I seriously could not be here without the support of donors and my friends. I am getting a minor in Spanish because I want to carry on my Cuban grandparents’ legacy. The encouragement I receive makes me want to become the best version of myself.
Elissa Lotter ’24 is a freshman from Sharpsburg, Georgia. She is pursuing her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. She hopes to also pursue a master’s degree and teach kindergarten.
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EMBRACING Change
It seems not long ago when the Sewell Organ was installed in the Chapel. Named in honor of former trustee Charles K. Sewell ’54, “Big Bertha” (as she is affectionately known) includes nearly 3,700 pipes. It is a magisterial instrument. For nearly two decades, I have enjoyed teaching and performing there.
While our campus was closed over the summer, we took the opportunity to clean Big Bertha. Over six weeks, all of her pipework was removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. After she was reassembled, we installed a prototype interface that allows the musician to advance the pages of a musical score by pressing a button.
It is all accomplished with an app and digital tablet. No more laborious page-turning, which can be quite tricky during a complicated piece. The device was developed by Bill Landolina, an organ technology guru.
And we have the very first one in the U.S. at Piedmont. It is an example of embracing change and updating a stately and venerable instrument to meet modern expectations.
current space on Prince Avenue. It offers modern amenities and convenient parking at a cost that is bottom-line friendly.
We also continue to modernize our on-campus living spaces to meet the rising expectations of today’s undergraduate students. In Demorest, we will soon break ground on what will be the institution’s largest residence hall. The completion of this project will set off a musical chairs scenario as we move students out of older buildings that will be pulled down or refurbished and into newer ones.
Our philanthropic organization is taking on a more contemporary structure. In the spring, we will host our inaugural Yonahian Society Gala, an event to celebrate and recognize those who support Piedmont with an annual gift of $1,000 or more. And many of you have noted that we have made big strides in our publications, including this one.
Perhaps the greatest reflection of our move to modernity is our name change—from college to university. It recognizes our growth, relevance, and rising profile. These are just a few examples of how we are positioning Piedmont for success.
A similar scenario is being played out across our institution.
As we approach our 125-year anniversary in 2022, Piedmont is growing, adapting, and modernizing to meet the demands of a rapidly changing higher education landscape.
Our new facility in Athens illustrates this transition. With so many classes and much of our instruction moving to an online format, we no longer needed the square footage that our current Athens campus offers. Many of our classrooms and office spaces there are not being used.
So this past summer we put the final touches on a plan to relocate to a new facility that is within walking distance of our
Still, the best is yet to come. This spring, we’ll pull the curtains back on a new UNIVERSITY logo, website, and exciting branding language that captures our distinctive qualities and personality (See page 9). I hope you will join with us in celebrating this momentous occasion.
James F. Mellichamp, President
President Mellichamp poses with an organ digital page turner.
aWord from your Editor
Service is one of Piedmont’s three core values. Through our teaching and student experiences, the institution strives to “cultivate a sense of gratitude and duty to humanity.” Stories of service have resonated through the pages of our recent issues.
Bryan Schroeder ’03 was the cover feature last fall. Schroeder is the executive director of Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides financial assistance and social service connections to food service workers (See page 25).
And last spring, we shone the spotlight on Octavius Mulligan ’95, Justine Clay ’12, Brie Ballinger ’15, Daniel Lindsey ’15, Kristen Van Bueren ’17, and Olivia Gibson ’19 who helped heal the sick, slow the spread, and educate our young people during the early outbreak of the pandemic.
Our latest installment is Brandon Callahan ’14, an operations manager for Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization. Before joining Team Rubicon, Callahan served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Based in Houston, Texas, Callahan has worked in a disaster relief role in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Texas.
We hope his story inspires you as much as it inspired us.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
We welcome letters on any topic covered in the Journal
They should be limited to 150 words, refer to a subject from the most recent issue, and include the writer’s name, city/state, and class year/degree (if applicable). Your notes may be emailed to journal@piedmont. edu. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for length and clarity.
Gold stars for the Journal
“The last two Journals have been excellent. I can’t say enough words of praise. The articles have been very interesting, and the font and contrast of the issues were excellent, too. They were very easy to read. Gold stars all around.”
Parks Miller MA ’00 and Cathy Miller, former Piedmont staff
Three cheers for FOCUS
"I just finished reading the Piedmont FOCUS magazine and it’s wonderful. The cover really grabs you, just like a murder mystery should, and their story, and all the others, does not disappoint! I really enjoyed the whole issue."
Congratulations!
— Dr. Rick Rose, Retired Chair, Piedmont Theatre Department
Many of our Journal readers also receive FOCUS, an annual publication that highlights the academic power of Piedmont. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please contact us at journal@piedmont.edu.
Remembering Anna
By John Roberts
Last fall the Piedmont community was shaken by news that one of its own—freshman Anna Mackenzie Whitlock—had died in an automobile accident while on the way to campus. In August, members of Anna’s family visited the Demorest campus to celebrate her life and dedicate a memorial bench in her name.
The bench, flanked by three pink dogwood trees, is located near the Swanson Center for the Performing Arts & Communications. It’s a place where Anna, a mass communications major, would have spent a lot of her time.
Known for her Christian faith, open heart, and caring nature, Whitlock was remembered with comments from friend and classmate Laura Platé ’20, Dr. Joe Dennis, chair of the mass communications department, and Piedmont Campus Minister Tim Garvin-Leighton.
Platé, who described Whitlock as “a fellow Lion…an artist, an actress, and a dancer,” spoke to 40 students, faculty, and staff members who gathered for the mid-afternoon remembrance.
“College is for becoming who you are, and it is easy to see the fault in humanity in these moments—the fragility of the human experience,” she said. “But we also see the good in people; the good that comes in our little college town tucked away in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains.”
Following the ceremony, members of Anna’s family— father Joey Whitlock ’93, mother Leigh, and siblings Drew, Abigail, Maggie, and Maley—chatted with professors and posed for photos at the flower-laden bench.
Members of the Whitlock family pose with a memorial bench for Anna Whitlock that was dedicated August 18. Pictured, from left, are Drew, Maley, Maggie, Joey, Abigail, and Leigh.
New residence hall planned
As part of a continuing plan to enhance housing facilities, construction on a 60,000-square-foot residence hall is scheduled to begin early next year.
Piedmont ranked safest campus in America
PMystic Hall will house 264 students and is to be located near Plymouth Hall. When completed, it will be Piedmont’s largest residential complex and pave the way for a string of additional housing renovations. The building, named after a Connecticut seaport, recognizes Piedmont’s historical ties to Congregational Churches, which were established by Pilgrims throughout New England during the 1600s.
Fred Bucher, associate vice president for facilities, said when the new building opens, Purcell Hall (constructed in 1969 and located near the athletic facilities) will be shuttered for a year-long renovation project.
