|40’s|50’s| |60’s| |70’s| |80‘s| |90’s| |00’s|
40’s
Ethelene Dyer Jones (’49) underwent open heart surgery on August 30, 2007, with five artery bypasses at the Middle Georgia Medical Center in Macon. She lives in Milledgeville, GA.
Grover Jones (’49) is a resident of the Memory Support Unit of the Georgia War Veterans’ Home in Milledgeville, GA, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease that has claimed his memory and his cognitive skills.
50’s
Bob J. Porterfield (’53) and Betty McGraw Porterfield (’53) live in Rock Hill, SC, where Bob has retired three times. He spent 32 years as BSU chaplain at Winthrop University, was retired five years, and then became pastor of Second Baptist Church, from which he recently retired. The Porterfields are rearing adopted grandson, Ken. They have a total of six grandchildren.
Robert Pickett (’54) has retired as a pastor and public school teacher after many years of pastoring churches and teaching school in Illinois, Florida and Georgia. His wife passed away in April 2006 (see In Memoriam below), and Rev. Pickett now lives in Adrian, GA, near his son.
Carl Radford (’56) and Mary Lou Bagby Radford (’57) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 23, 2006, with a reception held in their honor at the First Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, GA, where they live.
- Frank Sailers (’57) and his wife, Peggy, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 22, 2007, with a reception held in their honor at Baldwin Baptist Church, their home church.
Marilyn Collier Haynie Burnham (’57) lost her 14-year-old grandson, Travis Haynie, when he suffered a seizure on Sunday, February 24, and passed away. Marilyn and her husband, Jim Burnham, reside at 1205 Rosewood Court, Williamston, SC 29697; phone 864.847.1680; e-mail bur669@cs.com.
Jessie Lattie White (’58) underwent surgery on June 11, 2008, at Vanderbilt Medical Center to remove her cancerous bladder. More information is given in a separate article in this e-newsletter.
60’s
Harry L. Werner (’61) was inducted as president of the Georgia Retired Educators Association on May 4, 2006, at the annual convention held in Augusta, GA. He was a member of the TMC basketball team in 1960-61 and continued his education at Georgia Southern College on a basketball scholarship. He served as a teacher and coach in DeKalb, Hall and Henry Counties. He was principal of Locust Grove Elementary School for the last nine years of his career, retiring in 1999 from the Henry County School System.
Jimmy McAdams (’66) retired as president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes on May 1, 2007. He and his wife, Connie, moved to Hiawassee, GA.
David Doud (’68) was named 2007 Teacher of the Year for the Baldwin County School System. Doud teaches algebra at Baldwin County High School in Milledgeville, GA.
Ed Jump (’68) lives in Corpus Christi, TX, where he is Director of Missions for the Corpus Christi Baptist Association. His e-mail address is edjump@ccbatx.org.
Charles (Mickey) Moore (’69) lives in Monroe, GA, where is owner of LuMic Digital Studios, an ultra highspeed computer network specialist for WCI in Alpharetta, GA, and choirmaster of Harmony Baptist Church, Monroe.
70’s
Martha Gilham Smith (’70) of Bremen, GA, lost her husband in a tragic car accident in mid-February 2007. Dr. Smith serves as current president of the TMC Alumni Association.
Jim Adkins (’72) owns and operates a private emergency medical service in Georgia and South Carolina. He resides in Evans, GA.
Gail Dixon Mann (’72), is the interim director for the Graceville Extension Center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Graceville, FL. A native of Jonesboro, GA, and a graduate of TMC, Wesleyan College and New Orleans Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, she has served as a Southern Baptist missionary to Brazil. She is the widow of Dr. Nathaniel E. Mann, who was formerly on the faculty of the Baptist College of Florida, and is the mother of three daughters.
Rev. Harris Malcom (’73) assumed his duties on January 15, 2006, as Ministry Resource Consultant for the Southwest Georgia Region for the Georgia Baptist Convention. The Malcoms live in Americus.
Vicki Savage Herron (’74) is an Assistant to the Registrar at Piedmont College, where she has been employed since June 2000. She and her husband, Weldon Herron, celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in June 2007. They have two adult children, Tim and Carla.
