have also earned bragging rights over their grand dog, Ellie, who was featured on the front page of the State Newspaper for attending a gourmet cooking class with Caroline and Geoffrey. Betsy has also had the opportunity to visit several times with Mary (McGee) Wiggins in the last few months. Faye (White) Coan and Gil are experiencing the role of caregivers for their respective parents. Faye’s mom suffered a severe stroke in January and is now in a long term
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ADVANCE
Edith Floride Reynolds happily reported the birth of her fifth grandchild, Audre Jean Legge, daughter of Jessica and Dean Legge '99. Audre was born with dysplasia and wore a brace from the time she was 6 days old until a few days before she was five months old. She is a “beautiful and happy baby” and Edith keeps her two days a week.
He was engaged just before he left and the wedding will be in May 2015. Vlad has also applied for the Special Forces and, if accepted, he will be at Ft. Bragg, NC, which the family would certainly love. Caryl’s daughter Nina continues to enjoy her new home in Greensboro, NC. Her stepson Kevin is in the process of moving to L.A. Kay’s husband Jim continues to enjoy retirement by golfing, playing World Tavern Poker and being active in the American Legion.
ADVANCE care facility in Brevard. Since they spend a great deal of time there, they would love to give you a tour of the area as there are lots of great restaurants and shops. Gil’s parents are both 92 and still living in their own home with supplemental help.
ADVANCE
Judy (Hege) Bailey and Bren cruised to the Caribbean in January and arrived home in time for snow! Then they decided to visit friends in Northern Virginia and got snowed in, so their next travels will be in June to Charleston without any frozen precipitation. Judy attended the Coker Alumni Day this spring with Judy (Brown) Pigg and wants our class to come up with a fundraising strategy for our 50th Reunion Class Gift. “Volunteer” must be Judy’s middle name because she is so active with many groups and a member of the Ladies of Coker. Family, friends, and both their golden retriever Duncan and adopted Terrier GRITS (Girl Raised In The South), are what the Baileys enjoy for relaxing. At the end of January, Wilson and I headed to a warmer climate in the Dominican Republic to escape from the bitter cold here in Virginia. Still a little bit of a daredevil, I snorkeled with sharks, held a Manta Ray, and vowed to order a Rosetta Stone Course in Spanish when we returned. Looks like retirement is not for me; I will be teaching part-time again in the fall and I still plan to tutor in math for children in our church family. My mom is now 92 and busy as ever so she has set the bar high for my sister Donna (Ladinig) Holder and me. It appears that there is a uniform theme with each letter I have received. Each one of us is dealing with our aging parents as we start our own retirement. Then there are the grandchildren whose company we adore and always make our priority. But most of all, each one of you mentions the strong bond that has never failed throughout the years between us all, truly a blessing for which we are all thankful. Looking forward to hearing from EVERYONE! Joni (Ladinig) Abernathy
1969
(Names listed from left to right) First Row: Frankie R. Watson, Connie Ingleheart Brock, Jennie Baker Smith Second Row: Jackie Shuler, Pat Stevens Hewitt, Ray T. Vance
1970 Jane Brown Riechmann and Mark traveled to Spain in April for a nine-day cruise stopping in Barcelona, Casablanca, one of the Madeira Islands and a Canary Island as well as a land tour of southern Spain and perhaps Portugal! They spent part of the winter in Hawaii and enjoyed being warm while sunny Florida was cold! Gayle Buckheister Sawyer's husband George received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Alumni Association for his contributions to Coker, Kalmia, Hartsville,
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and the State of South Carolina. He was the class sponsor for the Class of 1969 and he and Gayle will host their 45th reunion dinner at Bizzell’s Friday night before Alumni Day. Congratulations George! Linda Burnett Jeter and her husband Jay are happy to announce their daughter Jayne is engaged and plans to marry in Atlanta in 2015. Jayne met Adam Bailey in college and they plan to make Atlanta their home. Beverly Cole Poston and her husband celebrated their 45th anniversary May 17th. “How time flies when you're having fun,” she wrote. Roxanne Copeland Richardson and her husband, Aubrey, have an 18-month-old grandson who keeps them on their best behavior. She hates the feeling of sadness we all share as we lose class members and good friends. She suggested we should casually get together more often than every five years. Harriett Council had a slight stroke around Christmas, but was very lucky that her speech was not affected. She is in rehab for help with balance and coordination, but hopes to be done with that in April. Trudy Donnon said a lot has happened in her life since she left Coker. She did not elaborate, but did say that “life is good for me now.” Martha Flowers Herbert is very busy quilting ( “not enough”), hunting (“lots”), and watching her grandchildren (ages 16 and 12) grow. Both are very involved in volleyball and baseball and are on travel teams as well as rec and school teams. She says her only “claim to fame” is her blood donating record—over 44 gallons of platelets and plasma and over 10 gallons of whole blood! She credits George Sawyer for her original inspiration to donate blood. Martha (Marf ) and Ray Torrance Vance see each other often as they quilt together. Their quilters group makes 100 or more quilts for charity each year. She has 13 cats and 7 dogs. She is active in the preservation and upkeep of her community center. They have recently received a land grant for 90+ acres to use as a nature area and she will be very involved in that project as well. Jessica Markley Lee is also enjoying retirement. Joe is very busy and has no plans for retirement. Their daughters are both living in Columbia. Annie is a nurse at Palmetto Richland Hospital. Caroline is teaching in Richland 2 Schools and her husband, Will, works for Crop Production Services in Bishopville. Jessie and Gayle attended the service for Beverly Armstrong McLaughlin. Jessie enjoyed seeing Bev’s sons Brian and Douglas, Doug’s wife Natalie and their two boys. Bev’s ashes will be buried this spring at one of her favorite destinations—the farm in Virginia. Jessie also met Mary Emma Michau Jordan’s husband, Truman, and their son Whit when he returned to Manning as the Edward Jones Investment rep. Whit, Truman, and Jessie had a wonderful time talking about Mary, Coker, and all of their memories. Susan Roessler Dirsh and her husband Mike retired early this year. They spent part of the winter in the Florida Keys and then went to Canada to ski at Whistler. She said it snowed every day and she adopted a beautiful fireplace and read a couple good books. Their son is engaged, but no date has been set for the wedding. She said that this year has “been full of grins!” Brenda Thompson Stewart had gall bladder and colon surgery but says she is doing well and loves retirement. She and Larry
travel frequently to Charleston to visit their daughter Mandy, son-in-law Aaron, and their grandchildren Lily, Van, and Miles. Their son Chad and daughter-in-law Melissa live in Hawaii with their english bulldog puppy. Brenda and Larry are hoping to “trek out to see them” soon. Elaine White Gilbert continues to fight her second bout of cancer. Our prayers and thoughts are with you Elaine. Hopefully, you will improve more and more every day. Scott and I were both happy to see the end of 2013! My Mom died in July and Scott had his mitral valve replaced in December after months of being ill. Thankfully, he is recovering and we are looking forward to spring. We also love retirement and our three grandsons (ages 8, 4, and 1.5) and one granddaughter (age 3) are such fun. REMINDER – Mark your calendars: April 2015 for our 45th class reunion. See you then! Candee Constable Craven
1972 Reps: Janie Cleckley Campbell, Sarah McCanless Haarlow, Harriett Courtney Lemke Harriett Courtney Lemke—I lost my husband and best friend, Dr. James W. Lemke, on January 26, 2014. Jim was in his 40th year of teaching at Coker and was the only full professor tenured in two disciplines at the College. Being an alum and faculty wife made me feel proud each time I was on campus. Students, faculty and colleagues would talk to me about Jim and how he had enriched their lives. He was brilliant, kind, powerful and trusting. I had the honor of spending 30 years of my life with Jim. He is missed and his legacy will continue at Coker College. Frances Sadler—Frances’s mother, Annie Sadler, wrote letting us know that Frances died July 12, 2012. We are sorry to lose our classmate. Judith Mims—I retired from teaching six years ago to keep my first granddaughter. She is in school now, but another granddaughter came along to keep me busy! Their mother is a guidance counselor, so I still live by the school calendar! Our older daughter is a neonatologist in Macon. She and her husband bought a house and had a little boy this year! Charlene Fueno (C. Kay)—In February I went to Myrtle Beach for a conference and was so surprised at how much it has changed. I’ll be finished with school work this year, so will have more free time by January. I'm still the Associate Pastor at Duluth First UMC so if you are ever in the Atlanta area on a weekend come to visit the church—or even during the week. Hope you are all well and enjoying life. See you at the next reunion. Bet Birdsong Matthews—I am loving retirement! Our cross-country trip last September really gave us the traveling "bug." It is wonderful to have the freedom to pick up and go when we want to! David and I have been making day trips once a week that have been fun. We have a trip to Florida planned, and hope to head north this year. I volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, take aerobics classes, and am active in church and several other service organizations...I have to laugh when people ask if I'm bored yet! When my mom passed away, she left us with enough fabric to open a shop...no kidding! My sister and I donated a lot of it, but we kept our favorites. I made my first quilt using her fabric and enjoyed
