20 • Thursday, February 20, 2014
Weddings & Engagements
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Kaylor Marie Otwell, daughter of Bill and Lee Otwell of Birmingham, and Gregory Shannon Bennett, son of Jim and Patricia Bennett of Gardendale, were married on Dec. 28. The ceremony was held at Avondale Villa in historic Avondale
in Birmingham with Joseph Sturgeon, a friend of the couple, officiating. The couple chose an art deco theme for their wedding to complement the architectural style of the villa, which was built in 1931. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a 1930s-inspired ivory silk charmeuse gown in the style of Jean Harlow from Bridal Bliss Gowns in Homewood. The backless dress had a trumpet silhouette and flowing chapel train with a paneled sweetheart bodice. The bride wore a custom art deco gold headband and necklace from local artist Anne Conway of Alabama Funk. Finishing off the bride’s ensemble were fingerless satin and lace gloves and gold T-strap dancing shoes reminiscent of the era. Nancy McArdle, sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Claire Capra was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Cathy Moore,
Corrie Clarkson and Sara Stewart. Cody Buntain served as the best man and host of the wedding. Groomsmen were MacNeal Bennett, brother of the groom; Justin Anthony; Fred Dickinson; and Bruce Coulter. The venue was bedecked with black and gold art deco decorations by the talented Paula Boone, who also designed the flowers and cakes. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed Mediterranean fare while viewing a film created by Charity and Chad Ponter telling the couple’s 14-year love story. Afterwards, the bride and groom handed out glow sticks, and club DJ Vigal Patel delighted guests with some incredible dance mixes. The couple danced the night away with their friends and departed in a white stretch limousine. After a honeymoon trip to Jamaica, the couple lives in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ratcliffe-Tyson
Mr. and Mrs. Lester O’Neal Hamiter of Birmingham and Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Goode Ratcliffe Jr. of Montgomery announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Bradshaw Ratcliffe, to Thomas Martin Tyson II, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred White Tyson of Montgomery. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morton Lipscomb Carl Jr. of Birmingham and Mrs. Jefferson Goode Ratcliffe Sr. of Selma and the late Mr. Ratcliffe. Miss Ratcliffe is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She was presented at the Redstone Ball and the Beaux Arts Krewe Ball.
Miss Ratcliffe is employed at Balch and Bingham in Birmingham. Mr. Tyson is the grandson of Mrs. Thomas Martin Tyson Sr. of Montgomery and the late Mr. Tyson and Mrs. David Hume Culver of Huntsville and the late Mr. Culver. Mr. Tyson is a graduate of the Montgomery Academy and the University of Alabama, where he received a bachelor’s degree in finance. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Mr. Tyson is employed as the project manager for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s economic development team. The wedding will be May 17.
of Alpharetta, Ga. Miss English is a 2007 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a 2011 magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a dual major in finance and marketing. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority where she served as vice president of recruitment, was a member of the Student Government Association and was a member of Cater Society, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Miss English is a financial advisor with Pittman Financial Partners in Birmingham. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. Henry Jasper Callaway of Homewood and the late Ms. Patricia Harper Callaway of Dothan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Vick Schnell of Perrysburg, Ohio. Mr. Schnell is a 2007 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a 2012 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design. He is project manager with Michael Allen Homes in Auburn. The wedding will be May 3.
Otwell-Bennett
Wall-Garrison
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Ralph Wall of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly LuAnne Wall, to James Wesley Garrison, son of Mr. James Gregory Garrison and Mrs. Tracy Newman Vincze, both of Birmingham. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence B. Neal and the late Mr. and Mrs. James C. Wall, all of Atlanta. Miss Wall is a 2001 graduate of Mountain Brook High School. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Carol Schleuter of Bourbon, Mo., and the late Mr. Jim Garrison and Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Newman of Birmingham. Mr. Garrison is a 2008 graduate of Oneonta High School and a 2010 graduate of Jefferson State Community College. He is a member of the Army National Guard assigned to the 2101st Transportation Company. The bride and groom are both employed with the Birmingham Zoo. The wedding will be June 14.
McFerrin-White
Mrs. Martha McFerrin and Mr. Jim McFerrin of Hoover announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebekah Anne McFerrin, to Steven White, son of Mr. Eddy White of McCalla and Mrs. James Hardin of West Blocton. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. J.T. Lovell of Dallas and the late Mrs. Juanita Lovell and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy McFerrin of Austell, Ga. The bride is a graduate of Shades Mountain Christian School and attended Jefferson State Community College and the University of Mobile. She is employed with EBSCO. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Marie Dudley and the late Mr. Albert Dudley of McCalla and Mrs. Gladys White and the late Mr. Earl White of Centreville. Mr. White is a graduate of Brookwood High School and is employed with Hancock Construction. The wedding will be March 1.
English-Schnell
Mr. and Mrs. John Mark English of Vestavia Hills announce the engagement of their daughter, Anna Katherine English, to William Tyler Schnell, son of Ms. Kim Callaway Schnell of Vestavia Hills and Mr. Brian Howard Schnell of Columbus, Ohio. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Creth Bassett of Perry, Fla., and the late Mr. Archie Leroy Clemons of Perry and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lindsey English
legacy league, From page 19
enabled the Legacy League to award more than $500,000 in lifechanging scholarships to Samford University, helping provide college educations to more than 75 students who could otherwise not afford them. Scholarship Luncheon Chairman Suzanne Hopkins reminded guests of the Legacy League’s focus this year, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” from Proverbs 29:18. Hopkins then introduced Rothschild. Rothschild spoke on “Losing Sight and Gaining a Vision,” sharing her own story of physical blindness. As a young teen in the late 1970s, Rothschild was interested in art and was working on an art project when she first realized something was wrong with her eyesight. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a ninth-grader and declared legally blind. By age 15, she had no depth perception, could not distinguish colors and was given a prognosis of total blindness. After graduating high school in Miami, Rothschild said, she yearned for independence and made plans to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University. Suddenly struck with fear the day before she was to travel to college, she made a deal with her mother to stay two weeks and see how things went. During those two weeks, she met Phil, the man who has now been her husband for 27 years. She graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in communication. Those attending the luncheon included Legacy League members,
their guests and several groups interested in Rothschild’s story. Members of the Prince of Peace Women of Worship said they attended because the group is currently using one of Rothschild’s Bible studies. A number of guests said they were seeking Rothschild’s encouragement due to their own or a family member’s vision loss. The sponsors of this year’s luncheon were Kimeran Stevens, Penny Kimrey, Beth Thorne Stukes, Ashley Mac’s, Edwards Chevrolet, Jewels By Rose, Inc., Kilgore-Green Funeral Home, Beth Simpson and Patty Thorne. The luncheon planning committee was chaired by Suzanne Hopkins and included Cathy Abbott, Lou Ann Booth, Sara Cook and Diane Myers. Decorations were handled by Lisbeth Cease, Chizuru Elliott, Mary Anne Glazner, Sue Martin and Cathy Warren, who had special thanks for Lindsay Kessler for her generosity and assistance with the flowers. Helping publicize the event were Kathryn Woodruff, Julie Cundiff, Susan Desforges, Chizuru Elliott, Mary Anne Glazner, Alisa Hyde, Jane Lewis, Leigh Simmons, Patty Thorne and Cathy Warren. Membership in Legacy League is open to anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of students through need-based scholarships. The group’s next meeting, which is open to the public, is March 13 at the Samford President’s home and will feature special guests Kimberly and Brock Beiersdoerfer, owners of the Heavenly Donut Company. Refreshments are served at 10 a.m., and the program begins at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.samford.edu/legacyleague. ❖