commentary t h e O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F co k e r coll e g e – h a r t s v ill e , s o u t h ca r olina
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coker.edu | cokercobras.com | facebook.com/cokercollege | youtube.com/cokercollege
COMMENTARY
downtown living
New apartment-style student housing
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Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s connec t
Wrestling Program
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learn
A New Era of Education ach i e v e
Leading by Example grow
Downtown Living e n gag e
Interning in Indonesia
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coker.edu | cokercobras.com facebook.com/cokercollege | youtube.com/cokercollege
STAFF A R t D i r e c t o r
Kyle Saverance ’06 Executive Director of Marketing & Communications ksaverance@coker.edu Ed i t o r s/C o n t r i b u t o r s
Graphic Designer
L aura Hoxworth
Norah Wofford ‘11
Content Manager & Writer lhoxworth@coker.edu
Publications & Web Designer nwofford@coker.edu videographer
Director of College Relations bsteadman@coker.edu
Seth Johnson ‘12
Chris Dougherty
Interactive Media Developer sjohnson@coker.edu
Manager of Athletic Media Relations cdougherty@coker.edu
President of the College
8
Winter 2013 | Vol. 41, No. 1
Barb Steadman
A M ESS AG E FRO M D R. Ro b e r t L . W YATT
By now most of you have heard about Redefining Ready, Coker’s new strategic plan; but if you are wondering what it really means, this issue of the Commentary is must-reading. It includes a collection of stories that shine a light not only on what your college will look like when the plan is fully implemented, but also on the remarkable progress we’ve already made. In just the past semester, for example, we have opened a new residential facility downtown, started our first NCAA Division II wrestling program and launched an initiative to become an All-Steinway School. But, for me, the single experience that best exemplified the special values that underpin Coker’s growth–tradition, loyalty, service and an ineffable drive for improvement–was what happened during the ribbon cutting celebration of the Wiggins School of Education. The excitement on that bright morning, exactly 100 years after Coker’s education program began, was palpable. It was plainly evident to all of us who were present–alumni, friends, family members, students, faculty and staff–that the work we are doing today builds on a foundation that was laid by colleagues past and will become a new foundation for current and future students for generations to come. This is the core of “Redefining Ready,” our plan to ensure that Coker College will continue to transform the ambitious goals of talented students and faculty into life-changing, institution-shaping real-world experiences. Sincerely,
The Commentary is the official magazine of Coker College and is published by the Office of Marketing & Communications.
Dr. Robert L. Wyatt
COKER COLLEGE Office of Marketing & Communications 300 East College Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550-3797 843.383.8000 | 843.383.8017
coker.edu
redefining ready:
destination 1500 Guiding Coker College through a period of unprecedented growth.
As a student-centered comprehensive college committed to its fundamental mission of graduating students with the ability to think analytically and creatively and to write and speak effectively, Coker College has determined a course that will strengthen its fabric, enrich the lives of its members and invest itself more deeply in the world beyond itself. Expanding from a core of rigorous academic pursuits and life-changing co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences, this plan will help Coker elevate its work in academia and in the region, sharpen its position in the market, attract more wellqualified students and ensure the sustainability of its operation. By 2015, some 1,500 enrolled students — perhaps as many as one thousand residential students and five hundred adult students — will be immersed a transformational experience that redefines not only their own futures but also educational excellence in America.
continued
Redefining the College Environment Coker College will promote a positive social and work environment that creates community to include students, faculty, staff and alumni.
PRIORITIES INCLUDE
› c ommunit y: Building traditions of pride and collaboration.
› P H ysica l and Fisca l W ellness: Strengthening compensation and lifeenhancing benefits.
› athle tic s: Igniting Cobra spirit on the field
and off.
› W ORK EN VIROnMENT: Nurturing collegiality, enthusiasm and devotion to the cause.
Redefining Academics Coker College will provide students with an excellent educational experience by joining all members of the Coker community in a circle of learning.
Redefining Our Position & Marketing Coker College will position itself for growth and be better recognized.
PRIORITIES INCLUDE
› fo u r y e a r pl a n: Establishing premier undergraduate experiences and Trans4mations, the heart of Coker’s renewed commitment to student-focused education.
› g row t h ce n t e r s: Strengthening our offerings in sciences, performing arts, business administration and education.
› g r ad uat e pro g r am s: Creating marketsensitive masters programs and new models of delivery.
PRIORITIES INCLUDE
› ma r k e ti n g: Working aggressively to increase visibility, enrollment and institutional support.
› e x pa n d e d R ecru it m e n t: Broadening our reach well beyond the Pee Dee Region.
› r a n ki n g s: Improving Coker’s position in U.S. News & World Report, NSSE, Princeton Review and other college guides.
› a l u m ni Su cce ss e s: Tracking, reporting and sharing Coker’s stories.
› ad u lt pro g r am s: Revitalizing evening programs to better serve the distinct career needs of adult learners.
Realizing our Shared Vision
{
One hundred years after it began, a Coker College education is recognized as a distinctive preparation that effectively equips students to achieve their personal aspirations and career ambitions.
}
}
we’re on our way please join us
Redefining Redefining Fiscal Well-Being Community & Infrastructure Engagement Coker College will achieve a fiscal environment that provides resources capable of supporting institutional excellence and growth.
PRIORITIES INCLUDE
› f iscal pl a n: Designing and implementing sustainable financial strategies to provide for Coker’s long-term growth and effectiveness.
› f aci liti e s pl a n: Developing a master plan that addresses needs in instructional technology and space, residential programs, wellness and athletics.
› r ecru it m e n t pl a n: Involving every
Coker College will constructively engage students, faculty, staff and alumni in the local and world community.
PRIORITIES INCLUDE
› c oker- Ha rt s ville Rel ationship:
Nurturing growth from the inside out and from the outside in, Coker College is determined to Redefine Ready. With investments in students and faculty, innovative programs and state-of-the-art facilities, by 2015 the Coker Experience will be recognized as a transformational experience that redefines educational excellence in America. There is much to be done, and we invite you to become involved. To support Coker’s efforts today, visit coker.edu/gifts or call 1-800-950-1908 or, locally, 843-383-8000.
Investing time, resources and talent in our local community.
› s t u d e n t t r av e l: Creating affordable opportunities to assure that every student benefits from a study-away or study-abroad experience.
WEB EXTR A S To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
campus unit in the sophisticated requirements of effective long-term enrollment management.
Coker College’s strategic plan, Redefining Ready, was painstakingly developed through the collaborative efforts of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Board of Trustees. Implementing it will require no less. Indeed, fundamentally dependent upon the earnest work of the constituent members who helped shape it, the unprecedented growth this plan directs may well feel frenzied at times. Seen from a distance, however, it will be a natural progression toward the worthy destiny we have already claimed.
CONNECT
Cok er Honor s For m er M en ’s B a sk e t b a l l Sta r s CONNECT
1987-88 team inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame
The Coker College Athletics Hall of Fame gained 18 new members this fall with the induction of an exceptional group of athletes: the 1987-88 Men’s Basketball team. On Oct. 6th, as a part of Coker Homecoming 2012, friends, family and fans gathered in Watson Theater for the official induction ceremony. Vice President of Athletics and Facilities Lynn Griffin and Coker President Robert Wyatt gave the presentation, which honored the inductees and recognized their significant contribution to Coker Athletics. “This is a special group of student-athletes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Griffin. “These men are the foundation of Coker basketball, and I am proud to have them join the Athletics Hall of Fame.” The 1987-88 season was a pivotal one in the history of Coker Athletics. It was the first for head coach Dan Schmotzer and the first time the men’s program
M e m b e r s o f t h e ’87-88 t e am i n c l u d e t h e f o l l ow i n g:
reached 20 wins in a season. Coker finished the year with the best record in school history at the time: 218. The team was a group of pioneers, paving the way for the success of future generations of Cobra basketball players. With the induction, these 18 players became the third full team to join the Athletics Hall of Fame. They joined the 1994 baseball team, inducted in 2010, and the 1998 softball team, inducted in 2011. The ceremony was also one of the highlights of this year’s Homecoming celebration. Coker Homecoming is a cherished tradition and one of the biggest events of the year, bringing together alumni, fans, family and friends of Coker for a full week of food, music, events and games. Other 2012 highlights included a victory for Men’s Soccer over Shorter University and the second annual K9-5K.
Dennis Woolfolk
Stephen Curl
Stephen Schulte
Darrell Johnson
Darryl Harrison
Mike Manning
Mark Garner
Scott James
Mike Martin
Russell Manley
Kenneth Nance
Ray Henry
Greg Dirst
David Ulrich
Eric Seiy
Larry Scott
Dan Schmotzer - Head Coach Kurt Wall - Assistant Coach Neil French - Manager
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercobras
Justin Towey ’97
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2012 Outstanding Young Alumni Award Justin Towey ’97, successful financial advisor and community leader, was presented with this year’s Alumni Association Young Alumni Award during Homecoming weekend in October. After receiving his B.A. in Sociology from Coker, Justin was designated as a Certified Investment Management Analyst by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He is now a Managing Director at HighTower Advisors, a leading financial services company. Justin is also a board member of the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund, which helps provide low-cost capital to
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community-based organizations and projects. He currently lives in New York with his wife, Kristi Hutchinson Towey ’98, and their two sons, Desmond (7th grade) and Jake (2nd grade). The Outstanding Young Alumni Award has been given every year since 1984 to a young graduate (within the past 20 years and/or 45 years of age or younger) who has shown professional success, personal development, community involvement and service to Coker College.
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Wrestling progr a m comes to Coker Coker College Athletics continues to grow with the announcement of another new intercollegiate sport: Men’s Wrestling. Following the recent additions of Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, and Men’s Volleyball, the new program will become the college’s 17th NCAA Division II sport. “Wrestling offers us the unique opportunity to offer a sport that has broad appeal in the Pee Dee region, yet is also wildly popular outside of South Carolina as well,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. “We look forward to adding another athletic program designed to help us meet the aggressive enrollment growth and diversity goals outlined in our strategic plan.” The Cobras’ wrestling team will operate as an independent program with no conference affiliation. Competition will begin in the 2013-14 academic year, with the first match slated for November 2013. But preparations for the new program’s first season are underway. After conducting a national search, Coker hired former Division II wrestler Cy Wainwright as the program’s first head coach. Cy brings several years of college-level coaching experience to the position, most recently serving as head coach for the wrestling program at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Cy received his master’s de-
gree in sports management from St. Cloud State in 2012. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to become the first head wrestling coach at Coker College,” Wainwright said. “Coker is a great place for students to achieve academic and athletic excellence, and I’m pleased to be part of a signature institution in a beautiful city with such a proud history. The addition of wrestling at Coker College is a testament to the growth and popularity of the sport in the Southeast. I look forward to building a great program at Coker College.” Cy’s wrestling background isn’t limited to coaching — he also has plenty of experience on the mat. Originally from Green Cove Spring, Fla., Cy attended Newberry College, where he was an accomplished wrestler at the Division II level. A two-time All-American and captain of his team for three years, in 2009 he won the national championship in his weight class and was runner-up for Division II wrestler of the year. “Cy understands how to build a program with quality student-athletes,” said vice president of athletics and facilities Lynn Griffin. “I have no doubt he will build a successful, winning program here at Coker.”
But it’s not just about bringing in more wins. Athletics officials are hopeful that the addition of Men’s Wrestling will give the college yet another opportunity to recruit well-rounded, quality student-athletes, which is a high priority for all of the athletic programs. Coker has a long tradition of graduating student-athletes who are successful both in athletics and academics. This year, the Academic Success Rate (ASR) for Coker College athletes (the percent of freshman student-athletes who earned a degree within six years) increased three points to 83 percent—six points higher than the national average. Coker had six sports score 83 percent or higher, with women’s volleyball and men’s cross country leading the way at 100 percent. The others were men’s golf (83), men’s soccer (89), softball (88) and women’s tennis (90). Overall, excitement is high and the outlook is promising for the future of Men’s Wrestling at Coker. “Bringing the sport of wrestling to Coker greatly advances the experience for our student-athletes,” said Griffin. “Wrestling has a wonderful tradition of being a competitive individual sport, and it’s one we feel will thrive on our campus and within the area.”
LyNN GRIFFIN NAMED V P OF ATHLETIC S AND FACILITIES Coker College Director of Athletics Lynn Griffin has been promoted to vice president of athletics and facilities. “In the two short years that Lynn has been part of the Coker-Hartsville community, she has exemplified leadership at every turn,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. “I am truly grateful that she has accepted this new responsibility.” During her tenure at Coker, Griffin has spearheaded the addition of four new sports—women’s golf, men’s lacrosse, men’s volleyball and women’s lacrosse. She also led the charge in Coker’s transition to the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). Also in May of this year, thanks to the efforts of Griffin
W W W. C OKER . E D U
and others on campus, Coker launched its first graduate program, a program leading to a Master of Science in college athletic administration that was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in January. Griffin was the instructor for the program’s first course. Griffin earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, a Master of Education from Tarleton State University and an Education Doctorate from North Central University. Her responsibilities include oversight of campus facilities and physical plant staff as well as Coker’s NCAA Division II athletic department with 15 intercollegiate teams.
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 ENTA RY
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CONNECT
Coker adds its 17th NCAA Division II sport
LEARN
LEARN
. A NEW ERA OF EDUCATION .
Opening of the Wiggins School of Education paves the way for enhanced teacher education at Coker Coker College celebrated an important milestone this year with the opening of the Betty C. and Joseph L. Wiggins School of Education—a major campus expansion and the first named school in Coker history. “As part of ‘Redefining Ready,’ the college’s strategic plan, the Wiggins School of Education will strengthen the college’s national position as a force for innovative teacher education and, at the same time, enhance our ability to serve teachers, students and children in the Pee Dee Region,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. The new school is housed at 207 East Carolina Avenue in the building previously occupied by the Hartsville Messenger. Renovations to the 6,400 square-foot building, designed and restored by Hartsville architect Bobby Goodson, were divided into two phases. Phase I, completed in September, included completely refurbishing the building’s office and meeting spaces. The college hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Sept. 24 to celebrate. “Here at Coker, we are taught to be advocates for children,” said Brittany Rivers, a senior early childhood education major at Coker. “This new facility will better prepare us to be great teachers and advocates. I know the Wiggins School of Education will continue to be a leading institution for helping to create well-educated teachers.” Phase II, which is slated for completion next summer, will include creating model classrooms that will serve as teaching labs for Coker’s education students. The addition is expected to strengthen Coker’s Education program and support the continuing growth of 8 | W INTER
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the college as a whole. “As part of the college’s plans for growth over the next five years, we believe the Betty C. and Joseph L. Wiggins School of Education will increase institutional visibility and position the college as a national leader in innovative teacher education,” said Coker Board of Trustees Chair Goz Segars. A gift of more than $1 million from the estate of Betty C. Wiggins enabled the project. Residents of Hartsville, Betty and Joe Wiggins were lifelong supporters of Coker College. Betty was a Trustee and received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Coker College in 2001. In 1986 she was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. She died in 2010. Joe had been president of the Hartsville Broadcasting Company Cable TV of Hartsville and owner, publisher and editor of The Hartsville Messenger. He received an honorary degree from Coker in 1987. He passed away in 2001. “Thanks to the Wiggins’ generosity, teacher education at Coker College now has a home that truly exemplifies excellence,” said Associate Professor of Education Susan D. Henderson, who directs the new school. “We are honored to be a part of the program and are determined to continue working closely with the college and community to develop the well-educated teacher—a legacy worthy of both the Wiggins and the college.” The new school comes during a period of growth for Coker’s education programs. Among the most recent developments is Coker’s participation in PULSE (Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence), an innovative public-private partnership involving the Darlington County School District, the South Carolina Governor’s
s u s a n D. h e n d e r s o n: C ha i r o f t h e D e pa r t m e n t o f Ed u cat i o n; A s s o c i at e P ro f e s s o r o f Ed u cat i o n; Co o r d i n at o r o f t h e G e n e r a l Ed u cat i o n M aj o r
School for Science and Mathematics, Coker College, Yale University’s Comer School Development Program and Sonoco. In conjunction with PULSE, Coker’s Department of Education is embracing James Comer’s internationally acclaimed system of child-centered reform. With construction on Phase II underway, students and faculty members are already enjoying the new space and looking forward to its completion. “The Wiggins building is an incredible gift to our program,” said Dr. Sara Odom, Professor of Education and Coordinator of the Elementary Education Program. “I love everything about our new look and enjoy the special feeling I get every time I enter its doors.”
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
W W W. C OKER . E D U
Before
Bell Tower renovation
If you’ve visited Coker lately, you may have noticed a certain campus landmark looking better than ever. The Bell Tower, as one of many recent campus improvements, has now been repaired and restored to its former glory. Built in 1914, the tower has long stood as one of the oldest and most beloved symbols of Coker College—but it was recently found in need of major repairs. After surveying the tower, Segars Construction added steel plates to reinforce the foundation, replaced rotting latticework with stronger material, added galvanized screws to tighten the joints, replaced the bell ropes and repainted the entire structure. The restorations were possible in part thanks to the class of 1972, who established a fund to help cover the cost of repairs. For anyone who wishes to contribute, the Bell Tower Fund is still accepting donations.
Af te r
With our contributions, we can help ensure that important traditions and symbols of Coker, such as the Bell Tower, will be appreciated by generations of Coker students to come. Please consider making a gift today. Gifts can be made online by visiting coker. edu/gifts. For more information, please contact Wes Daniels ’03 at wdaniels@coker. edu or 843.383.8178.
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Go online to read more class news: www.coker.edu/the-commentary
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class news •
Class reps are needed for the classes of: 1937, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1955, 1967, 1969, 2010, 2011 and 2012. If you are interested, please call the alumni office at 1-800-65-COKER (26537) or 843383-8062.
