Compiled by Alyson Waldrop
1920s
Mary Bruce McKinley (AB ’28, MA ’32) of Laguna Woods, Calif., died on Feb. 20, 2005.
1930s
Anne Redding Burnett (ABEd ’33) of Columbia, S.C, died on Sept. 11. She was an active member of Shandon United Methodist Church for over 50 years. She served as Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout Den Mother and was a member of the United Methodist Women, where she received the United Methodist Women Special Recognition Award for leadership and service. Burnett was an active participant for a number of years in the Meals on Wheels program and enjoyed doing volunteer work at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. Annie Goss Burns (BSEd ’33, MEd ’55) of Irwinville died on Jan. 20, 2006. Dorothy Hains Cavan (AB ’37) of Thomaston died on May 8. At age 16, she entered UGA where she majored in Latin with a minor in French and zoology. She taught Latin at R. E. Lee Institute for several years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Thomaston where she taught the Alec Teal Sunday School Class. Juanita Clarke Clark (ABEd ’34) of Tarboro, N.C., died on Feb. 26, 2006. She accompanied her father to the dedication of, and first football game at Sanford Stadium (UGA vs. Yale) on Oct. 12, 1929. She taught history, French and English in Dixie, third grade at College Avenue School in Athens and Ellis Avenue School in Orangeburg, S.C. Clark was a member of the Orangeburg Garden Club, leader of Girl Scout Troop 302 and played contract and duplicate bridge. James Lovett Dewar Sr. (BS ’37, MSEd ’45) of Valdosta died on Aug. 19. His accomplishments include founding The Park Avenue Bank, serving as Lowndes County School Superintendent for 12 years, serving as a member of the Georgia State Board of Education for 6 years, and serving as Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Club International for the State of Georgia. In 1988, Dewar was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law by Valdosta State University for his life accomplishments and his service to education in general and to the University. George B. Duke Sr. (BSAE ’37) of Americus died on July 11, 2005. He taught Agricultural Engineering at ABAC for two years and worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He designed the first self-propelled John Deere combine. Duke was a member of the Golden Kiwanis Club and a member of Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Albany. Nina Fuller Durham (ABJ ’39) of Americus died on Aug. 26. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Episcopal Church. Margaret Miller Glover (AB ’34, MA ’35) of Newnan died on Aug. 5. She was a member of the Driftwood Garden Club for many years, and a member of Central Baptist Church for more than 50 years. After successfully overcoming cancer at the age of fifty, she and her husband traveled the world many times, visiting more than 100 different countries and destinations. Marguerite Pool Hardy (BSEd ’33) of Elberton died on Aug. 16, 2005. Hill Randolph Healan (ABEd ’38) of Decatur died on July 3. During WWII he worked at Bell Aircraft in Marietta. After the war, he began a life-long career in local and state government during which he held administrative positions with both the Atlanta Junior Chamber and Chamber of Commerce and served as City Manager for the cities of Cordele and Griffin and later Meridian, Miss. Healan served as Executive Director of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia for 25 years. He served as President of the Judson C. Ward Sunday School class at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. Healan loved playing checkers, and was a national tournament player and champion. Benjamin Franklin Johnson Jr. (AB ’37) of Atlanta died on June 26. In 1949 he became a faculty member in the Emory University Law School and began tenure of more than 30 years as a law professor and dean. From 1955 to 1961, he was a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Georgia. He argued more than 30 cases in the Georgia Supreme Court and won important landmark state taxation victories before the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1962, Johnson was elected to the Georgia State Senate as a representative from a new DeKalb County senatorial district. He served in the Georgia Senate through 1969. His most significant achievement as a member of the Georgia General Assembly was probably as the principal author of legislation which resulted in the creation of the Metropolitan Atlanta rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). From 1961 to 1973 Johnson served as dean of Emory University Law School. In 1981, he was asked to become the founding dean at the College of Law at Georgia State University, and retired from that position in 1985. Johnson was an active layman at Druid Hills Baptist Church for 75 years and a Sunday school teacher for almost 50 years. He served during WWII in the U.S. Navy. Elmir Rogers Ricketson (AB ’36, MA ’64, EdS ’71) of Warrenton died on Oct. 31, 2005. Henry Orville Stewart (BSF ’36) of Jackson, Miss., died on Aug. 10. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He had been a resident of Jackson for the past 60 years. Stewart was employed by the Mississippi Forestry Commission for 44 years. He served as area forester in both Calhoun City and Grenada. He was later transferred to the state office where he was assistant fire control director and later became fire control director. Stewart was a long-time member of the Mississippi Forestry Association and the Society of American Foresters. He also served as Scoutmaster of two Boy Scouts of America troops for several years. He was a lifelong deacon at First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school for 50 years. Ruth Dickson Thompson (BSHE ’34) of Good Hope died on July 3. She taught students for 46 years, largely Science and Home Economics. She taught third and sixth grades in Monroe for 22 years. Elbert Newton Whitmire Jr. (ABJ ’36) of Athens died on July 13, 2005. He served as a Major in the 66th Armored Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division during WWII. He owned and operated Whitmire Furniture Company for 46 years. He was a member of the Athens First United Methodist Church and the Tuck Sunday School Class. Whitmire was also a member of the Athens Country Club and the Athens City Club. He was the past president of the Georgia Retail Furniture Association, a member of the Retired Officers Association, and served as a member of the Clarke County Planning Commission.