it so much that I have several more projects started. It's addictive, healing, and fun! Our daughter, Anna, and son-in-law, Matt, keep the farm full of life with horses, dogs, cats, and the occasional goat. It is wonderful to have them living so close to us. Troy is still living in Asheville and is on the river kayaking every chance he gets! David enjoys coaching church ball teams and is playing softball again this spring and summer (and he does love his tractor). I love staying in touch with those of us on Facebook and by email, but I'm ready for some real facetime...can't wait to see everyone at our next reunion! Sister Wham—I am still working as an RN at the Dept. Of Juvenile Justice three days a week. I have been doing this for almost 24 years, and don’t know if I will ever retire because I really love the job. CP and I have been married 40 years now. In our free time we spend time with three children and two grandchildren, either at the beach or in the mountains in Asheville where daughter Brook lives. When in Asheville we get to see and catch up with Sarah Mims. I am looking forward to camp in July with 8-year-old granddaughter Mia. I have been volunteering as camp nurse at the juvenile diabetes camp with her for the past three summers. One of the perks of being a nurse over the years was volunteering at camps with my kids and now grandkids. It is so much fun!! Little grandson Gray (5 years old) is trying to figure out when I can go to camp with him!! I enjoyed so much being at our reunion! We need to figure out when we call can get together again. Maybe in fall we can plan something at Litchfield at my house! Sara Holley Adams—This past year has been filled with many blessings in our family. Our daughter April married a wonderful young man last June and they are expecting our first grandchild in May. They are happily settled in Birmingham, AL. Our son, Clay, and his adorable wife, Jessie, live in Aiken and are both employed in law enforcement. My husband, Barry, suffered a severe heart attack and an anoxic brain injury October 30 and, by God's help, he survived. After spending over three weeks in our local hospital and another six weeks in the wonderful Shepherd Center Rehab Hospital in Atlanta, we were so grateful to get home in January. Barry has been very blessed in his recovery and has no physical limitations. He is still working on some memory related issues, but I remind him that he now has a good excuse for not remembering someone's name and I don't. He is truly one of God's miracles. Donnie Sowell—My parents died in 1964. There were five of us children. We were sent to live with various family members. I went to live with my daddy's brother and his wife, John and Ruth Iseman of Hartsville. Uncle John taught at Coker and therefore, I had the opportunity to attend Coker in 1965. Uncle John passed away years ago and Aunt Ruth still lives in Hartsville. I am grateful to them for the opportunity I had to attend Coker. After attending Coker, I moved to Charlotte, N.C. and went to work for Duke Power Company. In 1972, I applied for a position teaching accounting with the Lancaster County School District; and then, I had a panic attack when they hired me! I knew, however, the first time I walked into a classroom that I was where I was supposed to be. I taught high school accounting as well as accounting for Adult Education for 22 years. During that same time, I went back to school and obtained two more degrees and 29 hours toward my PhD. After 22 years of teaching, I moved into a district position as an Instructional Specialist for Career and W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Technology Education and also taught parttime. I retired in the last few years and still have not gotten my house cleaned!! I am a member of my church, Good Shepherd United Methodist; a member of the Lancaster Breakfast Rotary; PDK; Retired Educators of Lancaster and United Daughters of the Confederacy. I love photography, traveling, reading, tracing family history and making memories with my three grandchildren. We live in Lancaster and have a place on Lake Wateree. We usually spend part of the summer on the lake. We bought a camper a few years ago and also do some camping in SC and NC. One of my favorite trips was an Alaskan cruise—land and sea. We have traveled all over the United States and parts of Europe. We also attend some "balls" and dress the way that folks did back in the 1860s. The balls are a lot of fun.
and that includes all of you!!!! We would love for us to plan a Coker trip somewhere fun. Or if you are ever in Hartsville, contact Sarah or Janie or Harriett, and we will make something fun happen! Missy Pegram Cotton—Bill and I are doing fine. We are still in Raleigh and really love it here. It has certainly grown from a large town to a very big city since we arrived. We are both still working and will continue to do so as long as possible. I am in the accounting department for a company in Durham and have been working there for over 20 years. I cherish all of my memories of Coker. Such wonderful times and very special friends.
1974
Carol Chandler (Dabbs) Briley - In May, I am retiring from my employer of 40+ years, Central Carolina Technical College, in Sumter, SC. I have been the English Department Chair since 2000, a job I (sometimes affectionately) refer to as Herding Cats. I lost my first husband, Thomas Dabbs, to cancer in 2005. Our daughter, Lauren Renaud, is married, living in Columbia, and employed as a charge nurse at Providence Hospital. My grandchildren are currently dogs, but I do have a wonderful 18-year-old step-granddaughter, Cassidy, courtesy of my second husband, Randy Briley. We were married in May 2010, about nine months after we met online. He is the reason I wake up happy every day! Sarah McCanless Haarlow—Retired life is busy! My husband is retiring as Headmaster of Thomas Hart Academy at the end of this year so I look forward to spending some leisure time with him. I enjoyed visiting with Elizabeth Fisher, Susan Wilson Maxwell and Jo Angela Sasser Fierman, while in Salisbury, NC for our 45th high school reunion. Elizabeth lost her mother, Pearl Young Fisher, in Jan. 2014. We send our sympathy to her. Susan was an art major at Coker and continues to paint beautiful portraits and landscapes. Jo Angela lives in the quaint town of Madison Georgia and works in her husband’s law firm. It was great to go to high school and college with these three! Claude Wint’s daughter, Hunter, Just gave up her crown as the reigning 2013 Miss Hartsville. What an outstanding representative she was for Hartsville! We wish her well in her future endeavors. Janie Cleckley Campbell was nominated by the Coker students for Staff Person of the Year. Even though she did not win, she was so honored that the students appreciated the love and attention she shares with them on a daily basis in the Office of Residence Life. Janie does not really want to be compared to Mama Sue or Miss Marchete, but on the other hand, she does help students adjust to life at Coker and being away from home, so “housemother” may not be a misnomer! Janie is enjoying her grandchildren, Brycen (13), Tyler (11) and Mikayla (2). She and husband Sammy, who is retired, still enjoy old cars, old songs, and old friends..... W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Diane Roden Dinneny and Owen enjoyed an anniversary trip to Europe in 2013, which concluded with a week in Paris where the girls joined them. Megan is a recent college graduate and is on the job hunt as a graphic designer. Kate Lyn is the Children/Teen librarian in Florham Park. Diane and Owen live in Long Valley, New Jersey. Our class will have a reunion on April 10-11 in the spring of 2015. Hope to see you there!
1978
(Names listed from left to right) First Row: Myra Grayson Nuttall, Sarah Stubbs
Daniel Moses, former member of the Coker Singers, is back this season with the Jacksonville Symphony. He performed Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem” in October, Handle’s “Messiah” and Holiday Pops in December, and Verdi’s “Requiem” in February. He plans to appear with the symphony in November at the Met in New York City.
1979
Second Row: Anna Barnes Polston, Linda Laney Kitzak, Milton Gantt Third Row: Clarie Hudson Gaskins, Cynthia Gantt, Alice Bodenheimer Wilson Fourth Row: Phyllis Barrineau Baker, Fran Wells
1975 Miriam Anderson’s annual snowman Christmas card (drawn by Miriam) was a stocking which featured Jessika’s diploma and “teddy bear” grandsons, 2-year-old Cooper and 1-year-old Jake.
(Names listed from left to right)
Carlotta Johnson Wiggins and husband Johnny have a new daughter-in-law! Son Rob married Laura Stedman in April.