After the Purcell project is completed, Wallace Hall, built in 1959, will be razed to make room for a parking lot, and Getman-Babcock will be converted to administrative offices.
iedmont College has the safest campus in America according to a popular website that researches and rates colleges, schools, neighborhoods, and companies.
Niche, based in Pittsburgh, uses student reviews, statistics, and U.S. Department of Education data to compile the rankings on 1,336 colleges and universities.
With a main residential campus in Demorest and a commuter campus in Athens, Piedmont enrolls approximately 2,500 graduate and undergraduate students. During a time of pandemic and uncertainty, safety is a growing concern with students and parents.
“Our success is due to having a faculty and staff take a genuine interest in our students both personally and academically,” said Piedmont Police Chief Jim Andrews. “Piedmont is a community where people look after and out for our neighbors.”
Chief Jim Andrews is a native of Habersham County and joined Piedmont in 2019.
Fred Bucher, associate vice president for facilities, is a former U.S. Army Ranger.
A license to destroy
Piedmont loans houses to firefighters for training
By John Roberts
Late this summer, fire vehicles and flashing lights were a common sight on the Demorest campus. But there was no emergency.
Firefighters throughout Northeast Georgia were there to conduct training exercises using five Piedmont houses.
The college, which had the homes constructed in the 1960s, had plans to raze the properties to make room for a new residential hall (See page 5). Before calling in the bulldozers, though, administrators developed a plan to loan the structures to area firefighting agencies for training.
break through windows, demolish walls, and destroy property on multiple structures.
“This is a great opportunity for our firefighters,” said Demorest Fire Chief Kenneth Ranalli. “It is really rare that we get a building to train in. But it is really special when we get several to train.”
This is a great opportunity for our firefighters. It is really rare that we get a building to train in. But it is really special when we get several to train.
—Kenneth Ranalli, Demorest Fire Chief
More than 50 firefighters representing Habersham, Stephens, and White counties completed exercises at the houses throughout July. Most were mock rescues with artificial smoke. It was a singular chance for the firefighters to
Ranalli learned through a college employee that the houses would be demolished and reached out to Piedmont to determine if the structures could be used. The college was more than happy to comply.
“They don’t normally get to do this live training, so it’s been a tremendous benefit to the firefighters,” said Fred Bucher, assistant vice president for facilities management. “It is a great community project for us because it helps our neighbors.”
Photos by Daniel Purcell
Four join Piedmont Board
By John Roberts
Piedmont welcomed four new members—Febby Faerber, Dr. Dionne RosserMims ’99, Lisa P. Hamby, and Kimberly Melton—to the Board of Trustees October 23 during the governing body’s fall meeting.
An Ohio native, Febby Faerber attended Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia) and in 2014 moved with her family to the Atlanta area where she has been active in charities that support children and education. Faerber’s daughter, the late Alexandra Nicole, graduated from Piedmont’s R.H. Daniel School of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2015.
Rosser-Mims serves as ViceChancellor for the Phenix City Campus at Troy University (Troy, Alabama). She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Georgia. Rosser-Mims, who has worked in higher education for more than two decades, has authored four books and published many articles and book chapters. As a Piedmont student, she served as president of the student government association.
Lisa Pruitt-Hamby is a stakeholder in PruittHealth, a large network of senior healthcare facilities located throughout the Southeast. She earned a bachelor of science degree in dietetics and institution management from
the University of Georgia, lives in Demorest, and is Trustee of the Pruitt Foundation, a family foundation that supports community initiatives. PruittHamby has also served on the board of the Stephens County Salvation Army.
An investor relations manager at Windsor Stevens Holdings in Atlanta, Kimberly D. Melton earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University (Flint, Michigan) and an MBA from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In addition to serving on nonprofit boards, including the Georgia Justice Project, Melton has been a homeschool educator for the last 15 years, promoting creative learning and independent thinking.
The addition of Faerber, RosserMims, Pruitt-Hamby, and Melton helps to create a more diverse Board, which includes 32 members.
“We are delighted that these four esteemed women have joined the Piedmont Board of Trustees,” said Board Chairman Thomas A. Arrendale III. “And we look forward to benefiting from their wise counsel and insight. Diversity, in its various forms, helps to create a more robust and vibrant organization that is reflective of our community. Piedmont continues to strive for diversity, and these appointments represent a big step in that direction.”
Febby Faerber
Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims
Lisa Pruitt-Hamby
Kimberly Melton
New home in Athens
Piedmont College plans to relocate its Athens campus to this four-story downtown building in February
By John Roberts
Piedmont College’s next Athens campus home will be a modern, four-story brick building at 1282 Prince Avenue.
The 32,700-square-foot edifice is still under construction and is located about half a mile from the current campus. Piedmont plans to move into the new space in February.
The college has entered into a lease-purchase agreement for the institution’s current Athens campus at 595 Prince Avenue. That property, a former church campus and private school, has served as Piedmont’s Athens home since 2006.
“This move opens an exciting new chapter for Piedmont,” said President James F. Mellichamp. “Next year, we will have a new name and a modern, new Athens home. The upgrade reflects our transformational growth and emergence as a regional liberal arts university. Piedmont opened an Athens campus 25 years ago. And this relocation
illustrates our enduring commitment to the Athens-Clarke County community.”
The new campus is conveniently located within walking distance of Athens’ vibrant and historic downtown district. Piedmont will be the sole tenant of the building, which features an interior that is flooded with natural light and has a 160-space parking garage.
The move will have little impact on the approximately 500 students and 50 faculty and staff who study and work on the Athens campus. Those enrolling in undergraduate programs at the Athens campus must have earned at least 30 hours of transferable college credit.
To meet the needs of working adults, Piedmont has transitioned many classes and courses to an online or hybrid format in recent years. The new campus space in Athens will give the college greater flexibility to meet the changing demands of non-traditional students.
By John Roberts
April 8-10.
Mark it down.
On those days Piedmont officially gets a new name, a new logo, and a new message.
And the college is planning a big celebration and an even bigger reveal.
“Lion Fest: The Big Reveal” will likely include a Friday night gala, a community event, and an on-campus Saturday evening celebration with live music.
A group of 15-20 staff, faculty, students, and alumni are developing details for the event, which should be available in January.
“This will be a historic and transformational moment for Piedmont,” said President James F. Mellichamp. “In a sense, we will be closing one chapter and opening another. We want our entire Piedmont family to join us and share our enthusiasm for the future.”
Mellichamp said the college began laying the groundwork for the weekend last spring when a team of faculty and staff developed branding and messaging that is informing Piedmont’s new website, which is currently under construction.
Arts and Sciences, and Education—will be transitioning to college,” said John Roberts, associate vice president of marketing and communication. “So, in many ways this will be a comprehensive makeover.”
