Classnotes – Visions Magazine

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1960s

Linda Jacks Finley, ’66, of Brandon, received the 2025 Chairman’s Award at the National Crime Stoppers conference.

1970s

Terri Gooch, ’77, of Columbus, was elected to Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame.

Ann Wilson Holifield, ’79, of Ridgeland, is serving on the Methodist Rehabilitation Center Board.

1990s

Pam Wright, ’96, of Ethelsville, Alabama, has been promoted to chief financial officer at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.

Kasey Keeton, ’97, of Montgomery, Alabama, recently served at the counsel table before the Supreme Court of the United States.

2000s

Dr. Jennifer B. McDuffie, ’04, of Broomfield, Colorado, was named the new chief of staff at The University of Northern Colorado (UNC).

Justin Sutton, ’08, of Ocean Springs, has been named the next superintendent of Ocean Springs School District, effective July 1.

2010s

Kristen Barnes, ’10, of Jackson, received the 50 Under Fifty award that recognizes individuals whose leadership and service are shaping communities across the state.

Mallory Elise Hardy, ’12, of Meridian, was recognized as one of the Meridian area’s outstanding citizens as members of the Class of 2025 Top 20 Under Forty.

Jarita Jamison, ’12, of Columbus, is a Special Education teacher at West Lowndes Elementary School and was awarded “Teacher of the Year” by the Lowndes County School District.

Lauren Franks, FNP-C, ’15, of Pontotoc, joined the North Mississippi Health Services care team at the Garfield Clinic.

Maddy Sielu, ’19, of Breckinridge, Colorado, was awarded the Colorado Municipal Clerk’s Association Clerk of the Year award.

2020s

Kamryn McIntosh, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ’21, of Amory, has joined North Mississippi Health Services as a family nurse practitioner at Amory Surgery Clinic.

Deaths

1940s

Nancy Hamric McClure, ’47, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Oct. 19, 2025.

Jeanne Stephens Eubanks, ’48, of Canton, Jan. 2, 2026.

Rosamond Cummings Mullender, ’49, of Lakeway, Texas, Dec. 11, 2025.

Madge Freiler Noble, ’49, of Canton, Dec. 7, 2025.

Joyce Boyett Vanlandingham, ’49, of Richmond, Kentucky, Nov. 1, 2025.

1950s

Betty Hickman Burton, ’50, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Dec. 5, 2025.

Mary Ann Clay, ’50, of Little Rock, Arkansas, Feb. 9, 2026.

Betty Dance Coit, ’51, of Sugar Land, Texas, Dec. 17, 2025.

Hope Carter Ellis, ’51, of Kosciusko, Oct. 16, 2025.

Rachel Currie Martin, ’51, of Oxford, Oct. 4, 2025.

Betty Gilmore Lyon, ’53, of Richmond, Virginia, February, 2026.

Grace Herrington McMillin, ’53, of Madison, Nov. 15, 2025.

Patricia Dehmlow, ’54, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Feb. 7, 2026.

Mildred Anderson Heirtzler, ’54, of Ethel, Louisiana, Feb. 4, 2026.

Myra Bishop Rattan, ’54, of South Bend, Indiana, Nov. 12, 2025.

Sylvia Marsh Stevens, ’54, of Leavenworth, Kansas, July 17, 2025.

Nelda Mathews Sibley, ’55, of McComb, Oct. 19, 2025.

Jauniece Luther Floyd, ’56, of Booneville, Aug. 31, 2025.

LaDeane Robertson Moore, ’56, of Clinton, Sept. 13, 2025.

Leila Overby Davis, ’57, of Newport News, Virginia, Nov. 12, 2025.

Coy Smith Jefcoat, ’57, of Brentwood, Tennessee, Oct. 25, 2025.

Orlean “Dottee” Smith Owen, ’57, of Columbus, Oct. 10, 2025.