1940s
Cordelia Salter Barksdale (AB ’43) of Atlanta died on May 27. She worked as a bookkeeper for Graybar Electric Company for a number of years. She was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and an active participant in the Native Atlantan Club. Barksdale was active in the Women’s Club of the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. She did volunteer work at Wesley Woods and the VA Hospital in Atlanta. Gladyse Kennemore Barrett (BSEd ’49, MEd ’55) of Cumming died on June 5. She was Head of the Social Studies Department at Forsyth County High School where she also set up the Guidance Department and was the first school counselor. She was the first chairperson of the Forsyth County Merit Board. She served on the City of Cumming Recreational Commission from 1979 to 1988, and was chairperson of Forsyth County Commission of the Bicentennial of United States Constitution from 1987 to 1991. Barrett researched names of deceased soldiers for the Veteran War Memorial in Cumming from 1991-1992. She received the Forsyth County Serving Senior Award in 1992. Mary Lankford Bradley (AB ’41) of Savannah died on Aug. 22. She retired from Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education after teaching at Hesse Elementary School for more than 20 years. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Education Sorority, Lachlan McIntosh Chapter DAR, Georgia Retired Educators Association, Chatham Retired Educators Association and the Fellowship Sunday School class at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church. Bradley was a member of the Candler Hospital Auxiliary and worked in the gift shop for many years. Rupert Harold Bramblett (BS ’42) of Cumming died on April 30, 2005. He became a physician following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Bramblett made house calls into the 1970s, keeping with the way the family has practiced medicine in the county since 1885. He worked with other physicians in the county to establish its first public hospital in 1957, and he became its first chief of staff. He retired in 1998 after 53 years of service. Jeanne Mann Cartledge (BSHE ’40) of Griffin died on Aug. 3. She taught in the Griffin-Spaulding County School System for many years. She was an active member of the Griffin First United Methodist Church where she had served on the Board of Stewards. In 1981, she started the “Come Read With Me” program at the Methodist church, where remedial reading was taught for many summers. The program received a cash award and write up in Guide Post in 1981. Cartledge was a charter member of the Dogwood Garden Club, a member of the Griffin Historical Society and a former member of the Utility Club. William Carroll Chandler (AB ’47) of Montgomery, Ala., died on Sept 17. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He served as Executive Director of the Montgomery Young Men’s Christian Association from 1948 to 2002. Chandler also served as International President of Lions Clubs International from 1980-81. Nancy Strong Cobb (BSHE ’40) of Decatur died on July 3. She began her long teaching career at Douglas County High School. Over the next 37 years she taught Home Economics in Bowden, Mount Zion, Bremen and Villa Rica. For many summers she operated community canning plant in Villa Rica, assisting people in preserving the bounty of their farms and gardens. Frank Hutchings Fabian (ABJ ’48, MEd ’61, EdD ’80) of Hartwell died on Sept. 2. He began his career as a math teacher and baseball/basketball coach at South Habersham, Oconee County, and Irwin County, before becoming the Principal of Macon County High School. He was CESA Director in Cleveland and was the first Principal of Habersham Central High School. Fabian was also the principal of Hart County High School and Hart County Junior High before retiring as Hart County School System’s Curriculum Director. Mary Quigley Hague (BS ’46) of Spartanburg, S.C., died on Aug. 11. She was retired from USC-Upstate after 23 years of service. Sarah Elizabeth “Betty” Hall (BSEd ’54) of Moultrie died on April 21. She taught second, third and sixth grades at Okapilco School in Colquitt County and 10th grade at Moultrie High School before retiring as a high school English teacher. She was a member of the Junior Woman’s Club, served as president of the Moultrie Federated Guild and served twice as regent of the John Benning chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as district president of the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, and was named as “State Clubwoman of the Year” by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs. Hall helped start Moultrie’s Human Society and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Moultrie. Elsie Hammond Hampton (AB ’48) of Tucker died on July 19. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and teacher. She was a lifetime member of the Clarkston United Methodist Church where she was involved in many social and community activities. Samuel Marvin “Bud” Johnson (BBA ’45) of Watkinsville died on June 28. He worked his way through college as the manager of the Ritz Theater. He then was manager at the Oden Theater in Savannah, and from there went to the Lincoln Theater in Miami, Fla. He then moved to Bainbridge, Ga., where he worked for Bower Inc. as a salesman. From 1954 to 1974, he was a self-employed Manufacturers Representative in the Gift & Decorative field. After retirement, Johnson worked for several yeas at the Copper Kettle Package Store on Baxter Street. After moving to Watkinsville in 1985, he was a news carrier for 8 years with the Atlanta Journal Constitution. From 1994 to 2003, he was a site leader for Oconee County Recycling Department. Charles Alonzo Kimbrell (AB ’46, JD ’47) of Rome died on Aug. 16. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, three days after D-Day. He retired with the rank of major. Kimbrell was a partner in the law firm of Dixon, DeJarnette, Bradford, Williams, McKay & Kimbrell, which eventually became Kimbrell Hamann, PC. He served as President of the Dade County Bar Association and member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar; Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow of International Academy of Trial Lawyers; and President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After his retirement in 1988 he moved to Rome, Ga. He is a Heart of the Community Award honoree and was named 2002 Volunteer of the Year by Floyd Health Care Foundation. Thomas Mims (BSAE ’42) of Tallahassee, Fla., died on Aug. 14. He was a retired lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Air Force. He flew missions with the 446th Bomb Group over Normandy on D-Day and on many other significant combat missions. After the end of WWII, he continued his Air Force career flying jet bombers during the Cold War and Vietnam eras. He was a member of the Tallahassee Retired Officers Association, the Tallahassee Genealogical Society and American Legion. Mims was a founding member of the American Air Museum in Britain. Marvin Louis Montgomery (BFA ’48) of McDonough died on Sept. 10. He served as Minister of Music for more than 50 years. He retired in 2001 at the age of 81. He served at Sylvan Hills Baptist Church for 19 years, at Gordon Street and Buckhead Baptist in Atlanta, at Tifton First Baptist, Newnan First Baptist, Eastside of Morrow, and Prince Avenue of Athens. In Louisiana he served at Oak Park of New Orleans and First Baptist of Gretna. During his career, Montgomery served as President of the Georgia Baptist Church Music Conference and as President of the New Orleans Seminary Music Alumni. He served on the music faculty at the Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly in North Carolina and authored a number of articles for the Church Musician magazine, a publication of the Southern Baptist Convention. Montgomery served during WWII in the Army Air Corps. Alice Justice Patterson (MEd ’48) of Macon died on Aug. 28. She was a retired schoolteacher, a retired registered nurse and a member of Tattnall Square Baptist Church. Robert Harris Patton (M ’47) of Spartanburg, S.C., died on Sept. 3. He was a loving father and grandfather, and a member of the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg. Patton served in the Navy during WWII. Grover Cleveland Presnell Jr. (BSC ’40) of Bogart died on Aug. 21. He was a veteran of WWII, a retired Assistant Registrar at the University of Georgia, and a member of the First United Methodist Church. Conrad Fischer Routh (BS ’48, MS ’49) of Chamblee died on Aug. 24. He was a parasitologist and bacteriologist. He began his career with the Georgia State Health Department serving the last 10 years as Director of the Microscopy Laboratory. Routh served with the 19th General Medical Laboratory in the South Pacific during WWII. Gordon Julian Rowe (BS ’49) of Madison, Ala., died on Sept. 21. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. After graduation, he taught radar and aircraft communications technology to airmen of NATO countries at Kiesler AFB in Gulfport, Miss., until moving to Huntsville, Ala. to join the missile team at Redstone Arsenal in 1954. He joined NASA as an engineer six years later, eventually rising to project engineer in charge of Automated Test Engineering. Rowe developed computer automated monitoring systems to assure the safety and reliability of manned spacecraft missions, leading to 23 NASA patents. After retirement from NASA in 1977, he founded a wooden toy company and wrote two children’s books. Shirley Coppedge Sartain (M ’48) of Atlanta died on July 4. She had attended North Fulton High School, UGA and Georgia State University. Sara Hall Shull (BSEd ’44) of Columbus died on May 13. She was a school teacher for more than 45 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Columbus. Sara B. Singleton (MEd ’47, EdS ’71) of Temple died on March 30, 2005. She was a school administrator with the Whitfield County School System before retired in 1974 with 40 years of service. She also taught in the Bremen City School System for 10 years. Singleton founded the Haralson County Pilot Club and was a member of the Draketown Baptist Church. Paul Albert Smith (ABEd ’40) of Asheboro, N.C., died on Aug. 9. In 1961, he purchased the Credit Bureau from the Asheboro Merchants Association and operated it until his retirement in 1979. He was president of the Burlington Lions Club, president of the Asheboro Kiwanis Club, president of the Asheboro Golden K Club, president of the Asheboro Country Club and Campaign Chairman of the United Way. Smith earned his Eagle Scout Award and adult scouting’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award. John Paul Souther (BSF ’40) of Gainesville died on Aug. 18. He retired from the Reserve Forces in 1964 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served 19 years in the reserves after five years of active duty in WWII. He wrote two non-fiction books, War Not Forgotten as well as Between The Bald and The Blood, about his combat experience and his early life on a Blue Ridge mountain farm. Souther was instrumental in recording the experiences of many fellow servicemen on video for inclusion in a history of WWII veterans to be placed in the Library of Congress. He served as the past president of the Lyman Hall Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, was a lifetime member of the Gainesville BPOE, the First United Methodist Church, the Gainesville Men’s Garden Club and many other civic and social organizations. John Franklin Spence (BSA ’42, MEd ’62) of Brooklet died on Aug. 19. He taught Agriculture at