“This will be a historic and transformational moment for Piedmont. In a sense, we will be closing one chapter and opening another. We want our entire Piedmont family to join us and share our enthusiasm for the future.”
Roberts added that the committees are developing plans for a weekend when the college/university pulls back the curtain on a new logo, new signage, messaging, and a website. All events will be held during the inaugural Lion Fest, Piedmont’s Alumni Weekend. The inaugural Yonahian Society Gala, which will celebrate those who make an annual contribution of $1,000 or more, will kick-start the activities.
—President James F. Mellichamp
Earlier this fall, the college hosted a series of focus groups with students, alumni, faculty, and staff to gather feedback on a new Piedmont logo. Regina McCormick ’08, design manager, and Tyler Mann, assistant professor of graphic design and photography, are leading the logo effort.
“Not only is the name of the institution changing, but the names of the four academic areas—Harry W. Walker School of Business, R.H. Daniel School of Nursing and Health Sciences,
Events may be held on the alumni quad and will likely include musical performances, short speeches, open houses, and food, he said.
The committees are also developing alternative plans in the event there is inclement weather or strict public health protocols.
“We are optimists and are hoping to host a traditional outdoor gathering,” said Roberts. “But we also know that we are working with two big unknowns: public health and early April weather in Northeast Georgia.”
BRINGING Calm
Callahan serves with veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon
By Terrie Ellerbee ’95
TO
Greyshirts are hard-charging, take-control, and get-stuff-done types who bring a sense of calm after a catastrophe. They belong to Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization led by veterans that combines the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Team Rubicon has deployed across the U.S. and around the world to provide immediate relief to those impacted by disasters and humanitarian crises.
“We challenge the idea that ‘good enough’ is an acceptable answer when people are suffering,” said Brandon Callahan ’14. He is operations manager for Team Rubicon’s Project Rebuild program and based in Houston, Texas.
Callahan grew up in North Georgia and was dual enrolled at Piedmont while a student at Rabun County High School. History professor Dr. Al Pleysier is one of the reasons he came “right back to Piedmont” after serving six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He’d taken a class with him. Callahan was a Marine Reservist when he doubled-majored in history and criminal justice.
He was in graduate school at American University in Washington, D.C., in 2015 when he was so moved by the suffering following a 1,000year flooding event in Columbia, South Carolina, that he took a break to go help out. That was his first experience volunteering with Team Rubicon.
“I fell in love,” Callahan said.
He completed his master of science in justice, law, and criminology in 2016.
After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Callahan was deployed to Houston. Harvey lingered in the area for four days that August, dropping historic amounts of rain. The Houston Chronicle reported that the total was approximately 27 trillion gallons, enough to fill the Astrodome 86,000 times.
That is the type of disaster that Team Rubicon Greyshirts tackle, and they can be on the ground in hours. Callahan said they “speak the same language” as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and similar state and local organizations. They reinforce them and amplify their efforts.
“Veterans who’ve been formerly deployed are not going to be as overwhelmed by the chaos that comes after a disaster, so we’re able to bring some calm to that chaos and act swiftly and decisively when others may not,” Callahan said.
Greyshirts show up, clean out houses, and “rip out what needs to be ripped out,” he said. “That is a good start. If you’re a survivor of a disaster and a homeowner, that puts you on the right track. Now you’re left with a house that is stripped down to bare studs and there’s nothing in it.”
“So, what comes next? Our Rebuild program launched in 2018 to rebuild
Team Rubicon names some disaster clean-ups. Above left, Operation Herschel’s Ace was in Graves County, Kentucky, after a tornado left a path of destruction 19 miles long in 2016. Herschel pays homage to the late World War II pilot Herschel Green, who was born in the county. At right, Team Rubicon in action in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013. The organization assisted more than 450 homeowners during Operation Starting Gun. That name refers to the 1880s land rush that started with a gunshot.
The name Team Rubicon came about because that first team crossed the Artibonite River from the Dominican Republic into Haiti. Julius Caesar had his Rubicon, the river he was ordered not to cross but did anyway, risking death. Like Caesar, what would become Team Rubicon had passed the point of no return.
people’s houses free of charge.”
To date, Project Rebuild has built 105 homes in Houston; 40 in Collier County, Florida, after Hurricane Irma; and 503 in Puerto Rico, which was also affected by Irma before Hurricane Maria devastated the island.
Team Rubicon got its start in 2010 after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti. Co-founders Jake Wood and William McNulty gathered a small group of veterans, first responders, and medical professionals and headed for Port-au-Prince. They stopped by an R.E.I. store to find matching shirts on their way to the airport to make that journey to Haiti. All they found on the clearance rack that covered the sizes they needed were grey Under Armour t-shirts. Hence, Greyshirts.
The name Team Rubicon came about because that first team crossed the Artibonite River from the Dominican Republic into Haiti. Julius Caesar had his Rubicon, the river he was ordered not to cross but did anyway, risking death. Like Caesar, what would become Team Rubicon had passed the point of no return. “Burn the boats” is a common refrain,
meaning “just go. Don’t look back. Make a decision.”
“You might be wrong, or you might end up the emperor of Rome,” Callahan said.
The logo is like the organization: disruptive in the best possible way. It flips the traditional red cross of aid on its side. The river down the middle is the Artibonite.
Restoring a sense of purpose
While all are welcome to join Team Rubicon—after a background check and some online courses—most of the 135,000 people and counting in the organization are military veterans. For them, Team Rubicon restores a sense of purpose and the camaraderie found in military service.
“Losing that support system of brothers and sisters amplifies every other problem in your life,” Callahan said. “We’re not a veterans’ service organization. We don’t provide services to veterans. We create opportunities for service so veterans can help themselves. It’s an amazing model.
“There really is nothing else like it other than, for
me, the Marine Corps. We in the organization point out all the time that it’s all the things that we love about the military without all the bull,” he said.
“Service is probably the best way that people can work on themselves,” Callahan said. “In service of others—it’s one of the noblest things we can do for our fellow humans.”
There are no typical days, weeks, or months with Team Rubicon. Callahan would frequently travel in
a “normal” year, but many in the organization now work from home due to COVID-19 concerns.
He was deployed for two weeks to New York City in the early days of the pandemic to assist multiple local and state agencies as well as several hospitals while Team Rubicon assessed how best to help out. The organization has leaned forward into the pandemic while aggressively seeking out opportunities to assist communities.
Callahan advises Piedmont students who are struggling with the changes brought about by COVID-19 to write their own story.
“You make the best of it, and if it doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, that’s on you,” Callahan said. “Second, don’t get discouraged when your story doesn’t work out the way your draft looked. Don’t be afraid to change. There is nothing wrong with a ‘new normal.’ It is what it is. Look for ways to make the best of it.”