Mollie Jean Byrd Wells, ’58, of Montgomery, Alabama, Feb. 26, 2026.

1960s

Isabel Gray Mills, ’60, of Clinton, Oct. 23, 2025.

Betty LaJuan “Wannie” Morton Aust, ’61, of Boonville, Oct. 24, 2025.

Roselyn Glasgow Bryant, ’61, of Evans, Georgia, April 23, 2025.

Mary Underwood Green, ’61, of Corinth, Feb. 16, 2026.

Blanche Thompson Hardin, ’61, of Greenwood, Sept. 22, 2025.

Barbara Barry Rhodes, ’61, of Natchez, Dec. 15, 2025.

Sara Hughes Steiner, ’61, of Corinth, Sept. 10, 2025.

Gail Stratton Street, ’61, of Columbus, Dec. 12, 2024.

Phyllis Hodum Clemmons, ’62, ’76, of Columbus, Sept. 15, 2025.

Mary Nell Terrell Grayson, ’62, of Smyrna, Tennessee, Dec. 17, 2024.

Linda Pattrice Pennington Steen, ’62, of Aberdeen, February 19, 2026

Suzanne Morgan Stockfisch, ’62, of Maryville, Tennessee, Sept. 19, 2025.

Anne Crockett McWilliams, ’62, of Henrico, Virginia, Jan. 1, 2026.

Joan Burkhart Atkins, ’63, of Columbus, Nov. 19, 2025.

Sue Sullivan Twilley, ’63, of Urbandale, Iowa, Feb. 14, 2026.

Lynn Brown Wampler, ’63, of Starkville, Dec. 5, 2025.

Janet Pickett Couchman, ’64, and former employee, of Birmingham, Alabama, Nov. 28, 2025.

Margaret Kay Gartrell, ’64, of Haddon Township, New Jersey, May 31, 2025.

Kay Morrison Mathews, ’64, of Tupelo, Oct. 11, 2025.

Cascille Middleton Reiner, ’64, of Pensacola, Florida, Jan. 6, 2026.

Catherine “Cathie” Harriet Price, ’65, of Madison, Oct. 13, 2025.

Carolyn Dick Spiers, ’65, of Orange, Texas, Nov. 16, 2025.

Jane M. Oglesby, ’66, of Sulphur, Louisiana, Aug. 17, 2025.

Mary Ann Hennington Parman, ’66, of Brandon, Sept. 7, 2025.

Linda Farmer Piazza, ’66, of Clinton, Sept. 10, 2025.

Betty Sarita Henderson Self, ’66, of Starkville, Dec. 17, 2025.

Delilah McCorkle Williams, ’66, of Columbus, Oct. 19, 2025.

Sue Ellen Wright, ’66, of Jackson, Dec. 8, 2025.

Claudia Thomas Boyer, ’67, of Marietta, Georgia, Feb. 17, 2026.

Mary Elizabeth Kennamer, ’68, of Edgefield, South Carolina, Feb. 13, 2026.

Dr. Rita Lum, ’68, of Foley, Alabama, Sept. 22, 2025.

Mrs. Susan Kile McMillan, ’68, of Oxford, Jan. 5, 2026.

Rebecca Gibson Underwood, ’68, of Tuscumbia, Alabama, Dec. 21, 2025.

Brenda Noland McComb, ’69, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dec. 19, 2025.

Rita Strait, ’69, of Jackson, Tennessee, Feb. 2, 2026.

1970s

Helen Bedford Anderton, ’70, of Daphne, Alabama, Oct. 18, 2025.

Beverly Grace Eidt, ’70, Norcross, Georgia, Feb. 12, 2026.

Sybil Moore Tolleson, ’71, of Rienzi, Oct. 13, 2025.

Martha Neal McQuinn, ’72, of Ridgeland, Oct. 22, 2025.

Carolyn Hurt Nichols, ’72, of Milton, Florida, Jan. 22, 2026.