1938
Florence Houck Steele Post Office Box 9005 Orangeburg, SC 29116 803-460-7877 cell phone
1939
Connie Bell ’93 FJ 104 Cooper River Road Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 843-650-4791 | CokerGrad@aol.com Lisa Miller Sneed ’98 Dear Class of 1939: It has been such a pleasure to talk with so many of you. Thank you for permitting me to be your class representative. I finally got in touch with Janet Langston Jones who still lives in Conway but feels she is fading out. She keeps in touch with Eloise Hayes Smith. Martha Gunter Caldwell is doing very well and lives in Gastonia, NC. She still goes to church and exercise classes twice a week which help keep her walking. Martha has two sons in Charlotte, a son in Gastonia, and a daughter in Greensboro. She also has been blessed with six grandchildren. Martha has had some recent health issues but has new glasses, new hearing aid, and feels very fortunate. When I called Eloise Hayes Smith she was just returning from a trip to Myrtle Beach. She let me know that she was doing real well and can’t complain about a thing! Helen Moore Beam lives in Roanoke, VA and is still a very active person. Edna Johnson Kirkegard still lives in her home in Newberry and is doing fair. Evelyn Bagby Montgomery has a bit of arthritis in her hands but is doing well. Evelyn lives in Raleigh, NC; she has children in Raleigh and Winston Salem. The latest additions to the family are 3 ½ month old twin great granddaughters. I spoke to Ann, daughter of Anna Nettles Ray who let me know that her mother was now living in a nursing home in Columbus GA. News of Octavia “Ta” Moses Mahon comes from Marjorie “Margie” Brunk Nettles ’40 who lives down the hall; they share meals together at the same table. Helen Montague James visited with Margie and Ta recently; she still lives in her own home with around-the-clock nurses. Sometimes the three ride to church together in the church bus. I spoke with Eloise Hayes Smith again and she told me that she went to Charleston for parents’ week-end at the Citadel. Her son Hayes is an alum and while there she saw her grandson get his Citadel ring. It was a wonderful family week-end. Please write or call me with any news, address or phone number updates, or just a “hello”. Your classmates would simply love to hear from you. I wish each of you a bountiful Thanksgiving and a cheerful Christmas season. Again, a great big “thanks” for allowing me to serve as your class representative. And don’t forget to tell someone that you love them! Cordially, Connie
G at h e r e d & w r it t e n by cl a ss R e pr e se n tat i v e s
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tiful Thanksgiving and a joyous Christmas season. As always, a great big “thanks” for allowing me to serve as your class representative. And don’t forget to tell someone that you love them! Cordially, Connie
Dear Class of 1940:
1942
Connie Bell ’93 EV-FJ 104 Cooper River Road Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 843-650-4791 | CokerGrad@aol.com
It is with tears in my eyes, a broken heart, and a shattered life that I write this column. Herb Hucks, my husband, my best friend, my soul mate, and the love of my life passed away on June 13; the following week would have been our sixth anniversary. I cannot describe the loss, the pain, the void, the emptiness, and most of all the loneliness. I am very blessed for the time we had together, and I am so very thankful that I had the opportunity to say “goodbye” before pancreatic cancer took my Herbie away from me. I received a lovely card and note from Loree Harrington Gandy, and we planned to get together in August, but my schedule was altered and we couldn’t meet. Loree is still having trouble hearing, and we do hope to get together again soon. As usual, Frances Humphries Price and I chatted for quite a while. She is doing okay, but had a cold when we talked. Frances has no physical problems, and she still walks fast and gets a lot done. She also exercises four or five times a week. Her husband Hampton (98 years old) is “holding his own”, using a walker, and having physical therapy routinely. They still enjoy living at Springmoor in Raleigh. Katherine Jackson Barton still lives in Alabama near her family. I talked with Gladys McNeill Bellamy who says she is doing okay and still lives in her home in Conway. She has assistance, but gets around the house pretty well. When I spoke with Ruby Whittington Oliver, she had just returned from her doctor’s office and assured me that she is doing exceptionally well. Her little dog Choco sleeps a lot and Ruby still rocks him as much as possible. She still enjoys coming to Myrtle Beach often. Marjorie “Margie” Brunk Nettles said that she doesn’t get out much, but she still drives a little around town. Octavia “Ta” Moses Mahon ’39 lives down the hall and share meals together at the same table. Helen Montague James ’39 visited with Margie and Ta recently; she still lives in her own home with around-the-clock nurses. Sometimes the three ride to church together in the church bus. Frances Humphries Price told me that she sees Martha Jean Stevens Edwards ’52 often. Mary Luther Hudson just celebrated her 96th birthday. She still lives in her home in Salisbury and still crochets. The week I called her, she had gone to a block party on Sunday. Nell Godwin Morris recently celebrated her 94th birthday. Nell still has a broken leg and recently had a skin cancer removed. As usual, she stays busy with the Three Rivers Historical Society. Frances Humphries Price sent me a card and a beautiful note. Please call or write to me with your stories of Coker College. Perhaps you have visited the campus lately, and you could share with us the differences from your years as a student. I would love to hear from all of you. In December I will take my daughter Natalie and grandson Austin to Grand Turk Island for a week of relaxation and family fun. I trust that each of you will have a boun-
Fran Lambe (daughter of Ella Earle Busbee Benson) 675 Wedgewood Drive Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
1943
Selma Stogner LeHardy 415 Lakeshore Drive Hartsville, SC 29550 843-332-7952 Class co-rep needed
1945
Katherine Still Campbell 295 Club Acres Orangeburg, SC 29118 803-534-6594
1947
Lee Blake Stevenson Post Office Box 660 Beaufort SC 29901 843-524-5860 | Lbs26@islc.net
1948
Pat Hesse Hardison 1300 Queens Road, Unit 318 Charlotte, NC 28207 704-373-3056
1949
Electa Andeson Small ’85 204 Lantana Circle Georgetown, SC 29440-7278 803-348-6748 | andee33@aol.com Lois Hatfield Anderson ’54 210 Saddlebrook Lane Hopkins, SC 29061 803-776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com
1950
Velna Rollins Patrick 803-776-3046
1951
Betty Lee Jordan Gandy 1201 Wisteria Drive Florence, SC 29501 843-662-2797 Dear Friends, News is scarce this time for the Commentary. Hopefully I’ll do better next time. Most of you are probably aware by now of the sad
news from Doris Johnson Gray. Her daughter, Becky Gray, died May 30th after a courageous battle with cancer. Our love and sympathy are certainly with Doris and her family. I had a note from Betty Lou Mace Skinner. She is still in her home in Mt. Pleasant. Her daughter Jane lives near her and her son recently moved to Mt. Pleasant. Have two out of three near by is a good reason to cook say Betty Lou…I agree! Nothing like grocery store visits….Carolyn Huggins Kendall and I had one of those recently. She shared some of her experiences about her European trip. She enjoys traveling. Out for lunch one day I saw Elsie Vause Matthews and her two beautiful daughters Roxanna and Nanette having lunch. Mary Lou Nye Holley, Doris and I had a few days at the beach with our good friend Mary Johnson Bowie as our hostess. We always enjoy getting together, and we did miss Joan Snoddy Hoffmeyer who usually joins us. As always I’m reminding you to send your contribution to Coker College. Great things are happening there and we can all be proud of our Alma Mater. Love, Betty Lee
1952
Betty Lou McIntyre Barclay 329 Lee Circle Dillon, SC 29536 843-774-6122 | Bbar830771@aol.com Frances “Frankie” Nicholson Townsend 201 Kinney Circle Bennettsville, SC 29512 | 843-479-9398
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Pat Chapman Huff 507 Wilmar Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550 843-332-3755 | Phuff507@cs.com Mitzi DuPre Matthews 200 Juanita Drive Lexington, SC29072 803-808-8462 | Bmatthews4@windstream.net Dear Class of ’53, For several years now it has been customary at the college to have alumni return and share their Coker experiences with the freshman. Being a representative from the 1950’s, I visited fond memories and humorous stories about our class. For this event, Davidson Hall was pretty well filled. The students listened intently and judging by their laughter, enjoyed the tales of bygone days. I told them I had sat where they are sitting, 62 years ago, as a freshman and leaned how to set a proper table in a Manners course taught by the dean of students, Miss Helen Mills. When asked my favorite tradition, I told about the Beauty-Cutie contest always held in November and the excitement everyone experienced until the Christmas dance when the queens would be crowned. I had no problem recalling my favorite memory which was Sneak Weekend for the senior class at Myrtle Beach. It’s a wonder we didn’t get into trouble when we traded all of our leftover bacon, eggs, coffee, bread, etc. for candy and other snacks at a little country store on our way back to Coker. What a party we had on our return to campus. When asked what advice I would give to freshman, I put emphasis on studying and participation in activities but also making friendships and being loyal to the college after graduation. I used our class as an example and told them about the amazing relationships we still have. I wish all of you were near enough to meet monthly as Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger, Mitzi DuPre Matthews, Charlie Chewning and I are able to do. Occasionally others join us. In June we spent a week at Jean Fore McDaniel’s beach-house at Pawleys Island. Daphen Yarborough Edge came for an overnight visit. Mitzi and I attended Leadership Saturday in August at the college after the Alumni Board meeting and a delightful luncheon, there were class reunion and class representative meetings. Dr. Wyatt gave a glowing report on all the happenings at the college. You would truly be proud of the outstanding job he is doing and all that is taking place at the college under his leadership. Sometimes Charlie Chewning and I just get the urge to make some phone calls. We have talked with Betty Lou “Boo” Brown Stewart, Mary Frances Coker Johnson, Jean Stevens Edwards, Ina Jean Webster Godwin, Peggy Warren Smith, Everette Gause Stauffer, Sara Huggins Fowler and Barbara Lowery Mims. We have called more of you but didn’t reach you. We would love to hear from everyone. Give Mitzi, Charlie or me a call with news we could use in our Commentary letter. Sarah Sampson Bell is so diligent in calling and keeping us posted on her busy and interesting family. James has been somewhat under the weather but has improved. Jennie Herlong Boatwright and Phillips are living the “life of Riley”. They had just returned from a two-week excursion ending up in Jackson Hole, WY. She said Old Faithful was awesome and the thought about Anne Merck McDowell and Mickey when she was in Yellowstone. Anne and Mickey worked there two summers. Mitzi visited with Lois Ann Buddin Coker who promised that she would think about coming to the reunion in April. Please do, Lois An. It would be great to see you. Charlene Cottingham Yarborough ’79 and her daughter of our Sara Frances performed in the Steinway piano concert at the college recently. Her proud father Chuck and sister Kathy Cottingham McCallum ’81 were in
the audience. Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger’s brother Jack Lee passed away in August. Our sympathy is with her and her family. Betty Jean was busy with weddings as two granddaughters married during the summer. When Truey Tarbox Thieker didn’t respond or come to our mini reunion in April, we were puzzled. They always came. We learned later that they are now living in assisted living in Columbia. We send them our love. I had a long chat with Felicia Brown McElveen who recently received a pacemaker. We continue to think of her in the loss of Red in 2011. I talked to Daphen Yarborough Edge. Please remember and pray for her and A.J. as he is receiving radiation and chemo. Margaret Hewitt Hoffmeyer experienced a bad fall and went through rehab but is on the mend. We are excited about our reunion plans. Dr. and Mrs. Wyatt are hosting a drop in for our class at their home on Friday, April 12, 3-5 pm. That night at 7 we will have our catered dinner in the Hart House at Kalmia Gardens. Saturday all the activities will take place at the college and are planned by them. Our class of ’53 endowed scholarship total is nearing $27,000 with our sights set on reaching $30,000 by our reunion. We would be so proud to attain this awesome goal. With your help we think we can. Remember The Little Engine story? Please don’t forget to support the Annual Scholarship Fund. I counted 27 in our 50th reunion picture. Seven of those are no longer with us. That is all the more reason that I want all of us to really make every effort to come to this 60th reunion. It is the last one planned by the college. Let’s just see how many we can have at Coker on April 12-13th. You are such an important and precious member of the class of ’53 and I love you, Pat Chapman Huff
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Lois Hatfield Anderson 210 Saddlebrook Lane Hopkins, SC 29061 803-776-0926 | LHAnderson32@aol.com Dear ’54er, Well! Well! Nobody took the bait! There was NO news of our class in the last Commentary because NOT ONE had answered my plea in the previous Commentary to be in touch from your direction. You win! I lose! I’ve made a few calls to a few of our classmates and have thoroughly enjoyed brief visits via telephone. My number is still 803-776-0926, and I’ll look forward to hearing from some of the rest of you. Frances “Frank” Fowler Williams recently lost her beloved Lamont. Frank is doing well during this tough period and sends her love to all. Mary Ellen Williamson Sprawls went with about 50 of my friends and me on a recent cruise to the Caribbean. This group was made up primarily of retirees from the Woodmen of the World, the company for which my Charles worked for about 40 years. The weather was gorgeous --- the food was abundant and delicious --- and the fellowship couldn’t have been better! Mary Ellen looks wonderful, walks every day, is still quilting, and enjoys her family to the 9th degree. Her two sons and their families are in Florence and her grandchildren are involved in lots of good things. In spite of several days together, Mary Ellen and I just could not catch up. I talked briefly with Christine “Chris” Bates Mink. She’s having a really hard time with arthritis. There have been some joint replacements and surgical procedures that have kept her going. Al is doing well, but doesn’t hike anymore. Give them a call. They’d love to hear from you and they’ll give you updates on their family. The news from Rebecca Burroughs Mitchell made me sad. Her husband Bill told me that she is now a resident in an Alzheimer’s facility near their home. She stated that she would love to receive cards. Her address is 29 Hunters Lane, Hendersonville, NC, 28791-1679. Sit down now and pop a card in the mail! That would encourage Bill, too. Shirley Dobbins Middleton was on her way to a funeral when I caught her. She’s doing well and said, “hello” to all. I
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It seems that time just flies by and the older we get the faster it flies. We don’t hear from many of you so we will try to give you some information from a few of “THE SELECT FEW OF 52”. Frances “Frankie” Nicholson Townsend, Jane Woodward Truett and Betty Lou McIntyre Barclay attended the Appreciation Luncheon and workshop at Coker in August and enjoyed a very nice lunch and seeing fellow Coker Class Reporters. We heard speakers who gave interesting reports on current and future plans for the development of programs. I talked with Flora Collins Baker, Dorothy “Dot” Garrell Hanna, Jane Woodward Truett and Miriam “Tiggie” Hooks Benefield and they all said they were doing all right there wasn’t much to report. Some of us are doing better than others physically, but the opinion seems to be that we are glad to still be alive and functioning. It has been said that after the age of 70 it is patch up time—patch up this that and the other and keep on going. Flora did say that she was still kicking, but not very high. She was enjoying a visit from her grandchildren when I talked with her in October. Frankie reports that she often dog sits for her daughter, Ann Bowman, who is an umpire for tennis tournaments. She was an umpire at the Nationals in New York recently. This sounds like an exciting and has an interesting career. She also has a granddaughter who will be graduating from high school this year. She is a very good flutist and has enjoyed participating in musical camps, etc. during her school years. We were sorry to hear of the death of our classmate, Patsy Hughes Nelson. Patsy was living in Texas recently. Our family recently got a new dog, Nikaby, who has been a real joy and is so cute. We got him from Animal Rescue in Dillon when he weighed three pounds. He now weighs 15 and is the boss. I work part-time as Resource Manager for the Dillon County Historical Society and it is a very interesting job. We have the Dillon County Museum, The J. W. Dillon House Museum and the 4th floor of our beautifully restored court house is THE HALL OF HISTORY and was developed by the H.S. We enjoy having tours especially senor citizens visit. Shelley, our oldest daughter \works as a set designer/ decorator in NYC. Chris, youngest daughter, lives with me and keeps us busy. We enjoy yard sales and auctions. We belong to the Latta Presbyterian Church and look forward to being a part of the church activities. We extend our sympathy to Barbara Spears Baird in the death of her last brother, Vernon Spears. He had hoped to live to a 100, but died this past summer at the age of 97.
Take care of yourselves and let us hear from you. Remember to support Coker College Alumni Scholarship Fund, and keep up with all the plans for the future for our COKER! God bless us all. Betty Lou & Frankie
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hope to talk to her again soon. Marilyn Fairfax Glazebrook is still in Richmond, Virginia. One of her big volunteer activities (since she retired from her job at the Virginia Assembly) is answering the telephone at her church. We all know how valuable that service is! Marilyn says she doesn’t travel a whole lot anymore, but I’m hoping she’ll find her way to SC soon for a visit with me. We’ll get some other Coker folks together for a cup of coffee. Marilyn’s husband Bob passed away about four years ago. Her email address is Glazebrookbob@aol.com. I had a lovely rainy morning visit with Joan Griffin Burpee. She was in Tennessee where she lives about half the time. The rest of her time is spent in Tampa, Florida. She was focused that day on getting her fish pond repaired. We chatted about her children, her involvement in the arts in Tampa, and about her cat! She is in good health, still painting, still traveling, and sounds wonderful. We threatened to get together sometime soon. What a joy that would be! If you have access to email, send one to Joan at joanburpee@ msn.com. Joan told me that Joyce Barton Toole’s husband passed away about two years ago. Joyce is still living at the retirement center where she and her husband lived. I should have gotten an address for Joyce. Maybe some of you can help me. Miriam Powers Jordan and I have dinner together on the third Monday night of every school month. That’s when our local Woodmen of the World lodge meets, and we all enjoy a meal prepared by someone else. Miriam and Chubby are doing well. They, like the rest of us, have a few challenges brought on by the calendar, but, all in all they are fine. They are great grandparents now, with another one on the way. The Jordan’s sons and daughter live in the Columbia area with their families, so they get to see each other regularly. Miriam and Chubby are great cooks, and enjoy putting together a meal for the family bunch. They also “put together” the best peanut brittle I’ve ever tasted. Electa Anderson Small ’85 and Joe took me to Alaska for two weeks in May and June to celebrate my big 80th birthday. It was absolutely splendid!!! Weather was cold, and I wore the same fleece slacks over and over! Layers of clothing and an old fashioned knit hat on my very gray head. We went on a combination cruise and land trip and did some exciting things: float plane tour, whale watching tour, sea lion search, and my favorite – dog sledding. Can you imagine a trip like that at 80? Of all the trips I’ve taken (and, like many of you, I’ve done my share) this one ranked right at the top! It was not my first trip to Alaska --- I loved it years ago, and I loved it again. If you haven’t been to that magnificent place, you need to make a plan. Electa Anderson Small ’85 is serving her second year as president of the alumni association and is loving it. She has the opportunity to serve on Coker’s Board of Trustees, and that is a joyful experience for her. Joe’s job keeps him in Tulsa, OK, most of the time. Electa is at their home at Debordieu Colony helping Joe’s mom as she is a dialysis patient. Electa and I would love to see more participation from the Alumni around the world. Many of us have friends with whom we’ve lost touch, and if they are our Coker buddies, then now is the time to catch up with them. We’re hoping that every alum will be reached through the Commentary. If you know someone who has not had a printing of the newsletter from the College, please call me at 803-776-0926, or Dee Pierce at 1-800-652-6537 or 843-3838014, and make available the address and phone number for that alum. Bushes are being beaten, stones are being turned over, and a major search is underway for everyone who has been a Coker student. PLEASE HELP!! Speaking of HELP, I’m making a plea for every one of you to plan to come to our 60th reunion in 2014. That seems a long way off, but we know that, with blinking of the eyes, it will be upon us. I’ll be in touch, of course, before then, but this gives you a chance to set your plans in stone now. I’d really like some early ideas. Would you like to have a dinner the night before the official reunion day? Casual? Dressy? Slumber? Just say so!! Let me hear from you! Much love, Lois
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Peggy Cantey Gardner Post Office Box 42 Manning, SC 29102 803-435-6862 Barbara Ward Mishoe 154 South Main Street Greeleyville, SC 29056 843-426-2591 | tnmishoe@ftc-i.net News for Class of 1956: Greetings to all and here’s hoping that everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’m sorry that we didn’t have any news in the last 2 issues of the Commentary, but I didn’t have enough time to get it in. However, I have heard from a few of you and I’ll gladly share! I’m sorry to say there were only four of us who made it to the reunion last year. Lib Plowden Anderson, Della Revels Hartis, Maxine Locklear Amos, and I enjoyed a weekend in the dorm! Much has changed, but much is still the same. Wish more of you could have made it. Maybe next time???? Sylvia (Claudette) Lockee Taylor had planned to be at the reunion, but her husband fell backward on the dock at the lake and broke and fractured his back in several places. He was in a difficult brace and Sylvia didn’t feel she could leave him. Hope everything is all healed now! Sylvia sends the cutest emails which, of course, I enjoy. Polly Tedder Howle writes that she and Blaney have been happily married for 55 years, live in the same place and same town (Florence), and except for battling ovarian and breast cancer, she is terrific! Polly is still on the music staff at her church, Immanuel Baptist, where she plays for all services, and she and Blaney both sing in the Adult Choir. On August 5, 2012, she was asked to speak for her family in the ribbon cutting and dedication of a new elementary school, LUCY T. DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, off Hoffmeyer in Florence which was named for her sister, Lucy Tedder Davis ’45 (deceased). Her sister was older than Polly, but graduated from Coker top of the class. She also has a niece, Sandra Tedder Lee ’66. Polly was the youngest of eight children! She and Blaney have three beautiful daughters and four wonderful grandsons. Polly has bought herself a three wheel adult bike and is thoroughly enjoying it! She worked for Florence Public Schools for 42 years, and then helped to open a Charter School in Florence called CHOiCES where she worked with divergent learners and bad discipline problems for five years, but loved every minute of it! She also expressed her love for Coker and so many of her teachers there. I know what she means!! Elizabeth “Liz” Degenhardt Campanile let me know about her trip to Australia in the winter of 2011-2012 where she spent three months!! She visited her daughter Lisa, and son-in-law Giorgio, who are both there on a work assignment in Melbourne. Liz saw all the eastern coast of Australia and also saw New Zealand. She says it was quite an adventure and she loved every minute of it. Liz’s son, Paul, who works as a pharmacist at Duke was married to Gina, a nurse at Duke, in October, 2012, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Liz’s sisters, daughter, and son-in-law all flew in for the festivities! Liz’s plans were to go to Paris at the end of October, then to England in January. Then she plans a theater binge with a local college group—12 plays in 12 days. It is a full saturation for theater lovers with a few days to sight see. Classes are run for them with some of the actors and directors. She says it will be a great experience!! Liz is also President of the local Historical Society. They run many community programs as well as run a museum. She finds it satisfying work, but working with an all volunteer group is a challenge. Liz also took a southern trip last summer stopping by Greeleyville to see Neil and me and then on to Beaufort to visit another classmate, Peggy Rogers Neighbors, and then on to her sister’s in Atlanta. She says she is still trying to get used to being retired! Barbara Joyce Chambers and I also exchange emails quite often and I’m always glad to hear the news. Barbara’s husband, George, is 81 and had to give up driving about a year ago because of bad eyesight. However, the VA issued him a “thing” that looks like a TV with a large base. George
can put the paper, a magazine, pictures, etc. on the base, turn a knob and the print becomes large enough for him to see. They are really excited about that!! They see their son, Maxwell and his 9 year old daughter, Mary Maxwell who talks all the time, quite often. Maxwell is divorced, but has a friend. Their older granddaughter, Anna Edward, is 17 now and doing quite well. She is a senior this year and wants to major in psychology when she gets to college. She is the daughter of Barbara’s deceased daughter. Barbara talks to Christina Savvas Homer and Shep Porter Wallace periodically and emails Maxine Locklear Amos. Barbara is still actively involved in her many activities and loves it. She likes to stay busy and George cannot get around as much. However, he still delivers the papers at the hospital every Tuesday afternoon, and she takes him to the College BBQ where he gets something to eat and socializes. Way to go, Barbara! I exchange emails with Idalyn Stoll Brown, and keep up a little with Della Revels Hartis on Facebook. She is on the go! I talked with Lib Plowden Anderson who went to the Scandinavian countries last summer and stays active. I also talked with Joyce Johnston Utt who lives just off Hwy 501 between Conway and Myrtle Beach and has traveled to Louisiana recently to see a great grand. I talked with Anne Blake Townsend who is still in Wilmington, NC, when she isn’t visiting with one of her children. Neil and I are still in Greeleyville and stay quite busy feeding chickens, horses, etc. We like to watch our grandchildren play ball and participate in plays and other activities. They come to visit whenever possible.