Southeast Bulloch High School and retired after 40 years of service in education. He was a member of the Brooklet Kiwanis Club, the Gideon’s and a longtime member of the Brooklet United Methodist Church, the church choir and the Jack Lee Sunday School Class. Jesse Charles Strickland (BSC ’40) of Waycross died on May 31. After college he joined the U.S. Army and served two tours in Germany, one command tour in Korea and most of his career at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he served with the Medical Service Corps as a Hospital Administrator. Strickland was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Arthur B. Moore Sunday School Class. He was also a member of the Waycross Lions club and a charter member of the local Military Officers Association of America. Jack Thomas Tumlin (BSA ’42, DVM ’53) of Cocoa, Fla., died on Sept. 14. He was a world renowned Poultry Specialist and belonged to many veterinarian and avian associations. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII, and was a member of Central Community Church. William Jefferson “Billy” Williamson Sr. (BBA ’48) of Greenville, S.C., died on Aug. 4. In 1943, he left UGA to join the Merchant Marine under the U.S. Coast Guard. He served in Japan until the end of WWII. After he completed his degree at UGA, he began his career with The Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. and later was a partner in The W.N. Watson Supply Co. In 1969, he opened the Western Sizzlin Steak House. Williamson served on the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees for many years. He was also the national chairman of the annual fund under three different UGA presidents, as well as a charter member of the Presidents Club. He received the prestigious Dan Magill Award in 1993. Williamson was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Circle #12, past president and co-founder of the Greenville Bulldog Club, member of Green Valley Country Club, the Poinsett Club, the Nine O’clock Dance Club and The Greenville Touchdown Club. Mary Panter Wise (BBA ’47) of Sylva, N.C., died on May 14. She graduated in 1943 from Forest Park High School as class valedictorian. She was a homemaker, and enjoyed writing poetry, painting, gardening and baking. Willard Wellman Young (JD ’48) of Vero Beach, Fla., died on Aug. 12. His time at UGA was interrupted by WWII, during which he served four years as an infantry officer. After completing his degree he reentered the Regular Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and served until his retired as a Colonel in 1968. Young later served for 10 years as legal counsel at UGA. He retired to Florida where he was in the real estate business. He was a resident manager of a hotel resort in the North Carolina mountains.
1950s
Barbara Allen Broach (BBA ’51) of Columbus died on April 15. She was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, and was an active member of United Methodist Women holding several local and district offices. She was a member of the Fort Oglethorpe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. James Ronald Conley (BS ’52) of Powder Springs died on Aug. 25. He was retired as Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Georgia. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Powder Springs. Luther Hamilton Cook Jr. (M ’53) of Covington died on May 20. He was a member of Starrsville United Methodist Church where he served as treasurer for over 20 years and was the present trustee. He retired from GMAC after 38 years of service. Cook was a past president of the Newton County Kiwanis Club and was a member of The North Georgia Friends for Life Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Ila Jean Bazemore Dismukes (BSEd ’53) of Savannah died on Aug. 17. She taught home economics, kindergarten and special education in Screven and Chatham county schools. She was a member of the Savannah Area Genealogical Society. Pete J. Griner Jr. (BSPH ’58) of Beaufort, S.C., died on Sept. 23. In 1965, he bought the Union Pharmacy in Nashville, Ga. Later, he owned and operated two drug stores in Nashville, working as the pharmacist in the Town & Country Pharmacy. He served on the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association Board of Directors for 10 years and as district president for 8 years. Griner also served on the UGA Alumni Advisory Council. He was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association and the National Association of Retail Druggists. Mary Vanlandingham Hackney (BSEd ’50) of Thomasville died on April 30. She was a member and former president of the Rambler Rose Garden Club and Vashti Auxiliary. She was a Sunday school teacher, a Presbyterian Women Circle Leader, a homemaker and a teacher at Balfour Elementary School. Shirley Caine Halter (AB ’51) of Greenville, S.C., died on Aug. 18. Elizabeth “Betty” Caldwell Hamil (MEd ’54, EdD ’70) of Palmetto died on Aug. 22. She had a forty-year career in education at Fulton County Schools. She began as a teacher and became a director of curriculum. In retirement, Hamil and her husband served as volunteer teaching missionaries through numerous trips to Africa, Russia and China. She was an active member of Flat Creek Baptist Church. Elighue Gordon Hanson Jr. (AB ’49) of Norfolk, Va., died on Aug. 3. In 1942, he began his naval career as a seaman apprentice. After training he was assigned to an anti-submarine patrol squadron as an aviation radioman in Fortaleza, Brazil. He was discharged in 1946 and after completion of his degree at UGA, he returned to the U.S. Navy and received his commission as an ensign, USNR. David Branham Kelley (BSEd ’52, MEd ’56, EdD ’67) of Winder died on Aug. 10. Harry Lamar Lassiter (M ’50) of Marietta died on April 10. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was owner and pharmacist of Lassiter Drug Company, and a partner of the Lassiter Apothecary. He was a retired member of the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association. Lassiter was also a member of Lassiter Property Investments. He was a member of the Metro Kiwanis, the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, the McCollum Airport Authority, the City of Marietta Schools Board of Education, and the Marietta Golden K Kiwanis Club. Lassiter had been a member of East Cobb United Methodist Church for 58 years. Lamar L. Murdaugh Jr. (BBA ’51) of McRae died on Aug. 8. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a Colonel in 1988. He was a Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve unit in McRae for several years, practiced law and had a bookkeeping and tax service in McRae for many years. Murdaugh was a member of the McRae United Methodist Church and a member of the McRae Lions Club serving as treasurer for many years. Glenn Ray Noffsinger (DVM ’57) of Middleburg, Va., died on Sept. 1. He practiced veterinary medicine for 45 years and owned hospitals in Springfield, Alexandria and Woodbridge, Va. In 1998, his colleagues named him veterinarian of the year. Noffsinger was a charter member of the Springfield Rotary Club and the Purcellville Rotary Club. He was chairman of the Springfield Polio Plus Campaign, and raised money to support this effort. He personally funded an effort to end polio in Angola, Africa. Noffsinger also paid the tuition for a young woman to attend medical school in Niger, Africa so that she could go back to her village and attend to the sick. He paid the tuition for a seminary student to attend the Moscow Theological Seminary in Moscow, Russia. After retirement, Noffsinger moved to his farm in Middleburg where he raised thoroughbred horses and Angus cattle. Willie Ruth Puckett (BSEd ’53) of Buford died on Aug. 20. She was a lifelong resident of Buford, a member of First Baptist Church of Buford, and a retired teacher after 40 years of service. Anne Marie Teasley Rabb (BSEd ’51) of Calhoun died on Sept. 10. She taught elementary school in Atlanta for two years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Contract Bridge Association, where she earned her Silver Life Master. Rabb was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Calhoun. Vernon Randall Reddish (BSF ’51) of Butler died on Aug. 12. He was a veteran of WWII and an active member of Butler United Methodist Church. He served as Taylor County Extension Agent for 35 years. Mack Slagle Setser (DVM ’53) of Lake Junaluska, N.C., died on June 20, 2005. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and obtained the rank of Major. He established and owned the Junaluska Animal Hospital where he practiced veterinary medicine until his retirement. Setser served on the committee that established the School of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. He was selected by his peers as N.C. Veterinarian of the Year and was past president of the N.C. Veterinary Medical Association. Vincent Smith (BBA ’57) of Savannah died on Aug. 28. He served for two years in the Navy as a medic. He then worked as a Maitre’d for the Stouffer Corporation in Boston, Washington DC, and Atlanta. In the mid-1980s he returned to Savannah and worked at local restaurants while caring for his widowed mother until her death in 1990. Smith struggled with alcoholism and, after his mother’s death, ended up homeless in his hometown. He later found his way to Inner City Night Shelter, which helped provide him with the foundation he needed to get his life back on track. He served as cook at Inner City Night Shelter and, when his health prevented him from working, moved into Stillwell Towers. He volunteered daily at the local VA Center. He is a former chairman of the board of the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless and was its historian until his death. At the time of his death he was Vice Chair and representative of Region 12 for the Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Community Representative to the Community Investment Committee of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Board Secretary for Park Place Outreach, Secretary for Neighborhood Residents at Work and Treasurer for the Resident Association at Stillwell Towers. William Ronald Tipton (BS ’56) of Big Canoe died on Aug. 20. He started the Neonatal Nursery at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in Dalton, where he served as a partner in the Pediatric Clinic of Dalton for 13 years. After leaving private practice, he re-entered the U.S. Army as a Medical Officer and retired as a Bird Colonel. Returning to Georgia as Medical Director of PruCare of Atlanta, he later became the CEO and Medical Director for Emory’s statewide network, Georgia First. Betty Donaldson Walker (BSEd ’54) of Hilliard, Fla., died on Aug. 8. She worked at the Hilliard FAA Center for many years before her retirement. She lived in Hilliard for 48 years, and was instrumental in bringing the library to town. She was very involved in her children’s education as president of various local schools’ PTA’s. John Allen Wenisch (BSPH ’59) of Snowmass Village, Colo., died on July 28. He was a pharmacist and a member of the Rotary Club. He loved the outdoors and was an avid skier and fly fisherman. He loved hunting, golf, tennis and riding his dirt bike. Paul Lamont Wilkes (BSEd ’56, MEd ’57, EdS ’71) of Dublin died on June 27. He taught chemistry and physics at Dublin High School for 32 years. The students selected him Star Teacher and dedicated the yearbook to him numerous times. He served active duty in the U.S. Army for two years. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring with the rank of Major after having served a total of 22 years in the U.S. Army.
