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BIRTHS Births took place in 2008 unless noted.
Lisa Harris Perry ’93 and Elder James Perry ’94, Fountain Inn, a son, Jonathan Jamel, Feb. 2. James is the owner of Jalis Enterprise. Lisa is the principle accounting specialist for the Greenville County Clerk’s Office. Jonathan is the brother of Jamekole, 13; Lil’ Alice, deceased; and Samuel, 4.
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Russell Bach ’94 and Nicole Bach, Chattanooga, Tenn., a daughter, Brynn Noel, Dec. 5, 2007. Brynn joins sisters Katelyn, 6, and Emma, 3.
Vicki Hearon Burris ’97 and Tony Burris, Beaufort, a daughter, Amelia Drew, Aug. 13, 2007. Vicki is the membership director of the S.C. Yacht Club.
Jody Hazel ’96 and Leigh Perrin Hazel ’98, Greenwood, a son, Reese Leighton, March 24. Leigh teaches at Cambridge Academy and Jody is an accountant with Greene and Co. Reese joins big sister Perrin Elizabeth and big brother Thomas Jenkins.
Dana Oxendine Edmunds ’98 and Lee Edmunds, Sumter, a daughter, Marley Logan, Dec. 4, 2007. Marley has a stepbrother, Zachary Ryan. Dana is an R.N. in Labor and Delivery at Tourney Healthcare System in Sumter.
Welcome Home, Daddy In April, Emily Love Thrailkill, 8-month-old daughter of Adrianne Weathers Thrailkill, ’03, and Army Captain Ben Thrailkill, ’02, was decked out in her patriotic finery to welcome her dad home from a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq. It was his second deployment to Iraq. Discharged from active duty in June, Ben is now serving in the National Guard. He is the son of Lander Board of Trustees member Fred Thrailkill, ’70, Spartanburg. Adrianne is a registered nurse in the cardiovascular ICU at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Joseph Alan Semmelmann ’99 and Jamie Caroline Meadows Semmelmann ’02, Charlotte, N.C., a son, Johann Edstrom, Oct. 23, 2007. Joseph works for Clark-Powell. Jamie is a category manager with Anheuser-Busch. Stephen Keith Cobb ’01 and Laura Beth Gray Cobb ’04, Simpsonville, a son, Evan Keith, May 24. Stephen is territory manager for Berry Plastics. Laura Beth is the regional director of marketing for HMR Advantage Health Systems. Derrick Burton ’02 and Leah Jackson Burton ’03, Anderson, a son, Austin Drew, Aug. 20, 2007. Allison Whitman Sullivan ’02 and Arizio Sullivan, Abbeville, a son, Caiden Asyah, Jan. 5. Allison is an exercise physiologist with Abbeville Area Rehab and Wellness Center. Caiden’s older siblings are Brianne and Arison. Courtney Ashley Burton ’03 and Jason Burton, Anderson, a daughter, Katelyn Elizabeth, Oct. 8, 2007. Courtney is an R.N. with DHEC Home Health in Anderson. James David Creaghan ’03 and Valerie Pritchard Creaghan ’03, Greenwood, a son, Samuel Goeffrey, May 29. He joins big brother Benjamin Harry, 2.
The Awards Keep Coming for Rebecca Hall She has already received the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching for South Carolina, and now, Lander Class of 1979 alumna and Abbeville County teacher Rebecca Wiles Hall can add another mark of distinction to her list of accolades: an award for Excellence in Science Teaching presented by state superintendent of education Dr. Jim Rex. In May of this year, Hall earned an invitation to the South Carolina State Department of Education, where Rex and education officials acknowledged her prestigious national honor and recognized her ongoing contributions to education in the state. Hall was among a group of talented educators honored at the meeting. The state recognition comes just two years after Rebecca Hall, ’79, pauses for a photo during Hall was named a recipient of the presidential award her trip to Washington, D.C., in 2007. for excellence, which earned her a trip to Washington, D.C., in 2007 to meet other award recipients and visit with President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush. Hall also received a citation from the president and a $10,000 monetary award. Hall graduated from Lander in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics, and again in 2003, earning a master’s degree in education. An educator for 29 years, she began her career in Abbeville County and is currently teaching second grade at Cherokee Trail Elementary School. She was named Teacher of the Year for the Abbeville County School District in 2005 and has received certification in the area of elementary education and National Board Certification in early childhood generalist. Hall said her professors at Lander had a great influence on her teaching career. “Dr. Wilma Reeves had a hand in teaching me to love learning and inspired me to do my best in everything, especially teaching others,” she said, while also giving credit to Drs. Sheila Marino, Robert Taylor and Pamela Wash. “All of these people, along with a desire to continually improve my teaching skills, have helped me to achieve my career goals.”
IN MEMORIAM Deaths took place in 2008 unless noted.
Nannie Nelson Steifle ’30, Greenwood, May 23. Nan was a retired schoolteacher and a lifelong member of Tranquil United Methodist Church. The last member of her immediate family, she is survived by two cousins. Carolyn Parkman Davis ’32, Orangeburg, May 23. She was a retired teacher and a member of Double Branch Baptist Church. Surviving are three daughters, one granddaughter, one great-granddaughter, one great-grandson and one sister. Frances Hanks Bruce ’36, Anderson, Feb. 2. She was retired from a career in retail and was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. She is survived by a son, two grandsons and two great-grandchildren. Louise Taylor Arnold ’37, Greenwood, March 18. Louise was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church and an avid supporter and participant with numerous nonprofits. Surviving are her son, one granddaughter, one grandson and three sisters. Lula Cornelia Snyder Colman ’37, Saluda, April 23. A former teacher, Lula was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband, a sister, a brother, four daughters, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Miriam Lee McKinney Rogers ’37, Columbia, Feb. 22. She was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church in Greenwood. Surviving are three children, six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Lander Magazine • Summer 2008
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