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Lynn Williams Oates 3417 Oates Highway Lamar, SC 29069 843-332-3040 | lwoates@roadrunner.com Dear Class of ’57, Time for class news and I have none—AGAIN!!! Maybe because my email address has changed to: lwoates@roadrunner.com Now, send me some news!!! The only classmates I ever see are Ann Gay Blakeney Duvall and Almena Gainey Galloway. Ann Gay has retired from the Florence Library and is enjoying her retirement. Mena is still recovering from her husband’s death and a very bad fall—she is glad to finally be back home. I had 3 wonderful trips last Spring. I went to Holland/ Brussels, Turkey/Greece, and inland Alaska. Saw lots of awesome and interesting sights. Hope all of you are well and happy—let me hear something from somebody!! Love, Lynn
1958
Susan Holroyd Shumaker 315 West Meade Drive Nashville, TN 37205 615-352-5732 | susan.Shumaker@comcast.net Dear classmates: Can you believe it has been 55 years since we graduated? What an adventure we have all been on since then! Please come to our reunion April 12-13, 2013 on the campus of our beloved Coker. We have so very much to talk about. Linda Gause Connor and Hazel Johnson Nichols, our reunion co-chairmen, are working very hard to get everyone to come and share a perfectly wonderful weekend together. Hazel Johnson Nichols and her husband Jim had lunch with Linda Gause Connor and Neuman en route to North Myrtle Beach where they got together with Helen Kolb Chambless. Their condos were just a few blocks apart. Helen had just been with Betty Barnes Walpole and her sister Lucy and Lucy’s husband. Helen said that her kids called her the “migrant” worker. She doesn’t do housework, but she has an unending job of yard work at her home in Conway, her beach house, an empty lot at Murrell’s Inlet, and her home in Jacksonville, NC. Hazel Johnson Nichols and Jim timeshare regularly with family and friends. They have five grandchildren ages
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I am going on a cruise in February. I went to China a couple of years ago. I am fortunate to have two daughters who live just a half mile away and one just two hours away. No more baby sitting grandchildren as they are all grown! Four have graduated from college, two are in college. You will remember that one of my grandsons did not survive an auto accident 3 years ago and of course, that is still a heartache for our family. Otherwise, we are fine. I plan to be at the reunion, and hope to see a big group there!” Patricia Clark Jackson’s husband has been in a long term nursing facility since 2008. He has a rare form of Parkinson’s and Dementia, but fortunately he knows her and will smile on occasion. One of their grandchildren, Luke, age 15, contacted the bad kind of staph infection (MRSA) in August and spent 23 days in the hospital, but has recovered and is back in school. Of a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine in October to attend her niece’s wedding, she writes, it “was really nice and enjoyable. The weather was clear and chilly. We had fun being with family, hiking in Acadia National Park, sight-seeing and enjoying good seafood.” Elaine Johnson Hays lost her father in August at age 98. Her husband C. Frank Hays, III ’60 has been battling health issues, but seems to be getting along well at this point. James Lamar Caldwell, Jr., is excited to be growing, picking and eating his own home grown peaches. He has four varieties and they are all tasty. Their older son Steve flew in from Montana in April to spend a few days with them. His first trip home in many years. Their older daughter, Phyllis, and her daughter Kallie came from Iowa for a visit in June. Phyllis was there for a week but Kallie left after four days with a group from Charlotte for a two week trip to New Zealand and Australia. Kallie is now in her Junior year at Iowa State University. She had a perfect 4.0 average in her first two years there. She is very active in a number of organizations. Lucy Singletary Caldwell ’54 and Lamar spent the Summer doing yard work and are glad that Fall is finally here and they can coast a little. Suzanne Currier Soderberg succeeded in coordinating everyone’s schedules to plan a late spring visit to her son’s family in Dallas. Everyone enjoyed their family get-together. She was very busy with her garden last summer. Her daughter in Pennsylvania lives close enough to visit them and her granddaughter at 17 is now driving, and living 20 miles west of Philadelphia, makes Suzanne very anxious. Suzanne’s passion, as I spoke with her three weeks before the presidential election, is politics. She is glued to the Fox network about 8 hours daily, and optimistic about the outcome. Suzanne went to New York City for the dedication of the new World Trade Center and also visited the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum complex. Suzanne reported that Sarah Burgess Auman had been in the hospital but is doing better after a little set-back and sounded wonderful when they talked. She lost her sister to breast cancer last May. Suzanne was also in touch with Nora Ann James Smith and learned that she and her husband both just retired from teaching. Katie Thomason Ballenger’s biggest news is that Isam and she went to Nurnberg, Germany in September and were there until January 8, 2013. Isam was pastoring a small international English speaking church for those months. With email and Skype they were able to be in touch with family and friends much easier than when they first went there 47 years ago! “My, how things have changed!” Helen Lee Chapman’s husband died August 28, 2011 of pancreatic cancer. They predicted that he had 2 months but he lived for another year and a half. He was a fighter and an optimist. While Helen was ferrying him back and forth to MUSC in Charleston she began falling and had balance problems but ignored her problems while taking care of him. In January of 2011, MUSC diagnosed Helen with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). She is also an optimist and her mind is still very active. The doctors think her disease is a slow progressing one, so she is hoping! Her daughter is in Goose Creek (next trip at Christmas: Dec. 16 - Feb. 3). Other than having difficulty walking, she feels great so keep her in your prayers. “Hope you all have a great time together at the
reunion. Don’t think I will try to go. Tell everyone hello for me.” Patricia Anderson Hobbs became a greatgrandmother for the first time on Oct 7, 2012. Their grandson and wife had a beautiful baby girl named Summer Elizabeth Gulledge. At that time they were also expecting another great-granddaughter in January to their granddaughter and her husband. These cousins will enjoy growing up together. After joining Sumter’s Home Chapter NSDAR in 2005, Pat has had the privilege of serving as Regent and is now serving as Chaplain. This has been very interesting and rewarding to her. Margaret Segars Copeland is still working and says she will continue working forever. On February 1, 2013, 23 years earlier, she began working as a State Farm agent in Bishopville, SC. On a sad note, her husband, David, after 53 years of marriage, died suddenly at home February 13, 2012. She enjoys her work and everyone has been so supportive. Her daughter is a State Farm agent in Mount Airy and her son is a State Farm agent in Hartsville. She and David have four grandchildren. The oldest graduated with a B.S. in environmental and natural resources with a concentration in conservation biology and a minor in wildlife and fisheries biology. She is currently pursuing a M.S. in environmental studies and a master’s in public administration. Margaret told her she would be too old and overqualified to get a job. Her second grandchild is 14 and anxious to get a driver’s license. She has a grandchild 10 years old in the 5th grade and the youngest is 8 and in the 3rd grade and all are precious to her. She is a very proud grandmother. Joanne McFaddin O’Bryan has two children, both married. She has six grandchildren, three are engineers and one is a banker. She and Cecil spend most of their time doing their favorite thing which is traveling. Recently they went on a cruise on the Seine River and visited Normandy. They spend most of their summer in the mountains. Joanne is heading up our “Giving Campaign” for next year. Her goal is “100% Participation”, which is both reasonable and attainable. Please do your part and don’t let the class down. Martha Yarborough Truluck writes that she and her husband Mac “are doing very well for our ages.” They have eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild, with always a birthday, ballgame, graduation or wedding to attend. In October, Martha, Jenny and Elaine met in Florence for lunch and spent about three hours catching up on each other. They only left for fear of being charged rent for the booth if they stayed any longer. They do this about three times a year. What a wonderful tradition! Susan Holroyd Shumaker has taken over the responsibility of keeping us all informed as to what is presently going on in our lives. Please take a few minutes from time to time to drop a line or send an email. After serving as president of The Woman’s Club of Nashville for four years, I am still very much involved in all the activity that goes on there constantly. I am also in the church choir, play hand bells, attend Master Gardner and Perennial Plant Society activities, play golf on Tuesdays and teach bridge lessons. I have a new granddaughter, Charlotte, born March 30, 2012. Her sister, Michelle, is nine and in the 4th grade. I hope to see all our class members at our class reunion on April 12th. Love, Susan
1959
Pat Crawford Fields 1713 Scenic Valley Lane Knoxville, TN 37922 865-675-3013 | JCF97@prodigy.net Holly Mims Westcott 615-673-7949 | hmwestcott@att.net Many of us have turned 75 in the past year, including Katie Huggins Hennecy who had that special birthday on August 20. Daughter Julie, who lives in Charlotte, hosted a celebration for her and her Coker buddies that all enjoyed.
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four to 28. They recently visited Washington, toured the White House, and Hazel saw the “first dog”, Bo. Linda Gause Connor writes that her oldest granddaughter (14) is attending the University of North Carolina School for the Arts in Winston Salem. She started in August and appears to love it there. She is a classical ballet dancer and apparently the only one from SC. Her sister (age 3) just started taking ballet lessons. “Who would have believed that I would have a grandchild who would be a dancer judging from my lack of skill in dancing at Coker?” Linda stays busy volunteering with a group from her church to have birthday parties at Epworth Children’s home in Columbia. She is also an instructor for Driver Safety Classes sponsored by the AARP. More recently she has begun tutoring students in AP Chemistry. Yvonne Raftelis Miller and Tom have recently moved from Mooresville, NC to Davidson, NC. Yvonne does quilling as a craft and periodically exhibits her work at art shows near Murrell’s Inlet, SC. She has been doing this craft for many years. Quilling is an art form of paper rolling. Connie Booker Moe and Don have been traveling a lot. Connie writes: “Last year was a year of travel to celebrate 50 years of marriage. We enjoyed seeing Beth Owens up in New York on our way to Toronto, Canada....which was on our way to the west coast! We ended the year with a delightful cruise to Hawaii. We’ve recently returned from a cruise up to New England and Canada on the St Lawrence to Quebec.” Connie is very involved with church activities which include an exercise class twice a week. She still plays bridge with a neighborhood group and is on a foundation board to raise money for incarcerated women to take college courses. Her three wonderful grandchildren ages 5, 7, and 9 live close enough to see them often. Mary Harvey Holmes enjoys her life as a retired Georgia educator, having taught 34 years in metro Atlanta, Tampa Florida, and Newman Georgia. at the junior high level. She has been divorced for many years and continues to have a pleasant relationship with two of her step-children, Mark and Leigh, and Leigh’s daughter, Valerie, who is 34 and very successful in her career. Mary is in good health and enjoys an active life style. Virginia Blakeney Case has two children, Ray and Melissa. Ray has three boys, 14, 11 and 7. He coaches soccer and works in computers for Comcast setting up what you get to watch. Melissa is a veterinarian in Berlin, NJ, and has a daughter Molly, who at 10, is almost as tall as Virginia, having a father that is 6’4” tall. Her husband Del is still doing computer stuff and keeps five going all the time. Virginia has an ASUS tablet that is driving her crazy. Betty Barnes Walpole is still living in Spartanburg, SC, but after her wonderful Ed died four years ago, moved to a smaller home to be nearer her daughter, son-in-law, and four grandchildren. She counts it a blessing to live so close to them. Betty and Mary Kay Rickenbaker spent a few days visiting Peggy Stogner Nelson recently. Peggy took them to a wonderful pottery center in NC that she described as “Fascinating!” Betty still enjoys gardening, especially her roses, which bring her joy in sharing with others. She now has more time for reading good books and attributes that as “one of the gifts of getting older“. “I am looking forward to being at our 55th reunion. Hope to see lots of you classmates there!!!!” Annette Cooke Stokes has an upbeat report: She has a three-month reprieve from treatments. Her PET scan in August showed no cancer except in her thyroid and that was benign. She was still fighting lung infections in both lungs as a result of chemo and radiation treatments. Hopefully her next PET scan will show that “Mr. C” is still in retreat. Annette is resuming activities like scholarship for the Women’s Club, trying to play some bridge, keeping the mind active and staying positive! Mary Kay Rickenbaker writes: “I seem to always be busy. At one time in my life I could multi-task – that was before I knew what the word was! Now it is difficult to keep up with two things!! I live in a community that is very social, so I am having a good time. I travel a lot, but not very far lately.
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In December, Faye Gurley Reynolds’ daughter-in-law Heidi will entertain the same group in Rock Hill, the fourth year of what has become an annual celebration. In addition to Faye and Katie, Heidi can expect to see Elizabeth Whittle Baxter, Barbara Dibble Dixon, Doris Kirk Miller, Bonnie Cone Sawyer, and Barbara Roney Whittington. This group has fun all year long, but I can attest that it’s not an exclusive group as I have crashed their events on occasion. Four of them, Faye, Bonnie, Doris and Elizabeth, are preparing for an October journey to New England to see the leaves. Some are reaching landmarks other than that significant birthday. Molly Creadick Gray and Pete extended the celebration of their fiftieth anniversary last October by returning this past summer to the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA, where they had spent their honeymoon. This time, daughter Lynne and granddaughter Claire (now a teenager who happily remains in remission from leukemia) joined them. One adventure of the vacation was Molly’s ride on a Segway (two wheeled contraption with a post topped by handlebars). Halfway into her journey following a gravel path around the mountain, she took a tumble, fortunately with head protected by helmet, then picked herself up and completed the trip. A visit to a nearby emergency room showed no broken bones, but she did require stitches in her elbow. Sharon Bennett Gregory is happy to have a granddaughter, Emmy, born on April 19 to daughter Gracen. With two grandsons, that makes three grandchildren. A lesser but still important achievement of this past summer was clearing her garage of the boxes of things that had been her mother’s, with help from daughter Kristen. Having embarked on some cleaning of this sort and being faced by much more before we move to Aiken, SC, sometime in 2013, I know the sense of relief such sorting through and clearing out brings. Tricia Fisher Williams’ landmark event may be the demolition of her old swimming pool and the building of a new one, opened in time for an Easter celebration with children and grandchildren. Tricia, probably the only one of us to graduate with an art major, continues to practice her talent on occasion, for example, by painting a 20-foot mural for one daughter’s “country chic” wedding. A more recent project is knitting afghans for family members. Tricia is way ahead of us in progeny numbers: Her tenth great-grandchild, Peyton Lynn, was born in June. At least two ’59ers are connected to notable achievers. You may have seen the movie of the best selling novel The Help and may even have noted that the director of this major motion picture was Tate Taylor. He happens to be the greatnephew of Bubber Dixon, husband of our own Barbara Dibble Dixon. Gene Warr, the attorney son of Preston and , is the new chair of the Board of Trustees at the University of South Carolina, a weighty and challenging position. Mary Holmes Burkett has mastered the art of traveling cheaply. She and her travel buddy took a March cruise covering many exotic ports for less than $1,000 each. After three days in Genoa, Italy, they boarded the ship and “ate, swam, danced, drank, and ate” for eighteen days. During that time, they also enjoyed sightseeing excursions in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Dubai. Mary also made several California visits to visit daughter Laine and family (in Carlsbad, near San Diego) and son Mike (in San Francisco). This summer, she and Mike visited Burkett family in Ohio, then eighteen Burketts travelled to the Isle of Palms for their annual Burkett Beach Bash in August, during which granddaughters Morgan and Cheryl came from California to stay with Mary. Mary’s daughter Laine is a horse trainer, so it’s no surprise that Morgan was Reserve Champion in her division in a horse show in Norco, CA. Shirley Land Lupfer and husband Mike are also avid travelers. Shirley’s birthday gift from Mike was an April trip to Dubrovnik and Venice, “both magical places.” Then, to escape Memphis heat and humidity, they spent a week this summer in Glacier National Park in Montana. In November, they will meet British friends in London, then go to Berlin and Prague with son Eric and his wife Victoria. February will bring an educational trip to Cuba with the Grand Circle Foundation Shirley gives Mike the credit for organizing their travel, and Pat Crawford Fields also says that Jim is trip organizer par excellence. This year’s spring trip covered Amsterdam,
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Brussels, and Liege, then in early fall their New England excursion included Boston, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park. Brian and Michele continue to teach at the University of Illinois, but Karen, Matt, and the two grandchildren have moved to Greenville, SC, and are building a house there, so SC will doubtless be the object of many future visits. At least two of us continue to enjoy working. Anne Davis Glass once again proposed to her department chair at Austin Peay University that she retire and was immediately asked “What ever for?” She teaches piano at APU and accompanies individuals and choral groups. Cynthia Sullivan Anzolut and husband Dick manage and produce sports events on the East Coast, mainly golf, but also have a minor league pro basketball team that keeps them busy every day. Faye Gurley Reynolds’ writes “First, thank you Holly for your diligence in writing our class news. Of course, you cannot do that if we do not tell you anything. In March, a few of us spent a few days with Elizabeth in her lovely condo in Wild Dunes. From there I went to Bonnie’s and went with her church seniors to “Senior Follies” at Anderson University. In April, Bonnie had us for the day at her home. In May, Elizabeth and I went on a week’s bus trip to the Outer Banks and had a great time. In June, we had a tragic death of my beloved 20 year old nephew. In August, Katie’s daughter, Julie, had the 7 of us to her lovely home in Charlotte for a beautiful and delicious luncheon to celebrate Katie’s 75th. In September Roney hosted a fine picnic at Saluda Shoals (an annual event for us). In October, Elizabeth, Bonnie, Doris and I will board a bus for a 10-day trip to New England. In December, my daughter-in-law Heidi will host a luncheon for the 7 of us Cokernuts. This will be the fourth year that she has done this. The first year, my youngest grandson said, “This is like having a bunch of grandmothers.” He loves them all and loves to help his mom prepare and then serve us. Other than that, my family is all well. My oldest grandchild is in 3rd year at Clemson (nursing) and loves it. My oldest grandson is in 2nd year at Anderson University and loves it. The other 3 grandchildren are doing great.” Some events of the year brought sadness. Faye lost a beloved nephew and my two-years-younger sister Jeannie died in early September. Such losses are painful, but the support of family and friends helps us through them. If you sent news for this Commentary, we appreciate it! And if you didn’t---you’ll have a chance when Pat collects news for the next one. Do keep both of us informed of what’s going on with you!
