September 2015 PrideNotes

Cities in North Carolina unless otherwise noted.

General

Frances Winslow Smith 1945, Colfax, "Ben & I will celebrate our 65th wedding anniversary with our family of 34 on Oct.1, 2015 - with two more babies expected this Spring.  God is good!  Memories of GC are still so precious."

Jeanne Williamson Wall 1947, Thomasville, decided to "retire" to a retirement community last year, where she is staying busy.

Ruth Jones Hess 1949, Danville, VA, and husband, Ralph, have moved to a retirement home in Danville where they remain active, but are enjoying being waited on.  One son and daughter-in-law lives nearby, and the other lives on the Outer Banks.  She has two granddaughters in college.

Louise Sanford Beasley 1952, Durham, "I'm 85 years old and still doing Ballroom Dancing @ Fred Astaire Studio in Durham, NC."

Frances Kendrick Springs 1954, Mount Holly, is still enjoying retirement.  She's volunteering with Habitat Gaston, Mt. Holly Parks and Rec, Board - Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church, has 3 married children, and 5 grandchildren.

William A. Pike Jr. 1975, Richmond, VA, has written and published two seasonal books for children. The Last Pumpkin published in 2012, and Murray and the Mudmumblers The Christmas Benefit at the Haw River Ballroom published in 2014. Both books were illustrated by Nell Chesley a North Carolina native like Bill. Since 1975, Bill has resided in Virginia, and currently lives with his wife Betsy in Henrico County just outside of Richmond. Bill worked for 31 years in the public schools of Virginia as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at Trinity United Methodist Church. For more information about both books, contact Dementi Milestone Publishing. The Last Pumpkin

Kay Vass Darling 1980, Chesterfield, VA became the Theological Librarian at Virginia Union University.

Anne Jones Hurd 1981, Greensboro, has returned to GC as the Vice President, Chief Advancement Officer.  Hurd is a past alumni association president, Trustee, and a former parent. Anne Jones Hurd '81

Dr. G. Darryl Waller 1983, Alexandria, VA, has added yet another degree to his resume.  In addition to a Ph.D., Dr. Waller has earned a Master of Music from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA in August 2015. He lives in Washington, D.C. and is employed as a Music Test Development Specialist for the American Institutes for Research.

Dr. Lynette Charles Tannis 1995, Plainfield, NJ, spoke on campus on September 2, 2015 sharing insight from her doctoral research which became a book, "Educating Incarcerated Youth".  Lynette Charles Tannis '95 pictured here with her son.

Karen Pierre Higgins 1997 , Elizabeth, NJ, joined GC faculty, staff, alumni, and friends in attending a presentation by Dr. Lynette Charles Tannis 1995 on Educating Incarcerated Youth.  "This place gave us our identity," Karen says of GC. "We figured out who we were while we were here." Karen Pierre Higgins '97

Dr. Kate T. Creasy 2005, Mountain View, CA, earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in April. Her dissertation project focused on genetic regulation of lipid metabolism and the resulting effects on cardiovascular and liver diseases. She will continue researching lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Francisco. Kate Creasy '05 pictured with her PhD advisor after completing her doctoral defense.

Deaths

Ora E. Jones 1940, passed away on July 31, 2015.  OBITUARY

Anna Lois Cobb Bulla 1941, passed away on February 20, 2015.  OBITUARY

Nancy Ward Pritchett 1944, passed away on September 27, 2015.  OBITUARY

Emily Joyce Copeland 1946, passed away on September 18, 2015.  OBITUARY

Margaret Hughes Bowman 1949, passed away on September 25, 2015.  OBITUARY

Patricia Milo Guffey 1969, passed away on September 27, 2015.  OBITUARY

Paul A. Valdes 2002, passed away on August 26, 2015.  OBITUARY

Sympathy Extended to

Betty Sisk Swain 1949, in the passing of her husband, David Swain, on June 5, 2015.

Rusty LaRue, former Head Men's Basketball Coach, in the passing of his son, Riley, on September 19, 2015.

Births

Allison Lanier Peschell 2007 and husband, Alex, celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Emery Grayann on August 10, 2015. Emery Grayann - Gail Jones Photography