Classnotes

1980s

1982 Carol Howington Cain of LaGrange performed in the LSPA winter production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” She also served as emcee for the 29th Azalea Storytelling Festival.

1988 Phillip B. Anglin  of LaGrange completed the five 1/2-week Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage during Holy Week, taking part in a Lenten procession in Ponferrada, Spain.

1988 Pepper Ellis-Hagebak of LaGrange is participating in the 2025 Leadership Troup Class.

1989 Kelly Dudley Jones of LaGrange is a Realtor at Southern Classic Realtors and at Kelly Jones Heart and Home, and a family nurse practitioner at NaphCare Inc.

1990s

1993 Dr. Jacqueline Jones of LaGrange is participating in the 2025 Leadership Troup Class.

1995 Chris J. Herring of Columbus is a salesman at Rivertown Subaru.

1996 Jeff Wright of LaGrange, owner of Tournesol: Gifts-Decor-Boutique, received one of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Awards for 2024.

2000s

2000 Sara Ann Rockwell Hudson M’01, M'02 is a territory business manager in food safety for Neogen. She is a member of the Muscogee Roller Girls roller derby team, where her derby name is "Scary Ann."

2001 Marilyn McClanahan Huberdeau M'08 of LaGrange was named the Gardner Newman Middle School Teacher of the Year.

2001 The Reverend Matthew Parker of Lavonia is an associate pastor at Hartwell First Methodist Church. He also serves Emmanuel University as an adjunct professor.

2002 Dr. L. Joy Baker of LaGrange was awarded the 2024 Provider Partner in Practice Excellence Award and was named Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center Physician of the Year.

2003 Mary Beth Carter Pelt of LaGrange is the program facilitator at The Exceptional Way.

2003 Valerie Longshore-Sargent of LaGrange was inducted into the Georgia Thespians Society Hall of Fame.

2004 The Reverend Dr. Erik Mays of Gulf Breeze, Florida, is the senior pastor at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. He received his Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership from Wesley Theological Center in Washington, D.C.

2004 Dr. Carrie Reif-Stice of Evans is an associate professor in communications at Augusta University.

2005 Josh Hale of LaGrange is participating in the 2025 Leadership Troup Class.

2006 Jeff '06 and Suzanna Lewis Delaney '07 of Peachtree City were contestants on Family Feud alongside their family.

2006 Jonathan Fuller of Ashburn received his Doctor of Ministry in Organizational Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the pastor of Ashburn First United Methodist Church in Ashburn, Georgia.

2007 Sgt. Nichelle Ortiz Parent-Seaman of Peachtree City was awarded a commendation as Sargeant of the Year for the Atlanta Police Department at the Atlanta Police Foundation's 20th annual Crime is Toast Awards. She was also named Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Officer of the Year.

2008 Jodi Karpik Vaughn of LaGrange is in the specialist program in instructional technology through University of West Georgia. She was named Long Cane Middle School Teacher of the Year.

2009 David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris of Hamden, Connecticut, served as an additional producer and programmer on "The Journey," an Oscar-nominated song featured in the Tyler Perry film "Six Triple Eight."

2009 Joshua Watson M'11 of Salem, Arkansas, was named the Arkansas 3A Football Coach of the Year.

2010s

2010 Allison Lovenguth Hale M'10 of LaGrange is a Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support teacher at Long Cane Middle School.

2012 Emmie Trull Cass of Acworth received her doctorate in higher education from the University of West Georgia.

2012 Sara Arnold-Nixon is the founder/owner of Será Será Photo & Design.

2013 David Kelton of LaGrange received his 300th career win as LaGrange College Head Baseball Coach in an 8-2 win over Berry College.

2013 James Yancey '17 of LaGrange is a licensed Nurse Practitioner at LaGrange Internal Medicine.

2015 Evan Brasselle Elder of LaGrange is the nurse residency professional development and retention specialist at Wellstar Health Systems.

