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in memoriam
• Elizabeth Wright “Libby” Dicconson ’48 died Aug. 20 in Gardnerville, Nev. She grew up in Durham, where she was an active member of the Triangle Hunt, The Debutante Ball Society, Folio Club and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. She retired to northern Nevada in 1993 with her husband, Douglas Dicconson, who preceded her in death. She is survived by sons, John Dicconson ’76 and Doug Dicconson ’91; daughters Liza Dicconson Cohen ’78 and Edith Dicconson ’89; and five grandchildren. • Virginia “Jinny” Jackson Lee ’58 died Sept. 21 in Durham. She was a talented artist in various media including painting, ceramics, metalwork and photography. Her work was frequently shown in local exhibitions and competitions and received numerous awards. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Tom Lee, a longtime judge in Durham, and is survived by sons Thomas Lee of Carrboro and David Lee of Durham; brother David Jackson of Chapel Hill; and four grandchildren. • Graeme Kirven ’17 passed away Oct. 24. A sophomore at Durham Academy, he had been a member of the DA family since Preschool and was known to all by his sweet character and witty humor. Graeme was a member of the varsity swim team and was proud of qualifying for the state championship meet earlier this year. His love of adventure and curiosity of other cultures gave him the desire to travel. He had traveled to Canada, Mexico, St. Croix, England and, most recently, to Scotland. He is survived by his parents, Paul Douglas Kirven and Saundra Lee Kirven of Durham, and his brother, Ian Kirven ’15. • Anne Gibson Hill died at her home in Chapel Hill on Nov. 13. She was the widow of George Watts Hill, Sr., and prior to their marriage she taught at Durham Academy. Together they founded the Learning Development Center, a school for children with learning disabilities that now is known as The Hill Center. She was a member of The Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, and also a member of the Up-To-Date Book Club and the Junior League. She is survived by three children from 44
DURHAM ACADEMY RECORD | WINTER 2015 | WWW.DA.ORG
her first marriage, John Hutchison ’73 of Chapel Hill, Anne Adams of Pittsboro and Margaret Hart ’81 of Hickory; and by six grandchildren, including Katharine Hutchison Merritt ’02 of Washington, D.C., Dorothy Hutchison ’04 of Charlotte and Wylie Hutchison ’07 of Raleigh.
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Memoriam
• Margaret Tyndall Graham died on Jan. 29, 2014, in Quito, Ecuador. She taught at Durham Academy, was a member of the Altar Guild at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, practiced reiki, worked at the summer camp of her childhood, Camp Ton-a-wandah, and continued her lifelong interest in the healing nature of plants. She is survived by her son, Will Graham ’89 of Winston-Salem; her daughter, Cameron Graham Vivanco ’91 of Quito, Ecuador; and four grandchildren.
• Martha Tyson died Dec. 24 in Chapel Hill. She served as Durham Academy’s Middle School librarian for 10 years, where she helped plan a new Middle School library and began the enrichment of the school’s collection of African-American literature. She is survived by her husband, Ruel W. Tyson, Jr.; and sons, David Erich Tyson of Raleigh and Ruel Michael Haywood Tyson ’80 of Durham. • Lois Bryant Hedgepeth died Dec. 25 in Durham. She taught in the public schools and spent 16 years at Durham Academy where she was a first-grade teacher, librarian, Lower School director and Lower School counselor. She was awarded a Sarah Graham Kenan Grant to develop DA’s first grade science curriculum, and in her retirement wrote a book, “Teaching Outisde the Box.” She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Bill Hedgepeth. • Kelsey Colleen Brian ’11 died Jan. 19 in Miami, Fla. She was a senior at the University of Miami, majoring in English with an interest in early childhood education. She came to Durham Academy from Triangle Day School in ninth grade, and was involved in musical theatre, chorus and a cappella. She enjoyed baking, was very supportive of progressive social causes and civil rights, and loved her dogs. Survivors include her parents, Bill Brian and Leigh Brian of Durham, and her brother, Keegan Brian ’12, a junior at Virginia Tech.
• Susan Fox Beischer died Jan. 20 in Durham. She was a member of the Durham Academy board of trustees from 1982 to 1988, and previously served as a board member of the Fox Family Foundation, Durham Arts Council, Foundation for Better Health, Friends of the Duke Art Museum and Hill House Advisory Board. She was very involved with the philanthropic support of Duke University, Duke Medical Center and Duke Cancer Center. She was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she previously served as a deacon and taught Sunday school. She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, George Beischer, and by her brother, Randolph Fox ’70. She is survived by two sons, David Beischer ’85 of Durham and Tom Beischer ’87 of San Francisco, Calif; and five grandchildren, including Will Beischer ’15, Nick Beischer ’17 and Davis Beischer ’20 of Durham.