1960s
Leonora McMillon Baugham (MEd ’64) of North Wilkesboro, N.C., died on Aug. 21. She taught English in the Atlanta Public Schools for 25 years and was named chairman of the English Department at Grady High School in 1966. In 1972, she was voted as one of the outstanding teachers of secondary education in the country. William Edgar Brown (MS ’60, PhD ’64) of Loganville died on Feb. 13, 2006. He was a member of Rockdale Baptist Church, Berean Sunday School Class, and Who’s Who of America. Walter Joseph Culbreth (BS ’61) of Augusta died on June 30. He worked at Union Carbide in Charleston, W.Va. and at Kirser Aluminum in Savannah. He was currently working in sales at Maner Building Supply in Augusta. Culbreth was a U.S. Army veteran. Robert Fry (MEd ’68) of Augusta died on June 29. He had retired in 1981 from Civil Service at Fort Gordon after 30 years as a Supervisory Education Specialist. He was a longtime member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and as Treasurer. Fry served during WWII in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Joseph Gordon Grant (JD ’64) of Savannah died on Aug. 28. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Following careers in trust banking, commercial real estate and teaching, Grant ownded an antiques restoration and custom cabinetry business, J.G. Grant & Co. He was involved with the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Telfair Academy of Arts, the Savannah History Museum, the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, S.C. and many other organizations. Grant was author of two novels, Goliath’s Legacy and The Golden Mask. Paul Frank Griffith Sr. (MEd ’62) of Elberton died on Sept. 21. He served as teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and prior to his retirement, as Superintendent of Schools for Elbert County for 11 years. He was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Elberton. Polly Berry Holmes (BS ’66, MEd ’69, EdS ’70) of Chamblee died on June 5. She is survived by her husband, two sons and one granddaughter. William Howard “Skip" Hunt (BBA ’66) of Valrico, Fla., died on Sept. 9. He was founder and president of the Christian Helplines Inc. and Tampa Helplines. He was author of several textbooks including How Can I Help? and Guidelines for Helping People. Hunt was an Eagle Scout, founder of WFTS-TV 28, former board member of the Tampa Ministerial Association, former Tampa Jaycees Outstanding Religious Leader and received the Salvation Army People of Dedication Award. William Charles Hurt (BBA ’68) of Cordele died on Aug. 18. He and his part-time employee and longtime friend, George White, were killed in a small plane crash near Darlington, S.C. Hurt was co-owner and manager of Hurt Motor Company. Albert Lee Logan (BSA ’63) of Jefferson died on Aug. 9. Donald Boyd Morgan (BBA ’69) of Hickory, N.C., died on Aug. 4. He was in the home furnishings industry in sales and marketing for 37 years. After collecting music for many years, he attained full membership in The Association of Beach and Shag Club DJ’s in 2004. In March 2006, he was invited to participate in ABSCDJ’s annual “D.J. Throwdown.” He was President of the Hickory Shag Club, a member of the Triad Shag Club and the High Point Germans Dance Club. Isham Lamar Patterson Jr. (BSA ’60) of Jacksonville, Fla., died on Aug. 12. He served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and retired in 1994 from Northwest Airlines, serving 34 years as a pilot. Donald Hudson Poole (PhD ’69) of Johnson City, Tenn., died on Aug. 30. He taught geography and related subjects at the University of Georgia, the University of North Dakota and East Tennessee State University, where he retired as Chairman of the Department. Poole was a recipient of a National Science Foundation Grant, which enabled him to study the PhD and NASA funding for his Dissertation. He is listed in Who’s Who of American Educators and Who’s Who of Executive and Professionals. Poole was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Zi Honorary Societies, American Association of Geographers and Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion BPOR Elks Lodge 198, and the Metropolitan Kiwanis Club, for which he served as President. Poole served in the U.S. Army during WWII. John T. Strauss (LLB ’68) of Covington died on Sept. 22. He was the first District Attorney for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit and the first Public Defender. Strauss loved cooking, sailing and the Bulldogs. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. John Mackie Teate (DVM ’64) of Carrollton died on Sept. 28. He served in the Maritime Service, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the 82nd Airborne Division. He opened the first veterinary clinic in Bowdon. After his retirement in 1989, Teate continued to practice veterinary medicine part-time in Bowdon and Alabama until November 2005. He was a member of the Bowdon Baptist Church, the Bowdon Masonic Lodge and the Little River Gun Club. David Allan Watts (BSEd ’67, MA ’68) of Decatur died on Aug. 21. He worked for Georgia’s teachers and students for 30 years. In 1972, he went to work for the state education department’s Program Development Unit before switching to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Watts helped draft the state’s Quality Basic Education legislation, advocated for technical instruction and served as educational programming director for Georgia Public Broadcasting. He was director of the Georgia Teacher Center from 2001 until his retirement in 2005. Charles William Webb (BSEd ’66) of Dalton died on Aug. 12. He was retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service having served in WWII and the Korean War and also was a member of the 10th Mountain Division. He taught at Fort Hill Jr. High School and Dalton Jr. High School for 16 years. Webb was a member of the Dalton First Baptist Church where he served as Deacon and editor of the senior adults monthly newsletter for 12 years. He wrote weekly columns for the Daily Citizen-News for nine years and was a contributing columnist, titled “One Man’s Opinion,” for 21 years. Pattie Atkinson West (BSHE ’63) of Detroit, Mich., died on Sept. 8. She was an adult educator with the Georgia Power Co. before moving to Detroit, where she taught at Detroit Edison. She taught in Metro Detroit schools from 1985 to 2006 in Berkley Community Education, Detroit Public Schools and Ferndale Public Schools. West was a founding member of Creekside Community Development Corp. She served as the organization’s vice president in 2005-06. She was president for Creekside in 2004 and served on its board of directors since 1993. She also was involved with the Detroit Area Council of Boy Scouts of America.