Callahan could have never predicted how his path would lead to a job he loves, but he does know that Piedmont prepared him. His passion as a student was debate, and he said “it has been entirely too long” since he has talked to Dr. Janice Moss, the mass communications professor who leads the debate team.
“Everyone on the faculty and staff at Piedmont was open to not just me, but every student trying every crazy idea we had just to see what would happen,” he said. “That’s how you learn how to lead. You learn how to fail.”
Brandon Callahan, standing, third from left, with Team Rubicon Co-Founder Jake Wood, CEO; Art delaCruz, President and Chief Operating Officer; and Dennis Clancey, Disruptor in Residence. The seated “just dudes” (Callahan’s words) are the five living former presidents in 2017 who were part of the One America Appeal fundraising event in College Station, Texas, after a devastating hurricane season. From left, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. President Donald Trump appeared via a recorded video. “It was inspiring to witness a unified voice of support during such a disastrous event,” Callahan said.
Legacy of Love
Craig and Febby Faerber with a portrait of their daughter, Alexandra.
Alexandra Faerber still offering others a helping hand through scholarship
By Terrie Ellerbee ’95
Alexandra Nicole Faerber ’15 was a kind soul with a free spirit who could be tough when she needed to be. She liked to help people in need and would not abide anyone being excluded.
“She didn’t judge others,” said her father, Craig. “She accepted people and just assumed they were good.”
Alexandra, who was 27 years old when she passed away on April 8 after a short illness, had always looked out for people who were older or otherwise fragile, Craig said. This became evident when her elementary school took students to nursing homes for visits.
“She would come away with all the folks there loving her, and she was friends with them,” he said. “Even while growing up, if there was a need or somebody was shunned, she was the one who would always reach out to them. She would be the one to take up for them.”
talked about the flexibility that the degree would provide.
“I think nursing is such a noble profession, and there are so many options,” Craig said. “I was really happy that she became a nurse, and I encouraged her to, but she was a free spirit. She was going to do what she wanted.”
Her mother, Febby, said Alexandra was a worrier as a student.
“She didn’t take grades for granted, that is for sure,” she said. “She was one of those people who say, ’I know I just failed that test.’ You would ask later how she did, and she would say, ’Oh, I got a B-plus.’”
Alexandra became a nurse and was caring for patients who were fragile and in some cases elderly when she passed away. She worked at a long-term acute care (LTAC) facility that provides specialized care and extended rehabilitation, including prolonged mechanical ventilation for patients.
The technicians at the LTAC loved Alexandra because she would help them out in ways other nurses typically didn’t. She went out of her way to lend a hand.
Alexandra had chosen Piedmont’s Athens campus after considering the University of Georgia and attending Clemson University for a semester.
Craig said Piedmont wasn’t overwhelming.
“She felt that it was a better school for her and would be a better experience,” he said.
She started college undecided about a major. Craig has always been a “big fan of nurses." He and Alexandra
She pressured herself because she wanted to do well.
“She was very proud that she graduated as a nurse,” Febby said. “It is not an easy major.”
Alexandra shared stories about her work life with her family. They could be gross—like why she would have to purchase new shoes—and Febby said they weren’t always “G-rated.”
“She was no shrinking violet. She would come home and say, ’you wouldn’t believe what somebody said to me today.’ People say all sorts of things to you, but she was not easily offended.”
At the same time, Alexandra was not one to say negative things about others. Febby said her daughter believed “if you send good out into the world, you’ll get good back.”
The scholarship that bears her name will carry on that legacy for her.
The Alexandra Nicole Faerber Memorial Scholarship in Nursing was established earlier this year through generous gifts from family and friends. It is awarded annually to two students who have been accepted and are in good standing in the R.H. Daniel School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The first recipients are Jasmine Lopez and Garion Williams.
Alexandra Faerber is pinned during a ceremony that initiates new nurses at Piedmont’s Athens campus in 2015.
Dr. Mary Griggs, 1962 Yonahian yearbook photo
History highlights & interesting stories
Keeper of the Flame
Dr. Mary Griggs served Piedmont for 35 Years
By Terrie Ellerbee ’95
The Yonahian staff honored Dr. Mary Griggs ’32 by dedicating the annual to her in 1962. It would be dedicated to her again two decades later, following her death in 1982.
Athens-based journalist Pete McCommons, a nephew by marriage, wrote about Griggs in a column not long after she passed. He titled it “Keeper of the flame” and wrote that Griggs was the protector of the old homeplace, family history, and heirlooms, including a coverlet woven by Elijah Kimzey, an ancestor who was a Georgia legislator in the 1860s.
Griggs taught at schools around north Georgia until the late 1950s when she became head of the mathematics department at Piedmont, her alma mater.
“There her lifelong love of learning found a forum,” McCommons wrote. “Math to her was not an isolated system but a way of coming to grips with the world she loved to study and teach. She demanded competence from her students but would work with them as long as they wanted her help. Her home was frequently filled with students she tutored for free.”
Griggs was chair of mathematics for 20 of the 35 years she served at Piedmont. She was as beloved a teacher as she was a force on the faculty. She served on the academic affairs committee, self-study financial resource committee, selfstudy steering committee, and the faculty social committee.
She also took on extra responsibilities, including advising the Gamma Chi Society, the Torch Club, and the National
Honorary Scholarship Society, Alpha Chi.
Even after she retired, Griggs remained involved with Piedmont, including guiding The Torch until she died.
Griggs also played a prominent role in the city of Demorest. She helped number all the houses in town and served on the board of a new nursing home in nearby Clarkesville.
McCommons wrote about Griggs’ thriftiness as well. Each year she would gift Christmas cookies in Cool Whip containers she saved all year just for the occasion.
“Her frugality in small things contrasted with her large generosity whenever family members needed her help,” he wrote.
Her generosity extends to Piedmont students. The Mary L. Griggs Mathematics Scholarship was established by family members and colleagues on November 22, 1982. The name was changed to the Griggs Mathematics Scholarship in 1993.
Griggs could see Yonah Mountain from her front yard, making the dedications of the Yonahian even more fitting. McCommons referred to her as a “quietly loving example of a stalwart woman” rising before and challenging those left behind—just like that very mountain.
Athletics accolades & accomplishments
Persevering through a Pandemic
By Ron Wagner
Piedmont athletic teams had no problem getting dressed up for the fall season. Finding somewhere to go proved to be a challenge.
“Almost impossible,” said athletics director Jim Peeples when asked how difficult it was to schedule opponents in the fall, “and I think that has been a drain on our coaching staff. They were given permission to do this, and they got the commitment from our administration. The frustration is not being able to find (other) people who are willing to do that.”
Piedmont administrators made the decision in August to open the college to in-person instruction and allow the school’s 21 teams to prepare and participate in games and tournaments. The problem was very few other NCAA institutions followed suit, meaning that two months after the start of classes the only sports that had been able to find anyone to compete against were men’s and women’s golf.