Dr. Peggy Pritchard Kulesz (’75) received the 2007 University of Texas at Arlington Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is a faculty member in the UTA English Department.
Connie Huff Allen (’76) and her husband, Doug Allen, live in Bayfield, Colorado. They own and manage a cabin resort business northeast of Durango at Vallecito Lake called Eagle’s Nest Cabins and Homes.
Jaye Cummings Copeland (’77) and her husband, Bobby, are seen around the TMC campus from time to time visiting their younger son, Zac, who is a sophomore at TMC. The Copelands live in Indianapolis, where Jaye works as Director of Childhood/WMU/Women’s Ministry for the Baptist Convention of Indiana. Their older son, Clyde, is a music education major at Indiana University.
Martha Lord Meeks (’77), Deanna Chitwood Turner (’77), Amy Hawkins (’77), Debbie Dixon Davis (’77) and Sarah Hartley Starr (’77) got together for a mini-reunion in Cleveland on July 13 and visited the campus. Martha Meeks currently lives in Warner Robins and is a retired teacher; Deanna Turner lives in Athens; Amy Hawkins lives in Alpharetta; Debbie Davis lives in Millen, where she is an elementary school teacher, and has a daughter, Jordan Davis, who is currently a TMC student; and Sarah Starr lives in Stockbridge, where she is a public school teacher.
Regina Shultz (’77) is a care coordinator for the Floyd County Board of Health in Rome. Her residence is in Cedartown, GA.
David Stovall (’77), president and CEO of Habersham Bancorp, was named one of Georgia’s top-performing CEOs by The Atlanta Business Chronicle. The report lists the CEOs of Georgia’s public companies who produced the greatest stockholder return over the past five years. Stovall was listed at No. 13 of the CEO Top Performer list for companies with annual revenue of $99 million or less.
Rebekah (Becky) Russell Collier (’78) lives in Woodstock, GA, with her husband, Robert, and their four children: David, 21; Isaac, 19; Catherine, 12; and Ian, 10. She was a public school teacher for several years and for the past 14 years has homeschooled her children. She also works as the office manager for Woodstock School of Ballet and Cherokee Ballet Theatre, where her daughter is a company dancer.
Linda (BooBoo) Lay Gomez (class of 1978) of Bryan, TX, and her husband, Greg, stopped by the Alumni Office on May 7 for a short visit. They were in Georgia to visit friends and relatives. Linda is a registered nurse and currently works for a health plan and clinic in Bryan, TX. They have a son and three granddaughters who live in California. It’s amazing how little Linda has changed since she was “BooBoo”; she is still her same irrepressible self. She came through the door of the Alumni Office announcing, “I’m BooBoo”!
Wesley and Teresa (Terri) Burns Harris (’79) have relocated their residence from Ringgold, GA, to Royston, GA, where Wes works with his brother. They participate in numerous mission trips—recently to Honduras and Nepal. They have two more planned for spring 2008—in February a medical evangelism mission trip to Ethiopia and in March a soccer evangelism trip to Honduras. Wes and Terri are the parents of three children: Heidi, Travis and Tim. Heidi is married and has their two grandchildren: Isabel, 3, and Carson, 1.
80’s
- Kelley Hall, head women’s basketball coach at Truett-McConnell during most of the 1980s, was named the new head coach of the women’s basketball program at the University of Cincinnati in early April 2007. Hall is now considered one of the top recruiters in the nation and brings with him a career record of 290 wins and 118 losses, or a winning percentage of .711.
Donald Allison (’81) of Cleveland was named president of the Mountain Valley Community Bank in Cleveland on January 10, 2008. He has served as Executive Vice President of the bank since it opened almost three years ago. Before that he was Executive Vice President of United Community Bank of White County. He is married to the former Rose Mariee Knight (’84), and they have two adult sons
Lt. Col. Mark London, US Army, (’83) returned in June 2006 from a tour of duty in Iraq with a collection of medals for bravery and valor. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the National Defense Medal (his second), and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (his second). He personally led 93 combat missions, surviving several attacks by improvised explosives devices and small arms on his combat patrols, not receiving any injuries.
Mary Boger Mali (’84) graduated from Oglethorpe University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree after leaving TMC. She was inducted there into Alpha Chi Honor Society. She moved from Decatur, GA, to Kew Gardens, NY, during the late fall of 2006.
