14 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011
F
riends of Community Grief Support Service helped raise more than $38,000 at the eighth annual Lift Your Spirits gala Oct. 20 at Park Lane. The funds surpassed the gala committee’s $30,000 goal and will be used to fund free grief support services for bereaved adults in the Birmingham area. Board Chairman Terrell Spencer thanked sponsors, donors, committee members, volunteers and CGSS staff members for their efforts. Honorary Chairman Mal Moore, University of Alabama athletic director, was introduced by Wayne Gillis. Moore inspired the crowd with his personal story of the loss of his wife, Charlotte, to Alzheimer’s. Spencer presented Moore with the Guardian Angel award and commended his compassionate work for families victimized by the disease. Table sponsors included Herzing University, L. Paul Kassouf & Co., Protective Life Foundation, Linda and Spencer Bachus, Beth Chapman and Tom and Maizie Nelson. Members of the “WOW Friendship Group (Widows/widowers Opening Windows) sponsored two tables. Park Lane was decorated with pumpkins, fall foliage and votive candles as guests dined on a buffet dinner catered by Kathy G. Auctioneer Granger Thagard found eager bidders for vacations, autographed footballs, game tickets, wines, jewelry, fine dining, artwork and other items. Among guests enjoying the evening were Karen and Wayne Gillis, Beth and Ron Henderson, Ann Marks, Mary Roebuck, Jean and David Kassouf, Nazha and Gerry Kassouf, Johnathan Kassouf, Jimmy Beall, Peggy and Michael Balliet, George Bartle, Rena and Charles Chamblee, Sandra Craft, John Darnall, Pam and Chuck King and
Clockwise from above: Enjoying the Lift Your Spirits Gala were from left: Pat Ingle, Brenda Van Reenan and Leigh Jordan. Also there were, from left: Myrna Pittman, Virginia Love and Annella Waldrup. With the evening’s honorary chairman Mal Moore, center, are from left: Chuck and Pam King. Also enjoying the evening were from left: Patty Cooper and Katy Corbin.
SOCIAL
Gala Helps Lift Spirits Susan and Joe Warren, Melanie and Don Lewis, Pat and Lee Ingle, Brenda VanReenen and Leigh Jordan. WOW members at the event were Len Bryant, Sharon Ponder, Cathy Stryker, Pete Short, Kathy Adkins, Lowell Martin, Debbie Hinchman, Paulette Wiysong-Schatz, John Collins, Lynn Burtram, Tanya Brascome, Judy Taylor, Paula and Hannah Adams, John Bennett and Cheryl Dunlap. Also attending were Margaret Alexander, Wandalyn Baker, Adrienne and Dennis Bourland, Lynn Bragan, Patty and Scott Cooper, Katy Corbin, Virginia Cord, Tony Dalesandro, Peggy and Larry Davis, Patricia Dobbs, Carolyn and Michael Edwards, Jack Granger, Rebecca Wingett and Greg Green, Berlean Henderson, Diana Hodges, Donna Jernigan and Bill Johnston. Others there were Jacque Kelley, Laudan and Mounir Khalid, Debi Lacher, Joey Longoria, Collin and Andrea MacMillan, Bill Martin, Scotty McCallum, Mike McEachern, Jenelle and DeWayne McGraw, Robby Owens, Connie Rhodebeck, Tracey Runnion, Susan Sallin, Nancy Norris and Ben Schillaci, Neal Schooley, Bobby Siegal, Betty Slaughter, Cathy Stryker, Brittani Valone, Jessica Vaughan, Micah Wade, Marge Warren and Luke Williamson. Gala committee members attending were Maureen Alexander, Shelley Berman, Brenda Bodine, Peggy Bourland, Marla Corts, Linda Dunn, Martha Hastings, Anne Hightower, Laudan Khalid, Chuck King, Melanie Lewis, Virginia Love, Carol MacMillan, Ann Marks, Peggy Miller, Myrna Pittman, Terrell Spencer, Steve Sweatt and Annella Waldrup. Community Grief Support Service provides free grief counseling, grief support groups and grief education for bereaved adults. ❖
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Community Grief Support Board Chairman Terrell Spencer, right, gives University of Alabama Athletics director Mal Moore the Guardian Angel award for his work for families victimized by Alzheimer’s. Moore lost his wife, Charlotte, to the disease. In addition to receiving the award, Moore also was the honorary chairman of the Community Grief Support Lift Your Spirit Gala at Park Lane in October. Photos special to the Journal