1970s
Michael Earl Ayres (BBA ’70) of Macon died on Sept. 23. He was a Certified Public Accountant and was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working out of Richmond, Va. While in Richmond, he was very active with the Boy Scouts, serving as Assistant Scout Leader for Troop 862, and was also a member of the Order of the Arrow. Ayres was a member of Vineville United Methodist Church and was an avid hiker and golfer. Joseph Mailey Bost (BBA ’76) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., died on Aug. 21. He was a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a Certified Management Accountant. He headed his own rock band in the 1960s as lead singer and guitarist. In the late 1990s, Bost assisted with the Children’s Music Program and also enjoyed playing for the congregation of Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church. Reba Gaddis Brewer (MEd ’78) of Evans died on Aug. 21. She was retired from the Clarke County School System, in Athens, after teaching for 27 years, primarily at Gaines School Elementary, where she taught fifth grade. She was a loving grandmother who cherished her five grandchildren. Eleanor Carter Douglas (MS ’71) of Fredericksburg, Va., died on Sept. 13. She worked for a year with Psychiatric Associations of Tidewater before establishing her private practice in Fredericksburg in the early 1980s. She served for several years on the boards of the Rap-pahannock Council on Domestic Violence, Fredericksburg Personal Counseling Service and Community Services Board. Linda Walton Felle (MEd ’75) of New Braunfels, Texas, died on Aug. 17. For 30 years, she taught children and adults with learning disabilities to read and spell. She was a co-founder and past president of the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine and was a representative to the New England Orton Society. She was a member of the International Dyslexia Association. For the past 15 years, she worked as a consultant and trainer for the Wilson Language Training Company of Massachusetts. In 2004 at the International Dyslexia Association Conference, she was given the Innovator Award as an Outstanding Multi-sensory Structured Language Education Teacher. Irene Iris Fowler (BSEd ’79) of Lawrenceville died on Aug. 13. She was a retired high school cosmetology teacher at Parkview High School in Lilburn, and was a member of Snellville United Methodist Church. Virginia Templin Gailey (MAEd ’71) of Brevard, N.C., died on Aug. 16. She exhibited her paintings and worked as a display designer in Atlanta department stores before marrying her husband. She taught at the Atlanta’s Westminster Schools and later at Georgia State University. Gailey’s greatest pride was in programs she created as an art educator, particularly curricula using art programs to assist in desegregation in Atlanta’s public schools. After retirement, she rekindled her interest in jewelry making. Her designs have exhibited in Transylvania County shows and have been featured in Art Jewelry magazines. Deborah Giles Harbrecht (BFA ’74) of Marietta died on May 22. Vernon Ronald Klaudt (MEd ’71) of Suwanee died on Sept. 9. He was an educator and principal in Gwinnett County for 17 years and two years at Mount Paran Christian School. He ministered from the age of 14 to 50 with his siblings and parents in the Klaudt Indian Family around the United States. From 1984 to 2005, he ministered in the Vernon and Betty Klaudt Indian Ministries in 117 countries and on 6 continents. Lorene Riggs Loftiss (MEd ’71) of Augusta died on Sept. 20. She retired from the Richmond County public school system in 1982, where she was last employed as a librarian at Lake Forest Elementary. She was a lifetime member of the American Association of University Women, and a member of the Augusta Women’s Club and a past member of the Augusta Garden Club. Loftiss was a member of Saint John United Methodist Church for over 65 years. Richard Harold Mathews Jr. (BBA ’75) of Laurens, S.C., died on Sept. 1. He was employed with Michelin Americus Research Corporation before becoming the owner and operator of American Tire and Wheel. He served on the Board of the Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission and the Dixie Youth Baseball Board of Directors. Miles Stewart McGinty (MEd ’73, EdD ’78) of Sylva, N.C., died on Aug. 8. He taught German at Marist School in Atlanta for more than 20 years and started a student exchange program with the Maristen-Gymnasium in Feurstenzell, Germany. He served on the board of the U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association. In 1997 McGinty and his wife moved to Sylva where he joined the faculty of Western Carolina University as a German professor. His community work in North Carolina included various organization, most notably Mountain Mediation Services and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. In 2006, McGinty was named Jackson County Peacemaker of the Year. Just 11 days before his death, he and his wife made a 10.2-mile peace march over Cowee Mountain with Buddhist monks from the Nipponzan Myohoji-Atlanta Dojo. Wanda Daniel Reid (MEd ’72, EdS ’76) of Southside, Ala., died on Sept. 7. She taught for many years in Dekalb County before becoming a Lead Teacher at Bob Mathis Elementary. She also was a third grade teacher at Pine Street Elementary in Rockdale County. Reid served as a Deaconess at Trinity Baptist Church and was a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 1977. Gary Lloyd Smith (BBA ’75) of Austell died on July 25. Hugo Paul Veit (PhD ’77) of Christiansburg, Va., retired professor of biomedical sciences and pathology in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech died on Sept. 17. He was a member of the Virginia Tech faculty from 1977 to 2004. He authored or co-authored more than 65 chapters and articles in peer reviewed scientific publications, and more than 25 presentations or seminars at national or international scientific meetings. He was conferred with the title of professor emeritus in 2004. From 1967 to 1974 he was owner and veterinarian of Fort Plain Animal Hospital in Fort Plain, N.Y. Peggy Jean Watson (AB ’72) of Lecanto, Fla., died on Feb. 10, 2006. She worked for 30 years in the finance department of the Citrus County School Board. Larry Paul Williams (BSA ’71) of Waynesboro died on Aug. 21. He was a farmer and worked in the shipping/receiving department of John Deere. He was a retired veteran of the Georgia Army National Guard. Williams was a former member of the Burke County Board of Education, was a member of the Burke County Farm Bureau and past president of the Burke County Young Farmers.