Beth Warr Schmid and Jeff Maddox
1983
Priscilla Corriher Weaver and her husband are at the helm of Landis Plumbing Supply in Landis, NC. Lauren is a cardiac nurse and Sara is a first grade teacher. The girls threw a 60th birthday party for Priscilla and Kathryn “Earle” O’Briant Binkley was one of the guests.
Greetings!
Reveley Wilson Thomy is president of the Lake City Community Theatre, treasurer of the Greater Lake City Artist Guild, and serves as a board member of the Lake City Concert Series. Grandsons Daniel (9) and Ryan (5), Will and Heather’s boys, are just one street over which enables Reveley and Greg to enjoy all the children’s activities. Daughter Mary Alice and her husband Justin are also in Lake City where Justin is a CVS pharmacist. Mary Alice is a soloist at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Columbia and works with the children’s choir programs. Jon lives in Columbia and works for Target. Susie Dunklin Guerry hosted an exchange student from China. She and Bert live in Hartsville. Bonnie Yon’s daughter, Cameran Eubanks, is a cast member of Bravo’s new reality show, Southern Charm, which is filmed in Charleston. Sarah Creech Vick and John live in Monroe, NC where John is a family practice physician and Sarah takes harp lessons, paints
Glenn D. Bridges, Class of 1983, has released his first book: Dreaming with the Angels – The Life of Jesus Told by God’s Special Agents. Published by Crossbooks (a division of Lifeway), it caters to young readers with a theme of God’s use of angels and dreams in foretelling, celebrating, warning and sharing the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of his Son, Jesus Christ. Bridges resides in the Bluffton/Hilton Head Island, SC area. Also, classmates—a message from Dean Art Hartzog. "Tell the Coker '79 and beyond classes I said hello. I joined that Facebook group. Such familiar names from long ago!" All the best to everyone and please keep in touch… Rose
1984 Dear Classmates, I look forward to seeing you this October 10-11 for our 30th reunion weekend. Alumni Weekend 2014 will be taking place the same weekend. We hope to have a "Happy Hour" set up for Friday evening and tailgating before the Saturday soccer game. Details for Saturday evening events to fol-
low. Please follow our Coker College Class of 1984 Reunion group on Facebook for more details. If you have any suggestions or requests for the reunion, please send them to us on the Facebook page. We would also like to extend an invitation to the classes surrounding ours to please come and join us in our celebration. So, mark your calendars and make plans to come to Hartsville to be a part of our 30th celebration. It promises to be a memorable occasion. Thank you, Michelle Wiscovitch King
1994 Greetings Class of ’94, I hope all is well with each of you. I am so grateful that we have Facebook to help us stay in touch; it lets me feel somewhat connected to friends even though we can’t talk regularly. That said, there are many of you not on social media, but we want to know how you are doing, too. Please send me an update and let me know how you are doing and what you are doing, so I can share it with the rest of our class in the next Commentary. I do have a few updates to share. Amoreena “Amo” Brewton is an Energy Consultant for Cenergistic—she works with K-12, colleges, government agencies, and hospitals to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. I think that is such an awesome opportunity. In her time away from work, she supports her two children in their varied endeavors. She commented that she could go on for pages about her children but our space is limited. Funny how as parents, we now understand that sentiment so well. Amo also said, “Love y'all! And Go Cobras!” Another person I heard from was April Herring Guerriero. She spends a great deal of time shuttling her precious children to baseball practice/games and swim practice/ meets. She stays home with the kids full time and has started a new hobby—running. She says running is “what keeps me sane.” April’s 9-year old daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, so she spends a lot of time managing that, helping other parents learn more about Type 1 Diabetes, and supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by fundraising every year. She and her family live in Florence, SC. Also in the Florence area is James “Jimmy” Stubbs. He is the Digital Services Librarian and webmaster at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library in Florence, SC and has just been published by Libraries Unlimited in "Teen Games Rule!: A Librarian's Guide to Platforms and Programs" where he contributed a chapter on traditional (i.e. non-video game) gaming in libraries. He also writes recreationally for several role-playing game companies—the most recent being Deus Ex Historica, a multi-generational book of superheroes for use with Green Ronin's Mutants & Masterminds game. He has also published fiction for Books to Go Now under a pseudonym. When he is not writing, he is reading whatever book or comic has struck his fancy. He acts like his writing is no big deal, but I think it is phenomenal that he is writing and getting published— and in multiple genres! I got an update from Jean Swindle, too. She is currently at the University of Alabama completing a doctorate in Instructional Leadership, but she was actually in Sao Paolo when she responded to my message because she had gone home to Paraguay for a week. After a stint with the Department of State, she remained in Paraguay
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I am married to Billy Frank Sowell who is retired from SCPRT. Our two children live close by. Our daughter lives across the road from us in Lancaster and our son lives next to our place on Lake Wateree. Angie, our daughter, has one son age 12. She is a teacher with the Lancaster County School District. Our son, John, has two daughters. His youngest daughter is age 9 and the older daughter is age 14 going on 40!!! John works for Grow Federal Credit Union out of Florida.
furniture, participates in church activities and enjoys time with her family and friends. Sarah is in the midst of wedding plans for Suzanna’s Christmas wedding! Suzanna is on her way to becoming a CPA and Jackson, her husband-to-be, is completing a graduate program in engineering. Allie teaches business classes at Parkview High School in Union County and has recently bought her first house.
ADVANCE where she has residency and returned to the US for doctoral studies after receiving the McNair Fellowship in 2011. All is great with Jean; she works with international schools and international education and LOVES what she is doing.
ADVANCE
I also heard from former classmate Shanna Simmeral Morgan. She and her husband Gary (who went to Coker as well) just celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Their son, Connor, just turned 11 years old. Shanna taught third grade for 13 years and has been serving as the literacy coach for grades 4-6 for the past 7 years; she is working at Manning Elementary in Manning, SC. She recently earned her administration degree. She is also very active in working with the youth in their church. It was wonderful to get the different updates from each of you. While we stay in touch via Facebook, there were many of these bits of information that I didn’t know already so I appreciate you sharing with me. If you didn’t get a chance to send me an update this time, please try to do so for the next issue. You can send me the info at any time and I’ll save it for the next newsletter from Coker. Speaking of Coker, if you haven’t been recently, I encourage you to visit or look at the campus changes online. There have been A LOT of amazing changes at Coker and it is continuing to grow! With much love and best wishes, Jennifer Spray Blankenship
2002 Vanessa Guzman Santiago—I recently bought a new home in Cocoa, FL; I'm in grad school for my Master of Public Administration degree; I work at the State Attorney's Office for a juvenile diversion program and coordinate the Brevard County Teen Court program. My husband is in the Army Reserves (deployed twice to Iraq) and my boys are ages 3 and 6. Juliette Maybay Vangalder—I am currently working as a veterinary emergency and critical care doctor in Decatur, GA. Reese, daughter, is 1 1/2 years! Jason, my husband, is working in administration at Emory Hospital, surgery department. Also, we just bought a new house and are expecting a baby boy in August 2014! Keri Martin Smith—I'm going on my 6th year as an Account Executive at WMBF News. I had my second son Oct 21, Samuel Smith. New Address: 3871 Myrtle Pointe Dr. Mbeach, SC 29577. Marielle Mcleod—I just finished my health care administration master'ss degree this past December. New Address: 1606 Ventura Place Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Stephanie Carwile- Murray—I am currently working as an Adult Protective Services Specialist for the State of Texas. Son Cole is 8 and son Reed is 3. Travis, my husband, owns Murray's Automotive in Shreveport Louisiana. Email address: stephanierodeo@ aol.com Shannon Brewer Marks—Shannon and her family have been out in Washington where her husband has been stationed for the last two years. The Army has sent them to live in some beautiful places; this month Shannon and her two boys, Lane (3) and Brock (15 months) will be joining her husband in Baumholder, Germany. Their contract is for three years, they are definitely looking forward to traveling Europe!