Mary Boger Mali (’84) graduated from Oglethorpe University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree after leaving TMC. She was inducted there into Alpha Chi Honor Society. She moved from Decatur, GA, to Kew Gardens, NY, during the late fall of 2006.
Russell Kirby (’85) lives at 3055 Barnwood Crossing, Duluth, GA 30097, and teaches sixth grade social studies at River Trail Middle School in John’s Creek (North Fulton County). He has been teaching since 1994 in the Athens area until the current school year. His e-mail address is kirbyr@fultonschools.org.
Brenda Neal Sapp (’85) lives in Warner Robins and teaches at the Methodist Children’s Home in Macon, GA.
LaCresia Glass Borden (’88) is owner of a full-service travel agency, Personal Touch Tours Travel Agency, located in Hapeville, GA, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. She says that her agency makes plans for everything from family reunions to honeymoon tours.
Andrea Folsom Gray (’88) and her husband, Johnathan Gray (’94) announce the birth of their son, Landon Wayne Overton Gray, on June 26, 2007. Landon weighed 10 lbs. 8½ oz. Landon joins three sisters; the Gray family lives in Sharpsburg, GA.
Linda Wood (’89) was named Teacher of the Year in the Hart County School System for the 2006-07 school year. She is a language arts teacher at Hart County Middle School.
90’s
Jeannie Peters Barden (’90) serves as the Language Arts Department Chair for the Georgia Virtual School and, in addition, works full-time as a developer and teacher of on-line courses for Cobb County’s E-high School, a virtual school. Her husband is a high school athletic director/AP history teacher; they have one small child.
Larry Stell (’90) is employed at Telfair State Prison in Helena, GA, as a corrections officer. He has been a corrections officer for seven years, including the last five years with the Georgia Department of Corrections. He and his wife, Paula, along with their dogs, cats, and rabbits reside in Helena, GA.
Chris Wade (attended 1990-1992) was named men’s basketball coach at Miami Dade College in September 2006, coming from a successful five-year stint as men’s basketball coach at South Georgia Technical College in Americus, GA. He played basketball at Truett-McConnell in 1990-1992. During his five years of coaching at South Georgia Technical College, he posted a 102-57 record, led his team to three state championships and one region championship and was selected GJCAA Coach of the Year for the past three seasons.
John Barlowe (TMC baseball coach 1991-1994) was named head baseball coach of Lambuth University in Jackson, TN, in June 2007. His experience, in addition to his stint at TMC, includes eight years as assistant coach at Vanderbilt, seven summers as coach in the Cape Cod League, which boasts some of the nation’s top college talent, and one season as manager of the Edmonton Cracker Cats, an independent baseball team in Canada.
Robert Anderson (’91) received his BA in history from Georgia State University in 2002 and spent the years from 2002 to 2005 teaching English in Japan as part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. He resides in Cumming, GA.
Matt Paul (’91) has joined the staff of Financial Supermarkets, Inc., on the client support/training team. His role is to provide support in the form of business development, sales training and relationship coaching for in-store financial institutions located in the Southeastern United States. Matt and his wife, Alyson Rainwater Paul (’95), live near Clarkesville, GA, and are the parents of two sons, Sawyer and Brighton.
Joan Dorsey Prance (’91) is a kindergarten teacher in Arab, AL, where she lives with her husband, Paul Prance, and their daughter, Annabelle Grace, born on February 15, 2006.
Joy Johnson Phillips (’92) and her husband, Mark, announce the birth of their third child, Ryan Lee Phillips, born April 27, 2007 Ryan joins big sister, Madison (7), and big brother, Andrew (5). The Phillips family lives in Flintstone, GA.
Kory Burel (’93) is pastor of Bemiston Baptist Church in Talladega, AL.
Christopher Coggins (’93) became bus minister at Corinth Baptist Church in Loganville, GA, in June 2007.
Olu Quaity Menjay (’93) is principal of the Ricks Institute, a private boarding school near his native Monrovia, Liberia, founded by Baptist missionaries in 1887. The once prestigious boarding school suffered extensive damage during the 14 years of civil war in Liberia in the 1980s and 1990s, and Menjay took the position as principal in 2005 to help the school in its slow recovery from the disaster. The school now enrolls about 330 children.