1980s
Aubrey Ronald “Chuck” Adams II (BBA ’84) of Marietta died on June 25. He was an Associate of Adams Motor company in Thomaston. Sharon Smith Bufford (AB ’88) of Mount Hope, Kan., died on Aug. 8. She was a probation officer and a member of Mount Hope United Methodist Church. Mark Obie Carter (BBA ’80, MAcc ’81) of Eastman died on July 17. He was a member of Gresston Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. James Richard “Ricky” Gilmer (BBA ’80) of Swainsboro died on May 19. He was employed by Georgia Farm Bureau since 1981 and was Senior Claims Adjustor. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and had served on the Administrative Board and the Board of Trustees. Gilmer was past president and board member of the Swainsboro Exchange Club and Swainsboro Golf and country Club and was past board member and coach with Swainsboro Dixie Youth League. Gilmer served as a volunteer baseball and soccer coach since 1987. Rickey Wadell Greene (BS ’85) of Lithonia died on Sept. 13. He was an associate designer in the Information Technology Group at Norfolk Southern for 21 years. He was a member of Bethlehem Church of God Holiness in Atlanta and served as a member of the Usher Board, Distribution Manager of the church newsletter, a member of the National Youth Auxiliary and a member of the “Junior Deacon” Board. Eldon Dale Hawkins (EdS ’86) of Warner Robins died on Jan. 17, 2006. He was a member of the First Christian Church and the National Educators Association. He was retired from the Houston County School System with over 33 years of service. Hawkins was also a member of the AARP and a volunteer at the Museum of Aviation. Teri Bailey Johnston (BSEd ’88) of South Burlington, Vt., died on Sept. 23. She was a flight attendant for American Airlines for almost 10 years. She served as PTO President at Rick Marcotte Central School during the past 2 years. She loved cooking and traveling the world with her husband and two daughters. Kiffin Draye Payne (BS ’83) of Athens died on Sept. 24. He was a professor at Athens Technical College.
1990s
Ira Clay Benoy III (EdD ’96) of Smyrna died on Sept. 8. He taught for a number of years in special education. Prior to his retirement he managed and operated a successful landscaping business. Timothy Ray Jones (AB ’92, MS ’96) of Athens died on July 31. He was owner of Mount Pleasant Assisted Living Care in Thomson. Calvin “Skeet” Lamar Jr. (JD ’95) of Atlanta died on Aug. 4. He gained experience in the Fulton County Public Defender’s office before opening his own law firm. He coached youth baseball and football teams, and was active in mentoring his children and others in science fairs, spelling bees, math fests, and other athletic endeavors such as Old National Athletic Association, the Old National 6-under Baseball Team and 14-under Football team, and Metro Atlanta Youth Baseball tournaments. Joanna Stefanie Ploeger (PhD ’99) of Berkeley, Calif., died on July 19. She served as Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, she became Assistant Professor at California State University, Stanislaus. Ploeger is author of a book in which she considers the way the National Laboratory System in Physics, specifically Fermilab in Illinois, addresses its various publics. She was active in, and had served as President of, the American Association for the Rhetoric of Science and Technology. Avinash Haresh Sujan (BS ’95, PhD ’06) of Bombay, India, died on March 14, 2005. He was awarded the PhD posthumously.
2000s
Allen Hampton Caudle (AB ’00, BS ’03) of Charlotte, N.C., died on June 14. He served in the Air Force for four years and was very involved in Alcoholics Anonymous over the past two years. Caudle loved muscle cars and worked on them for many years. Margaret Elisabeth Hadley (AB ’00) of Athens died on Aug. 27 after a battle with cancer. She had made Athens her home for the past 16 years. Lindsay Nicole Hammon (BSEd ’06) of Snellville died on Aug. 14. She was to start her teaching career this year, teaching kindergarten at Level Creek Elementary School in Suwanee. She was a member of Snellville United Methodist Church and a 2002 graduate of South Gwinnett High School.