classnotes Marriages
Births
Ralph Hugh Smith II ‘85 married the former Robin Denise Strong on October 3, 2009. Aaron Moree Foster ’95 and Niesha Nicole Hamilton were recently married in Manhattan. The bride and bridegroom are directors at Pfizer in Manhattan: she in the policy department and he in the management science department. Foster graduated magna cum laude from Morehouse and earned a doctorate in biostatistics from Harvard. He is also a director of the Mattapan Community Health Center in Mattapan, Mass. The Rev. Beryl M. Whipple ’04 wed the former Roxanne A. Vaughan at a ceremony held in The Forum in
The Rev. Beryl and Roxanne Whipple
Baltimore on September 5. Whipple pastors two churches: Asbury United Methodist Church, White Marsh, Md., and John Wesley United Methodist Church, Joppa, Md. He is also a 2007 graduate of Wake Forest University, where he earned the master of divinity, and is currently working towards a master’s in church management at Villanova University School of Business.
Onewill willgraduate graduate in in 2011. 2010. One One will will not. not. One
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sen by the United Negro College Fund as “Outstanding Alumnus” in 2003. Jeffrey Anderson ‘97 and Dr. Kami Robert A. Clark ’57 died on J. Anderson (Sp’97) are the proud parents of a September 19 at his home in Atlanta. son, Jeffrey L. Anderson II, born on June 9, Clark, a 40-year employee of Morehouse 2009, in Atlanta. The family is well and look- College, held several positions in the Office ing forward to the Morehouse Class of 2030. of Business and Finance and Campus Benjamin A. Blackburn III and his Operations. His most recent position was wife, Jeanette, proudly announce the birth of a with the Bonner Office of Community son, Benjamin A. Blackburn IV, on May 23, Service as a driver. Before beginning his 2008. Benjamin IV, a soon-to-be member of career at Morehouse, Clark served as the the Morehouse Class of 2029, is the grandson registrar and director of admissions for of Benjamin A. Blackburn II ’61 and greatBarber-Scotia College and as an associate grandson of Benjamin A. Blackburn Sr. ’29. professor in the department of business at Alcorn State University. Jai Leon Gilchrist ’84, son of alumnus James Leon Gilchrist ‘56, passed The Rev. Phale D. Hale ’40, for- away after a brief illness at Ronald Reagan mer Ohio state legislator and a chairman UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. A of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, died memorial service was held on August 26, 2009, in Temecula, Calif., and a second recently at the age of 94. Hale was memorial service was held in Tallahassee, retired as pastor of Union Grove Baptist Fla. Donations can be made in his honor Church, where he served for 43 years. to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center or He was very active with the NAACP and the American Cancer Society. by 1950 had established two NAACP David K. Wills ’85 died suddenly at chapters. Hale is quoted as saying: “If you his Atlanta home of cardiac arrest. He was have a dream, wake up and pursue it.” 47. Wills was the younger brother of alumThe Rev. Adolph Parsons ’40, nus Dr. Noah E. Wills ’83 and the youngest pastor of St. James Baptist Church in son of alumnus Dr. Noah E. Wills Jr. ’50. Forsyth, Ga., for 61 years, recently died at Joseph Polk III ’91, former player the age of 91. Parsons was a community and coach for the Maroon Tigers football leader and worked for racial reconciliation between black and white churches. He also team, passed away recently in Atlanta. served as a counselor at Mary Persons High While attending Morehouse, he was a School and was a calming presence during four-year starter and named to the Georgia the integration of schools in the early 1970s. All-Conference Team. Polk also was Emmett L. Proctor Jr. ’48 recently named a Black College All-American and passed away after a lengthy illness. “Mr. played in the 1990 Freedom Bowl. In Maroon and White,” as he was affection- 2006, he was named to the All-Time State ately known to his fellow alums, was the Team, which he considered to be one of 2002 Alumnus of the Year and was cho- his greatest athletic achievements. ■
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