“What I’ve seen is it was so tough on these kids in the spring, and to come back and have the opportunity to be practicing and being in a routine—I think they’re happy they get to do that,” he said, referring to the season being halted in March when students were sent home for remote instruction in response to the pandemic. “There are many Division III institutions that are not even allowing their teams to practice, so our kids see this as a blessing that we’re having the ability to do what we’re doing right now.”
Throw in the NCAA’s decision to cancel all fall sports championships, and coaches and athletes both were forced to do some soul-searching about why they were pushing through practices, daily temperature checks, and unpleasant weekly COVID-19 tests. Peeples thinks they liked what they found.
About 10 percent of nearly 3,000 colleges nationwide were remoteonly for the 2020 fall semester, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, and 34 percent more were primarily online. Only 27 percent were primarily or fully in-person. Individual schools and conferences made their own decisions about whether to play sports in such an upended landscape. For cost and safety reasons many opted not to or abandoned attempts after COVID outbreaks.
The USA South’s member institutions voted unanimously in July to postpone conference competition until the spring but left the option available for nonconference games or tournaments. Though only golf was able to take advantage initially, September experiences at
Matthew Leemann ’22 continues to set school records for the men’s golf team only to break them again in the next tournament.
the Transylvania Fall Invite in Lexington, Kentucky, and the JT Poston Invitational in Hartwell turned out, in some ways, to be better than what would have been possible in a normal season.
At the JT Poston, for example, the Lion men were the only non-NCAA Division I team in the six-school field but ended up finishing ahead of Mercer and Central Arkansas. In Lexington, the Piedmont men and women teed it up together for safety reasons, which is highly unusual.
“That was cool for our athletes to compete against scholarship athletes … I think it’s tremendous for the growth of the program,” Peeples said. “And rarely in any golf events today do men and women play at the same time. They are always separate events.”
Peeples said the institution’s can-do attitude extends beyond athletics. Theatre productions are still being held. So are concerts, art shows, and other student activities.
“President Mellichamp has encouraged all of us to forge ahead and find something that is close to normal for our students. He understands that these experiences make us Piedmont,” he said. “Doing this takes courage. His leadership during this time has been inspirational.”
Though Piedmont has been more active than most schools in pursuing athletic competition, Peeples stresses safety has always been paramount and will remain so.
“From the beginning the mindset was, ’how are we going to get our students back to campus in the fall safely and provide them the education that they deserve?’” he said. “We’ve put in place the things the NCAA has required, and the protocols for the rest of the student body aren’t that much different from what our student-athletes have.”
Also, the new men’s and women’s swim teams began practicing September 8 and working out six days a week. The first meet in school history was held October 31 at Point University in Valley, Alabama. The men’s team took first and the women second. The inaugural home meet at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center is slated for January 16.
Coach Teddy Guyer mined Georgia heavily to build his roster from scratch, with 23 of 28 swimmers hailing
from the Peach State. Twenty-six are freshmen.
“COVID has affected our season with the cancellation of a few meets, so we’re not swimming as many as we would like to,” Guyer said.
Normalcy will return, and when it does, Peeples thinks it will come with a new perspective.
“It’s tough to see how difficult this has been on the student-athletes, but the realization that something can be taken away I’m not sure has ever been more real than in the moment that we’re living in right now,” he said. “I think there’s a ton of valuable lessons that they’re learning from this, and if they get to compete, it will be icing on the cake. And if we have the chance to compete for championships that will be like the candles on top.”
Piedmont swim teams excelled in their first meet, with the men finishing first and the women second.
Alumni Awards
Distinguished Alumni
Kelly Girtz MAT ’98
Excellence in Education
William "Billy" Harrell Ed.S. ’13
Alumni Service
Esther Charmaine Schneider Ed.S. ’98
Pacesetter
Bennett Bryan ’05, MBA ’19
Each year, the Piedmont Alumni Association recognizes exemplary alumni. These awards were scheduled to be given during Lion Fest (formerly Alumni Weekend), which was canceled in 2020 due to coronavirus safety concerns. It is expected to return in spring 2021.
To honor this year’s recipients, members of the Institutional Advancement team, along with Alumni Association President Lisa Black MA ’01, Ed.S. ’07, visited honorees individually to present awards. Read more about them and see a video commemorating the presentations on the Lions Share Network Alumni Awards page at alumni.piedmont.edu
2020-21 Alumni Association Board of Directors
Officers
Lisa Black MA ’01, Ed.S. ’07, President
Sierra Nicholson ’03, President-Elect
Michael Santowski Jr. ’06, Vice President
David Abbot ’67, Secretary
Dock Sisk ’72, Treasurer
Lauren Goza ’05, MBA ’07, Alumni Trustee
Directors
Nicole Booth ’02, Director
Jill Bradley ’80, Director
Stefanie Couch ’07, Director
Matt Desing ’02, Director
Jacob Douylliez ’12, Director
Gerald Dunn ’65, Director
Pamela Getman ’12, Director
Nicholas Kastner ’03, MBA ’06, Director
Judy Lunsford ’87, Director
Evan Nissley ’08, Director
Bryan Schroeder ’03, Director
Bill Secor ’06, Director
Jenni Shepard ’03, MAT ’05, Director
Student Representative
Danielle Barker
Sports Hall of Fame
Kevin Caldwell ’13 MBA ’14
Walter Scruggs (1965)
When he enrolled in 1965, Walter “Willie” Scruggs was the first Black student-athlete to play at Piedmont. He was also the first Black studentathlete on any collegiate or university varsity team in Georgia. He was a starting forward on the basketball team. Scruggs passed away after his first semester due to injuries sustained in a Christmas Eve car accident. Because so many hundreds of people wanted to attend Scruggs’ funeral, it was moved to a larger church.
Synethia Owens, sister of Walter Scruggs (1965), accepted the Hall of Fame Award for her late brother.
Sarah Lane May ’08
Sarah Lane May ’08 serves as Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She was an All-Academic in both volleyball and basketball in the same season at Piedmont. May was one of four Lady Lions with more than 1,000 career kills, second all-time in service aces (205), and the volleyball team went 84-58 during her career. She was named MVP of the 2007 Great South Athletic Conference volleyball tournament when Piedmont claimed the title.
Kevin Caldwell ’13, MBA ’14 holds multiple career records and numerous individual awards from his baseball career at Piedmont, with several in the Top 10 All-Time. He ranks No. 1 all-time in the NCAA era for wins (23) and second for innings pitched (297). He places third in fewest walks allowed per game (2.36), strikeouts (201), and games started (40). In 2013, he received the ABCA National Gold Glove Award as the country’s best fielding pitcher.