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Ann Matthews Bragdon 1563 Johnsonville Highway Lake City, SC 29560-6202 843-389-4401 | wbragdon@ftc-i.net
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Sylvia Beard Seppala 2271 Brackenville Road Hockessin, DE 19707 302-239-0641 | sylviabs@aol.com Regina Swygert-Smith 5206 Main Street Stephens City, VA 22655-2632 540-868-1055 | randm@bilbroughterriers.com
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Gabrielle (Gaby) Morandiere 300 East 54th Street #7-K New York, NY 10022 212-832-7462 | gaby.morandiere@verizon.net Dear Classmates: As usual, the news of our classmates is listed in alphabetical order by the last names we used while students. Please keep me posted on contact information changes, your news and that of other classmates. And remember that Coker can always use our donations for it’s scholarship funds and for a million other projects. Unfortunately we lost our dear always-“Happy”, Harriet Burnside Richmond on September 8, 2012. She had been affected by Alzheimer’s disease and lived in a wonderful
nursing home in Columbia for the last few years. Those attending our 45th reunion five years ago were able to see Happy then. So many classmates have emailed lovely messages sharing fond memories. Linda Abbott Johnson brought her grandson, Buddy, 13, to visit New York City in early June and they had a wonderful, very busy time. Sara Anderson Kummer and her sister, Charlotte Anderson Ross ‘60, spent two weeks in Washington state, visiting fellow Coker-nut Sally Bahous Allen ’60 and husband Delmas near Seattle, then visited the San Juan Islands and drove around the Olympic Peninsula. Sara nearly decided to move there - beautiful! By the time everyone reads this Sara hopes to have a third grandchild - a little boy to be born on October 18 to daughter Anne Wells and husband Dave. Big sister Katherine is very excited! “Amah” (Sara) is equally thrilled. Charlotte and Sara are taking three of their granddaughters to Venice, Florence and Rome over Thanksgiving. It is a 9 day trip to give them a taste of international travel. Mothers and some cousins of the girls are going too. Sara loved seeing everyone at our reunion. Margaret Aull Werts and Bo celebrated their 50th anniversary in June by going to Canada. They enjoyed the beautiful scenery on a three-day train tour through the Canadian Rockies and then they traveled across Canada by train. Later there was a family vacation at the beach. 18 children, husbands and grandchildren were there. It was wild but fun. Peggy hopes to make it to our next reunion! Mary Bell Kittle and Joe have enjoyed their Virginia mountain retreat all summer. They just returned from an annual trip to Nags Head where they meet with good friends. Joe has been involved with a group of musicians playing the banjo and singing with at assorted nursing homes. He does this in San Antonio too, at homeless shelters. They are currently expecting a lot of visitors before closing up their country house for the winter and to head back home to San Antonio. Sherrie Berry Wolski and Pat have been enjoying a summer with bumper crops of all sorts of vegetables. Sherrie has been successful at scaring off all sorts of nibbling creatures by winding all sorts of sparkly silver and gold decorations around the outer sides of the garden and it works. Her favorite time of year is Halloween and their yard and house are decorated with all sorts of scary and haunting items. Children come from near and far on October 31st. Gayle Brandt Faust tutors 2 second grade girls at a school for 30 minutes each. This is arranged by the United Way Reading Consortium. Gayle was able to start tutoring last January, thinking this would be a good way to continue to use her education background. She also plays bridge with two different groups, enjoys Bible Study and watching sonScott’s kickball games. For the month of October Gayle and a friend are attending mini-med school classes at the medical school. She hopes to be a doctor when it is over. Gayle and a friend rode by Ida Pace Storrs’ recently. Ida looks really well and seems to feel better than Gayle has seen in a while. They had a good visit on her wonderful front porch. Archie, the dog, enjoys visitors too. Ida went to the State Museum to see the Titanic exhibit and said the walking around did her good. Henrietta Ramsey van Arsdall had whooping cough this summer, but seems to be recuperating. She and neighbors are planning another neighborhood “eat in the street” at the end of October, where friends are invited to come and bring delicious nibbles to share. Peggy Brown Buchanan and John are attending a reunion of retired bishops and spouses in Phoenix and really enjoying it. John continues his part-time ministry in the Diocese of Quincy, IL (12 days every other month). When at home in Mount Pleasant, they love helping their ten-year old grand-twins with carpools and such. Their mother, Margaret, successfully graduated with high honors from nursing school in May. The Buchanan’s older daughter, Mary Ryan, is getting married in Savannah on November 17th and there has been a lot of planning and excitement for the whole family. Carole Causey Boyles writes that while she was at our class reunion she was just finishing a kitchen renovation. Unfortunately, she spent all summer going through a kitchen restoration. The plumber had hooked up the new sink and dishwasher to an old unusable drain that just dumped water
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been busy with house maintenance and appointments. Recently she was able to attend the Atlanta Symphony to hear Midori play Beethoven’s Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 61 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36. Since the Symphony management and performers had been in negotiations for several months, plans for opening night had been in limbo and she was delighted it was finally resolved. This summer Harriet and Bob made several trips to their house in Maysville, Ga. Friends visited to see the improvements the Van Nortes had made this past year as well as the decorative and landscape plantings Bob had been working on while she babysat two feral cats. On a July visit they celebrated her birthday with lunch at a local restaurant. Harriet also took a trip to Asheville and Highlands in July with a friend she has known for forty years and they had a delightful time catching up. In preparation for an October trip to San Antonio with her sister, Bob enrolled Harriet in a Spanish class that she completed in September. She has been practicing with tapes and CDs and wishes she had learned this language when she was much younger. Before the San Antonio trip she is planning to go to Monteagle, TN for a weekend retreat with her exercise friends from more than twenty years. They look forward to seeing the fall scenery, exercising and enjoying good food. Karen Mansfield has been working for ASNR as an office manager for 16 years and they celebrated their 50th Anniversary in NYC in April so she was not able to join us for our 50th. She stays in touch with Beverly Jones Dinkins. Karen helps her 95 year old mother maintain her house where she still lives, doing laundry and shopping. Karen’s niece, Kimberly, had a baby girl in March of 2012 and “is the happiest that I have ever seen her. I have two great nephews too – Luke and Weston – who are just adorable and such fun to play with.” Karen enjoys travelling, visiting Kenya and Tanzania with her friend Bonnie in August. Quite the experience! Bonnie recently retired to Florida so Karen plans to visit her at the end of October. They hope to make it to Asia in 2013. Peggy McCue Freymuth has been recovering from successful back surgery and sounds strong and cheerful. Wayne, daughter Anne and grandchildren are all well and busy. Frances Segars Kelley went alligator hunting with her son-in-law in the swamps of Santee in late September. They caught one a little more than 7 feet long. It was a great experience. They went to lower part of Santee and when they shone the lights over the dark water they could see red eyes everywhere. Aligators are smart and hard to catch. One has to hook them and then pull them to the little “jon” boat, shooting them after they have been secured. Black tape to keeps the mouth shut. Ours pulled the boat around backwards before he got tired and stopped fighting. He also tried to get into the boat and kept hitting it, trying to get free. The little boat was built for only 3 people but there were 4, so Frances sat on the cooler. She says the gator kicked her all the way out of Santee. He was dead but there were (she hopes) just reflexes. They left Bishopville at 6:30 p.m. and Frances got back home at about 4:30 a.m. They cut him up enough to fit into a big cooler, icing him and cleaned him the next day. Frances had not cooked any meat yet but was planning to that later that week. She says “You never get too old to try something new.” Eleanor Sharpton Pitts is still enjoying running her wonderful Jewelry and Gifts shop in Pawleys Island. She and Bill just returned after a wonderful two-week tour on a riverboat along the Rhone River in France, ending their journey in Paris. Gwendolyn Thomason Adams and Herbert joined friends to travel along the West Coast for 17 days early last summer. They flew to San Jose, CA and dove up the coast to Oregon, Washington, over Victoria Island, Canada, into British Columbia (Jasper and Banff) then back into the USA into Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Carmel, where they enjoyed the 18 mile drive. Highlights were visiting the Butchart Gardens and the Columbia River Gorge, but they also saw Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. “Of course we had to go by several football Stadiums, especially Oregon Ducks and Oregon State.” Before flying back home, they were able to visit Herbert’s brother and
his family. The Adams’ youngest daughter and her husband have become foster parents. They now have a 21-month old little boy. So their family is enjoying a little one, if for only a few months. They have had him now for almost 2 months and think he will be with them at least until after Christmas. “He has made sooo much progress...has a lot of issues from malnutrition etc.” Florence Staklinski Taylor’s Bill has retired and now is doing some consulting. Flo still works at the gift and apparel shows at the Atlanta Apparel Mart. Her team won the “City in Atlanta” on the Seniors’ Tennis team. They enjoy going to Hilton Head every chance they get. Flo was chairman of the Pro AM Charity Event at the Country Club of Roswell. Proceeds made it possible for thirteen terminally ill children sponsored by Bert’s Big Adventure to go to Disney with parents and care takers. Both Bill and Flo are very active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Nancy Thornhill Bolden has been living in York to be near her daughter’s family and especially her 6-year old grandson who has actually begun playing football, and which has been fun to watch. Moonpie is active in her church choir and a civic chorus. The chorus sponsored a special retreat in Black Mountain last summer. She has enjoyed reconnecting with former Coker students who live in or near York and sees Jane Wells McCreight Turpin ’61, a cousin of our Judy Griggs. When we spoke, Moonpie was looking forward to seeing a lot of her Laurens High School classmates for a 3-day reunion in Charleston. Bruce Williams and Mary Frances (Zachary) ’64 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last November. They were able to get away to the Outer Banks at Kitty Hawk, NC for a week this September. It was very nice weather and relaxing. Mary-Frances finished 18 weeks of chemo and now her hair is growing back dark brown. She had hoped it would be curly but no such luck. As something to look forward to they have booked a month’s cruise in mid-October. It starts in Rome, goes to several ports in Italy, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia and ends up in Fort Lauderdale. They did enjoy our 50th reunion and are looking forward to our 60th. Mary Anne Wycliff Johnson has thankfully given me her new contact information. Until she sells her beautiful home in Lexington, SC, she is living with her daughter’s family In Scottsdale, AZ. Then she will buy a house nearby. She and Nancy Wilson from Phoenix, were planning to get in touch, but I have not heard if the reconnections have been made yet. Mary Anne has missed seeing all her friends, including our classmates. ”I love you all so much and didn’t expect to.” Peggy Zeigler Reeves reports that it is getting chillier. She and Donnie are well and she is looking forward to attending an IMA (Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business) conference in St. Louis, MO this coming week. There are Board meetings, committee meetings, CPE sessions, and it is a time of fellowship with her accounting friends. She still works part-time at Milliken. In June Peggy went to LasVegas to attend an IMA Conference and Board meeting. Rick Harrison (from Pawn Stars) was one of the conference speakers. It was interesting to learn more about his life and to see the show. Peggy really enjoyed seeing everyone at our reunion. Well, my dears, I wish we had heard from more of you. Please remember to keep in touch. I wish each and every one a nice rest-of-the year, a blessed Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year. With lots of love, Gaby
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Nancy Warren Clarke P.O. Box 988 Montreat, NC 28757 828-669-5728 | frauclarke@charter.net
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in the crawl space for about 4 months before they discovered it. They had to have the whole kitchen stripped down to the subfloor and walls, decontaminated and then rebuilt. The workers are just finishing up. They were without a kitchen from the end of June until now. The worst part was that the laundry is in the back part of the kitchen so Carole had to go to the laundromat to do laundry. She has done a good bit of reading this summer. She likes mysteries and ran across a series by Patricia Cornwell about Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. There are a lot of them and Carole is on about the 8th or 9th right now. She is also reading the Daily Bible In Chronological Order. It helps put the Bible in perspective, showing how the events fall in line. The Causeys were able to take several weeks on and off at their vacation home in Bluffton, mostly just sitting on the porch reading and visiting with old friends. Brenda Cromer Miller has been enjoying her garden and is planting pansies for the fall. Her mother lives in a nursing/assisted living home just 30 minutes away and they have nice visits two or three times each week. At the moment there are very busy squirrels in Brenda’s attic and she hopes they can be evacuated before they nibble too many wires and do too much damage. Brenda thinks we should have reunions more often, as do others in our class. Perhaps it is time to resurrect some of those nice luncheon reunions again? Edith Gannelle Watts has just returned from her home in Land Harbor, near Linville, NC in the Smoky Mountains. She has spent the summer there and so enjoyed it. She caught up with Henrietta Chapman Moore and Howard, who were in Montreat. Dorothy Herlong Hay and Charles had a great time with their youngest grandson, James, this summer. They took him on his “9 year old trip” which is a second-generation family tradition. Picking James up in Delaware, they drove down the east coast ending up back in Florida. They visited Williamsburg, Jamestown, Kill Devil Hills, St. Augustine and the beach, the Kennedy Space Center and Silver Springs. All recuperated by just hanging out at the Hays’ home in Leesburg. It was a wonderful trip with that special one on one time with him. Other than that, their summer was quiet and restful. Now that fall is here and the weather will soon (hopefully) cool off a little, Dot plans to get some much need yard grooming done. She wishes everybody well and sends love to all. Molly Ann Holbrook Birchler and Al have just returned from their annual trek to meet good friends for the Purdue Homecoming football game. They enjoyed every minute and were celebrating the end of a long, hot and tricky summer. Al had back surgery in August and seems to be feeling better. Molly enjoys a community discussion group of about 25 women who meet to discuss interesting books. One she has especially enjoyed and highly recommends is called The Harbinger. She still enjoys playing the organ or piano at weekly prayer meetings and works with a hospitality group at other special times in this lovely interdenominational community church. Anita Jones Stanton lives very near The Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, the former home of author James Boyd. She recently attended an interesting event honoring three authors including Maya Angelou. The gardens and house at the Center are beautiful and within walking distance to Anita’s house. She caught up with Kay Lawrimore Byrd several months ago and reports that Kay sounds very well. Kay mentioned that Gail West Hall had joined friends to tour Alaska this summer. Nancy Martin Swisher and Gayle Brandt Faust were so helpful sharing the sad news about our losing Happy Burnside Richmond. Nancy Rogers and her husband, Law Watkins had a wonderful summer and are now enjoying the last vegetables from their garden. Nancy spent two great weeks in California in June, attending a seminar in Monterey on “Apology and Forgiveness” and visited Yosemite with her daughter, Ellen. Nancy and Law have just returned from a few weeks in France. They stayed in two small villages in Normandy and Brittany, where they ate seafood never before tasted and where both had a chance to improve their French. It was hard to return to work after that experience! Harriet King Van Norte writes that she and Bob have
Edith Floride Reynolds 105 South Rosemary Avenue Andrews, SC 29510-2633 843-264-5173 | ef.reynolds@frontier.com It’s almost here—our 50th reunion! Has it really been that long? We hope to see all of you in Hartsville April 12-13, 2013.