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2005 Classmates, attention needed! I was saddened that no one got the chance to send me any news this time around. If you are like me, I know that springtime can be extremely busy. I hope you are all well, and I hope to hear from you in the fall. I may have to resort to Facebook stalking! Okay, just kidding, but I would really like to get all of us re-connected. On my end, I have finished recording all eight original tracks for my album. Now, I have to wait on album artwork and marketing before we get a date for release! Curtis (’02) and our little one, Tori, are doing well. Remember to 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. Remember that I am in Birmingham, Alabama if you have trouble deciding which Jessica Lloyd to friend. Jessica (Brill) Lloyd
2009 As I sit here and reflect on graduations, friends and summer, I can't help but wonder where the time has gone! I don't know about everyone else, but five years has gone by in a flash! I would love to hear from all of you! Katelynne Pease (class of 2009) married Jeff McGinty May 16, 2014 in Florida. I hope you all have a safe and happy summer! Keep in touch and don't forget to share your news! Shannon
2010 Hey there Class of 2010!!! I hope this edition of the Commentary finds you all well. As your class representative, I look forward to staying in touch and finding out what is going on in fellow alum’s lives post-graduation. I was so excited with the feedback that I was able to get from everyone about what is going on in their lives, and if you know of anyone else who would be interested, please let them know to contact me at chad.daniels@sonoco.com. I will start things off, and I am currently living in Hartsville, SC. I work for Sonoco Products, where I have been a Customer Service Rep for the past 2.5 years. But I have recently began my career in sales, as I will be going through an informative and extensive training for their Consumer Division. Also working for Sonoco Products, Roddy Clark took on a position with the Credit & Collections team in March 2013. He is currently living in Chesterfield, SC, but is actively seeking an apartment in the Hartsville area. Tim Leland has also recently started a new job as a software developer for ACS Technologies in Florence, SC. Tim and his wife, Haley, just celebrated their two year wedding anniversary. Speaking of marriage, Kelley Gilbert is recently engaged to marry Thomas Horne in October 2014. Kelley also works with The Department of Social Services in Human Services. The talented Kaitlin Owens is also engaged to be married in summer 2014. Kaitlin is also staying busy with work and extracurricular activities. She surpassed her four year work anniversary with WonderWorks in Myrtle Beach, SC, as an Education Sales
Manager. Kaitlin also teaches dance at night, where she recently became partner with a local studio. She has not put the dancing shoes away, as she also enjoys performing in the local theatres, which reminds her of her days at Coker College. Amy Hall and Nathan Hansen were married in August 2013, and they now live happily together in Smithfield, NC. Upon graduation, Amy went on to get her master's in Forensic Psychology. This helped her land a position with Easterseals as a Mobile Crises Counselor. Not to be outdone, Ricky Rauch married his college sweetheart Melanie Futrell. The couple bought their first home together in 2013 in Ladson Village, SC, where they will be expecting their newest addition to their family in August 2014. The next Coker couple is Kyria Hoffman, who married Patrick Flynn. The duo bought a house in Columbia, SC, where they will move in April 2014. Kyria is currently working toward her master's in Clinical Psychology from Francis Marion University and looking forward to graduation in December 2014. The final Coker sweethearts that I heard back from was my former roommate, Forrest Batson and Kathryn Benedict. Upon graduation, Forrest and Kathryn moved to Florida, where they introduced their first child, Miles David Batson, to the world in February 2013. Forrest went into the field of taxes, which in turn required them to relocate to Charlotte, NC. Forrest is now the Southeast Regional Director for Taxation Solution INC. Also living in the Charlotte, NC area is Brittany Belton-Horton. Brittany was married in October 2013, and she is now a teacher at New Life Christian Academy. Brittany is expecting her first child October 2014. Shaun Howe currently lives in Florence, SC, but will be moving to Charleston, SC soon with his career with Enterprise RentA-Car. He is also staying well connected to the Coker family by working closely with the business department to get Phi Beta Lambda back on campus, as well as working with career services to help them build bigger and better career fairs on campus for current students. Tyler Edwards lives in Spartanburg, SC, where he is working for Formal D, a task force that problem-solves for overall defects and warranties for electrical components of BMW vehicles. Also living in Spartanburg, SC, Trevin Taber is working for the Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate as a Unit Director. Sara Johnson is living in Columbia, SC, where she is working on getting her PhD in Biological Sciences. Also in the Columbia area, Jordan Heydt is working for the Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity as their Donations Manager. Chad Austin is focused on his career with Canfor Southern Pine, where he is active with their safety committee. His next goal with Canfor is his teaching certification. Now living in Manning, SC, Mason Lee is an IT Support Technician for Clarendon Health System. Mason is working on his master's degree to become a speech-language pathologist to serve English- and Spanishspeaking patients or students. Also in the medical field, Prashant Bhenswala is in his third year of medical school in Charleston, SC. He is studying internal medicine, and hopes to begin his career in May 2015.
Education Administration and earned the “Outstanding Graduate Student” award for Spring 2014. She currently lives in Cullowhee, NC and serves as a Resident Director at Western Carolina University. Kyle Grant has moved back to his hometown of Centralia, where he is working in the special education department of Jordan Elementary School. Kyle also coaches the freshman football team. Jay Goldenberg has stayed very busy since departure from Coker. He started with golf down in Florida for a year, but then moved his talents to trading stocks for about six months. He then took an opportunity with an excavation company as their logistics coordinator. During this time, Jay was working on getting his commercial real estate license, which he was able to get and is now working for a real estate firm in Canada. Back in Hartsville, we have two soccer players who have come back to make a living in this great community. Benjamin “Beeze” Chastain is working for the City of Hartsville and Hartsville Community Development Foundation. He is the director of the Duke Energy Center for Innovation, where they support new technology company formation and development by linking innovators to business development resources and help with financing. Beeze recently proposed to his girlfriend, Rebecca, and is busy planning and taking care of their two dogs Reesie and Coker. He has also been working on his MBA, which he will complete in 2014. Ben Beetch also moved back to Hartsville in 2012. Ben lived in Ohio for a year, but realized that he missed the south too much. So he took a job in Greenville, SC, but wanted to continue his education and felt that returning to his Alma Mater was the right choice. Ben is currently working in the Marketing Department in growing and launching the master's programs, as well as earning his own master’s degree, which he will finish up in October 2014. Finishing up with the Class of 2010, I had to finish with one of the international students, Agne “AG” Stanciuskaite. After graduation, AG moved back to her home country of Lithuania. She lives in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she is a head manager at a specialized basketball and running store. She also works the scoring tables during basketball games of various leagues. AG still enjoys playing basketball and running competitions, and looks forward to the next phase of her life. It has been great to hear what is going on in everyone’s life post-graduation from Coker College, and I hope to hear back from more classmates in the Commentarys to come. Stay strong, stay positive, and hail to Coker College. Chad A. Daniels
2013 Please keep me up to date with your class news and changes in your life. For this newsletter, I heard from Jennifer Walker. She has a preliminary acceptance into the PACE program. So hopefully, she will be teaching by August. As you have news to share, please email me at jsmith@coker.edu. Thanks, Jessica Smith
After graduating from Coker, Jessica Barnes earned her master's in Higher W W W. C O K E R . E D U
CLASS REP DIRECTORY The following classes are in need of a class representative: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1966, 1967, 1975, 1993, 1998, 2011, and 2012. If you are interested, please call the alumni office at 1-800-65-COKER (26537) or 843-383-8082.