For a limited time, make a gift of $10 or more to any fund and receive a free Piedmont mask!
Golf Tourney Winners
Enjoy more connections with fellow alums!
It’s now easier than ever to connect with your Piedmont College classmates! The Office of Institutional Advancement is excited to announce that we’ve updated the alumni portion of Piedmont’s website, creating a unique way for alumni to engage with the college and each other.
Join our new Lions Share Network at alumni.piedmont.edu!
The Lions Share Network will enable you to:
• Search for more than 20,000 alumni using our new Online Alumni Directory
• Register for Piedmont events
• Join one or more Communities for networking
• Apply to be a mentor
• Shop in our online store
• Make a financial gift to support an area at Piedmont that is special to you
We hope that you and your Piedmont friends will enjoy this new website. Sign up today and encourage your fellow alumni to join us in this exciting new venture. See you there.
Katie Deal Director of Alumni Engagement and Development
kdeal@piedmont.edu | 706-776-0146
Piedmont’s 32nd Annual Coach Cave Memorial Golf Tournament generated approximately $20,000 for the college’s athletic programs.
Eighty-seven players took part in the July 27 event, which was hosted at the Highland Walk Golf Course in Royston.
The winning team, top photo, was comprised of (left to right) Adam Smith, Ronnie Edwards, and Tim Travis.
The second place team (below) represented The Classic Center in Athens and included (left to right) Steve Card, Paul Cramer, Fred Butler, and Nick Arnold.
Lions Share Network
We need all Piedmont family members to sign up on our Lions Share Network. It allows us to communicate more efficiently. PLEASE check the mentor box. Our students need mentors. Your fellow alums need networking opportunities.
Join the Lions Share Network. alumni.piedmont.edu
A Note from Hobbs
Your alumni house
A Call to Action
So many opportunities to give
It has been just a little more than 15 months since my family and I arrived in Habersham County and joined the Piedmont College (soon to be University!) family. It is funny the journey life’s path takes us. My wife, Denise, and I both agree God has smiled on us!
I am a passionate person, and this passion has become aspirational. Aspirational for Piedmont. Piedmont needs our alumni, parents, and friends to share the aspirational passion. There are a few things I ask you to consider.
Lions Share
Please make a gift of any size that is either unrestricted or designated for your favorite cause at Piedmont. Pledge, give, check draft, cash! This campaign year ends on June 30, 2021.
We had a great year this past year.
This year, our goal is to surpass 1,000 alumni donors!
Make a Lions Share Gift. piedmont.edu/lions-share
Yonahian Society
The Yonahian Society is Piedmont’s most intimate, benevolent group of alumni, parents, and friends who choose to give $1,000-plus annually. In our inaugural year, we already have more than 120 members.
We will celebrate this spring at the inaugural Yonahian Society Gala. This will be an event the likes of which Piedmont has never seen! Consider this opportunity!
Consider becoming a Yonahian. piedmont.edu/yonahian
A Moment in Time
This spring, Piedmont’s journey will come upon a watershed moment. It will be a crossroads where we all will gather. Stay tuned for more information. Be present for Piedmont’s Moment in Time!
&News Notes CLASS
2010s
Juanita Shope ’81 currently serves as the president of Rabun County Chamber of Commerce and has also been named director of business development for Forward Rabun.
1 David Limbach ’01 and wife, Lisa, welcomed son Dawson Mattox Limbach on September 8. He weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long.
2 Yetta Bailey Smith ’09 was named Hampton High School Teacher of the Year for the 2019-20 school year. Out of 52 teachers in Henry County, she was also selected as one of six semifinalists who are competing for Henry County Schools District Teacher of the Year.
3 Sarah Simler Daglis ’10 and husband, Daniel, tied the knot on February 22, just before the quarantine began.
Dr. John Michael Grigsby MAT ’11 graduated from Augusta University in December with his doctorate in nursing. His thesis focused on increasing political efficacy to help increase political participation for nurse
practitioners in Georgia. John Michael hopes to run for the Georgia House of Representatives in the near future.
Sarah West MA ’07, Ed.S. ’11 married husband, Thomas, in 2003. They adopted six children in 2016 and three more in 2019. They were honored with the 2017 Georgia Foster Parents of the Year Award.
4 Dr. Molly Atkinson ’12 received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Georgia in 2018, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Miami University. She is currently a tenure-track assistant professor of chemistry at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, conducting chemistry education research.
Jay Evans ’14 was named Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
5 Dilyn MacLean Cox ’13 MBA ’15 and Zachary Cox ’16 will welcome their second child this December. William Zayn Cox, named after Dilyn’s late father, will be a younger brother to his sister, Addilyn T. Cox.
Hayley Major ’16 was promoted to editorial account manager at the University of Georgia.
6 Ashton Simpson Krajcovic ’17 and husband, Nick, had their first child on August 13. His name is Liam Alexander.
April Williams ’17 received her MBA in December 2019 and began a new career as Project Manager for Southeastrans Inc. in July 2020.
7 Jessica Bagwell Coker ’18 and Drew Coker ’19 married on July 11 in Cleveland, Georgia.
Crisis creates clarity
By David Harrell
Ayear ago, Bryan Schroeder ’03 was the Journal cover story. He is the executive director of Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides financial assistance and social service connections to food service workers. Knowing the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the restaurant industry, one can only imagine the pressure his organization faced to offer relief.
As he explains, “It was scary. Like many nonprofits, we were uncertain about the future, especially since the industry we serve is also the cornerstone of our financial support. We had to focus in order not to fail. There was just no way to be everything to everyone.”
Schroeder continues, “Step one was looking beyond our traditional revenue stream to raise funds. Major benefactors like the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman made significant gifts and put us on the map. Over 5,000 people contributed $100 or less (85 percent were first-time givers). This outpouring provided the money to continue the core
Dr. Erika McKinney Ed.S. ’17, Ed.D. ’20 and husband, Matt, welcomed daughter Amelia Harper McKinney on September 10. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.
8 Kensley Brown ’19, MA ’20 began a new job at White County Middle School teaching sixth grade social studies.
of our mission: supporting workers who are sick or injured, dealing with family crises, or facing unexpected disasters. Step two was significantly expanding our outside resource partners, enabling us to refer laid-off workers to everything from job assistance to mental health counseling and telemedicine.”
Bottom-line results: Since the pandemic began, Giving Kitchen has awarded more than $100,000 to those with COVID-19 or who are under medical mandatory quarantine. Another $400,000 has been awarded for other emergencies. By the end of the year, the agency plans to distribute more than $1 million to people in need.
&News Notes
Murley’s mission is helping Dublin homeless
Bethany Murley ’13 has been in Dublin, Ireland, since October 2019 serving as a volunteer for the Dublin Simon Community. The 50-year-old organization battles homelessness with the attitude, “Until they can close their own door behind them, the most vulnerable members of our society will always be at their most vulnerable.”