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Margaret Brown Young, and her sisters Judy Brown Pigg ’68 and Jane Brown Riechmann ’70 and their husbands spent two weeks cruising the Baltic Sea in May. They visited the Scandinavian countries and Russia. Leningrad was a highlight as well as a day trip to Berlin. Lynda Morillo Hord, Carol Phillips Kirven, Georgia Ann Jenkins Porcher, Edith Floride Reynolds, Nancy McConnell Wilhelm and Kay Elder Williams spent several days in May as guest of Nancy “Nan” Warren Clarke in Montreat NC. Nan was a wonderful hostess and had planned several places for us to visit. We were also treated to stories about the Billie Graham family by a mutual friend of Nan’s and the Graham’s. Lynda Morillo Hord has also gotten in touch with Lorraine “Rainey” Wright Flynn, a classmate with whom we had lost contact for many, many years. (They actually live about 15 minutes from each other.) Lynda is trying to talk Rainey into coming to the reunion with her. We hope you succeed. Belinda Duckworth Copeland has a new grandchild, Craig Duckworth Crawford born on June 7. We extend our sympathies to Nancy McConnell Wilhelm in the death of her mother, Hazel McConnell Gason, on August 4. Jennie Turner Gustafson completed her chemo in July. In early September she fell and broke one of her shoulders. Jennie has had a rough year, but she got a good report from her oncologists a few weeks later. Keep Jennie in your prayers. If you haven’t already given, please do so before our reunion. We want to meet our goal. Designate it for the Class of ’63 Endowed Scholarship Fund. Also, is there is someone you would like to see, give them a call and encourage them to meet you at Coker. We are looking forward to seeing many of you soon. Edith and Nan
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Naomi Kelley Jackson 2302 Bay Road Hartsville, SC 29550-6948 naomijac@roadrunner.com Lorena Cook James 24 Dearborn Rd North, SC 29112-8201 803-874-3332 | lorenajames@windstream.net Becky Sparrow 505 Law Street Hartsville, SC 29550 843-857-0782 | rgs2000@aol.com
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Cameron Council Speth 986 Forest Road New Haven, CT 06515 203-453-8985 | cece@speth.com Naomi Kelley Jackson, Lorena Cook James, Ellen Harden Rogers, and Becky Sparrow met for lunch recently in Hartsville. We all had a great time giggling about our Coker escapades, catching up on our family news and our Coker classmates’ news. Each of us expressed our excitement about Coker’s beautiful new campus and our 2014 Class Reunion! But more about that later! Let’s get right to our class news! Gail Etters Pilger and John lead a busy, enjoyable life! Having wintered in Naples, Florida since 2007, they decided the market was conducive to making a condo purchase and bought a second abode there. Gail says, “We love the area and have many Atlanta friends who have done the same as well as mid-western friends who join us for the winter months. We sold our second home in Sea Pines, Hilton Head in 2007 after nine years of enjoyment and wanted warmer climes. Naples certainly fits the bill. Dunwoody (Atlanta) is still our primary residence as we have lived in the same home for 40 years! Our welcome mat is always out at either residence for family and friends.” The Pilger’s oldest grandchild, Jonathon Eck, is a senior at University of Georgia in Athens majoring in economics with plans to attend medical school. His sister, Julia, has just
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entered Georgia College in Milledgeville, and they are both recipients of Georgia’s Hope Scholarship based on a 3.2 GPA or higher for acceptance. The youngest sibling Olivia is an eighth grader. Our daughter Susan is thrilled she has one at home for five more years, as she misses the older two dreadfully. Susan remarried on October 20, 2012 to a wonderful gentleman who is a colleague of hers at Dun and Bradstreet in Atlanta. Son Joel’s business is in Denver, Colorado, but he lives near Colorado Springs and had to evacuate when the horrific blazes engulfed the mountains there last summer. Their home was not damaged, but they had friends who lost everything. Joel, his wife Deana and 11 year old Emma recently completed a four day 20 mile hike with friends in the Vail Mountains. They do this all the time so it is not as arduous for them as it would be for us at 8,000 plus feet of elevation! In late November John and Gail flew to London with Joel, Deana and Emma for a family holiday. From London they traveled on the Eurostar through the Chunnel to Paris for Thanksgiving, sightseeing and visiting French family friends. Their son stayed with the Pilgers in the summer of 1983 as an exchange student, and the families remain in touch and visit about every three to five years. Gail took a refresher course in French just for this trip and hoped it would work! In late May 2013, Pat Holland Chapman and Gail with their husbands are planning a ten day Danube River Cruise from Prague to Budapest to celebrate the ladies’ 70th birth year. They promise us news about what they do and see. Anne Lamb Matthews sent a most interesting update a year ago, and we apologize for the delay in sharing it. She continues to lead an extremely busy life and says she would have it no other way. Anne was elected in 2011 to the Rotary International Board for a two year term and previously served two years as a Foundation trustee. Anne says, “I travel the world speaking on our humanitarian efforts — from India immunizing children so they will not get the dreadful disease of Polio to digging wells in the Amazon jungle so children will have clean water to drink. From May to October 2011, I was in Kenya, Bangkok, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and several locations in the US.” “Sharing a piece of my life: I spent two days during October 2011 in D.C. with our congressmen’s staff members (congressmen were in SC then) requesting continuous funding for the eradication of Polio in the world. Polio is the corporate program of Rotary with eradication of the disease worldwide as our goal. Rotarians have made tremendous progress. In 1988, there were 350,000 cases in 125 countries. In 2010, we had less than 1300 cases in four countries. Rotarians have given countless hours immunizing children all over the globe and have contributed a billion dollars toward this effort. Our government has been a strong financial supporter also, and that is why I was in D. C. asking for help. Lindsey Graham and Bill Gates have become good friends and are working together on this program.” “Bill Gates is helping Rotary greatly with financial funds. He has given $355 million thus far and will give more. He is a nice, down to earth, unpretentious person, and this was my second time to meet with him. Since “eradicating Polio is his foundation’s number one cause,” Bill has traveled to the countries where Polio exists to see the conditions. “Some of you ask from time to time, ‘What are you doing? Why do you travel so much?’ My purpose is to help all I can to wipe this disease off the face of the earth. I have seen horrific situations with a lot of Polio victims in developing countries. We will complete our goal; and when we do, it will be only the second dreadful disease that has been eradicated. Small pox was the first, as all of you know.” “I LOVE what I do! Immunizing children in third world countries so they will not be paralyzed, armless, legless, or even possibly die from Polio is so meaningful to me.” Anne, we are awed by your dedication and humanitarian accomplishments. And we are so proud to call you one of our own! Anne sent wonderful pictures of Bill Gates with the Rotary senior officers, which perhaps we can share at our 2014 50th reunion. Linda Traynham Prior enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas in late September during which she “met lots of nice people and ate a lot of food!” An extra surprise awaiting Linda upon returning home was new kitchen flooring installed by her son while she was away. Back in Ireland this past summer for her third year on an archaeology dig in County Clare was Susan Frank, and she
again had a wonderful time. She said, “Not many artifacts this year, but in science a negative result is still a result and added to our knowledge of how this stone fort was used through the ages. I just love Ireland; it is so peaceful and the people so kind.” She also went on a very exciting dinosaur fossil dig in Wyoming and helped dig a hadrosaur rib and a T Rex tibia. Still employed at Chevron and loving her job, Susan is presently working on grants to several charities in the Gulf of Mexico to assist with Isaac recovery, which she finds very rewarding. All in her family are well. She says, “My daughter’s two children are in college (oh my!); and my son’s four-yearold has started preschool, so I get to enjoy the full range of life’s experience again. My big accomplishment this year? Finally paid off my mortgage - whew!” Susan sends her best wishes to all. Linda Milam Law and Charlton’s summer was spent enjoying their grandchildren, as each one stayed a week with them. In October, they traveled to Italy and were looking forward to seeing all those places they had learned about. “Especially me!” she exclaimed. “After 50 years I’ll see how much I remember from CIV!” We’ll look forward to your answer about that, Linda, plus lots of news about the trip for the next Commentary. “It’s Clemson football time again,” wrote Patricia Holland Chapman in October. Pat’s husband Frank and two sons, Jim and Leighton, are all grads, so they trek to their alma mater for the home games. Pat says she mainly goes for the tailgating! For their anniversary trip this past summer, Pat and Frank toured Civil War Battlefields in Tennessee and other historic sites and cemeteries. Traveling closer to home, they enjoy taking day trips to various places in South Carolina as a hobby. What a great way to take advantage of some of the wonderful things this state offers! Lorena Cook James and her family relish the changes of the seasons in “this peaceful place we are happy to call home.” They’ve enjoyed having friends and relatives visit throughout the past year. Doug stays content being cook, gardener and general handyman which makes Lorena very content! Trips to their rustic river cabin get-away and granddaughter Bella’s gymnastic competitions, reading lots of books, and staying involved with meaningful community activities make the simple life pleasant and strengthen them for the more challenging situations that life brings. A special pleasure for Lorena when at Coker meetings is having lunch with classmates. Sadly, the passing years bring more losses among our classmates. Judy Smith Campbell died in October 2011 and Jean Virgin in August 2012. Judy had been ill for some time, as had Jean. Fond remembrances of Judy were her infectious smile, bubbly personality and good times shared at Coker. Gail recalled attending Doc and Judy’s wedding, and years later buying a lot of furniture through her, describing her as a natural entrepreneur. So many also remember Jean fondly, and we all agree with Carol Chastain Dietrick that her passing “....is sad news.” Pat wrote that she was unique, had a great heart, and loved Coker plus making us laugh a lot with her ideas and statements. Other comments were that Jean was a special friend (Gay Taylor Morrison) and a kind and gentle person (Pam Goode Jacobs). Jean earned a Masters in Education and retired as a guidance counselor for the Saluda County School District. Becky Sparrow was starting The Sparrow Scholars Program at Coker in 2007 when Diana Cobb Nall died, and Jean wanted to create a scholarship for her. Becky took Jean to meet with Frank Bush, and she thinks Jean endowed the entire amount of $10,000.00 for Diana’s Scholarship. Jean also helped as long as she was able to provide the ”Brown Bag” lunches for Coker students visiting Hobcaw Barony in Georgetown, and she kept up with Nancy McConnell Wilhelm ’63 and ‘63 who live on the coast. Becky and Jean enjoyed phone conversations during National Tennis tournaments, and she misses Jean’s wry sense of humor. Jean was concerned that the Coker Bell Tower was in disrepair and would have been happy that our Coker Icon has been totally refurbished. Our sympathy also goes to Ann Dobson Hammond and Martie Dobson White ’68 on the death of their mother, Mrs. Nell Ligon Dobson, on March 1, 2012; and to Mary Louise Antley Glesner and husband Jerry on the loss of their niece, Virginia
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“Ginger” Dyer Jorgensen, on October 2, 2012. Cameron Council Speth and Gus had a great summer with grandchildren. She writes, “A little Vermont farm seems the perfect place to entertain children (and adults). We now have 5 grandchildren with one more due this month (October 2012). Each of our children will have two. It makes for a very lively time when everyone is together. However, we enjoy them best one at a time without parents or siblings. Cameron, 8, enjoyed circus camp and loved aerials best of all. Her brother Rodgers, 6, attended day camp on Lake Fairlee. He is a gifted athlete so enjoys all sports. Lilla, 3, is very verbal and will tell you how the world should work. Little sister Grace, 1, is eager to keep up (we call them pete and repeat). They love following us around and helping in the veggie garden. Charlotte, 2, finds ways to entertain herself and is quite delightful. All good traits when new baby brother arrives at least by Halloween. Pleasure in our grandchildren pushed Gus to write a new book America the Possible: Manifesto for a New Economy, dedicated to all grandchildren. Check it out if you worry about the world we are leaving to future generations. Becky Sparrow says she’s living the good life in Pawley’s Island and loves taking classes at Coastal Carolina University’s Campus in Litchfield. She’s a docent at Brookgreen Gardens in the art galleries and really enjoyed The National Sculpture Society Exhibit recently. Another special project is research at Hobcaw Barony on Bernard Baruch’s Guest Book. A fascinating peek into history from 1911 -1940s! Miss Ruby Kids is an early literacy skills building program Becky volunteers with, and she loves reading with her 3rd grader at Waccamaw Elementary School. Becky also lives in Hartsville part time and serves as Co-chair of the Sparrow Scholars Committee at Coker College. The Scholars Program is run by The Center for Engaged Learning, Becky says she is delighted that Lorena Cook James now serves on this Coker Committee whose purpose is to mentor Scholars. We mentor 3 Scholars (a sophomore, junior, and senior), in their service learning projects in the community. Lorena and I have loved the opportunity to see these students learn, grow, and mature as we mentor them. We are also astonished at how involved Coker is in our community - that town and gown connection! And thank you Susan Frank for your support and encouragement. By the way, if anyone would like to endow a “Scholar” Scholarship, then our Scholars Committee will Mentor your Scholar! Think about it! Becky recently adopted a rescue dog named Lady who just loves to go for walks on the Coker Campus. Lady and Becky have been WOWED by the beauty of the new campus! Finally, we promised more about the Coker Campus and our 2014 Reunion. Coker College’s iconic Bell Tower has been restored to pristine condition, is beautiful and pealing away for special events and the occasional student bell ringer! Pearl Fryar’s Garden has never looked better and the campus never has looked more beautiful! Be on the lookout for a You Tube from your Class Reps from the Coker Campus with news about our 2014 Reunion! Stay tuned!
1965
Eleanor Powell Clark 106 Arapaho Circle Darlington, SC 29532 843-395-2173
1966
Melinda Hudgins Adams melhadam@yahoo.com
1968
Joan Lading Abernathy 20037 Oak River Court Petersburg, VA 23803 804-590-1644 jabernathyva@comcast.net Class of 1968, Time flies when you are having fun, so I hope that each
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1969
April Garnier Poitras ajpoitras@sbcglobal.net
1970
Harriett Council Candee Constable Craven Jane Brown Riechmann 2970 St. Johns Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32205 904-384-8650 | stjohnsjane@bellsouth.net I’m happy to announce that two classmates have offered to help me as your class rep. Both Harriett Council and Candee Constable Craven will be helping me gather news so expect a call or note from them during 2013, especially if we have not heard from you in a while! Harriett has had some recent surgery on her arm to relieve some curling in her fingers and is recovering slowly. Candee has more time on her hands now that she if officially retired! Thanks to both of you! Also offering help is Brenda Thompson Stewart who has offered to help with our 45th reunion! Brenda and husband Larry are both retired now but find themselves very busy. They enjoy traveling, together and apart: both to California, Larry alone to golf venues and Brenda to Italy and Greece. Brenda’s mom is 86 and in Conway so they make frequent trips there as well as to Charleston where they have a new grandbaby. They may be getting a new daughter-in-law as well which may necessitate a trip to Hawaii! Sounds like a good way to stay busy! Judith “Judi” Cooper Camak has joined three other brokers to form a new branch of Stifel Nicolaus after many mergers in the large bank scene. And, making life even better for her is a new grandson, Samuel Hayes Camak. Judy loves being “BeBe”. Nell Cutts Daniels’ daughter Sarah and her husband Eric are now settled in Gainesville, FL where Eric has a fellowship and Sarah works in the same hospital as a social worker. Judy Southard is in her new home at Mt. Pleasant. Judy greatly misses her mom who died in June but she is glad to have family nearby. Sister Jean Southard Riddle ’72 shares her grandchildren with Judy so Judy has the best of everything! She can spoil without chastisement! Connie White Boleman is back for another year of teaching as are Diane Thrasher Mills and Sylvia McLamb Puffer. But Marguerite Sloman Botkin is thrilled to be out of the classroom and is enjoying her first autumn of retirement. She and her husband spend lots of time with their eight grandchildren (is eight a record for us?…let me know) and Marguerite is also enjoying gardening, painting, sewing/ crafts and reading. She said she’s “LOVIN’ IT!” Also retiring from school is Jessica Markley Lee who retired after 32 years with the state; first two as a classroom teacher, 12 as a social worker and the last 18 as an elementary school counselor. She has been spending her time between Charleston and Spartanburg with daughters and Caroline and Annie, checking on her mother and then doing jobs her husband finds for her. Jessie is staying busy but says “retirement is a great job!” Lynda Patton Land has had one knee replacement since her retirement from teaching in 2010 and awaits another which will hopefully be over and successful by the time you read this. A good way to keep up with Beverly Armstrong
McLaughlin’s courageous battle with cancer is to read her CaringBridge site. As if she did not have enough on her plate, Mac awoke her very early one morning with horrible dizziness and nausea. Thankfully, after a visit to the ER via ambulance, Mac received the diagnosis of vertigo. Beverly was scheduled for chemo that day and thankfully good friends were able to get her there. Her site is caringbridge.org/visit/ beverlymclaughlin. Mary Edmunds Reed’s son Bentham is back safely from Afghanistan and now lives in Huntsville, AL where he is employed by SAIC. Mary stays busy keeping up with Bentham’s rental property. I hope he pays well! Joyce Floyd Shaw was re-elected Chairman of the National Safe Boating Council at their recent fall meeting in Mobile, AL. Bruce Anne Meldrum Milberger was ‘lost’ per our class list but thanks to the internet, I was able to find her. Bruce Anne lives in Loganville, GA and says she was so glad to be ‘found’! Chylene Ferguson Robinson says summer was awfully hot in Charlotte but that she and her husband were able to get away to Napa Valley and San Francisco plus good old Myrtle Beach. They also took their daughter and her boyfriend to Disney World for a week. Mark and I (Jane Brown Riechmann) are making plans to take our sons and daughter-in-law to London and Paris in May. One son has been to neither and Mark and I have only been to Paris. It should be a great family trip. If I left out news you sent me, please excuse my stupidity! I had everything written and saved (I thought), only to find the sentence below was the only thing saved! But it’s important……. Don’t forget ‘THE PLAN’! Jane Brown Riechmann Coker Class of ’70
1971
Sarah Jo Wood Safrit Post Office Box 388 Beaufort, NC 28516 252-728-3213 | sarahjo@centurylink.net
1972
Sarah McCanless Haarlow Harriett Courtney Lemke
1973
Jane Clyburn 1002 Starcliff Drive Lugoff, SC 29078 803-438-5638 | pjclyburn@att.net
1974
Pat Newman 678-849-5308 | pnewman224@yahoo.com Libby Smith
1975
Rose Patrick Smith 1801 Stannard Trail Raleigh, NC 27612 919-789-4829 | dsmithII@nc.rr.com Kathi Pleasant Luther plans to retire at the end of the school year in order to spend more time with her grandchildren. Ian’s Noah is 3 ½ and Corey has Adeline, 20 months, with another baby due in March 2013. Charlie enjoys the single life in Charleston. Once retired, Kathi hopes to bring her mother to live with her in Hartsville. Deborah Roberts Alford has weathered some health issues but remains in the classroom at Aynor Middle School and teaches 7th graders World History. Husband John is with Bass Pro Shops in Myrtle Beach. Knee replacement went so well for Deborah Scarboro Snyder that she’s “up” for the next one. Hannah likes everything about Boone and ASU! Tom works as a photographer and a potter.
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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DEVELOPMENT
Anne E. Neely The Tree House P.O. Box 204 Shallotte, NC 28459 | 910-754-5375
and every one of you are getting excited about our 45th Class Reunion on April 12 – 13, 2013. Since the distance to Coker for me is a hindrance, I called upon Judy Brown Pigg to gather some classmates and search for a dinner location allowing us to have a Friday night gathering. Judy, Nancy Baker Bell and Mary Anne Pate Erter met and have secured a place to give us an additional opportunity to share some memories and update any recent news. Most of you are retired now, so I am hopeful that emails will flood my inbox so there will be more news to share in the future. Joan
DEVELOPMENT
Church activities, Bible study and the Ladies Ministry keeps Sarah Creech Vick busy. Whether at the church, lunching with friends or running errands with her dad, she tries to be home by 3 o’clock….traffic is murder! Allie is pursuing a master’s in global luxury management at NCSU and will spend spring semester on the French Riviera. Suzanna is also at State in the master’s of accounting program and works with a firm in Raleigh. Ruthie Henderson Mobley and Brad Mobley invite everyone to visit them in Hartsville. Brad is retired from the ministry and, according to Ruthie, has lost a whopping 85 pounds! What an accomplishment! Ruthie retired after 28 years in the classroom and enjoys her role as “The Story Lady” at a local private school. Katie is in the DC area. Floy Henry Fanning lives in Chapin and teaches student with visual impairments in Winnsboro. Rick is retired and enjoys archery and hiking. Jennifer graduated from Lander and teaches kindergarten. Kimberly is a sophomore at Lander. Watch your email in March for the next request for news. If you aren’t receiving emails from me then I don’t have your correct address. PLEASE help me update the mail group! My contact information is at the top. Friends want hear about YOU!
1976
Marilyn Mros Belotti 1118 Inverness Lane Hanahan, SC 29410 | Drb90@att.net
1977
Jane McCrackin Suchy 1011 Poplar Street Marion, SC 29571 843-423-1989 | suchysuchy@aol.com
1978
Vicki Smith Chaplin 839 Bethlehem Road Hartsville, SC 29550 843-332-5998 | Chaplins4@aol.com Dr. Daniel Moses Post Office Box 2403 Jacksonville, FL 32203 904-777-8179 | dan1204@bellsouth.net Greetings fellow class members of 1978, We need to locate the following class members: Sarah E. Albertin, Norman R. Allen, Nancy D. Aycock, Peggy M. Branch, James Branch, Delia A. Bush, Cathleen Desser, Cindy Fernandez, Lewis Gordon, Ray P. Goude, Betty H. Grady, Joan Harding, Charles M. Jordan, James O. Law, Gail Lowery, James M. Lowery, Annelise Molvig, Debrah L. Morris, Lerlita M. Pasley, Win Silvernail, Sandra K. Talles, Gloria Thompson, Jerry Thorn, Larry R. Veeder, Carroll Watson, and Kathy G. Wesson. Evening class: David E. Burman, Robert O. Colvin, John A. Dimascio, Darrell G. Hilliard, Pege A. Jennings, Robert J. Myers, Paul Nutter, Dennis Orr, and Stephen J. Weiss. Hope to see everyone on April 12-13 for our 35th Reunion.