1938
Florence Houck Steele | PO Box 9005 Orangeburg, South Carolina 29116
1939
Connie Bell Hucks | 104 Cooper River Road Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29588 | (843) 6504790 | cokergrad@aol.com Lisa Sneed | ljsneed@coloniallife.com | (803) 331-2576
1940 1945
1977
1989
1961
1978
Pennie Cathey Peagler | 183 Royal Oaks Lane Lexington, South Carolina 29072 | (803) 926-8410 | penniepeagler@gmail.com
Sylvia Beard Seppala | 726 Loveville Road # 59 Vicki Smith Chaplin | 839 Bethlehem Road Hockessin, Delaware 19707 | Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | (302) 239-0641 | sylviabs@aol.com (843) 332-5998 | chaplins4@bellsouth.net
1962
Gabrielle (Gaby) Potier Morandiere | 300 East 54th Street #7-K New York, New York 10022 | (212) 832-7462 | gaby.morandiere@verizon.net
1963
Kay Elder Williams | 411 West Windward Landing Place Hampstead, North Carolina Katherine “Kat” Still Campbell | 295 Club 28443-2476 | (910) 270-0122 | Acres Orangeburg, South Carolina 29118 | (803) tapperkay@charter.net 534-6594
1947
Lee Blake Stevenson | PO Box 660 Beaufort, South Carolina 29901 | (843) 524-5860
1949
Lois Hatfield Anderson | 210 Saddlebrook Lane Hopkins, South Carolina 29061 | (803) 776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com Electa Anderson Small | 204 Lantana Circle Georgetown, South Carolina 29440-7278 | (803) 348-6748 | andee33@aol.com
1951
Betty Lee Gandy | 1201 Wisteria Drive Florence, South Carolina 29501 | (843) 662-2797
1952
Betty Lou McIntyre Barclay | 329 Lee Circle Dillon, South Carolina 29536 | (843) 774-6122 | Bbar830771@aol.com Frankie Nicholson Townsend | 201 Kinney Circle Bennettsville, South Carolina 29512 | (843) 479-9398
1953
Pat Chapman Huff | 507 Wilmar Avenue Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | (843) 332-3755 | pathuff1953@gmail.com Mitzi DuPre Matthews | 200 Juanita Drive Lexington, South Carolina 29072 | (803) 8088462 | bmatthews4@windstream.net
1954
Lois Hatfield Anderson | 210 Saddlebrook Lane Hopkins, South Carolina 29061 | (803) 776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com
1956
Peggy Cantey Gardner | PO Box 42 Manning, South Carolina 29102 | (803) 435-6862 Barbara Ward Mishoe | 154 South Main Greeleyville, South Carolina 29056 | (843) 426-2591 | Tnmishoe@ftc-I.Net
1957
Lynn Williams Oates | 3417 Oates Highway Lamar, South Carolina 29069 | (843) 332-3040 | lwoates@roadrunner.com
1958
Susan Holroyd Shumaker | 315 West Meade Drive Nashville, Tennessee 37205 | (615) 352-5732 |Susan.Shumaker@comcast.net
1959
Pat Crawford Fields | 1713 Scenic Valley Lane Knoxville, Tennessee 37922-7135 | (865) 675-3013 | jcfields@tds.net Holly Mims Westcott | (803) 514-2431 | hwestcott@atlanticbb.net
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Jane McCrackin Suchy | 5303 Bluff Road Mullins, South Carolina 29574 | (843) 464-7056 | suchysuchy@aol.com
1964
Naomi Kelley Jackson | 2302 Bay Road Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | naomijac@roadrunner.com Cameron Council Speth | 89 Jordan Road Strafford, Vermont 5072 | (802) 765-4899 | cece@speth.com
1965
Eleanor Powell Clark | 106 Arapaho Circle Darlington, South Carolina 29532 | (843) 395-2173
1968
Joni Lading Abernathy | 20037 Oak River Court S. Chesterfield, Virginia 23803 | (804) 590-1644 | jabernathyva@comcast.net
1969
1979
Debbie Schultz McLaren | 20184 Foothill Terrace Ashburn, Virginia 20147 | (703) 726-1190 | writerdeb11@aol.com
1980
Susan Weathersbee Dionne | 137 West Home Avenue Hartsville, South Carolina 295504123 | 843-639-2065 | d.susan93@yahoo.com Lee H. Hickman | 703 Beaty Street Conway, South Carolina 29526 | (843) 248-3925 | lhickman@sccoast.net
1981
Barbara A. Britton | 6716 St. Julian Way Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314 | (910) 860-7650 | jmb1jmb2@aol.com
1970
Harriett Wilkes Council | 252 Midway Road Whiteville, North Carolina 28472 | (910) 640-0958 | pixy59lj@hotmail.com Constable Craven | ccraven@uwalumni.com Jane Brown Riechmann | 2970 St. Johns Avenue Jacksonville, Florida 32205 | (904) 384-8650 | stjohnsjane@bellsouth.net
1971
Sarah Jo Wood Safrit | PO Box 388 Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-0388 | (252) 728-3213 | sarahjo@centurylink.net
1972
Janie Cleckley Campbell | 2045 East Carolina Avenue Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | (843) 332-1547 | jccampbell2@bellsouth.net Sarah McCanless Haarlow | 369 Brookwood Drive Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | (843) 816-4995 | SarahHaarlow@gmail.com Harriett Courtney Lemke | 411 Prestwood Drive Hartsville, South Carolina 29550-3629 | (843) 861-6005 | hlemke19@gmail.com
1973
Jane Clyburn | 1002 Starcliff Drive Lugoff, South Carolina 29078 | (803) 438-5638 | pjclyburn@att.net
1974
Pat Newman | (352) 792-3565 | pnewman224@yahoo.com
1976
1990
1983
Glenn Bridges | 18-F Old Sourth Court Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 | (843) 8154745 | daddydolphin@hargray.com
1984
Michelle Wiscovitch King | 400 Gandy Drive Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | (843) 8570084 | michaelbking@bellsouth.net
1985
2004
Selena Davis | 410 Emmary Street Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | selenacobras20@gmail.com Julia Kokemor | 202 Saint Nicholas St Luling, Louisiana 70070-5110 | jkokemor1@gmail.com
2005
Kathy Harsh Cunningham | 6004 Highmarket Street Georgetown, South Carolina 29440 | (843) 344-1492 | khc1224@aol.com
Jessica Brill Lloyd | 1241 Old Oak Road Birmingham, Alabama 35235 | smilerainmaker@aol.com
Amy Gibson | 6 Corby Court Columbia, South Carolina 29229 | (803) 462-9851 | algibson90@bellsouth.net
Jennifer Jackson | 200 Cedar Branch Road Loris, South Carolina 29569 | (843) 7564469 | jenmarie_john315@yahoo.com
Helen Mason Allen | 1823 Misty Vale Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28214 | (704) 575-1314 | helenm.allen@cms.k12.nc.us
Kristin Caswell | 141 Pacific Avenue Chapin, South Carolina 29036-7315 | (864) 241-8124 | kcaswell@vertixinc.com
Fredie Williams | PO Box 2734 Evans, Georgia 30809-2734 | fredie.williams@gmail.com
Daniell Johnson | nikkidaniell@gmail.com
1991
1992
1994
Jennifer Blankenship | 2977 Dance Drive Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | Dee Holt Zsembik | 1376 Hyde Park Drive Port (843) 332-9835 | blankcamp@aol.com Orange, Florida 32128 | (386)795-0544 | ddshouse@yahoo.com Dede Lawrence | dede_lawrence@yahoo.com
1982
Donna Craig | 801 Longbow Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 | Jen Baker Smith | 29 Long Lake Drive Bluffton, (704) 365-6763 | djcraig@bellsouth.net South Carolina 29910 | (843) 816-0125 Frankie Rhodes Watson | 117 Schooner Lane Columbia, South Carolina 29212 | (803) 312-1138 | frankiesapc@yahoo.com
Meg Quilty Liebe | 803 Washington Avenue Palmyra, New Jersey 8065
1995
Heather McConnell Buckelew | 1606 Duckhorn Street NW Concord, North Carolina 28027 | (704) 786-1857 | nj2sc2nc@ctc.net Sam Fryer III | 1610 Southwood Court Florence, South Carolina 29505-3195 | (843) 629-8372 | sfryer@fsd1.org
1996
Karol Lowery | klowery727@aol.com
1997
Regina Bacote Donithan | 5482 Rosehall Place Atlanta, Georgia 30349 | (404) 344-0692 | Tracie Johnson Paschal | 1111 West rbacote518@hotmail.com Roseneath Road Florence, South Carolina 295015745 | TraciePL@aol.com Alison Wood | 2400 Pine Haven Street Beaufort, South Carolina 29902-6042 Electa Anderson Small | 204 Lantana Circle Georgetown, South Carolina 294407278 | (803)348-6748 | andee33@aol.com Dean Legge | 808 South Poplar Avenue Andrews, South Carolina 29510-3032 | (843) 264-9398 | dean@dawgpost.com Teresa "Trigger" Martin | 133 Tall Oaks Drive Irmo, South Carolina 29063 | Sheila Trapp | 1343 Antioch Road Hartsville, 803-318-1413 | triggermartin@aol.com South Carolina 29551
1999
2006 2007