Murley’s father was a pilot with the nonprofit Flying Mission, so she has roots in nonprofit work. She spent time in Southern Africa working with HIV/AIDS orphans in daycare centers. After graduation from Piedmont, Murley worked for Mansfield Oil Co. in business development and then for CLASS Inc. as a leasing specialist in the Atlanta area, providing sales and marketing solutions to more than 20 multifamily housing clients.
“I was working so close to where people live. Housing is very personal. People need to feel safe and taken care of and feel a sense of ownership,” she said. “During my work in property management, I saw many people housing-insecure and right on the edge of losing that sense of security.”
Murley wanted to get back into nonprofit work and to travel. As a Piedmont student, she had studied abroad in England and Scotland.
In Ireland, she found that volunteering is very formal and structured, and comes with high expectations in exchange for the housing and weekly stipend Dublin Simon provides.
Murley works in a “high support” housing unit where 32 men live. She feels the same way about them that other staff members do.
“They love these guys so much. They are so interested in what they are thinking and feeling and how to help them,” Murley said. “I’ve been proud to be part of this dedicated team that advocates for service users literally around the clock.”
She hopes to continue working with the homeless when she comes back to the U.S.
Small college helps big dreams come true
Daniela Cintron ’09 decided to give Piedmont a try despite her doubts it would bring her closer to her dreams to work for a network like NBC. It was the caliber of the professors that sold her. Professor of Mass Communications Dale Van Cantfort, a former radio station owner, became a mentor and friend.
After graduation, Cintron did work for NBC, starting with Telemundo in Atlanta as an account executive. Then Telemundo’s parent, NBCUniversal, chose her from 3,000 candidates to train as a sales associate in New York. One year after she moved to New York, she was sent to help start up a new station: Telemundo 20 in San Diego.
“Who would have thought that this small college I thought was not going to get me anywhere would get me everything and more than I could have expected?” Cintron said.
She married, started a family and returned to North Georgia to be near her mom in Rabun County and away from the fast-paced life she had been living.
She became the social media strategist for the Northeast Georgia Region of Community Newspapers Inc. thanks to Van Cantfort, who suggested Cintron talk with Regional Publisher Alan NeSmith.
Cintron is now the social media coordinator for Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, a growing law firm based in Atlanta.
Daniela Cintron with President Mellichamp.
Bethany Murley
FRIENDS AND HONOREES
Leroy Sheppard Young of Clayton, Georgia, passed away on April 26 at the age of 77. He is survived by his wife, Tatum Young, and one son. Young served as associate professor of art at Piedmont from 2000-2008. He was passionate about art and inspired the formation of the graphic design program at Piedmont and many colleges and universities where he taught.
Judith Griggs Slade of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on July 29 at the age of 83. She was the niece of Dr. Mary Griggs '32 (see page 16). While Slade did not attend Piedmont, she was a great supporter of the college. Her love for Piedmont grew through family ties. Slade’s mother, Melrose Mathis Griggs ’52, and father, Junius Herbert Griggs ’32, were proud Piedmont alumni, as was her aunt, Jessie Mathis Puckett ’42
Teresa Joy Straner, originally of Toccoa, Georgia, passed away on September 1 at the age of 67. She worked as an elementary school teacher for 30 years in the Gwinnett and Stephens County school systems before retiring in 2007. Post-retirement, she returned to school to teach education courses at Piedmont for six years. Straner was also an accomplished pianist.
ALUMNI
Betty Ledbetter Long ’50, originally of Tallulah Falls, Georgia, passed away on August 12 at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, alumnus Rev. D. Herbert Long ’52. She is survived by two daughters. Long utilized her Piedmont degree by teaching special education until retiring in 1996.
In Memory
Martha Frances Moore Dickerson ’51 of Easley, South Carolina, passed away on May 10 at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Neal Lafayett Dickerson, two sons, and a daughter. After obtaining her degree from Piedmont, Dickerson went on to earn a master’s in education from Western Carolina University. She enjoyed teaching elementary and middle school for many years.
Wilma Smith Davis ’52 of Lakemont, Georgia, passed away on December 21, 2019, at the age of 87. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bobby K. “B.K.” Davis. Davis was the valedictorian of the class of 1949 at Lakemont High School, where she also achieved perfect attendance. She maintained perfect attendance while at Piedmont as well. After graduation, she worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company for 34 years, most of which were spent as an executive secretary.
Sarah Valentine Corley Roberts ’53, originally of Duluth, Georgia, passed away on August 19 at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Clyde O. Roberts. She is survived by one son and two daughters. Roberts served 30 years in the Gwinnett County School System and was a proud member of the Gwinnett County Retired Educators Association.
Charles Douglas Weathers ’61 of Tucker, Georgia, passed away on June 6 at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Patricia Griffin Weathers. He is survived by two daughters. Weathers enjoyed teaching world geography and coaching basketball and baseball at several high schools near Atlanta. The
family encourages a memorial donation to Piedmont College Baseball in honor and memory of Charles Weathers.
Michael Lee Herring ’80 of Canton, Georgia, passed away on August 27, 2019, at the age of 60. Herring earned a bachelor’s degree from Piedmont.
Ki-Shing Kwok ’89 of Aurora, Colorado, passed away on August 14 at the age of 55. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, whom he referred to as “Mi Amor,” and two children. Kwok graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in mathematics from Piedmont. Following graduation, Kwok moved to Colorado where he worked as a programmer for IBM, in technology for Jackson Hewitt, and eventually became a business owner.
Kathleen Mary McDuffie ’93, MPA ’04 of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on June 8 at the age of 68. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Michael Leon McDuffie, and their 12 children, including alumnae Keely Jenkins Burke ’01 and Annie Jenkins Brevard ’06. McDuffie maintained a 4.0 in both degrees at Piedmont and went on to serve as lab coordinator for the college. While at Piedmont, McDuffie influenced the lives and futures of countless students.
Elainia York Smith ’98, Ed.S. ’06 of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on May 6 at the age of 53. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Edward Smith, and survived by one son. Smith served 21 years in the Habersham County School System and was the director of special education at Woodville Elementary.
Lance Garold Kelley MAT ’03 of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away on April 21 at the age of 64. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Kelley. He is survived by one son and one daughter. Kelley earned an environmental engineering degree from Montana Tech before attending Piedmont, where he received his master’s degree in teaching. He spent many years as a high school science teacher in North Georgia.
Linda Marie Quillen MA ’04 of McDonough, Georgia, passed away on April 25 at the age of 56. She is survived by her husband, Kyle Quillen, and two children. Twice Quillen was honored with the Teacher of the Year Award for her service of 30 years as an elementary school teacher in the Henry County School System. She touched the lives of many of her students and formed bonds that would last a lifetime.