1979
DEVELOPMENT
Debbie Schultz McLaren 20184 Foothill Terrace Ashburn, MD 20147 703-726-1190 | writerdeb11@aol.com
1980
Lee H. Hickman 703 Beaty Street Conway, SC 29526 843-248-3925 | lhickman@sccoast.net Susan D. Weathersbee 137 West Home Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550-4123 843-383-4692 CIRCEmyTW14/Sunbeam@hotmail.com
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1981
Barbara A. Britton ’82 6716 St. Julian Way Fayetteville, NC 28314 910-860-7650 | 877-820-9147- toll-free jmb1jmb2@aol.com (put Coker in subject line)
1982
Debra Holt Zsembik 325 Moss Avenue Port Orange, FL 32127-6136 386-760-6430 | ddshouse@yahoo.com
1983
Glenn Douglas Bridges 55 Managhan Drive, Apt 306 Hardeeville, SC 29927 843-208-3272 | daddydolphin@hargray.com
1984
Donna Craig 801 Longbow Road Charlotte, NC 28211 704-365-6763 | djcraig@bellsouth.net Michelle Wiscovitch King 400 Gandy Drive Hartsville, SC 29550 843-857-0084 | michaelbking@bellsouth.net
1985
Tracie Johnson Paschal 1111 West Roseneath Road Florence SC 29501-5745 TraciePL@aol.com Electa Anderson Small 204 Lantana Circle Georgetown, SC 29440-7278 803-348-6748 | andee33@aol.com
1986
Teresa “Trigger” Martin 133 Tall Oaks Drive Irmo, SC 29063 803-749-3922 Home | 803-318-1413 Mobile triggermartin@aol.com Susan Sweatt Robey 1 Cobblestone Court Columbia, SC 29229 803-699-6620 | susansrobey@earthlink.net
1987
Cynthia Lee Hylton 14405 Woodswalk Court Midlothian, VA 23112-2412 804-639-2814 | Cindy.L.Hylton@pmusa.com Donna Farrell Mosser Facebook: Donna Farrell Mosser 1003 Tamarack Drive N. Augusta, SC 29841 803-640-5695 | dfmosser@comcast.net Phyllis Atkinson Palmieri 1819 New Market Road Hartsville, SC 29550-9303 I’m honored to have been asked to be a class rep for the Class of 87. I am on Facebook, so please look for me there. You can also call or e-mail me with any updates you want to share. The following classmates are listed as “lost” with the Alumni office. If you have current contact information for them, please let me or the Alumni office know, or if you’re in contact with them, please have them send their information to the Alumni office. Darin Beasley, Robert Bloodworth, Susan Floyd Graves, Herbert Greenwald, Allison Hall, Paulin Halle, Jennifer Hemler, George Hogan, Colin Howard, Joyce Marsh, Karen
Meyer-Jordan, George Posey, Levander Robinson, Amy E. Sabin, Freida D. Smith, Cheryl L. Sridej, Yvonne B. Stroman, and Anthony Zammarelli. It is hard to believe that the Class of 87 graduated 25 years ago. Many of us attended Homecoming in October, and I can guarantee you that not one of us has aged a day since we were Coker students. It was great to see such a large turnout of classmates and friends from the 80s. We packed the porch at Bizzell’s, and if next year’s alumni attendance is as large, we’re going to need a bigger space to gather! It was wonderful seeing so many people and catching up. Several had not been back at Coker since we graduated. I won’t even try to name all that were present, because surely I’d leave someone out. I have one update from a class member, and that is Cindy Hylton. Her update is “I am alive.” Please keep Cindy in your thoughts and prayers. She’s been helping her mother who is undergoing health issues. Cindy also recently lost her beloved canine companion, Cooper. Cooper and Cindy had been friends for many years, and I know they shared a great love. Until I hear from others of you, I’ll bore you all with the Mosser Family Chronicles. Donald R Mosser is still working at Savannah River Ecology Lab which is part of the University of GA. He’s been there since 1999 and is currently Manager of Environmental Health and Safety as well as Property Manager (I think that’s correct!). Donald is counting down the days to retirement, which he says should be in the next 5-8 years. I would not mind at all having a house husband if he’ll cook and clean. Donald’s job is stressful, because he’s essentially doing the jobs of 2 or 3 people, but he tries to find some stress relief. He started taking pottery classes a year or two ago and has his own pottery wheel now. I am still working in Clinical Research (pharmaceutical research) as a regional manager for Quintiles. We contract with various pharma companies to manage and oversee their clinical trials. I manage a regional team and travel about 30% of the time going out with my staff. I enjoy the work most of the time and work with really good people. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family which includes our two dogs and a cat. Donald and I are soon going to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We were married December 12, 1987. We met at Coker during our Freshman year, so we have been putting up with one another for a very long time. I cannot think of anyone is rather have by my side through this life’s journey. Our daughter Emily is a Sophomore at Coker. Her class is our sister class—Green Machine!! Emily is enjoying school and is active on campus. She’s double majoring in Graphic Design and Communications and is an Ambassador and a Commissioner in the Pig family. She is looking forward to attending the Presidential Inauguration with a group from Coker in January (with Phyllis Fields ’89) and to a Spring Break trip to NYC with one of her art classes which is taught by Jean Grosser. Emily has been fortunate to have a couple of professors from our days at Coker (in addition to Jean Grosser)—Dr. Shaffer for Religion and Dr. Lellis for a communications class. The other day Emily said that she’d had trouble finding information for one of her projects, and when Dr. Lellis found out, he went to the library and put a book on hold for her. Em said “where else would that happen but at Coker?” There really is something to be said for a small college, and I’m very proud that Emily chose Coker. As I write this, we’re getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Please remember Coker College in your annual giving. I wish you all the very best the season has to offer. Please keep in touch, and send me your updates! Warm regards, Donna
1988
Millicent Chewning Macchione 3011 Stone Bridge Trail Conyers, GA 30094 770-388-0067 | Millicentmacchione@yahoo.com Lisa Bryant McDowell 9 Alison Way Columbia, SC 29229 803-699-7924 | mcdowellx5@aol.com
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1989
Meg Quilty Liebe 803 Washington Avenue Palmyra, NJ 08065 856-303-1090 Pennie Cathey Peagler 183 Royal Oaks Lane Lexington, SC 29072 803-926-8410 | ppeagler@columbiastaffing.com
1990
Kathy Harsh Cunningham 6004 Highmarket Street Georgetown, SC 29440 843-527-0530 | khc1224@aol.com Amy Gibson 6 Corby Court Columbia, SC 29229 803-462-9851 | Algibson90@bellsouth.net
1991
Helen Mason Allen 1823 Misty Vale Road Charlotte, NC 28214 704-391-0931 | We3allens@bellsouth.net Helenm.allen@cms.k12.nc.us
1992
Kelly S. Jenkins Fredie James Williams P.O. Box 2734 Evans, GA 30809-2734 fredie.williams@gmail.com
1993
Angela Hodges Taylor Class co-rep needed
1994
Jennifer Spray Blankenship 2977 Dance Drive Hartsville, SC 29550 843-332-9835 | blankcamp@aol.com Viola DeDe Lawrence dede_lawrence@yahoo.com
1995
Heather McConnell Buckelew 1606 Duckhorn St NW Concord, NC 28027 704 786-1857 | nj2sc2nc@ctc.net Sam J. Fryer III 1610 Southwood Court Florence, SC 29505-3195 843-629-8372 | S_Fryer@fsd1.org
1996
Karol Lowery Klowery727@aol.com Class co-rep needed Regina Bacote Donithan 5482 Rosehall Place Atlanta, GA 30349 404-344-0692 rbacote518@hotmail.com Alison Elizabeth Wood 2400 Pine Haven Street Beaufort, SC 29902-6042 425-338-9760
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just turned 6 months in October. Lukas, our “terrific” two-yearold, loves being a big brother and showers Gavin with kisses every morning. Its funny...Coker prepared me for a lot of things, but I don’t quite remember “Motherhood 101” being offered by anyone; and that, as it turns out, has been my toughest job yet! Fortunately, it’s also been my very favorite and my very best. I’m also still working as the Communications Coordinator for Dreamweavers Unlimited, a company that provides services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. It was great to hear from some of you! I hope the rest of you are doing great! Can you believe it’s been 10 years?!? Wow! Blayke Turrubiartes blaykee@gmail.com
Ashley M. Pruett apruett76@yahoo.com
1999
Shonda Miles Knotts 925 Lynch Road Coward, SC 29530 843-210-3346 Shonda.Knotts@PalmettoGBA.com Dean S. Legge 808 South Poplar Avenue Andrews, SC 29510-3032 843-264-9398 | dean@dawgpost.com
2003
Wes Daniels 302 Hannah Avenue Hartsville, SC 29550 843-616-2485 | wdaniels@coker.edu
Rebecca Lynn Teal Sheila Brodie Trapp Post Office Box 967 Hartsville, SC 29551
Emily Marovich Tupper 15825 Quorum Dr. Addison, TX 75001 emilymarovich@yahoo.com
2000
Keelea R. LeJeune Keelea.LeJeune@hotmail.com
Hi friends! It’s that time of year again... time for each of you to tell me what’s going on in your lives so I can provide our class news!! I hope all of you are doing well and I look forward to hearing what’s new. And if not a lot is changed since last year just send a note saying hi and all is good. I know some of you made it to homecoming. Unfortunately I won’t be, however I am planning to attend next year for our 10 year!!! I hope many of you can join me then so we can reconnect after 10 years since graduating!! Hope to see you in 2013! Your class reps, Emily and Wes
2001
Roslynn D. Elom 572 East McIver Road Florence, SC 29506 843-667-0502 | Ravenrose3@aol.com
2002
Stephanie Carwile Parker Post Office Box 299 Panola TX, 75685 Stepahnierodeo@aol.com
2004
Blayke Epley Turrubiartes 1847 Arnold Drive Charlotte, NC 28205 704-535-1504 | blaykee@gmail.com
Selena Davis 410 Emmary Street Hartsville, SC 29550 SelenaCobras20@hotmail.com
It was so good to hear from Cheryl Bruno Horwath! Here’s what she had to say: This December marks 7 yrs married to my wonderful husband, Dan. We have two of the most amazing children together, Danica (3) & Dylan (1). We currently reside in Downingtown Pennsylvania, which is located right outside Philadelphia. Though my husband is an avid Phillies fan, I still keep with my New York roots and cheer on my Mets! I work as a Risk Administrator for Vanguard (a mutual fund company) where I spend my days researching privacy incidents and fraud related issues that are reported to the company. My husband, Dan, also works for Vanguard as a Senior Info Systems Engineer. We love spending every minute with our two kids and are very fortunate to be where we are today. Susanne Watts Liggett also sent me an email. So glad to hear she’s doing wonderfully! Here’s her news: Life is great! I’m teaching English at Ridge View High School, and I absolutely love it. I’m actually giving my final presentation for grad school tonight, so in a few hours I will have officially completed my MS in curriculum and instruction. Yay! I think I’ll take a week or two off, and then I’m starting the National Board Certification process. Colin D. Liggett ’04 and I have been married for a little over six years now. Collin is teaching middle school PE, and he’s the head baseball coach at Spring Valley High School. We have twin daughters, Hudson and Wylie, who are an absolute pleasure. We stay incredibly busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re sad we couldn’t make it to homecoming this year, but we hope to see lots of familiar faces in 2013. I can’t believe it’s been over 10 years since we graduated!! Congratulations to Marielle Santos McLeod and her husband Mac who welcomed a little boy to their family this June. According to mom, Gordon Keith McLeod IV, aka little Mac, “is the sweetest, most perfect baby ever!” Ellen Powell ’01 is doing well and is living back on Cape Cod, working in the “banking world.” Eduardo and I are still living in Charlotte. We welcomed another son to our family in April! Gavin Kennedy Turrubiartes
Julia Cox Kokemor 12787 Highway 90 Kenner, LA 70070 504-466-3096 | jucarcox@hotmail.com
2005
Jessica Brill Lloyd 1241 Old Oak Road Birmingham, AL 35235 205-853-5871 | smilerainmaker@aol.com Coker Class of 2005, Happy Fall Y’all! Lots of changes have occurred for the Lloyd family this year. I am still teaching voice and dance lessons but, my husband, Curtis ’02, is now running his own eBay business called Coach’s Collectibles, LLC. It is extremely nice to have him working from home, which allows us to be together as a family more often and allows him to keep our daughter, Tori while I am at work. Victoria turned three in September and is full of personality. We enjoyed a wonderful Disney trip this summer and are currently enjoying getting ready for the holiday season. I do have one new exciting venture that I have been working on…I am now a performer for the AMTC organization. Actors, Models, and Talents for Christ is a great non-profit organization which helps performers get ready to attend a large convention in Orlando with Media industry professionals. We are on a mission to bring Christian values back to our media. Moving to other news, I’m glad to have heard from some different classmates this time and hope that all of you had a good summer, and don’t forget that I want to hear from all of you this spring! Jodi Williams Haynes enjoyed her wedding this summer on June 16th! Jodi married Darrell Haynes who runs his family’s business…Ron’s BBQ. The happy couple lives in Clover, SC. Jodi said one of their favorite things to do is to sit on the front porch and watch the wildlife cross their yard.
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She mentioned flocks of turkey and herds of deer, which she said is really beautiful to see. Jodi entered her 6th year of teaching dance at Northside Elementary School of the Arts in Rock Hill and still loves it. Her work keeps her extremely busy with Arts integration and six grade level productions a year, but Jodi said it is great. It’s great to hear about another dance major’s success…kudos to dance professors Wanda and Angela! Conrad Deese found a warmer climate due to a promotion/relocation of his job. Conrad lives outside Tampa, Florida with his wife, Cara Wilkerson Deese ’03, and two sons Peyton and Parker. Parker is growing fast and will be celebrating his 1st birthday this December. Peyton is 3 and in Conrad’s words is as “wild as ever.” Conrad remains employed with Health Management Associates as a Vice President of Finance Operations/Division Chief Financial Officer. The Deese family is happily settled in Florida where they spend most of their days enjoying the sun, playing outside, and time with family and friends. Well classmates, I think we know who to go visit when winter hits this year! Remember classmates, add SmileRainmaker@aol.com to your inbox, so you can receive my updates and reply with the exciting events of your life. Wish you well and enjoy this holiday season!
2006
Jennifer Jackson 200 Cedar Branch Road Loris, SC 29569-5834 843-756-4469 jenmarie_john315@yahoo.com Class co-rep needed
2007
Kristin Caswell 141 Pacific Avenue Chapin, SC 29036-7315 864-235-6563 | kriscazz@yahoo.com Ladrica R Jones-Christain 2612 Wisdom Lane Effingham, SC 29541-6392 843-667-3400 | ladricaj@hotmail.com Nikki Daniell Johnson 843-669-1083 | 843-857-3812 nikkidaniell@gmail.com
2008
Veronica Gallo Bambery 502 Cashua Street Darlington, SC 29532 veronicagallo@hotmail.com Shereza Mazyck Middleton 5145 Seymour Road Dalzell, SC 29040-9144 smiddleton26@yahoo.com
2009
DEVELOPMENT
Shannon Crouch Bowers shannoncrouch8709@yahoo.com
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The Office of Institutional A dvancement would like to thank the friends, alumni, faculty, staff, foundations and corporations who gave so generously to Coker College this year. Your support allowed us to surpass last year’s fund raising total by 29 percent, and exceed the goal for the vitally important A nnual Scholarship Fund which directly helps so many Coker College students.
MEMORIAL S The following memorials were given from July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
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W. Herbert Hucks, CPA Walter and Beth DuBose Cottingham Connie Bell Hucks Ed Jackson Dr. Louis and Lillian Dillard Stephens Lib Bishop Tiller Rev. Jerry M. James Mary M. James Kevin Jenerette Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger Johnnie Bell Johnson Lamar and Lucy Singletary Caldwell Mary E. Jordan Richard and Sylvia McLamb Puffer Jack Lee Sarah Sampson Bell Charlie Chewning Pat Chapman Huff Mitzi DuPre Matthews Jean Fore McDaniel Harvey L. LeGette Pat Chapman Huff Elizabeth “Betty” Marvin Linder Jo Simmons Aiken Jean Ludlam Tricia McClam Leslie Matheson Pat Chapman Huff Ruth Ludlam McClam Tricia McClam Emilea Huff McCurry Sarah Sampson Bell Charlie Chewning Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger Mitzi DuPre Matthews Jean Fore McDaniel Mickey McDowell Steve and Paula Terry Wayne McCutchen Andy and Vicki Eaddy Pat Chapman Huff
Timothea F. McDonald Murray E. McDonald Tyson Miller Drs. David and Kaye Crook Andy and Vicki Eaddy Patsy Hughes Nelson Gus and Joan Snoddy Hoffmeyer Billy Nicholson Pat Chapman Huff Sarah Salters Odom Walter and Beth DuBose Cottingham Annie Cole Thomas Parsons Pat Chapman Huff Sylvia Parks Price Millie Wells Moody Courtney Howard Quattlebaum Byron and Lillian Utsey Harder Mary Richey Rick Richey Harriet Burnside Richmond Margaret McCue Freymuth Eunice Ford Rogers Annette Cline Libba King Nancy Lee Martin David and Carol Ann Miller John and Ann Moody Florence Houck Steele Joseph Thurmond Rucker Pat Chapman Huff Alice and Virgil Smith Hartsville Music Study Club Todd Davies Smith Melissa Lerner Joseph Thomas Squires, Jr. Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger Bill Stanley Pat Chapman Huff Gladys Thurman Sutton Pam R. Bowman Louise R. Davis Jonathan Middleton
Michael Tomlinson Walter and Beth DuBose Cottingham Dr. Allen Turner Steve and Paula Terry John Turpin Nell Gardner Copeland Charles Vaughan Norma Reary Craig Dr. Maria Yolanda Ferero-Villegas Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Jean Virgin Patricia Holland Chapman Nan Warren Clarke Marie Golden Lorena Cook James Carol Phillips Kirven Anne Osborn Rosemary Risse Joel Wall Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger Keith Wallace Dick and Sylvia Puffer Ed Watkins Pat Chapman Huff Diane Mildred Wesley Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Jim Wilds Sara K. Wilds John M. Williams, Jr. Troy Bingham Steven and Karen Reeder Kenneth Lewis Wilmot Pat Wilmot Chester McArthur Withrow Pat Chapman Huff
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Patricia June Ammons Margaret McCue Freymuth Jane Bacot Walter and Beth DuBose Cottingham Westbrook Barritt Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Shirley Caldwell Becken Scott Becken Saxon Boswell Andy and Vicki Eaddy William Bragdon Nell Gardner Copeland Jan Raymond Caddell, Jr. Pat Chapman Huff Linda Cagle Andy and Vicki Eaddy Doyle L. Cannon Terry and Caroline Cannon Harrington Katherine Coker Cannon Terry and Caroline Cannon Harrington Hazel McConnell Cason Nan Warren Clarke Carol Phillips Kirven Goode and Gail Mobley Kim Chalmers Jean Grosser and Larry Merriman Henry Chapman Dr. Louis and Lillian Dillard Stephens Gertrude “Trudy” Johnson Chewning Cherin C. Poovey Eva Commedo Dr. Jeanne F. Cook
Celia Cone Kathryn “Katie” Turner Gordon Fred Cromartie Ann Cromartie Dwight Dana Dick and Michal Millen Baird Howard and Patricia H. Dampier Susan Baird Poulnot Dick and Sylvia Puffer James Radisson Dana Dick and Michal Millen Baird Howard and Patricia H. Dampier Susan Baird Poulnot Dr. James D. Daniels Dale and Julie Plyler Leatherwood Matthew D. Shores Gertilee Elvington Jack and Judi Elvington Katherine English Barbara Nexsen Lansche Pat Hanahan Engman Byron and Lillian Utsey Harder Jane Parler Norwood Ed Flowers Gus and Joan Snoddy Hoffmeyer Keith Flowers Rachel Collier Flowers Rebecca Johnson Gray Mitzi DuPre Matthews Tom Hancock Lamar and Lucy Caldwell Voncile Higbee Jack and Judi Elvington Trent Hill Pat Chapman Huff Jack Hopkins Byron and Lillian Utsey Harder Lee Howard Watson Pat Chapman Huff Carol Huber Pat Chapman Huff
DEVELOPMENT
SCHOL AR SHIPS & ENDOWMENT The following gifts to Scholarships and Endowments were received from July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 Class of 1953 Endowed Scholarship Sarah Sampson Bell Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger Mary Frances Coker Johnson Toula Latto Mitzi DuPre Matthews Tommie Long McClain Jean Fore McDaniel Class of 1956 Endowed Scholarship Maxine Locklear Amos Class of 1963 Endowed Scholars Roger and Lizbeth Whitescarver Privette Edith Floride Reynolds Nancy Bland Anna Phillips Chandler Nancy Warren Clarke Lorraine Wright Flynn Katie Turner Gordon Joan C. Gregg Lynda Morillo Hord Carol Phillips Kirven Tammie Caskey McGuire Goode Mobley Barbara Jean Holmes Willis Margaret Brown Young Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship Ann Dobson Hammond
S YMPATHY Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 Mary Rogers Ridgeway, Director of Kalmia Gardens in the death of her father Charles Rogers on October 20, 2012. Sally Sampson Stanley ’40 in the death of her son Bill Stanley on August 18, 2012. Betty Padgett Black ’48 in the death of her devoted friend Betty Marvin Linder ’45 on August 6, 2012. Ruth Rogers Nielsen ’49 in the death of her brother Charles Rogers on October 20, 2012. Ruth Ingram Jackson ’50 in the death of her husband Edwin Howe Jackson on September 15, 2012. Doris Johnson Gray ’51 in the death of her daughter Rebecca Johnson Gray on May 30, 2012. Barbara Lee Spears Baird ’52 in the death of her brother Vernon Alexander Spears, Sr. on July 23, 2012.