2015 Caroline Yates Oxford M'16 of Roswell was named Teacher of the Year for Vickery Mill Elementary School.

2015 Madeline Sain of Newnan performed in the LSPA winter production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

2016 Brooke Turner Houlihan M'18 of Bogart was named Teacher of the Year for Apalachee High School.

2017 DeLion Lance of LaGrange performed in the LSPA winter production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and as Old Man Warner in LaGrange College's rendition of "The Lottery.”

2017 Rachel Pless Miller of LaGrange graduated from Columbus State University with her Master of Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner degree.

2018 Emily Barrs M'20 of Wrightsville is the head coach of the Dublin High School softball team.

2018 Rebekah Lee Jones of Fayetteville was featured in the Georgia Society of Association Executives magazine, discussing content creation and strategy. She is a client communications manager at Association Services Group.

2019 Caitlyn Deal McCollough of Atlanta was promoted to corporate giving senior manager for the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity team.

2020s

2020 Madison Murphy Blakley is an EIP teacher within the Troup County School System.

2020 Emily Easterwood Brockway M'22, Ed.S.'23 of Newnan was awarded the Georgia Outstanding Mentor Teacher Award.

2020 Elissa Chandler Lamoree of LaGrange is participating in the 2025 Leadership Troup Class.

2020 Grace Margaret Neal of Newnan is the associate manager of client services at Coxe Curry & Associates.

2021 Nicole Phillips Byers of Enigma graduated from the University of Florida with her master’s in microbiology. She is a laboratory analyst for Duracell.

2021 Joely Peterman Coker of Pelham, Alabama, is the children's ministry director at Shades Valley Community Church.

2021 Ben Crump of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a teacher and wide receiver football coach at Parkview Baptist School.

2021 Savanna Hicks Hunt of Hogansville received her Master of Education in Theatre Education degree from Columbus State University.

2021 Ansley Moody of St. Simons is a staff associate with Glynn County Young Life.

2021 Elizabeth Wyzykowski Patrick of LaGrange is the co-owner of Sweet Stitches, a children's embroidered clothing boutique.

2022 Madison Demkowski of Birmingham, Alabama, is the residence life coordinator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while also pursuing her master’s in higher education administration.

2022 Porter Law of Rome earned his Master of Teaching degree from Walden University.

2022 Emily Wyzykowski Pannell of LaGrange is the co-owner of Sweet Stitches, a children's embroidered clothing boutique.

2022 Olivia Hanners Snyder of LaGrange received her Master of Arts in Political Science degree from the University of Tennessee.

2022 Mathias Vera of LaGrange received the Associate Virtual Homer Award from Home Depot for his leadership and contribution to the team.

2023 Abigail Gardner of LaGrange is a pre-K teacher at Ethel Kight Elementary School.

2023 Dee Hare of Calhoun is a Graduate Admissions Counselor at LaGrange College. He had a role in the LSPA winter production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

2023 Gabe Miller of Griffin has passed the CPA exam and is now a CPA on the FTA: Vector Capitalization EDGE Team at EY.

2023 Kylie Neal of Hogansville is a volleyball coach for 85 South travel volleyball club 15U.

2023 Madi Novak of Waynesville is in the Thomas University curriculum and instruction master’s program.

2023 Kasey Smith of Hoschton is a neuro ICU registered nurse at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

2024 Adam Castillo of West Point is a registered nurse at Tanner Medical Center.

2024 Slade James of Smiths Station, Alabama, is an area manager for Amazon.

2024 Emilee Johnson of LaGrange is a teacher in the Troup County School System and operates a handmade jewelry business, “Hello Sunshine.”