Sebastian Muah (’93-’94) returned to his native Monrovia, Liberia, in early December 2006 to work for a year as Country Response Information Systems Manager, working under the aegis of the Office of the President of Liberia to help implement a national program to fight HIV/AIDS. When he returns to the United States in a year, he will begin the highly-selective Master of Science in Information Technology degree program at Carnegie Mellon University.
James Kelley Timms (’93) was recently promoted to Vice President of Marketing with First Generation Inc., Athens, GA, a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of parts for classic muscle cars. He has worked with the firm since 1992, when he began a part-time job to help with his college expenses.
Alison Burrell Brown (’94) and her husband, Rocky Shane Brown, announce the birth of their first child, Addison Kay Brown, on November 22, 2006. Alison works in the Georgia Department of Transportation office in Cleveland. The Browns live in Cleveland.
Keisha Mincey Dixon (’94) was married to Derek Dixon on April 3, 2004. They welcomed their first child, Ashlyn Renea Dixon, born on December 28, 2006. The family resides in Woodstock, GA.
Robin Lorina Fonclara (’94) was married to Timothy Harrison on March 12, 2006. The couple resides in Jefferson, GA, where Robin is elementary music teacher at Jefferson Elementary School. She was chosen Teacher of the Year at the school for the 2005-06 school year.
Jeremy Gates (’94) is senior pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Titusville, FL (where the space shuttles are launched). He and his wife, Kristin Heindel Gates (’99), have a four-year-old daughter, Miranda and live in Titusville.
Johnathan W. Gray (’94) of Sharpsburg, GA, received his Doctor of Ministry degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Billy Graham School of Missions, Church Growth and Evangelism in December 2007. The title of his ministry project for his doctorate was “A Strategic Plan to Motivate Georgia Baptists to Endow the Cooperative Program of the Georgia Baptist Convention,” the research for which will be helpful to him in his position as Director of Development in the Central Georgia area for the Georgia Baptist Foundation. Johnathan is married to the former Andrea Folsom (’88), and they are the parents of three daughters and a son. He is serving currently as president of the Truett-McConnell Alumni Association.
Stacy Lee Wade (’94-’95) was ordained as a priest of the Eucharistic Catholic Church on February 13, 2006, in Sparta, TN. The Eucharistic Catholic Church is an independent Catholic group not under the jurisdiction of Roman Catholicism. Father Wade is a member of the Franciscans of the Annunciation and was ordained to the Hermitical priesthood.
Brian Anderson (’95) was named head men’s basketball coach at Grayson High School in mid-May 2007. He served as assistant coach at Truett-McConnell from 1998 to 2002 and then spent the years from 2002-2007 as an assistant coach at Habersham Central High School, as well as a teacher of health/PE at Habersham Ninth Grade Academy. Taking over the helm of the Grayson Rams basketball program will be a challenge because the school competes in Georgia’s largest athletic class and is a member of Region 8-AAAAA. Said Anderson: “This is a tough region to cut your teeth in.”
Suzanne Olmstead (’95) was married to George Stephen Crissey on August 26, 2006, in the chapel of the First Baptist Church of Marietta, GA.
Cassie Taylor (’95) is in school studying to become a certified medical transcriptionist. She will complete her studies and begin work in October 2008. She lives in Cartersville, GA.
Trent Alexander (’97) and his wife, Stephanie, announce the birth of a son, William Brayden Alexander, on July 19, 2006. The Alexanders live in Bethlehem, GA; Trent is pursuing a master’s degree in education from Piedmont College.
Celeste Holdredge (’97) was married to Randy Vance on October 27, 2007, and became step-mother to Erica and Kenzie. Celeste is worship leader at Luthersville Baptist Church and also works at a bank in Luthersville, GA, where the family resides.
Andrea Harper (’98) and Jason Brown (’99) were married on June 17, 2006, at Palmetto Baptist Church. The couple lives in Carrollton, GA.
Tim Cotten (’98) and Amy Jones Cotten (’97) have moved to Inman, SC, where Tim is minister of music at Lake Bowen Baptist Church. Tim completed a Master of Divinity in Worship Leadership degree from New Orleans Seminary at the end of 2006. The Cottens are preparing for the birth of their first child in August 2007.
