CLASS NOTES

1970s

 Sheri Cox,’77,was featured in “The ClarionLedger’s” article on Mississippi-made products for the holidays. She is the executive director of the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi.

Kathy Downes, ’78, retires as Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State after 43 years.

Lisa Hawkins,’79, was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year at the Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo’s 2023 Charity Ball.

1980s

Christie Jones Lawrence, ’81, was PRAM’s 2023 Professional Achievement Award winner. Lawrence is president and chief consultant for Surge Advisors.

Carrie Ball-Williamson, ’81, had a celebration honoring her successful career as a coach, educator and athletic director at Itawamba Community College.

 Dr. Leigh Southward, ’87,was awarded the Outstanding Academic Advising Award by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Marilyn Ford,’88, was named 2023 Humanities Teacher of the Year at East Mississippi Community College.

1990s

Sallie Dawkins, ’90, published her ninth book since 2020, “Maggie’s Legacy: Lessons in Spiritual Obedience Learned from My Border Collie.”

Kathy Barber Parker, ’92,was named the Champion of the Month at Sherman Avenue Elementary School in Vicksburg.

Abby Sutton, ’92,retires from North Mississippi Health Services after 46 years  of service.

Selena Nawrocki , ’93,retires professor of interior design and art at Valdosta State University in Georgia, has artwork accepted in the following juried art exhibitions: Absolutely Abstract National Juried Exhibition Modern Visual Arts (MVA) Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; New Directions 2021: 37th Annual National Juried Contemporary Art Exhibition, Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, New York; 42nd National Juried Art Show, The Arts Council of Wayne County, Goldsboro, North Carolina; National Juried Art Competition, Athens Art Gallery, Crawfordsville, Indiana; and the 29th Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition, Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida.

Steven Travers,’93, was appointed chief information officer by Broward Health.

Sheila Brand, ’94,has retired from Sally Kate Winters Family Services after 32 years of employment.

Amy Tate, ’97,was appointed to the Tupelo Public School District Board by the Tupelo City Council.

Dr. Kristi Acker, ’99,has been appointed to the Alabama Board of Nursing by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

2000s

Robert Coleman, ’03,has been named CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.

Lyndsay Cumberland, ’07, promoted to Associate Director of Development for the College of Arts & Science at The University of Alabama.

Stephanie Partridge, ’08,was awarded “Hearing Instrument Specialist of the Year 2022” for North East Miracle Ear.

2010s

Makenzie Gray, ’18, has joined Tupelo-based accounting firm Nail McKinney.

Taquitta Watkins, ’18, is a recent recipient of the DAISY Award at North Mississippi Medical Center.

Peyton Hope Burton ’19, was voted Service First Champion for the first quarter at Baptist Golden Triangle.

2020s

Jarrett Walden,  ’20, is a recipient of the DAISY Award at North Mississippi Medical Center.

Deaths

1940s

Ida Frances Lutz, ’43, of Canton, September 23, 2022.

Sophia Wilsford Smith Van Arsdell, ’44, of Urbana, Illinois, March 5, 2023.

Virginia Sledge Allen, ’47, of Charlotte, North Carolina, October 10, 2022.

Anne Jackson Stephens, ’47, of New Albany, February 4, 2023.

Flora  Jean Clifton Elledge, ’48, of Cabot, Arkansas, December 11, 2022.

Elizabeth Rose Thompson, ’48, of Cleveland, January 31, 2023.

Marjorie Lou McNamara Davis, ’49, of Starkville, March 11, 2023.

Mildred Bell Flanagan, ’49, of Warren, New Jersey, December 30, 2022.

Katherine Searcy Horton, ’49, of Columbus, December 8, 2022.

Billie Joyce “B.J.” Liddell Lammons, ’49, of Mobile, Alabama, April 4, 2022.

1950s

Jacquelyn Rose Rogers, ’50, of Indianola, February 19, 2022.

Mary Boyd, ’51, of Caledonia, February 26, 2023.

Elizabeth Ann Giardina Crawford, ’51, of Indianola, January 2, 2023.

Frances Peake Morse, ’51, of Jackson, November 21, 2022.

Jane Hale Bush Person, ’51, of Austin, Texas, February 23, 2023.

Mary Katherine Potter, ’51, of Eupora, October 19, 2022.

Carolyn Kennedy Stringer, ’51, of Winona, January 11, 2022.

Martha Ann Boyle Trapp, ’51, of The Villages, Florida, November 25, 2022.

Betty Quinn Everett Bexley, ’52, of Oxford, March 13, 2023.

Betty Sue Wilkinson Keslick, ’52, of New Orleans, Louisiana, February 17, 2022.

Carolyn Wilkins Best, ’54, of Springfield, Missouri, March 6, 2023.

Patricia Joyce Davis-Dement, ’54, of Johnson City, Tennessee, January 19, 2023.

Sadie Patton Fant, ’54, of Columbus, September 30, 2022.

Joan Neal Hyatt, ’54, of Galveston, Texas, February 9, 2023.

Quida Barnett Atkins, ’55, of Madison, February 22, 2023.

Martha Brown Vaughn Jordan, ’55, of Greenwood, November 5, 2022.

Carolyn Cobb Mullins, ’55, of Roxie, November 26, 2022.

Lillian Grace Campbell Rowsey, ’55, of Courtland, March 16, 2022.

Shirley Gillespie Stephenson, ’55, of Meridian, January 15, 2023.

Jocelyn Wooten Frizell, ’56, of Cruger, November 9, 2022.

Patricia Winter “Pat” Perry, ’56, of Columbus, February 7, 2023.

Barbara Schoonover Pittman, ’57, of Madison, March 16, 2023.

Alice England Baker, ’58, of Mobile, Alabama, August 15, 2022.