Trent D. Smith ’14, originally of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on September 7 at the age of 32. He is survived by his parents and four siblings. Smith earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Piedmont before becoming a certified EMT. He was employed by Amazon as a technical services manager.
Jacob Tyler Donaldson-Passmore ’17, of Clermont, Georgia, passed away on August 20, 2019, at the age of 25. He is survived by his mother and one brother. Passmore earned a bachelor of arts degree in design and technical theatre from Piedmont. He was cherished by many classmates and friends.
Emily Berryman Michaud of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away on December 12, 2018, at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her husband
In Memory
of 66 years, alumnus Alfred A. Michaud ’42, and is survived by two children. Michaud attended Piedmont (1940-42) and continued to support the college throughout her lifetime. Her infectious laugh, helping hand, and dedication to the Golden Rule will be fondly remembered.
Emily Wynn Stewart of Hamilton, Georgia, passed away on June 25, 2019, at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her husband, James V. Stewart, and is survived by three children. Stewart attended Piedmont College (1949-51), followed by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Class of ’54. She served as a nurse with the Harris County Health Department and retired as lead nurse in 1997.
Homer Lee Daniel of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on January 10 at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Carter Daniel, and is survived by three children. After attending Piedmont College (1948-49), he worked for many years as a supervisor at Martin Finance. Daniel eventually owned and operated his own company in Dallas, Daniel Auto Sales, which is still in operation.
Samuel “Sam” Linton Tolbert of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on February 5 at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha Ballew Tolbert, and two children. Tolbert attended Piedmont College (1974), after which he attended Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. Together the Tolberts founded Hillside Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Clarkesville in 1977. He served as a councilman for the City of Clarkesville from 19861991 and as mayor from 1992-2005.
James “Frankie” Lentz of Orlando, Florida, passed away on September 18, 2019, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Juanita “Nenet” Lentz, one son, two daughters, and two stepsons. Lentz played basketball and baseball at Piedmont College (195556) and was a member of the P-Club.
Joseph Clarke “Joe” Watkins of Loganville, Georgia, passed away on February 5 at the age of 56. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lynn Johnson Watkins, and one son. Watkins was known to be the life of the party, a sports fan, and he cherished every moment of joy to be found. He played basketball for Georgia Military College High School before going on to play for Piedmont College (1981-83).
Gwendolyn “Gwen” Whitmire Wiley, originally of Stephens County, Georgia, passed away on March 4 at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Wiley, and is survived by two children. Wiley attended Piedmont (1942-43) and taught school in Stephens County before relocating to Anderson, South Carolina, in 1947. There she worked as a drapery maker and operated Wiley Drapery Services until retiring. In 2002, the Wileys relocated to Jefferson and joined the Jefferson First United Methodist Church.
Marvin “Lanier” Chambers of Cleveland, Georgia, passed on March 5 at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Allison Chambers, and two daughters. Chambers attended Piedmont College (1956-57), North Georgia College, and the University of Georgia. He was a realtor and developer in Northeast Georgia, creating Cleveland’s first strip mall. Chambers served on the White County Board of Commissioners from 1971-1974 and was chairman of the commission from 1983-1986. He was a talented writer, storyteller, and historian.
Margaret Bailey Conwell of Peachtree City, Georgia, passed away on March 11 at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, alumnus Walter Baxter Conwell ’47, whom she met while attending Piedmont (1946-47). She is survived by two sons. Conwell was an active volunteer in her community and enjoyed playing bridge with friends and cooking for her family.
Blake Anthony Allen of Cleveland, Georgia, passed away on March 31 at the age of 64. He is survived by one son. Allen graduated from White County High School, Class of ’73, and attended Piedmont. Allen was a lifelong White County resident, an avid outdoorsman, and loved his family dearly.
Runette Ridgeway Allgood of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away on April 8 at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, alumnus Lorenzo Eugene Allgood ’46, whom she met while attending Piedmont (1943-45). She is survived by two sons. Allgood graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in early education and taught school for almost 50 years. She was instrumental in helping establish Lakeview Academy, where she taught until retirement.
Ellen Charlotte Callahan McCusker of Danvers, Massachusetts, passed away on April 20 at the age of 70. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, James M. McCusker, and is survived by one son. McCusker attended Piedmont (1968-69) before returning to the New England area. She was employed by the New England Telephone Company/ NYNEX for more than 22 years, retiring as a service representative manager.
In Memory
Lu Carol Cason DeMore of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on April 22 at the age of 74. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dr. Philip DeMore, and their two daughters. DeMore attended Piedmont College (1963-65) before going on to earn a bachelor of science degree from North Georgia College and an MT/ ASCP certification from Grady School of Medical Technology. She sang in the Piedmont Chorale and was a member of Piedmont’s Friends of the Arts.
Norma Dickson Hardin of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on April 23 at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Franklin “Frank” Hardin, and survived by two daughters. Hardin attended Piedmont (1947-48) before studying business at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville.
James Franklin Jr. of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on June 6 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Evelyn Pritchett Franklin, two sons, and one daughter. Franklin served as an Army medic during the Korean Conflict for two years before attending Piedmont (1957-58). He acted as minister of music for multiple churches and worked for 30 years as the regional coordinator of vital records and statistics for the State of Georgia.
William E. “Bill” Harvey of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away on June 11 at the age of 85. He attended Piedmont (1959) after serving in the Air Force for two years.
Harvey worked in banking in Washington, D.C., before returning home to join his mother in taking college accounting courses. He was an avid runner through his 70s and continued to hike his favorite spot, Pike’s Peak in Colorado, into his 80s.
Clifton Scott Meadows Sr. of Calhoun, Georgia, passed away on June 30 at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife, Judy Robbins Meadows, one son, one daughter, and three stepsons. Meadows attended Piedmont (1966-69) before beginning a 35-year career with Michael’s Carpet. Meadows was a member of the National Guard and the Calhoun Elks Lodge.
Lucille Nix Housworth of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on July 3 at the age of 94. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Harold Housworth, one son, and one daughter. Housworth attended Piedmont (1942-43) before moving to Atlanta to begin a 10-year career with Western Electric. She was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and enjoyed participating in Sunday school classes at Briarlake Baptist Church.
Quenten L. Loudermilk, originally of Cornelia, Georgia, passed away on July 18 at the age of 97. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, June Loudermilk, and one son. Loudermilk served in the Air Force as a rear torrent gunner on a B-12 bomber. During WWII, he flew 37 missions, including two combat missions in Normandy on D-Day. After the war, Loudermilk attended Piedmont College (1947-48) before moving to Michigan to work for General Motors. He retired from GM after 30 years of service.
Samuel Rideout ’22 (yes, that’s his real name) takes a rest to enjoy a waterfall during a ride through the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area.