Gregory Charles Hyde (’98) was married to Candi Hubbard of Rome, GA, on June 5, 2004. Greg is a minister of youth/outreach at Shorter Avenue Baptist Church in Rome. Candi is a middle school special education teacher. The couple lives in Armuchee.
Craig Cantrell (’99) was named Teacher of the Year at East Hall High School in 2006. He has taught there four years and is band director and chairman of the school’s fine arts department. He also teaches Advanced Placement music theory. After earning his Associate in Music degree from TMC, he attended Kennesaw State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.
Mark Fiddie (’99) is a teacher of music in the Walton County School System at the Atha Road Elementary School near Monroe. He teaches both instrumental, choral and general music and conducts a chorus of 165 students and a band of 55 students. In addition, he coordinates the music program for two churches and is putting together a demo CD of spirituals to be recorded in a studio in New York later this year.
Ryan Casey (’99) and his wife, Crystal Rowe Casey (’00), announce the birth of a second daughter, Lillian Rae Casey, on December 13, 2007. Lillian joins big sister, Hannah, 3.
Christina Lynn Wallis (attended ’99-’02) was married to Jason Shelton on March 27, 2004. On September 17, 2005, their son Russell Thomas Shelton was born. The family lives in Auburn, GA.
2000’s
Chris J. Armstrong (’00) graduated from the law school of Catholic University in 2005, where he served as vice president of the student body and an editor of the Law Review. He is currently investigative counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, working under Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
Kelly Cockrell (’00) and Tom Young (’98-’99) were married on April 24, 2004, in Cartersville, GA. The couple now lives in Duluth, GA.
Kyle Langley (’00) married Sara Allyson Henson of Aiken, SC, on June 24, 2006. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken with a degree in marketing and is employed with Verizon Wireless.
Ryan Nichols (’00) was married in January 2006 to Daniela Ciliberti. The couple resides in Nashville, TN, with their Black Lab mix named Bruno. Ryan still plays drums and sells software, while Daniela is a teacher.
Davis W. King, Jr. (’00) married Jill Gillespie (a UGA graduate) on August 18, 2007, in Carillon Beach, FL. The couple honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. They reside in the Albany area and have four dogs. Davis is CEO of King Enterprises & Associates, Inc., in Albany, a health care provider.
Jennifer McCombs Rickman (’00) and her husband, Brent, announce the birth of a daughter, Addison Grace Rickman, on September 13, 2007. The Rickmans live in Dalton, GA.
Jeffery and Julie Davis Fuller (’00) announce the birth of a son, Davis Lee Fuller, on November 14, 2007. Julie graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2006 with a Master of Divinity degree. Jeff currently is the finance director at Carl Black Buick-Pontiac-GMC in Kennesaw, GA. The Fullers live in Dallas, GA.
Anna Fletcher Heatherly (’01) and her husband, Eric Heatherly (attended 97-99), welcomed Frank Edward Heatherly II to their family on January 11, 2007. After Anna left TMC, she redeived her bachelor’s degree in psychology and management from DePaul University, with honors. She works for Chesterfield County Commissioners’ Office in Chesterfield, VA, where Eric is pro-desk manager at Home Depot. The Heatherly family resides at 25115 Wayne Avenue, Petersburg, VA 23803.
Molly Speir (’02) was married to Josh Jordan Owens on June 16, 2007, at the Baptist Student Center at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega.
Sarah Louise Stewart (’02) teaches kindergarten (five-year-olds) and first grade at Jackson Trail Christian School in Jefferson, GA.
David and Kristen Nowak Parker (’02) announce the birth of a son, Logan David Parker, on October 1, 2007, weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces. The Parkers reside in Hoschton, GA.
Michael Dustin (Dusty) Rogers (’02) has been promoted by Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, to men’s and women’s head golf coach and will take over the program for the 2008-09 season. He has served as an assistant in the Piedmont golf program for the past two years, after having served as head men’s golf coach at Truett-McConnell when the program was organized in 2004. He led the team to a top-50 ranking in the National Junior College Athletic Association in 2004 and to a runner-up finish at the GJCAA Region XIVV Tournament in 2005.