LaDrica Jones-Christian | 843-409-2841 | ladricaj@hotmail.com Shereza Middleton | 5145 Seymour Road Dalzell, South Carolina 29040-9144 | middleton26@yahoo.com
2008
Veronica Gallo-Bambery | 502 Cashua Street Darlington, South Carolina 29532 | veronicagallo@hotmail.com
2009
Shannon Bowers | 1814 Golden Street Newberry, South Carolina 29108-4472 | bowers.shannonc@yahoo.com
2010
Chad Daniels | 134 West Home Avenue Apartment C Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | | chad.daniels@sonoco.com
2013
Jessica Smith | 221 Taylor Hunt Road Patrick, South Carolina 29584 | jsmith@coker.edu
2014
Miesha White | 1706 Willis Drive Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 | Romiesha.white@gmail.com
1986
Susan Sweatt Robey | 1 Cobblestone Court Columbia, South Carolina 29229 | susansrobey@earthlink.net
1987
Cynthia Lee Hylton | 14405 Woodswalk Court Midlothian, Virginia 23112-2412 | (804) 519-6192 | hyltoncl@verizon.net
2000
Keelea R. LeJeune | keelealejeune@hotmail.com
2001
Roslynn Elom | 572 East McIver Road Florence, South Carolina 29506 | (843) 667-0502 | ravenrose3@aol.com
2002
Donna Farrell Mosser | 1003 Tamarack Drive North Augusta, South Carolina 29841Stephanie Carwile Murry | PO Box 299 9327 | (803) 640-5696 | dfmosser@comcast.net Panola, Texas 75685 | (318) 773-0133 | Stephanierodeo@aol.com Phyllis Atkinson Palmieri | 1819 New Market Blayke Turrubiartes | 1847 Arnold Drive Road Hartsville, South Carolina 29550-9303 Charlotte, North Carolina 28205 | (704) 535-1504 | blaykee@gmail.com Millicent Chewning Macchione | 3011 Stone Bridge Trail Conyers, Georgia 30094 | (770) 388Wes Daniels | 201 Chester Avenue Hartsville, 0067 | Millicentmacchione@yahoo.com South Carolina 29550 | (843) 616-2485 | wdaniels@coker.edu Lisa Bryant McDowell | 9 Alison Way Colum-
1988
2003
bia, South Carolina 29229 | (803) 699-7924 | lmcdowel@richland2.org
Emily Tupper | 5809 Yeary Road Plano, Texas 75093 | emilymarovich@yahoo.com
Mouse Belotti | 1118 Inverness Lane Hanahan, South Carolina 29410 | drb90@att.net
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Connie Bell Hucks | 104 Cooper River Road Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29588 | (843) 6504790 | cokergrad@aol.com
1960
Ann Matthews Bragdon | 1563 Johnsonville Highway Lake City, South Carolina 295606202 | (843) 389-4401 | wbragdon@ftc-i.net
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
Betty Williams
Dr. Pamela Gill Franklin
Dr. and Mrs. David W. Blackmon Karen Carpenter Mrs. Marie Daniels Dr. and Mrs. Paul F. Edinger Mrs. Marjorie S. Frazier Laurie Elizabeth Gregg Mrs. Cynthia E. Griggs Tamara B. Hoefer Lee and Tiletha Lane Mr. and Mrs. Art Maxwell Mrs. Sara S. Odom Mr. Richard A. Puffer Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein Ms. Jennifer Stark Ms. Betty H. Taylor Mr. James and Dr. Tracey Welborn Women's League of Hartsville
James and Lillie Gill
The following memorials were received January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Jane Elliot Bacot Beth DuBose Cottingham William Bragdon Ann Matthews Bragdon James Thomas Browne Mr. and Mrs. Sandy S. Strickland Eloise Browne
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald L.Lane, Jr
Beth DuBose Cottingham
James Lamar Caldwell, Jr.
Mrs. Margaret T. Chalmers Diane Roden Dinneny
Carlton (Dick) Buckle Joanne Cauthren Kim Chalmers
ADVANCE
Doug Chapman
Sophia Goyeneche Mr. Joseph A. Balotti
Tommy Graham Pat Huff Rev. Ed Griggs Pat Huff Barbara Griggs Joyce Bell
Pat Huff
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Mary Louise Antley Glesner
Mrs. Suzanne Currier Soderberg
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford A. Bellum, Jr.
Mrs. Barbara Roney Whittington
Mr. and Mrs. William W. Hall
Angela White
William Stevens Chew Ethel Lide Council
Mildred Abbott Currier '24 Dr. Elizabeth Davidson Patsy Maxwell Day
Katherine S. English Terry Flowers Sharon Moore
Sarah Sampson Bell Pat Huff Betty Jean Roberts Hunsinger Mitzi DuPre Matthews Jean Fore McDaniel Edward D. McDowell
Mr. Bill Hancock Dr. Bettie R. Horne Walter Earle Hayden Mrs. Lyn Murph Bartley Gus Hoffmeyer
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Pigg Dorothy B. Huber Pat Huff Martha Coker Ziegler Huntley
Martha Gunter Caldwell
Pat Huff
Ms. Judy B. Jacobs
Mrs. Myra Grayson Nuttall
Marcena Kellahan Tisdale
Marguerite A. Assey
Mr. William Jacob Williard Jacobs
Mr. Herman (Richard) Kellahan Lemyra Ward Kellahan
Almeda Maxwell Kelley Dr. James Lemke Jill Banks
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Black Jean S. Black Dr. and Mrs. David W. Blackmon Laura B. Boatwright Mr. Emile P. Boatwright Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Bogan III Mr. Robert T. Boland Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Brown Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bryant Mr. and Mrs. David W. Buckelew Burch, Oxner, Seale Col., CPA's, P.A. Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Drew Case Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Coker Dr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Connor Mrs. Barbara Connor Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Courtney, Jr. Mr. Wes Daniels Mr. and Mrs. John R. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Davis Mary Esther Denny
Mrs. E. O. Dukes Mr. and Mrs. C. Kirk Dunlap, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Andy Eaddy Jewell Clark Edwards Mr. and Mrs. Bruce P. Eide Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Fagan Jane Woodberry Fordham Meredith S. Gaffney Mr. and Mrs. Don W. Gaskins Mr. and Mrs. Don W. Gaskins Ann Henson Gettys Jean Grosser and Larry Merriman The Hartsville Country Club Mrs. H. Smith Holmes, Jr. Mrs. Jacquelyn Holmes Betty and Bruce Hood Betty A. Hood Mr. Ken Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Hupfer Mr. G. David Johnson Judy L. LaBauve Mrs. Trudy Lawton Mr. and Mrs. Curtis T. Lee Mr. and Mrs. Gary E. Mims Margaret and John Mullen Professor Melinda Norris Dr. Sara S. Odom Mr. and Mrs. C. Chandler Peel Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Puffer Mr. and Mrs. G. William Rauton, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard T Safrit, Jr. Mrs. Sarah B. Schwarz Mrs. Linda Shaw Jane Truett Theresa Truett Rogal Dr. and Mrs. Howard W. Tucker, Jr. Dr. Tracey T. Welborn Sara K Wilds Mrs. Shelli B. Wilson
IN MEMORIAM
LIBRARY
Information received January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Information received January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Carol Turner Atkinson ‘73 in the loss of her father
Tommy Bacon Eldridge ‘35 Vera Elizabeth Chisolm Taylor ‘36 Mary Idelle McLemore Davis ‘37 Marie Benbow Harvin McDuffie ‘38 Hope Tallevast Stalvey Godefroy ‘38 Lois Pack Hodge ‘41 Norma DuRant Pollitt ‘45 Mattie Dowling Browning ‘46 Louise Capel Stogner ‘47 Katherine Segars LeVeque ‘48 Doris Evelyn Avant Martin ‘48 Eugenia (Gene) Langdale ‘49 Mary Ann Moore Sugg ‘50 Emma Wates Lesto ‘50 Mary P. Coxe ‘51 Patricia Ann Jolly ‘54 Laura Graham Wood ‘54 Florence Goodyear ‘54 Rebecca Mithcell ‘54 Barbara Joyce Barton Toole ‘54 Susan Robinson Reed ‘59 Mary Lee Pattison ‘61 Jennie Turner Gustafson ‘63 Rose Roseveare ‘66 Almeda Maxwell Kelley ‘74 Mary Louise Nichols ‘77 Juanita Coleman McFarland ‘78 Patricia Gable Stubbs ‘80 Michael Leighton ‘81 Rodney Clifton Hardee ‘94 Thomas M. Graham, Jr. ‘96 Kenneth L. Lawhon ‘99 Kenneth Zeke Alford '81
The following gifts of books and/or media were given to the Charles W. and Joan S. Coker Library Information Technology Center January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Ernestine Cato Blakeney ‘50 in the loss of her husband, Robert L. Blakeney.
Sallie Bailey ‘90 in the loss of her father-in-law, Richard E. Bailey.
Doris Johnson Gray ‘51 in the loss of her husband, James Marion Gray.