Mary Jeanette Harris ’58, of Buffalo, New York, September 6, 2022.

Louanne Pepper Cossar, ’59, of Charleston, October 21, 2021.

Margaret Ewing Gray, ’59, of Columbus, January 20, 2023.

Carolyn Harwood Wingo, ’59,  of Richardson, Texas, June 24, 2022.

1960s

Carolyn Smith Burt, ’60, of Manchester, Georgia, February 15, 2023.

Rosemary Lewis Stiteler, ’60, of Canal Winchester, Ohio, December 1, 2021.

Janet V. Coalter, ’61, of Brandon, October 12, 2022.

Bettye Everett Hayes, ’61, of  Meridian, January 14, 2023.

Jane Ellen Sinclair Davis, ’62, of Meridian, December 21, 2022.

Judith (Judy) Broglin Graham, ’62, of Tyler, Texas, October 23, 2022.

Kay Clements Johnson, ’62, of Monroe, Louisiana, November 2, 2022.

Georgie Browning Turnage, ’62, of Vicksburg, December 20, 2022.

Mariah Powers Bordelon, ’63, of Memphis, Tennessee, December 23, 2022.

Faye Lathem Murphy, ’63, of Sweeny, Texas, February 17, 2023.

Ivy June Winters Peterson, ’63, of Oxford, July, 17, 2022.

Martha Alice Bynum Jenkins, ’64, of Columbia, South Carolina, February 25, 2023.

Barbara J. Kinnebrew, ’64, of Durant, January 23, 2023.

Linda S. Loden, ’64, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, August 8, 2022.

Linda Saxon Nix, ’64, of Biloxi, December 25, 2022.

Doris Martin Shoemaker, ’64, of Knoxville, Tennessee, February 23, 2023.

Diane Kaye Coggin Dabbs, ’66, of Nettleton, February 6, 2023.

Betty Jane Houtz, ’66, of Charleston, South Carolina, March 5, 2023.

Barbara Jean Ashford, ’67, of Oxford, October 4, 2022.

Betty Ann Bellande-Toland, ’68, of Biloxi, November 29, 2022.

Sandra DeTerra, ’68, of Olympia, Washington, December 25, 2022.

Bonnie Bost Lasker, ’68, of Starkville, January 04, 2023.

Carolyn Fedric Laster, ’68, of Grenada, January 17, 2023.

Bessie Yvonne Strong, ’68, of Pearl, February 22, 2023.

Mary Lillian Wade, ’68, of Columbus, November 28, 2022.

Peggy Smith Berry, ’69, of Flintstone, Georgia, December 18, 2022.

Lynn Parker Black, ’69, of Atlanta, Georgia, December 20, 2022.

1970s

Jean Aldridge Colson, ’71, of Caledonia, October 16, 2022.

Linda Tallant Edwards, ’71, of Meridian, January 05, 2023.

Valerie J. Fox, ’71, of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, October 3, 2022.

Pamela Savage Scott, ’72, of Huntsville, Alabama, September 1, 2022.

Catherine (Cathy) Oakes Brock, ’72, of Aberdeen, November 21, 2022.

Linda Beth Stroud, ’72, of West Point, February 1, 2023.

Anne Davis Vickerstaff, ’72, of Alabaster, Alabama, January 21, 2023.

JoAnn Lees Asher, ’73, of Dallas, Texas, September 25, 2022.

Marsha E. Baumgartner, ’73, of Barnett, Missouri, May 28, 2022.

Susan Smith Stogner, ’73, of Florence, December 20, 2022.

Ann B. Nelson, ’74, Fairhope, of Alabama, May 15, 2021.

Adelyne Bennett McKay, ’75, of Olive Branch, October 14, 2022.

Robbie Vickery Beeler, ’76, of Northport, Alabama, September 21, 2022.

Teresa Davis Gillum, ’78, of Fayette, Alabama, January 13, 2023.

Ada Catherine (Cathy) Hatch, ’78, of Bartow, Florida, October 25, 2022.

Mercera “Cera” Smith McCool, ’78, of Pearl, December 20, 2022.

1980s

Wanda Ballard Wilson, ’80, of New Albany, January 2, 2023.

Betty Lou Avery Berry, ’82, of Hamilton, February 18, 2022.

Joanna Hendry Buchanan, ’83, of Bay Springs, February 20, 2023.

Karen L. Nabors, ’83, of Millport, Alabama, March 1, 2023.

Patty Tucker Dahlem, ’84, of Hamilton, November 21, 2022.

Carol Persons Floore, ’87, of Shuqualak, January 8, 2023.

Donald Cassell, ’88, of Columbus, March 13, 2023.

1990s

Elizabeth Foote Caldwell, ’91, of Columbus, January 19, 2023.

Roger Short, ’96, of Columbus, October 06, 2022.

Coren “Corey” Lee Parker, ’99, of Southaven, December 31, 2022.

2000s

Debra Meggs, ’03, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, November 5, 2022.

Wendy Davis Baker, ’05, of Columbus, June 3, 2022.

Theresa Rose Tullos, ’06, of Columbus, July 26, 2022.

Anna Simpson Rickman, ’10, of Houston, January 5, 2023.

Faculty & Staff

Tommy Alexander, former maintenance supervisor of physical plant, of Ethelsville, Alabama, March 1, 2023.

Margaret Brewer Henry, former director of public information, of Columbus, Jan. 1, 2023.

Karen Nabors, former professor of nursing, of Millport, Alabama, March 1, 2023.

Harry Sherman, professor emerita of biology, of Columbus, March 14, 2023.

Dr. Amy Vickery, former adjunct instructor for Culinary Arts, of Columbus, March 1, 2023.