Sarah Stewart (’02) will be teaching third grade at Athens Christian School in Athens, GA, next school year. She lives in Commerce, GA.
Jennifer Atkins (’03) works in special events and photography at Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom. She has been employed for three years by the Walt Disney Company in Florida.
Shannon Horn (’03) was married on July 29, 2006, to Stephen James Tribble of Cumming. Shannon is a first-grade teacher at Daves Creek Elementary School in Forsyth County.
Brenden Bergin (’04) of Cleveland and Kimberly Ann Townsend of Chatsworth were married on June 16, 2007, at the Berry College Chapel in Rome, GA. The couple resides in Rome.
Jessica Galusha (’04) married Hill Driggers on July 3, 2006. They live in Dallas, GA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communication degree from Kennesaw State University and is presently employed by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust as communications specialist for The Anne Frank Exhibit.
Kelli Nicole Stamey (’04) and Kyle Thomas Edwards (attended ’02-’03) were married on September 9, 2006, in Providence Baptist Church, Clarkesville, GA. Kelli graduated from North Georgia College and State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and is employed by Christopher B. Smith, CPA, in Cumming. Kyle attended Lanier Technical College and is employed by Consolidated Utility Services in Gainesville.
Whitney Susann Ledford (’05) and Casey Jennings Chastain were married on May 21, 2006, at the R Ranch in Dahlonega. After honeymooning in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, the couple lives in Demorest, GA.
Matt Papa (’05), through his music ministry called the Matt Papa Band, traveled to India in late March 2007 for a week of sharing the Gospel in Goa, India. Immediately following that week he spent a week in Mexico in ministry there.
Jennie Leigh Rice (’05) and Jonathan Milton Jameson were married on May 19, 2007, at Antioch Baptist Church, Mt. Airy, GA. The bride is employed by RS Industrial Inc. in Buford, while the groom works for Verizon Wireless as a retail store manager in Atlanta.
Blake Ryan (’05) was featured in an article entitled “Success Story” in The Atlanta Journal Constitution in early April 2006 because he had achieved a weight loss of 183 pounds at the time of the article’s publication. He is now a triathlete, participating in triathlons which include a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike ride and a 10K run. Since he enrolled in Truett-McConnell College, his total weight loss now totals more than 250 pounds.
Joshua Wyatt (’05) and Kathryn Anne (Katie) Cooper (’06) were married on May 20, 2006, at Bethany Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. The ceremony was performed by Rev. David Kirkland, campus minister at Truett-McConnell. The wedding party included these TMC students or alums: JoAnna Burdette, Bryan Youngs, Kathryn Palmer Westmoreland, Andrea Donovan Curtis, Amanda Hearington, Jeremy Wheeler, Dr. David George, Kim Gould, Billy Buchanan, William Threadgill and Kim Gordon. The Wyatts live in Garrison Hall on the TMC campus, where Josh is resident director, and Katie works as an admissions representative for the college.
Henry Peabody (’05) is currently enrolled in Villanova University in Pennsylvania to complete a master’s degree in behavioral analysis. He is also employed with the Northwestern Human Services as a certified addiction counselor and serves as interim pastor for the First International Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ. Henry resides in Levittown, PA.
In Memoriam
Miss Doyle Lillian Sutton (’49), age 93, of Cleveland, passed away on May 12, 2008, at Bell Minor Home in Gainesville. She was a member of the very first graduating class of Truett-McConnell College and was probably the oldest living alumnus of the college at the time of her death. She was a member of the Cleveland United Methodist Church and never missed a service as long as she lived in her home in Cleveland. She is survived by a nephew, Kenneth Crane, and a niece, Louise Crane Holcomb (Mrs. Jack Holcomb) of Gainesville.
Rayann Nix Reed (’50) of Cleveland passed away on September 28, 2006, as a result of a massive stroke. She was a bookkeeper who worked for several years in the business office of Truett-McConnell College and then for a number of years for Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, from which she had retired. She is survived by her husband, Ed Reed; one daughter, Rhonda Bonin; and twin granddaughters, Rachel and Amy Bonin.