2024 Michael Poteete III of LaGrange is a registered nurse at Tanner Medical Center.

Births

To P.T. Alford Jr. '20 and his wife, Alyssa, a girl, Annie Mae, on March 10, 2025

To Madison Murphy Blakley '20 and her husband, Cody, a son, Dawson Axle, on March 12, 2024

To Joely Peterman Coker '21 and her husband, Nicholas Coker, a son, Sullivan James, in May 2024

To Emily Wyzykowski Pannell '22 and her husband, Tanner, a daughter, Baker Tess, on August 29, 2024

Engagements

Sydney Michaela Bourque '21 to Anthony "Tony" Villanacci '21

India Rose Gleason '21 to Baley Knight Coleman '22 on November 17, 2024

Jay Christopher Adams '22 to Hannah Grace Ross '24 on February 1, 2025

Landon Julianna DeLamar '22, M'24 to Dalton Pearson Brooks '23 on January 1, 2025

Rhett Michael Hebert '22 to Brittany Danielle George '22 on December 27, 2024

Joseph Edward “Joe” Ruth '22, M'23, Ed.S.’24 to Alexandrea Grace Fulford '23 on December 27, 2024

Kasey Anne Smith '23 to Reese Welch on December 7, 2024

Weddings

Willie Keith Maddox ’81 to Rosemary Smith on September 21, 2024

Dr. L. Joy Baker '02 to Alvin Leaks on January 5, 2025

Wesley Dismuke '17 to Zasmine Hymes-Green on February 25, 2025

John Cleveland Williamson '19 to Trista Michelle Murphy '21 on November 2, 2024

In Memoriam

Ms. Katherine "Kat" Cook '42   

Mrs. Ina Claire Queen Cook '51

Dr. Robert R. Botkin '58, H'98    

Mrs. Janice McDaniel Shelnutt '58   

Mr. Larry Herbert Daniel '62   

Mr. Wilynda Richardson Robinson '62   

Mr. Homer Parker Borders '64

Mr. Jimmy Joe Drain '65   

Mr. David Joseph Johnson '65   

Mr. Andrew Nolan Jones '65

Ms. Harriet Amy Cook Bennett '67   

Mr. Jimmy G. Herring '70, former staff   

Mrs. Bonnie Calhoun Williams '72   

Mr. Joseph Thomas Justice '73   

Mr. Steven Ray Estes '75   

Mr. James Christopher Vreeland '78   

Mr. Michael G. Webb '88   

Ms. Scarlett Dean Drake '89   

Mr. James Lewis Harris M'95   

Mr. Dean Gaddy, former staff

Cammie Soloman Long ’80, Wesley Long Jr. ’80, Patty Solomon ’71 and their nephew Michael Solomon enjoyed a night out in Atlanta at The Garden Room.

Jonathan Fuller ’06 of Ashburn received his Doctor of Ministry in Organizational Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the pastor of Ashburn First United Methodist Church in Ashburn, Georgia.

Alumni and friends attended the campus commemorative bench dedication in memory of the late Julie Watson ’76, M’09. Her husband, Joe Watson ’75, recounted how Julie was the love of his life and how they met here as students. He and President Susanna Baxter revealed the dedication plaque: “In memory of Julie C. Watson ’76, M’09, and in honor of the love she shared with Joe Watson ’75.” Shown are (front row, from left) Crystal Luke ’76, Karen Pattillo Hodnette ’77, Evelyn Hill Clifton ’53, Joe Watson ’75, Patti Garnett Wilson ’76 ,M 79, Max Caylor ’75, (back row) Josh Watson ’09, M ’11, Donald Chambers ’77, Ray Hodnette ’75, Sarah Bulman ’97, Kathy Sharpton Sivell ’86, M ’97, Dan ’76 and Carol Blanton Brown ’76, John Wilson ‘76, Cindy Purcell Brown ’76, Teddy Howard ’76 and David Naglee ’76.

Valerie Longshore-Sargent ’03 of LaGrange was inducted into the Georgia Thespians Society Hall of Fame.

Bethany Headrick ’04, M’07 (center), the head of school and executive director of Hillside Montessori, spoke to the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholars on the topic of "Facing Fear and Failure."