DEVELOPMENT
Pat Chapman Huff ’53 in the death of her granddaughter Emilea Huff McCurry on November 10, 2012.
D. L. Scurry Foundation Scholarship The D. L. Scurry Foundation Diana Cobb Nall Endowed Social Work Scholarship Dr. Patricia Holland Chapman Dr. Jeanne F. Cook Marie Golden Douglas and Lorena Cook James Anne Osborn Rosemary Risse Dr. Lois R Gibson Children’s Book Endowment Dr. Lois Rauch Gibson and Dr. Jerry Gibson Dick and Sylvia McLamb Puffer Edna Earle Poyner Endowed Scholarship Judith Hege Bailey Charlotte Bodenheimer Bell Gray and Linda Smith Bradford Alice Adams Brown Clarriss Butler Carraway Margaret Bland Cooper Carol Alford Edwards Carol Ann Elmore Susan Weathers Floyd Martha Stuckey Fogle Joanne Jorgensen Gee Nancy Strahan Hall Ellen Tollison Hayden Marian Stewart James Judith Hayes Johnson Ann Bailey King Janice Atkinson Lane Kenneth and Mary Williams Lawhon Judith Cottingham Lawing Helen McLeod Lee Karen Moore Lorenz Dora Burch MacCallum Crystal Reynolds McNinch Susan Allen Morano
Linda Crews Pearson Judy Brown Pigg April Garnier Poitras Martha Ducworth Reynolds Jane Brown Riechmann Candace Whyte Roach June Smith Rownd Carol Luth Ruthven Drs. George and Gayle Buckheister Sawyer Genevieve White Sharpe Brenda Thomspn Stewart Charles and Betty Young Sullivan Mary Peele Thomas Dr. Deborah Vrooman Frankie Rhodes Watson Sandra Porter White Mary Ann Jay Wingard Dinah Limehouse Wright Eleanore Whittinghill Vaughan Endowed Music Scholarship The General Electric Foundation James and Virginia Vaughan Erby and Katie Sue Diffie Jackson Endowed Scholarship Hellen Jackson Jackson Faye White Coan Endowed Scholarship Gil and Faye White Coan George Sawyer Kalmia Endowment Drs. George and Gayle Buckheister Sawyer Jane Parler Norwood Endowed Scholarship Buddy and Jane Parler Norwood Jean Ludlam ‘51 Endowed Scholarship Tricia McClam Joyce Johnston Jordan Utt Endowed Scholarship Joyce Johnston Jordan Utt Kalmia Gardens Endowment Fund W. Reaves McCall Estate
Kay Sutton Rivers Scholarship Louise Davis Jonathan Middleton Lettie Pate Whitehead Endowed Scholarship Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, Inc. Lewis and Lillian Dillard Stephens Endowed Scholarship Robert H. Radford Lt. Col. Howard Calhoun Rogers Endowed Scholarship Annette Cline David K. and Carol Miller Ann McQuage Moody Malcolm C. and Jacqueline E. McLeod Doubles Endowed Scholarship for International Study Robbie D. Gainey Jacob Smith Dr. Jason W. Umfress Mary Elizabeth Dubose Cottingham Endowed Music Scholarship Walter and Beth DuBose Cottingham Nancy Barrineau Endowed Sholarship Teressa Thompson Harrington Nan Carter Howard Nickey Brumbaugh Endowed Art Scholarship Elizabeth Robertson Coughlin Rubinstein-Büchler Endowed Scholarship for International Study Dr. Joseph and Heike Büchler Rubinstein Ruth Lawton Wilds Endowed Music Scholarship Sara K. Wilds Ruth Ludlam McClam ‘46 Endowed Scholarship Tricia McClam Strahan Endowed Scholarship Barbara Nexsen Lansche The Inabnit Family Endowed Scholarship Laura Cheatham Palmer
Faye Gurley Reynolds ’59 in the death of her nephew from class news, in June 2012.
IN MEMORIAM
library
Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
The following gifts of books and/or media were given to the Charles W. and Joan S. Coker LibraryInformation Technology Center July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
Holly Mims Westcott ’59 in the death of her sister Jeannie Mims Barnhill on September 3, 2012. Martie Dobson White ’68 in the death of her mother Nel Ligon Dobson on March 1, 2012. Betty Jean Roberts Hunsinger ’53 in the death of her brother Jack Lee on August 26, 2012. Sue Morrow Turpin ’60 in the death of her husband John Waymond Turpin on November 13, 2012. Nancy McConnell Wilhelm ’63 in the death of her mother Hazel McConnell Gason on August 4, 2012. Mary Lousie Antley Glesner ’64 in the death of her neice Virginia “Ginger” Dyer Jorgensen on October 2, 2012. Ann Dobson Hammond ’64 in the death of her mother Nell Ligon Dobson on March 1, 2012. Kathy King Belknap ’67 in the death of her son-inlaw 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl on June 20, 2012. Nancy Strahan Hall ’68 in the death of her mother Katherine Sperring Strahan English on December 3, 2012. Joyce Floyd Shaw ’70 in the death of her father James “J.K.” Floyd, Jr. on October 13, 2012.
June Marvin Erwin ’54 in the death of her sister Betty Marvin Linder ’45 on August 6, 2012.
Judy Southard ’70 in the death of her mother Marie Albertine Adams Southard on June 6, 2012.
Frances Fowler Williams ’54 in the death of her husband Lemont F. Williams on September 1, 2012.
Muriel Lee Pippin ’79 in the death of her father Charles W. Pippin on October 7, 2012.
Sarah Burgess Auman ’58 in the death of her sister from class news, in May 2012.
Marla McCutchen Prozzi ’88 in the death of her father Wayne McCutchen on August 30, 2012.
Helen Lee Chapman ’58 in the death of her husband George Lucas Chapman, Sr. on August 28, 2011.
Mirah White Welday ’98 in the death of her father William D. White, Sr. on December 5, 2012.
Elaine Johnson Hays ’58 in the death of her father Johnnie Bell Johnson on August 24, 2012.
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Lee Howard Watson, Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors Wave Josey Parks ’38 Eunice Ford Rogers ’38 Patsy Prince Shuler ’39 Rachel Bennett Turner ’39 Julia Youmans ’39 Doris Beatrice Farmer Capps ’42 Martha Anne Holliday Lucius ’42 Geraldine Atkinson Moore ’42 Harriet Edwards Patty Taylor ’44 Joyce McLeod Shirer ’43 Mary Minshew O’Neal ’45 Martha Baine Courtney Robinson ’46 Gertrude Mae Johnson Chewning ’48 Bette Thomas Goudey ’48 Betty Marvin Linder ’48 David Nolan Thomas ’50 Patsy Hughes Nelson ’52 Harriet “Happy” Burnside Richmond ’62 Jean Virgin ’64 Sandra Dawn Grainger Shaver ’65 Melinda Hudgins Adams ’66 Harriet Green Brenner ’70 Marcia Smith Easler ’72 Margaret Mary Maio De Blanco ’84 David Warren Watson ’00 Millie Elizabeth Hall ’06 Eva D. Commedo ’11 Robert T. Miller ’12
Alexa Bartel Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain James D. Christian Jim Collins Russ Croft Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Bruce and Brianna Douglas Dr. Fred Edinger Mal Hyman Dr. George Lellis Dick and Sylvia McLamb Puffer Donald Quist Brandy Roscoe Dr. Tracey Welborn
Christine Shaw Rittmeier ’08 in the death of her great-grandfather James “J.K.” Floyd, Jr. on October 13, 2012.
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HONOR ARIUMS Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 David and Kay Crook Trent and Anna White Hill Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Trent and Anna White Hill Wes and Lacy Daniels Andy and Vicki Eaddy Malcolm and Jacque McLeod Doubles Trent and Anna White Hill Andy and Vicki Eaddy Trent and Anna White Hill Patricia Elliott Thomas Elliott Frank and Elaine Johnson Hays Ben Outen and Michael O’Hara Candy Holcombe Trent and Anna White Hill Grace Jackson Ingram Nancy Ingram Acker Lorena Cook James Naomi Kelley Jackson Jerry Josey Hank Alewine Alsie L. Kelley Naomi Kelley Jackson Terri L. Alexander Robert B. Alexander Jasmine Alston Booker Woods Jacob Burns Joseph Burns Jason Broussard Derek Tyler Alice Adams Brown Naomi Kelley Jackson Dr. Will Carswell Frances M. Webb Consuello Williams Casey Lutherine Williams
Class of 1958 Pauline Griffin Funderburk Class of 1962 Molly Holbrook Thomas Class of 1963 Nancy Warren Clarke J. Vassie Cooke Annette Cooke Stokes Beth DuBose Cottingham Sarah Kolb Bivins Dr. David McCracken Dr. Cathleen Cuppett Dr. Allen McCutcheon XYZ Seniors of St. Luke United Methodist Church Men’s Lacrosse Team Joseph Burns Susan Bartenstein Necci Marguerite Assey Linda Lovett Parker Marguerite Assey Ann Rice Phillips Marguerite Assey Sarah Jo Wood Safrit Marguerite Assey Goz Segars Sarah Jo Wood Safrit Becky Sparrow Naomi Kelley Jackson Cameron Council Speth Naomi Kelley Jackson Jim and Mary Lathan Steele Trent and Anna White Hill Yvonne Floyd Stuckey Marguerite Assey Charles Sullivan Sarah Jo Wood Safrit Steve and Paula Terry Trent and Anna White Hill Joyce Johnston Jordan Utt Conrad and Marilyn Glasgow Christina Glover Wallerstein Marguerite Assey
WEDDINGS
BIRTHS
Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
Congratulations on the marriage of Nicholas Pierce ’09 to Samantha Gilliam on July 28, 2012.
Congratulations to Patricia Anderson Hobbs ’58 on the birth of great-granddaughter Summer Elizabeth Gulledge on October 7, 2012.
Congratulations on the marriage of Jodi Williams ’05 to Darrell Haynes on June 16, 2012. Congratulations on the marriage of Jeffrey Thomas Johnson II ’06 to Fieke Richter on January 7, 2012. SEND US A WEDDING PHOTO OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM WITH ALL YOUR COKER GUESTS!
Congratulations to Susan Holroyd Shumaker ’58 on the birth of granddaughter Charlotte on March 30, 2012. Congratulations to Sharon Bennett Gregory ’59 on the birth of granddaughter Emmy on April 19, 2012. Congratulations to Tricia Fisher Williams ’59 on the birth of her tenth great-grandchild Peyton Lynn in June 2012. Congratulations to Belinda Duckworth Copeland ’63 on the birth of grandson Craig Duckworth Crawford on June 7, 2012. Congratulations to Madeleine Theus McKenzie ’63 on the birth of granddaughter Kora September 21, 2011. Congratulations to Miriam Anderson ’75 on the birth of grandson Cooper on June 15, 2011. Congratulations to Marielle Santos McLeod ’02 and Mac on the birth of son Gordon Keith McLeod IV “little Mac” in June 2012. Congratulations to Blayke Epley Turrubiartes ’03 and Eduardo on the birth of son Gavin Kennedy Turrubiartes in April 2012. Congratulations to Marjorie Goodson ’05 on the birth of daughter Kiara on May 20, 2011. SEND US BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN!
W e want to keep in touch! Please fill out the left-hand portion of the form below with your updated contact information and return it to us in the enclosed envelope.
DEVELOPMENT
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K almia Gardens Information received July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
DONATIONS
MEMORIAMS Betty Anne McAlpine Cindy Griggs Mary Lou Bailey Ruth Rogers Nielsen Dr. and Mrs. Steve Rumpf Rose Beebe Harry and Rita Moran Mrs. Brownie Bell Keith and Patricia Bell Hargrove Betty Bizzell Willie and Leigh Ann Bizzell Elizabeth G. Blakeney Ann Gay Duvall Ellen Cecil Steve and Molly Peterson The Honorable Lee Chandler Charles and Adrienne Rogers Laurie D. Coker Dr. Caroline C. Benser Charles Cook Harry and Rita Moran Rue Denny Mary Esther Denny Dr. and Mrs. Jim Lemke Dr. Rion Dixon Bill and Rochelle Miller Cal and Ruth Edinger Dr. and Mrs. Fred Edinger Pat Hanahan Engman Dan and Betty McEachin Ludie Ervin Charles and Adrienne Rogers Fred Harris Harry and Rita Moran Thomas W. Hodge Bill and Olive Timberlake Dr. and Mrs. Howard Tucker Frances Holland William and Helen Holland Chaplin Harmon Jernigan Adrienne Rogers Mary Elman Jordan Dr. Belva High
Annie McFarland Marion and Greta Hawkins Don McCall Kathy McCall Sarah Mobley Rose Marie K. Newsom Betsy O’Connor Wade and Lee Hicks Dr. and Mrs. Jim Lemke Jim and Holly Prescott Adrienne Rogers Annie Cole Parsons E. H. Parsons C. D. Pinner Duck and Pam Newsome Marjorie Plowden Charles and Adrienne Rogers D. J. Plummer, Sr. D. J. Plummer, Jr. Charles H. Rogers, Sr. Dr. Ronna V. Askins Sloan Hungerpiller Brittain David and Patsy Cannon Mo Cayer Rick and Rindy Christoph Marie Colton Tom and Dorothy DeWitt Eddie and Linda Drayton Kirk and Jane Dunlap Willie and Lib Ervin Joe and Sara Hanna Keith and Evelyn Hane Walt and Susan Harvey Candy Holcombe Reggie and Beth Hubbard Harold and Libba King Sharon, Brad, and Jessica Lauretti Ed and Tru Lawton Dr. and Mrs. Jim Lemke The Rev. and Mrs. Michael Malone Dr. and Mrs. Joe Matthews Roy and Margaret McCall Betty E. McEachin Scoop and Karen Mitchell Chandler and Martha Peel Chris and Dee Pierce Jim and Holly Prescott Charles N. Rogers, Jr. Ellen Harden Rogers John and Lynn Rogers Tom Rogers Tom and Angie Roop Mary C. Teel Dr. and Mrs. Howard Tucker Sara K. Wilds William T. Stanley Dr. and Mrs. C. Brooks Bannister G. Kenneth Suggs Rose Marie K. Newsom Betty Wiggins Jack and Francine Bachman Lynch and Melanie Christian Jean Grosser Larry Merriman
Ben and Ann Williamson Wesley Young Rose Marie K. Newsom
HONORARIUMS Dr. Ronna Askins Greg and Lyne Askins Merle Davis Baxley Honorable J. Michael Baxley Dr. Robert J. Stewart Dennis and Lyndell Becker Sarah G. Brown Cliff and Shirlyn Bellum Sloan Brittain Kyle Segars Mary C. Joslin Caroline C. Harrington John and Ione Lee Richard and Carol Ruthven Ron Ferguson Steve and Cheryl Scott Susan Harvey Dave and Rolfe Godshalk Anna Hungerpiller Kyle Segars Nan Lawton Ed and Tru Lawton Selma LeHardy Hazel Puyet Dr. and Mrs. Jim Lemke Anna Hill Lisa Bryant McDowell Ray Bryant, Jr. Pam Newsome Olivia G. Doughty Mary Ridgeway Rachel Collier Flowers Bobb Riggs Lois Rauch Gibson Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein Bobb E. Riggs Holly Prescott Dr. and Mrs. Jim Lemke Sarah Jo Wood Safrit Christina Glover Wallerstein Kelly Sloan Flossie Hopkins Layton Elizabeth Suits Betty Jo Nichols Dr. George Sawyer Dr. Lois Rauch Gibson Drs. George and Gayle Buckheister Sawyer Dr. and Mrs. David Blackmon Martha Herbert C.E. Spires Carolyn “Sunny” Spires Dixon Bob L. Wilson Hannelore W. Wilson Hannelore Wilson Bob Wilson Nancy Wyatt Marie Daniels
DEVELOPMENT
Anderson Brass Company Tyler and Ellen Baldwin Ann Banning Ruth Baronda Merle Davis Baxley Ritchie and Heidi Bond Brown-Pennington-Atkins Chase Oil Company Charlie and Joan Coker Charles and Sylvia Coker Elizabeth Coker Fitz and Dotty Coker Howard and Rhonda Coker Dr. and Mrs. Richard Conner Bob and Betty Corning Rollins and Nancy Culpepper John and Judy Davis Harris and Louise DeLoach Ann Dixon Bubber and Barbara Dibble Dixon Eddie and Linda Drayton Ann Gay Duvall Randall Ewing Wade and Mary Lutie Fletcher John and Anita Folsom Loree H. Gandy Andrew and Bonnie Hamilton Betty Herring Dan Hill Candy Holcombe David Holt Roger Hux and Julia Krebs Mal and Carole Holloway Hyman Jay James Ben and Nettie Kilpatrick Dr. and Mrs. Keith Kooken Edgar and Nan Lawton Curtis and Barbara Lee Reverend and Mrs. Michael Malone Gordon and Bernice McBride Mary Jane McDonald Jim and Nancy McGee Kathy Moore Harry and Rita Moran Vern and Nancy Myers Dr. Ted Newman Dr. and Mrs. M. B. Nickels Pepsi-Cola of Florence Chris and Dee Pierce Dick and Brenda Porter Progress Energy Frank Prehoda Ed and Rose Quilty Jenny Rogers Laura Rowell
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Rubinstein Willie Calcutt Saleeby Roger and Connie Schrum Goz and Pat Ramsdell Segars Mary Segars Bob and Janet Snow Clyde and Mary Catherine Stuckey SPC Credit Union Jim and Dot Stone Bob and Peggy Trowell Dr. and Mrs. Howard Tucker John and Martha Ward Clyde Weaver, Jr. Elaine Whittle Sara K. Wilds Patrick and Pam Youngblood Bud and Joanne Moody Zobel
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Forty-seven new Coker College graduates received their baccalaureate degrees LEARN
during this year’s Winter Commencement, which was held in the Elizabeth Coker Boatwright Performing Arts Center on Saturday, December 15th. Dr. James P. Comer, the Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine’s Child Study Center in New Haven, Conn., presented the commencement address and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters. “Hartsville and its citizens are indebted to this man, a gentle giant whose life’s work has transformed educational systems across the United States and, now, is doing so in our community as well,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. Comer is known nationally and internationally for his creation of the Comer School Development Program. Centered on teamwork, the program engages the collaborative efforts of parents, educators and community members to improve student development and academic learning outcomes for children that, in turn, help them achieve greater school success. Comer’s work has particular significance for the city of Hartsville. Since early in 2011, Comer has been integral in the roll-out of a comprehensive program to improve education achievements of elementary school students in Hartsville. The program, which is part of Partners for Unparalleled Local Scholastic Excellence (PULSE), is a first-of-its-kind public-private
partnership involving the Darlington County School District, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, Coker College, Yale University and Sonoco. In his address, Comer urged graduates to recognize and believe in the “power of one” — the potential for an individual with determination and tenacity to make a positive difference. While Comer congratulated the new graduates on their accomplishments, he also challenged them to use their strengths and abilities to make the world a better place. “Your mission, should you accept it, is to take the power of one—that you have gained through your experiences here and elsewhere—and live lives that model learning, productivity, caring and compassion,” he said. In presenting the candidates for graduation, Coker College Provost Tracy Parkinson posthumously recognized Robert Tyson Miller, who had been a Hartsville criminology student in the Adult Learners Program for Higher Achievement, as the First Graduate. Miller, 26, passed away July 23, 2012. His parents, Robert and Donna Miller, accepted the degree in his honor.