Herbert C. Ruark (’50) of Clarkesville passed away on April 11, 2007, following a battle with colon cancer. He was a retired insurance agent. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; one son, Clark; one daughter, Elizabeth; three brothers, one sister, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Rev. William E. (Bill) Nash (’52) of Athens passed away on June 4, 2006, at his residence. He was a retired minister, having pastored Bogart, Grantville, Mars Hill, Redan and East Athens Baptist Churches. He is survived by his wife, Zue Nash; one son; three grandsons; a sister, Patricia Millwood; and a brother, Rev. Robert N. (Bob) Nash.
Mary Helen Williams Pickett (’53) of Adrian passed away on April 18, 2006, following an extended illness. She is survived by her husband, Rev. Robert Pickett, two sons and three grandchildren.
Gene Tunney Bowman (’54) of Perry passed away on December 13, 2007, following a long siege with cancer. He was a retired Baptist pastor and associational director of missions. He is survived by his wife, Betty; brother Jack of Ocala, FL; brother Bob of Perry; a brother-in-law; a sister-in-law; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. The Bowman family has been a loyal TMC family through several decades. Gene and both of his brothers attended TMC, as well as two of his nephews.
Bluford M. Dyer (’54) of Blairsville passed away on December 1, 2006. His wife, Annie Jo Shook Dyer, also a TMC alum, preceded him in death. Their daughter, Jounida Dyer Porter, is a TMC alum as well.
Rev. Donald L. Folsom (’54) of Villa Rica passed away on April 15, 2006, after an extended battle with Parkinson’s disease. He had a long career in the ministry and in serving Georgia Baptists through the Georgia Baptist Foundation. He was active in the Truett-McConnell Alumni Association, having served as president at one time. He is survived by his wife, Myra; three sons—Merrill, Alan and Scott—and a daughter, Andrea Folsom Gray. The Folsoms are a loyal TMC family. Rev. Folsom, two of his sisters, two of his sons, his daughter, two daughters-in-law, and his son-in-law all are alumni of TMC.
Rev. John Neal (Toby) Tolson (’54) of Bedford, Texas, passed away on July 27, 2006. He was a retired professor of religion.
Charlotte Ethridge Kenerly (’55) of Snellville passed away on March 24, 2006. Her body was cremated, and a memorial service was held on March 27 at the Tim Stewart Funeral Home in Snellville. She was preceded in death by both her husband and her only child, TMC alum Kathy Kenerly.
Weyman (Chet) Parham (’56) of Atlanta passed away on July 31, 2007, following several years of declining health. He enjoyed a career as a country musician and was inducted on April 12, 2004, into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Rev. Phillip S. Shell (’56) of Montgomery, AL, passed away on June 23, 2006, following a two-year illness. He had a long career as a minister of music, youth and education and a pastor in several churches in the Montgomery area. He is survived by his widow, Julia; one son; one daughter; three grandchildren; and two sisters. His family designated Truett-McConnell as the recipient of memorial gifts honoring Phil Shell.
James Pethel (’57) of Jefferson City, TN, lost his wife, Martha, to a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer a few days before Christmas 2007. A memorial service was held on December 22, 2007, at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, one son, one grandson, one granddaughter, two brothers and one sister.
Rev. James Travis (J. T.) Tyson (’57), age 88, of Mount Airy, GA, passed away on April 18, 2008, at Habersham County Medical Center following a stroke suffered several days earlier. J. T. Tyson was a graduate of Truett-McConnell College and the University of Georgia. He pastored various churches for a period of 50 years. He also served as a trustee of Truett-McConnell, and he and his wife volunteered to help set up the Alumni Office and records at the college. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Coarsey Tyson; one son, Travis Tyson; three daughters, Myra Mitchell of Dalton, and Nell Doris Harris and Lynne Hise, both of Mount Airy; ten grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Rodney W. Brown (’58) died during the last week of April, 2008. He lived in Tallapoosa, GA, where a memorial service was held on Sunday, April 27, at 4:00 PM.
George Post (’59) of Duluth, GA, passed away on November 13, 2007, following a period of declining health. He was a retired educator and coach and was preceded in death by his wife, Esterlee Eberhart Post. He is survived by a daughter, Sabrina Post Couch (also a TMC alum), her husband, Randall Couch, and their son, Harrison Couch (currently a freshman at TMC), as well as one brother and two sisters. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Board of Visitors of Truett-McConnell and had always been a loyal and generous friend and alumnus of the college.