Suzanna ’07 and Jeff Delaney ’06 of Peachtree City were contestants on Family Feud alongside their family. Their episode will air in fall 2025.

Trae Long ’12 of LaGrange was one of only 30 honored for his leadership skills and professional experience by the American Institute of CPAs as a member of the Leadership Academy's 16th graduating class. Trae is partner at Long & Long CPA, P.C.

Kacey Werle ’09 and Philip Truitt ’98, both members of the Order of the Tartan, attended Dr. Mark Yates’ lecture “Moor than just Lochs: A brief ecological tour of Scotland.” Kacey served as 2024 Convener for the Order of the Tartan and has handed over the role to Philip. She moved into the secretary position to continue to support the organization.

The ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi gathered for a Christmas reception in December. They are (front row, from left) Kathleen Sheridan Nichols ’77, Lee Crowe ’81, Missy Stevens Cochran ’80, Christine Gardner Walker ’82, (back row) Julia Evans Pennell ’83, Kathy Reese McCollum ’81, M’17, Susie Whalen Blackshear ’80, Robin Toney Lambeth ’83, Francee Crayden Mitchell ’79, Jayne Lewis ’80, Kay Hutcheson Smith ’77 and Laura Hume Higgins ’82.

Emmie Trull Cass ’12 celebrates with her family after receiving her doctorate in higher education administration from the University of West Georgia in December.

Rebekah Lee Jones ’18 of Fayetteville was featured in the Georgia Society of Association Executives magazine, discussing content creation and strategy. She is a client communications manager at Association Services Group.

Emily Wyzykowski Pannell ’22 of LaGrange, co-owner of Sweet Stitches, shares a family moment while her little ones showcase her embroidered children’s designs.

Emily Easterwood Brockway ’20, M’22, Ed.S.’23 of Newnan was awarded the Georgia Outstanding Mentor Teacher Award.

Savanna Hicks Hunt ’21 of Hogansville received her Master of Education in Theatre Education from Columbus State University. She is the lower school theatre teacher at LaGrange Academy.

Rachel Samples Jones ’08 of Aiken, South Carolina, has had the experience of a lifetime on assignment living and working at McMurdo Station, a research and logistics installation located on the Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island, Antarctica. Operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the assistance of the U.S. military, the station is the largest town in Antarctica and the continent’s largest research station.

Caroline Yates Oxford ’15, M’16 of Roswell was named Teacher of the Year for Vickery Mill Elementary School. Her family was there to celebrate the honor with her.

Class of 2024 Nursing alumni recently spoke with current Nursing students. Joining Dr. Maranah Sauter (center), Professor of Nursing and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, are Adam Castillo from Tanner Medical Center, Leia Avery from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Michael Poteete III from Tanner Medical Center and Megan Messinger from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Brittain "Sylar" ’22 (left) and Dr. Caitlin Morman ’21 celebrated with Olivia Hanners Snyder ’22 as she received her master's in political science from the University of Tennessee.

Cam Lyons ’24 of Tyrone is a basketball graduate-assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished 11-20 on the year, 5-10 in conference play.

Devin Allison ’12 attended an LC football game in November to support his former player from Winder Barrow High School. A.J. Johnson is a freshman on the Panther team.

Joseph Edward “Joe” Ruth ’22, M’23, Ed.S.’24 was engaged to Alexandrea Grace Fulford ’23 on December 27, 2024.

Dr. Rhett Yates M’99 (left) of Jacksonville, Florida, brought his aviation team from Jacksonville University to LaGrange to compete in the National Intercollegiate Flight Association Region IX competition hosted by LaGrange College.

Landon Julianna DeLamar ’22, M’24 was engaged to Dalton Pearson Brooks ’23 on January 1, 2025.

Rhett Michael Hebert ’22 proposed to Brittany Danielle George ’22 on December 27, 2024.

India Rose Gleason ’21 was engaged to Baley Knight Coleman ’22 on November 17, 2024.