Distinguished Adjunc t Professor of the Ye ar Award The Distinguished Adjunct Professor of the Year award was presented to Joseph Boutte, an adjunct professor at Coker since 2009 and the coordinator of the Lake City campus since 2010. “You have encouraged and inspired us to achieve our goals,” said graduate Michael Kirkley, who spoke at the ceremony. “So from each of your students, we say thank you.” Boutte earned a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from the Morris College, in Sumter, S.C., a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in New York and a master’s degree in sacred theology from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia, S.C. Currently, Boutte also serves as the supply pastor at Mt. Sinai Presbyterian Church in St. Charles, S.C.
WEB EXTRAS To view this video plus many more, visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
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ACHIEVE
leading by Examp Professors recognized for outstanding achievements
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JUN MATSUO | GORDON BROWN | ANGELA G ACHIEVE
If you spend enough time around the Coker campus, you’re bound to hear someone mention that students here “learn how to learn.” But what does that mean? We’re not just talking about study habits. At Coker, students discover that education isn’t a destination—it’s a journey, and it’s one that doesn’t stop with a degree. A Coker diploma signifies a lifelong commitment to the pursuit of growth and knowledge. And that commitment is not limited to students. Coker professors are leaders in their fields and role models of this philosophy. This fall, three Coker professors received special recognition in the form of awards or grants, demonstrating the strength of their individual accomplishments as well as the college’s commitment to educational growth.
dr. Jun Matsuo becomes Steinway Artist This October, Assistant Professor of Music Jun Matsuo was designated as a Steinway Artist, a prestigious distinction that recognizes her talent and accomplishments as a pianist. The Steinway Artists program is the endorsement of world-class pianists who voluntarily choose to perform only on Steinway pianos. To become a Steinway Artist, a pianist must meet certain performance and professional criteria. “A pianist who achieves the title ‘Steinway Artist’ reveals to those who study with that artist, and those who hear that artist perform, that they are serious about their craft and are committed to extraordinary results as a teacher and performer,” said Associate Professor of Music Will Carswell, who chairs Coker’s department of dance, music and theater. Matsuo is only the fifth Steinway Artist in South Carolina and one of 1,600 pianists around the world to hold the distinction. She joins a list of distin26 | W INTER
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guished musicians that ranges from classical pianist Lang Lang to pop icon Billy Joel to legendary musicians such as Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. “Steinway & Sons is proud to welcome Jun Matsuo to our illustrious roster of Steinway Artists,” said Steinway & Sons President-Americas Ron Losby. “Matsuo has demonstrated not only a commitment to personal excellence, but also a commitment to bringing out excellence in her students.” Matsuo’s recognition follows the College’s recently launched All-Steinway Initiative, a commitment to using Steinway-designed instruments in classrooms, practice studios and performance spaces campus-wide and to engaging a Steinway Artist on the faculty. Less than one percent of colleges and universities worldwide are designated as All-Steinway Institutions. Coker will be one of only three colleges in South Carolina with this distinction. In accepting the award, Matsuo deflected the attention from the prestigious accomplishment to her music, saying simply, “I’ll be playing here next Monday.”
Luckily, Matsuo doesn’t need to sing her own praises, as she has plenty of supporters who are more than happy to do so instead. “To be named a Steinway Artist is to be considered among the best in the world,” said Carswell. “She is most deserving of this honor.” Matsuo, a music theory and piano professor at Coker since 2009, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in piano pedagogy from the University of South Carolina and prior degrees from Binghamton University and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She is versatile as both a solo and collaborative performer, with an illustrious record of both national and international performances. She also recently presented a lecture on Carl Czerny at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia.
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ple dr. Gordon Brown awarded NSF Grant
Angela Gallo receives state association’s highest award
Also in October, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Gordon Brown was awarded a three-year, $143,000 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct fundamental research on molecular interactions using low-frequency microwave spectroscopy. “In order to study larger biologically and environmentally important molecular systems, it is useful to be able to study them at frequencies that are lower than is feasible with currently available instruments,” Brown said. “No one sells microwave spectrometers of the type we need, so we are building our own.” Ultimately, implications of the research could be applied to medical investigations and to finding better ways to capture and store carbon dioxide so that it does not contribute to greenhouse gases. Brown’s innovative project also creates new opportunities for students to investigate the precise structures that impact the ways that organic molecules bind to each other. It also involves students in a project to develop a new low-frequency microwave instrument to facilitate the research. “Undergraduate research has been demonstrated to help students achieve greater gains in personal initiative, problem solving and communication skills in addition to stronger enrollment in graduate studies and increased employment in major-related fields,” said Director of Undergraduate Research Joe Flaherty. Brown, a Coker faculty member since 2007, received his Bachelor of Science from the College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. His research is being funded through the Chemical Measurement and Imaging program, within the chemistry division of the National Science Foundation, which supports research that focuses on chemically relevant measurement science and imaging.
Associate Professor of Dance Angela M. Gallo received the South Carolina Dance Association’s Honor Award, the highest award given by the South Carolina Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She accepted the award at the Alliance’s annual conference and exposition held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in November. “The Honor Award was given to Angela, in large part, because she serves as such an outstanding role model for students, clients and the professionals of the Association through her 10 years of membership,” said Katy Dallas, who chairs the Honors and Awards Committee for the South Carolina Dance Association. Criteria for the award include service to the South Carolina Alliance, pioneering leadership in the profession, meritorious service to allied fields, public and professional presentations and community service. “It was a personal privilege for me to see Angela receive this award,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. “She epitomizes the commitment to excellence and the spirit of service that have become signature characteristics of Coker College faculty. We could not be more proud of this singular achievement.” Gallo, a Coker faculty member since 2003, has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater and dance from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Michigan. She was runner-up for the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Fellowship in Dance in 2007 and has been the recipient of grants from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties. She has also received grants from Black Creek Arts Council and South Carolina Arts Commission, including the Dance Touring Initiative Grant to bring contemporary dance to underserved communities.
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faculty extras JUN MATSUO Matsuo’s international appearances include a recital and lecture at the Universitii Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia; performances of Spanish and South American Music for Cello and Piano in Japan; and master classes with Dominique Merlet, Pascal Devoyon, Noel Lee, and Roy Howat at the French Piano Institute in Paris, France.
gordon brown Brown has also received funding from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) student-faculty research program to purchase a quad-core processor and sophisticated software to perform quantum chemical calculations.
angela gallo In addition to her teaching, Gallo serves as the southeast regional director of the American College Dance Festival and is also the artistic director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company in Columbia, S.C.
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New apartment-style student housing option opens downtown Fourteen upperclassmen became the first to experience a new kind of student housing with this year’s opening of The Downtown Flats. The apartment-style rooms were added to help accommodate a growing student body, and the downtown location provides an exciting option for older students. Following eight months of renovations, the college hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on August 18th. The first students moved in at the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year. “Last year’s enthusiastic response to the college’s decision to add downtown housing, the Downtown Lofts, made the decision to open another downtown facility an easy one,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt. But these aren’t your average dorm rooms. Located just off campus at 134 E. College Ave., each twobedroom apartment is approximately 700 square feet and includes its own kitchen (with dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator), living room and
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bathroom. Each has cable television access, wireless Internet access and individually programmed key-card access for security. The building also has a laundry facility similar to what is available for on-campus residents, onsite storage, parking and an openair back-porch gathering room. “One look at the building and you will understand why students can’t wait to get into these new spaces,” said Dean of Students Jason Umfress. With built-in shelving, hardwood kitchen cabinets, elegant crown moldings, acid-stained concrete floors, unfinished hardwood pine window trim and exposed pipes overhead, each unit has the look and feel of an upscale urban townhouse. “Renovating this building has been a labor of love,” said owner Jeff Winburn. “We pored over every detail, looking for ways to make the spaces functional and stylish, although not necessarily trendy. This building was built in 1927, and we wanted to respect the classic aesthetic of the original structure.”
The apartments were assigned to students older than 20 through a system based on Coker’s normal roomdraw selection process, and they filled up immediately. Students living in the flats are expected to adhere to the same rules and regulations that apply to all of the college’s residents and share the building with staff from Coker’s department of residence life. Off campus but still a part of the Coker community, the apartments strike the perfect balance for students who want more independence without losing the connection that comes with living in dorms. “Living in the Downtown Flats has been such an incredible experience,” said Brianna Sumter, a senior doublemajor in Criminology and Psychology. “I love everything about it. It gives you the feel of being in a real apartment and makes you feel like you actually have a WEB EXTR A S place that you can call your To view this video plus many more, own.” visit: youtube.com/cokercollege BECOME A SUBSCRIBER OF OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL!
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before Renovations to the Susanne G. Linville Dining Hall are underway— and students are already enjoying the updated space. and the Cobra Café. Each location offers a variety of food ranging from sandwiches to hot meals, with a large salad bar and plenty of healthy options at every meal. Both are located on campus and are available to the entire Coker community. Umfress said the college recognizes the importance of providing students with a comfortable, attractive place to gather and enjoy meals. “It’s another way we can give students a positive experience on campus,” he added.
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Thanks to Coker’s partnership with ARAMARK Higher Education, extended last June, the campus’s main dining hall is in the midst of a major makeover. The first phase of updates began last summer with a fresh coat of paint in an updated color palette of neutral tones. After Fall Break, students returned to campus to find brand new seating had been installed as well. A variety of styles, including traditional tables, high-top tables and booth seating, were selected to provide students with plenty of options. Built in 1916, the dining hall was named in 1990 for a granddaughter of Major James Lide Coker, founder of the College. “We were very careful in preserving the historical nature of the room, while also modernizing it as well,” said Dean of Students Jason Umfress. Students can look forward to even more updates in the coming months. The next phase of renovations, set to take place this summer, will include structural changes to the serving and entrance areas designed to improve aesthetics and traffic flow. More “action stations” will also be installed, where students can observe their food being prepared fresh. Dining services provides two options for dining on campus: the Susanne G. Linville Dining Hall
after
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Hired Patricia Meinhold has been appointed to the position of Vice President for Institutional Advancement, effective Jan. 7, 2013. Meinhold comes to Coker from Lenexa, Kansas, where she served as District Vice President of Operations for the Greater Kansas City YMCA. Originally from Germany, Meinhold moved to the U.S. as a young adult and earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications and her MBA from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. As the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Meinhold will oversee the College’s fundraising and alumni
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initiatives and report to the president as an administrative officer. “It is with great pleasure that I look forward to joining Coker College,” said Meinhold. “I am eager to work with the exceptional people that represent Coker to advance the mission of the institution.” Meinhold will assume responsibilities from Charles L. Sullivan Jr., retired executive vice president of Sonoco Products, who served as the interim Vice President following Tom Griffin’s retirement in January 2012.
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ENGAGE
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INDONESIA ENGAGE
Senior Halee
Polson discovers the benefits of culture shock during a month in Jakarta, Indonesia
When Halee Polson left her hometown of Hartsville for a trip to Indonesia, she expected to encounter unfamiliar situations. But she wasn’t prepared to defend her personal property from a mischievous primate. “We went to a huge temple in Bali, and there were monkeys everywhere,” she explains. “And this one monkey just comes up and grabs my water bottle from me! It was a little scary, but they were friendly, and they climbed all over you. It was like the real Jungle Book!” Luckily, Halee was able to retrieve the stolen goods and escape the encounter with all of her belongings. It’s now one of her favorite memories from the month she spent living, working, and traveling as an intern in Indonesia. It may be a lighthearted example, but it represents one of many experiences she didn’t expect—and of everything she learned while abroad, Halee says it was the unexpected (and sometimes uncomfortable) situations that taught her the most.
Wa n d er lu s t Despite her stories of exotic primate encounters, it’s not hard to tell that Halee is, at heart, a Southern girl. Her warm, friendly disposition and her neatly styled long brown hair both hint at her Southern roots, but it’s the telltale note of twang in her voice that gives it away. A Hartsville native, the senior history and business administration major spends her spare time tutoring in the writing center or playing with her 3-year-old niece. “I’m really big on family,” she says, mention-
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ing that frequent home-cooked meals are a perk of attending college close to home. But don’t get her wrong: “I’m not a homebody,” she’s quick to clarify. “I definitely want to travel more.” In fact, that love of travel is partly what brought her to Coker. Studying abroad was always a dream of Halee’s, and when it came time to choose a college, Coker stood out for the flexibility of its programs. When she researched Coker’s variety of study away opportunities, which range in length from two weeks to a full semester, Halee knew she would find a program to fit her needs. “I didn’t know if I wanted to do it for the entire semester, but I knew I wanted to do it,” she says. “Here I had the opportunity to choose.” And she did. In July 2012, Halee and two other Coker students became the first group to participate in a new month-long internship program working for Indokemika Jayatama, a chemical supplier in Jakarta, Indonesia.
B US I NESS T I M E For Halee, the program’s appeal was twofold: the chance to visit a new continent, and the opportunity to learn firsthand about international business techniques. Like most college students, Halee didn’t arrive on campus knowing exactly what she wanted to study. But business was always in the back of her mind. “I had to write a business plan in high school—we had to create a mock business and everything. And that really interested me, so that’s what pulled me into wanting to find out more,” she says. (Her second major, history, was added on later — just for fun.
“I’m pretty nerdy,” she confesses with a laugh.) On campus, Halee explored her interests by getting involved with groups such as Enactus, an international nonprofit organization that aims to enable progress through entrepreneurial action. Halee likes how the group helps underprivileged people by teaching them business concepts. “So it’s not just giving to people, it’s giving them knowledge,” she explains. But the internship in Indonesia gave her a chance to explore the world of business in ways that her classes and extracurricular activities couldn’t. Each week in Jakarta, the students had a chance to work with a different section of the company. Halee dabbled in marketing and research, but focused on sales and accounting, the areas she’s more interested in pursuing as a career. “They tailored it around what we wanted to do, which you don’t really get in a lot of internships,” she says. Throughout the internship, Halee worked with accounting programs, met with clients and traveled all over Indonesia to every division of the company. She visited warehouses and docks to learn about international imports and exports, experienced international business practices first-hand and met employees from every branch of the company. The work experience was challenging and hands-on, but Halee says she was able to build on her business education by applying what she’d learned in her Coker classes to a real work environment. “All of my business courses definitely went straight into what I was doing,” she says.
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Of course, the trip wasn’t without its difficulties. From accounting programs written in Bahasa (the official language of Indonesia) to employees who laid down mats next to their cubicles to pray during Ramadan, the cultural differences were more numerous than Halee anticipated. “I’ve traveled to parts of Europe, so I thought that I would be fine,” she says. “But it was totally different from any places that I’ve traveled before.” But the struggle of adapting to a foreign language and an unfamiliar culture, she insists, is one of the most valuable experiences of a study abroad program. “You don’t understand their business concepts, but you work to learn them and interact with the people and understand their lifestyle,” she says. “If you learn to overcome that, then when you go to apply for a job you’ll be much more versatile in what you can offer.” Coker believes that experiential, hands-on education helps students transition from college to a work environment, and international internships take this to the next level by preparing students for an increasingly globalized world. “Internships abroad expose students to a ‘different way of knowing,’” says Darlene Small, assistant dean and director of the Center for Engaged Learning. “You learn to live and work with people in a different culture. You prove your ability to adapt to a business model that is influenced by their values, which may differ from our own. “At Coker, we believe that our graduates should understand the interdependence and interconnectedness of the world we all live in. They should be ready to take their place as citizens and leaders of a global community.” Halee admits to encountering challenges along the way, whether it was exotic food or language barriers. But instead of resisting, Halee em-
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braced the difficulties along with the perks. “The international aspect really pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “It allows you to do things that you wouldn’t have to do here. It makes you grow.”
W H AT’S NE X T Halee bubbles over with enthusiasm about her Indonesian adventures. But when asked to single out the most valuable part of her experience, she goes quiet. “That’s a hard one,” she admits. But she isn’t struggling to find an answer—she hesitates because it’s difficult to choose just one. In the end, it’s not the boost to her resume, or the people she met—or even the monkeys. It’s something less tangible, but infinitely more important: it’s the newfound confidence and the fresh perspective on life that leave Halee feeling like she’s capable of more than she ever imagined. For now, Halee isn’t quite sure where life will take her after she graduates in May. She mentions getting her MBA, learning another language, maybe even working abroad for a few years. But wherever she lands next, Halee knows that her experiences abroad have opened her mind to the multitude of possibilities in her future, and she encourages anyone who can to pursue similar opportunities. “You don’t know what happens to you when you have to do something on your own in a foreign country,” she muses. “I think it’s something that anybody who has the opportunity should do. I would go back in a heartbeat.”
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Rising in the Ranks When updated college rankings rolled out at the beginning of the academic year, Coker College once again found itself at the top of the heap. Noted for providing students with individual attention from professors, a nurturing environment, and opportunities for research and service, Coker continues to be recognized as a leading academic institution.
Princeton Review “Best College”
Washington Monthly No. 73
U.S. News & World Report No. 14
In August, The Princeton Review—a nationally recognized education services company— named Coker College as one of the best colleges in the Southeast for the ninth consecutive year. Coker is featured in the 2013 edition of its annual college guide, “The Best 377 Colleges.” Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 fouryear colleges are included. “We’re pleased to recommend Coker College to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their undergrad degree. We chose it and the other terrific institutions we name as ‘regional best’ colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice president and publisher.
In September, Washington Monthly magazine ranked Coker College No. 73, up from No. 96 last year, among the baccalaureate colleges in the nation that contribute most to the public good. This year, 352 baccalaureate colleges were included on the list. Washington Monthly ranks schools based on three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.s), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).
Also in August, U.S. News & World Report ranked Coker College No. 14 in its college guide for 2013, making Coker College South Carolina’s highest-ranking baccalaureate institution on the South Region list. This is the 18th consecutive year that the national magazine has named Coker one of America’s Best Colleges, ranking it, again, in the top 20 among baccalaureate colleges in the twelve states of the South region. “I am gratified that we continue to be named among the nation’s finest institutions,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt, “and seeing Coker’s name rise to the top among the state’s many fine institutions helps underscore the important progress we’re seeing at the ground level.”
Published on Jan 28, 2013
Campus & Alumni Issue - Vol. 41, No. 1