Ellen Tollison Hayden ’68 in the loss of her husband, Walter Earle Hayden.
Camellia Chinnes Lane ‘59 in the loss of her husband, Keith Lane.
Harriett Courtney Lemke ‘72 in the loss of her husband, Dr. James Lemke.
Linda Cruise Pearson ‘65 in the loss of her son, Alex Dayton.
Ellen Harden Rogers ‘54 in the loss of her husband, Charles Nicholas Rogers Jr.
Christina Glover Wallerstein ‘71 in the loss of her mother, Phillippa D. Glover.
Alice Elizabeth Moore Weir ‘62 in the loss of her husband, Thomas Weir Jr.
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Sandy McKenzie
Mrs. Frances Humphries Price
Craig Mason Morisak
Lorena Cook James
Miss Isabel L. Smith
Dr. Cathleen Cuppett
Dr. and Mrs. Ben E. Woodward
Walter (Pat) Patrick Lib Bishop Tiller Sylvia Parks Price Mr. and Mrs. William K. Eaton, Jr. Caroline Reaves C. Nicholas "Nick" Rogers
Charles Nichlas Rogers, Jr. Willette Goult Smith James Robert (Robbie) Stokes, Jr. Virginia Medlin Stokes Sally Ann Stryker Jean Campbell Williamson Mary Ellen Williamson Sprawls Dr. Ken Wilmot Dr. Tracey T. Welborn
Emma Wates Lesto
SYMPATHY
Kearney R. Turner, Jr.
Lib Bishop Tiller Dr. Berry Litsey Dr. Tracey T. Welborn David Long Renee Gainey Sam and Betty Anne McAlpine Mr. and Mrs. Curt Griggs Brayton Cody Norton
Mr. Charlton Ford Mrs. Harriett Lemke Dr. Kevin Kenyon Mrs. Lisa Rix Ms. Brandy Roscoe Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein Mr. Michael Siegfried Ms. Hannah Vadakin
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
SCHOLARSHIPS & ENDOWMENT The following gifts to Scholarships & Endowments were received from January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Alice & Virgil Smith Piano Scholarship
Hartsville Music Study Club
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Winfield
Ann Ludlam Winfield 1944 Endowed Scholarship Ann Matthews Bragdon Endowed Scholarship
Ann Matthews Bragdon
Benji Blanton Endowed Scholarship
Mr. Randy Blanton
Mr. & Mrs. W. M. Timberlake
C. G. Timberlake Memorial Scholarship Chaty Hayes O'Neal 1946 Endowed Scholarship Mr. Thomas A. O'Neal, Jr.
Christine & Brent Weaver Endowed Scholarship
Mr. & Mrs. Brent Alan Weaver
Class of 1953 Endowed Scholarship
Mr. & Mrs. James F. Bell Mr. & Mrs. F. B. Bynum Charlie Hunt Chewning Pat Chapman Huff Betty Jean Roberts Hunsinger Toula Latto
Edith F. Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Wilhelm, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Byrd Drs. Frank & Pat Chapman Shirley Norton Coleman Mr. & Mrs. M. E. Danenburg Mr. & Mrs. Hazel Elliott Mr. & Mrs. Jerry K. Glesner Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Hammond Mr. & Mrs. Wendell A. Horton Mr. & Mrs. John D. Jackson Mr. & Mrs. Douglas A. James Linda Milam Law
Class of 1963 Endowed Scholarship Belinda Duckworth Copeland
Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship Diane Barber
HONORARIUMS
Mr. & Mrs. William McLean Judie S. Shiver Ms. Becky Sparrow Mr. & Mrs. Gus Speth, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Tomlinson
Dr. James Lemke Memorial Fund Dr. I. Jill Banks
Dr. & Mrs. Brooks Bannister Mr. Allen Black Ms. Jean S. Black Dr. & Mrs. David W. Blackmon Mr. & Mrs. E. P. Boatwright Ms. Laura B. Boatwright Mr. Robert A. Bogan, III Mr. Robert T. Boland Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Brown Mr. Jeffrey L. Bryant Mr. & Mrs. David W. Buckelew BURCH, OXNER, SEALE CO., CPA'S Mr. & Mrs. Sammy Campbell Caresouth Carolina Mr. & Mrs. Drew Case Mr. & Mrs. R. H. Coker Dr. & Mrs. Gregory S. Connor Mr. & Mrs. L. J. Courtney Mr. & Mrs. John Reid Davis Mr. Robert E. Davis Mary Esther Denny Bruce & Brianna Douglas Mrs. Anne E. Dukes Mr. & Mrs. Kirk Dunlap, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Andy Eaddy Mrs. Jewell C. Edwards Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Eide Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Fagan Ms. Elizabeth G. Felkel Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fordham Ms. Meredith S. Gaffney Ann Henson Gettys Hartsville Country Club, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Walt Harvey Mrs. Jacquelyn F. Holmes Mr. H. Smith Holmes, Jr. Mr. Bruce W. Hood Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Hupfer David G. Johnson Col. & Mrs. John Julian King Mrs. Judy L. Labauve Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Lawton III Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Lee Jean Grosser & Larry Merriman
Tracee Auman
Pat Huff
Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain
Wes Daniels
Matt Shores
Harriett Lemke
Beth DuBose Cottingham
Frank Bush
Will Carswell
Class of 1954 Class of 1962
Mrs. Ida Pace Storrs
Mr. John D. Roven
Mr. Richard A. Puffer
Class of 1974
2014 Commmunication Major/Minor Graduates Pat Dampier
Matt Shores
Mr. and Mrs. Wade H. Hicks III
Wes Daniels
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Tomlinson, Sr. Alice Adams Brown
Wes Daniels
Mr. and Mrs. Harris and Louise DeLoach Vicki and Andy Eaddy Naomi Kelley Jackson Tiletha Lane
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Mims Mrs. Margaret G. Mullen Ms. Melinda B. Norris Mr. & Mrs. Philip M. Odom Mr. & Mrs. Chandler Peel Mr. & Mrs. Richard Puffer George Rauton Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Safrit Mrs. Linda Shaw Mrs. Sarah B. Schwarz Jane Woodward Truett Dr. & Mrs. H. W. Tucker, Jr. Mr. James G. Welborn Sara K. Wilds Dr. John M. Williams, III Mrs. Shelli B. Wilson
Jean Grosser & Larry Merriman Mr. & Mrs. Jon Shannon
Dr. Lois R Gibson Book Endowment Mr. Jim Boden Edna Earle Poyner Endowed Scholarship Ann Bailey King Faye White Coan Endowed Scholarship
Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert F. Coan
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Lipe
Jacqueline Everington Jacobs Endowed Scholarship Rev. James Thomas & Eloise Browne Endowed Scholarship Lee & Tiletha Lane
St Luke Lutheran Church Mr. & Mrs. Sandy Strickland
Jean Campbell Williamson Endowed Scholarship Frances Segars Kelley
Mary Ellen Williamson Sprawls Dr. & Mrs. Ben E. Woodward
Dr & Mrs J Marshall Dent III Mr. & Mrs. Owen Dinneny Drs. Pamela & Kevin Franklin Carolyn Donati Johnson Susan Lellis
Joanne Moody Zobel 1949 Endowed Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Bud Zobel John M. Williams, Jr. Study Abroad Scholarship Ms. Darlene Small Kim Chalmers Art Travel Fund Mrs. Margaret T. Chalmers
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Puffer
BIRTHS
Jean Grosser and Larry Merriman
Information received January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
Wes Daniels
Matt Shores
George Lellis Harriett Lemke
Information received January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014.