Terry Price (’61) of Toccoa, GA, passed away on September 11, 2007, following an extended battle with cancer.
Celeste Bagwell Forrester (’63) of Oakwood, GA, passed away on May 18, 2008, following a courageous battle with an extended illness. She is survived by her husband, Reggie Forrester; a daughter and son-in-law; and two grandchildren.
Herman J. Roper (’64) of Helen, GA, passed away on January 8, 2007, following an extended illness. He was a retired taxidermist and a veteran of the United States Air Force. He is survived by his widow, Barbara; one son; one daughter; two grandsons; three brothers; and five sisters.
Neal C. Britt (’67) of Duluth, GA, passed away on September 1, 2007, from complications following cancer surgery. He was 60 years old.
Cindy Moss Savage (’71) of Covington, GA, passed away on March 27, 2007, following an extended battle with cancer. She was an elementary school teacher and married to Terry Savage, also a TMC alumnus.
Patricia (Pat) Stonecypher (’78), 74, of Cleveland, GA, passed away on September 22, 2007, at the Gateway Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cleveland following an extended bout with emphysema and heart disease. She is survived by her husband, Don; two daughters, three sons, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Lynn Mayes Fitzgerald (’82) of Oakwood passed away on September 16, 2006, following a 25-year battle with multiple schlerosis. She is survived by her husband, Mike Fitzgerald; daughter, Jessica Fitzgerald; one sister, Lisa Mayes Park; parents, Thom and Diane Mayes; and parents-in-law, Rodney and Alice Fitzgerald.
Scott Williams (’84), age 41, of Social Circle, GA, passed away on March 29, 2008, following a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two sons, Nicholas and Landon; mother and step-father; and father and step-mother; one sister; and his twin brother. Burial was in Social Circle.
David Scott Kaltenbach (’85), 41, of Clermont passed away on April 18, 2006, following an extended illness. He is survived by his father and four sisters.
Vickie Kay Shiflet (’92), 57, of Hartwell passed away on January 25, 2007, after being struck by a truck. She had retired only weeks before as vice president of office services for Hart Electric Membership Corporation.
Betsy Wynne (’92), age 39, of Athens, GA, passed away on April 6, 2008, from colon cancer. Most alumni remember Betsy as a lovely young lady who met the challenges of cerebral palsy from the confines of a wheel chair with strength, good nature and grace. Her funeral was held on April 8 at 2:00 PM at Lexington Baptist Church in Lexington, GA. She is survived by her parents and one sister.
Colby Hayes (attended ’00-’01) of Alpharetta, age 26, passed away suddenly on May 13, 2006. He founded InHim Ministries to promote the gospel message of Jesus Christ to students and youth and to teach them how to live freely in Him. He is survived by a fiancée, his parents and siblings.
Nathaniel Talley, Jr. (attended ’05-’07) [called “Woo”] of Cedartown, age 20, passed away on July 3, 2007, from a blood disease. Woo was a current TMC student and only two courses short of receiving his Associate in Business degree from Truett-McConnell. He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, where his funeral was held, and played drums for the gospel group Chozen.
Ashley Collis (attended ’06-‘07), age 19, of Powder Springs, GA, died on March 22, 2008, as a result of an automobile crash as she came home for Easter weekend from the University of West Florida, where she was a sophomore. Ashley attended TMC during her freshman year and was a star runner on the Lady Bears Cross-Country Team. The funeral service was held on March 26 at Macland Baptist Chuirch, where she was a member. She is survived by her parents, Keith and Melissa Collis; two brothers, Justin and Cameron Collis; and her grandmother, Willene Collis.
John Michael (Mike) Anderson, age 57, of Greenville, SC, died October 23, 2006.
Sara Franklin, age 62, of Loganville, died November 16, 2006.
John C. Wofford, age 79, of Gainesville died January 2, 2007.
Samuel Terry Price, age 65, of Toccoa died September 11, 2007.
Willis Melvin (Mel) Sheppard, age 71, of Avondale Estates died January 21, 2008.