David Liggett Trish Lunn
Lt. Col. Howard Calhoun & Eunice Ford Rogers Endowed Scholarship
Mrs. Nancy R. Reynolds
Dr. V. Glenn Chappell Dr. Shawn Lay
Mr. & Mrs. Kim Harrington Nan Carter Howard
Betty J. Robertson Coughlin
Mrs. Randolph W. Hope III
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Easterling Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein
Chevron Matching Gift Program
Linville Family Foundation Drs. Pamela & Kevin Franklin
Carolyn Donati Johnson
Ms. Darlene Small
Mr. & Mrs. George Coker
Dr. & Mrs. David W. Blackmon Ms Karen Carpenter Mrs. Marie Daniels Mrs. Marjorie S. Frazier Mr. & Mrs. Curt Griggs Tamara B. Hoefer Knights of Columbus Mr. & Mrs. Philip M. Odom Mr. & Mrs. Richard Puffer Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein Ms. Betty H. Taylor James G. Welborn Women's League of Hartsville
Malcolm C. & Jacqueline E. McLeod Doubles Endowed Scholarship Nancy Barrineau Endowed Sholarship Nancy Lynn Carter Nickey Brumbaugh Endowed Art Scholarship Randolph W. Hope Endowed Scholarship Rubinstein-Buchler Endowed Scholarship for International Studies Sparrow Scholars Program Steinway Piano Fund
ADVANCE
Student Emergency Fund
Study Abroad Scholarship Susan Coker Watson Endowed Scholarship Colonial Trust Company Sophia Goyeneche-Gray Memorial Fund
Brent Freeman Beasley ’02 and her husband Mark Beasley on the birth of their son Ellis on May 4, 2014.
Juanita DeVault McClerklin
Shirley McClerklin-Motley
Matt Shores
Mr. Henry C. Alewine, II
Connie Igleheart Brock
Ms. Tracey G. Biggers
Mr. and Mrs. Joe R. Spivey
Wes Daniels
Wes Daniels
Wes Daniels
Wes Daniels
Wes Daniels
Harriett Lemke
Danny Nicholson
Mrs. Mary Prescott Drs. George and Gayle Sawyer Erica Snyder
Chase Spivey
Charles and Betty Sullivan Steve Terry
Wes Daniels ’03 and his wife Lacey Daniels on the birth of their son, James Wilson Daniels on March 18, 2014. Jen Crocker Roberts ’05 and her husband Bran-
don Roberts ’04 on the birth of their daughter Josie Ann on May 8, 2014.
Hal Edwards and his wife Ashley on the birth of their twins Maxton and Macey born on March 6, 2014. SEND US BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN!
Jackson Tupper Emily Marovich Tupper Sara K. Wilds
Graham Woods
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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ADVANCE
KALMIA GARDENS DONATIONS
MEMORIALS
Information received January 1 - June 30, 2014.
Information received January 1 - June 30, 2014.
Dave Bailey Randall Ewing Stephen and Frances Jones Magnolia Garden Club Betty R. Herring Candy Holcombe Dr. and Mrs. Phil Kennedy Linville Family Foundation Bill and Rochelle Miller Suzy Moyd John and Trish Nielsen Sonoco Timothy and Liz Uhl Jane Wheeler
Dorothy Ann Adams
Eddie and Linda Drayton Ed and Tru Lawton Roy and Margaret McCall Chandler and Martha Peel Tom Rogers Carolyn Severance Mary Coker Teel
HONORARIUMS Information received January 1 - June 30, 2014.
Susie Beattie
Betty Hardaway Shelli Wilson
Leslie Bradshaw
Margaret Merkel
Eddie and Linda Drayton Rachel Flowers
Tommy Morrison
Dr. Ed Clark
Rose Marie Newsom
Anna Hungerpiller
Eddie and Linda Drayton
Dick Buckles
Terry Flowers Rick Gettys
Andy and Vickie Eaddy
Tammy Huskey Art and Darlene Maxwell The Jennifer Stark Family
Judy Jacobs
Larry and Virginia Gantt Candy Holcombe Barry and Lea Sanders Jim and Mary Lathan Steele
Sophia Jane Goyeneche-Gray
Willard Jacobs Jim Lemke
ADVANCE
Josh Loflin
Kalmia Garden Club
Eddie and Linda Drayton
Kyle Segars
Andy and Vickie Eaddy Larry and Virginia Gantt
Bobb E. Riggs
Kyle Segars
Adrienne Rogers
Anna Gore
Kyle Segars
Bobb E. Riggs
Kalmia Garden Club
Micheal Matthews
George Rogers Eddie and Linda Drayton
Wade and Mary Lutie Fletcher Rachel Flowers Ed and Tru Lawton Roy and Margaret McCall Chandler and Martha Peel Tom Rogers Carolyn Severance Mary Coker Teel
Rose Marie Newsom
Rose Marie Newsom
Sloan Brittain
Larry Merriman Bill Segars
Buzz Shaw
Ernest Sullivan
Thank you for all of your support on behalf of the faculty, staff and students.
T H E A N N UA L F U N D
THE GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY A gift to the Annual 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.
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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GIVING TO THE ANNUAL FUND PLEASE CONTACT: Johnna Shirley at jshirley@coker.edu or 8 43. 383. 8016
WEB E X TR A S To view our Annual Fund video visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
RECOGNITIONS • Aw a rd s & Reco g n it i o n s 20 14 2014 Coker College Alumni Association Special Recognition Award
2014 Coker College Distinguished Service Award
•
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
2013: P.L. “Roy” McCall, Jr. & Halee Polson ’13
Dr. George Sawyer, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens, pictured with wife, Gayle Sawyer '70.
Tommy Graham ’96 (presented posthumously to his wife Sharon).
“Alumni and friends of Coker College join with many in Hartsville and beyond who know and deeply appreciate the tremendous difference that Dr. Sawyer has made in our community and is still making by his legacy today.”
“He touched the lives of so many through his character, his faith and his music. Even during an overwhelming battle with cancer, he used his musical talents and training to uplift and inspire others.”
Sawyer joined the Coker College faculty in 1969 and served for 45 years. He also nurtured and tended Kalmia gardens for several years and helped found Trees for Tomorrow. He has advised the Streetscape Committee, Recreation Committee, Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, and Tourism Committee for the city of Hartsville, as well as the Cotton Trail in the Pee Dee region.
Graham earned a bachelor of music degree from Coker College in 1996. He was a trumpet soloist with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra. Graham served as a part-time music director for 20 years in the Pee Dee area and as a part-time music evangelist. He taught general music, chorus and band at Briggs Elementary.
Coker College’s Oldest Living Alum Celebrates 104 th Birthday Rebecca Field Henslee '31, Coker’s oldest living alum, celebrated her 104th birthday on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Ms. Henslee was born on June 7, 1910 in Dillon, SC. After graduation from Coker College in 1931 with degrees in both Latin and Music/ Piano, she furthered her studies in New York City and London earning a Master’s Degree in Music/Piano. Ms. Henslee served on the faculty of State College in Pennsylvannia for years before returning to teach piano to many students over the next 50+ years in Dillon. The 1942 Serpentine Yearbook of State College had this
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
2014: Pat Segars ’81 & Kaitlynn Jessup ’14
description of Ms. Henslee, “You'll find her friendly, yet quiet and retiring. An artist in the field of piano. She is a valuable member of the music faculty. She studied at the Eastman Conservatory. She has given some sparkling recitals.” It sounds as if Ms. Henslee has always been a great ambassador and supporter of Coker College. In fact, to make sure her support of Coker continues, Ms. Henslee established in May of 1999 the Rebecca Field Henslee Endowed Scholarship. She celebrated her 104th birthday with cake and ice cream and the company of friends and family.
WEB EXTRAS For more alumni awards visit coker.edu/alumniawards-recognitions
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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ADVANCE
George Sullivan created the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation in 1934 to perpetuate the values of his parents. The Foundation facilitates annual awards on 61 college and university campuses in the American South. Participating institutions may present the awards to graduating seniors, alumni or community members. The award is intended to recognize and honor selflessness, generosity of service, nobility of character, integrity and depth of spirituality.
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
With the DeLoach Center opening in August, we’re making some changes and giving you double the chances to reunite, tailgate, celebrate and cheer on the Cobras. In October, join us for a Fall Athletics Kickoff weekend featuring the Cobra Club Golf Tournament and alumni games. At Homecoming weekend, NOW IN FEBRUARY, come enjoy the new DeLoach Center for Homecoming Court, alumni awards, the Athletics Hall of Fame induction and more. For more details and registration information, please visit coker.edu/homecoming. We’ll see you there!
Friday October 10th • •
Friday february 27th
Cobra Club Golf Outing Friday night downtown social
•
SATURDAY October 11
th
• • •
Alumni games Alumni tailgate Milestone reunions
MONDAY October 12th •
Taste of Coker
Friday night downtown social
saturday february 28th • • • •
Homecoming court Alumni awards Athletics Hall of Fame induction Alumni tailgate
Student spotlight: Kristen Oliver on birds, biology, & chasing a lifelong dream A life of purpose: The legacy of Dr. Jim Lemke Introducing t...