Mary Ann Morton Harder, ’73, of Starkville, Oct. 14, 2025.

Jennifer “Jenny” Ladner, ’73, of Pass Christian, June 18, 2025.

Patrice Hamill Simon, ’73, of Jackson, July 2, 2025.

Ruth Ann Brent, ’74, of Greenville, Oct. 19, 2025.

Hermine Dinkins Walker, ’74, of Oxford, Feb. 7, 2026.

Ruth Berry, ’75, of Columbus, Feb. 10, 2026.

Mary Ann McCullen Foster, ’75, of Hoschton, Georgia, Dec. 22, 2025.

Martha Taylor McGahey, ’75, of Columbus, Oct. 30, 2025.

Margaret Thompson Hanratty, ’76, of Detroit, Alabama, Jan. 10, 2026.

Addie Jean Jenkins Colburn, ’77, of Tupelo, Jan. 21, 2026.

Carla Greby, ’77, of Kewanee, Illinois, May 22, 2025.

Brenda Hardaway Lathan, ’77, of Columbus, Dec. 12, 2025

Deborah Blaylock McMurrey, ’77, of Sulligent, Alabama, Nov. 24, 2025.

Elizabeth Anne Harthcock, ’78, of Maumelle, Arkansas, Dec. 31, 2025.

Melanie Sarris, ’78, of Kennesaw, Georgia, Feb. 24, 2025.

Sherry McDaniel Cusanelli, ’79, of Carrollton, Alabama, Sept. 26, 2025.

Mary Rodgers Faglie, ’79, of Columbus, Nov. 17, 2025.

1980s

Lisa Freeman Schutz, ’82, of Bulverde, Texas, Feb. 10, 2026.

Martha McElhenney, ’84, of Decatur, Jan. 16, 2026.

Esther L. Dunlap, ’87, of Tupelo, Sept. 6, 2025.

Edward Lafayette Pleasants, Jr., ’87, of Laurel, Maryland, Aug. 23, 2025.

Donna Rawson Huffmaster, ’89, of Meridian, March 27, 2025.

1990s

Barbara Randle Higgins, ’90, of Diamondhead, Dec. 3, 2025.

Frederick Keith Agnelly, ’91, of Luling, Louisiana, Nov. 5, 2025.

Judith “Judy” Haggard Bolin, ’93, of Columbus, Jan. 13, 2026.

Barbara Anne Drees, ’93, of Pensacola, Florida, Jan. 12, 2026.

Cynthia “Cindy” Garvin Patton, ’93, of Starkville, Sept. 18, 2025.

Brian Higgerson, ’95, of Wheaton, Illinois, Jan. 20, 2026.

2000s

Shameka White James, ’01, of Columbus, Oct. 1, 2025.

Dontez Tavarus Isaiah Forshee, ’06, of Aberdeen, Jan. 18, 2026.

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Carole Ann Stewart, professor emerita of health and kinesiology, July 28, 2025.

Dr. Ann McAllister Mitchell, former dean of students, Oct. 9, 2025

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1980s

Del Oehms Hamilton, ’84, of Gretna, Louisiana, was recently promoted to associate director, collections management for the Tulane University Libraries.

Kim Jobe, ’85, is serving as president of Rotary Club of Fulton, Kentucky, this year. She is pictured with Chris McPhearson, who was guest speaker at a recent meeting and Gregg Hussey, who invited McPhearson to speak.

1990s

Dr. Selena Nawrocki, ’93, professor of interior design at Valdosta State University, Georgia, has had artwork accepted in multiple juried art exhibitions in 2024 and 2025, including: From Vision to Reality: 10 Years of Venvi Art Gallery Group Exhibition, Venvi Art Gallery, Tallahassee, FL; Webster Arts Open Theme Annual National Juried Exhibition, Webster Arts Gallery, Webster Groves, Missouri, 2025; Art in Abstraction National Juried Exhibition 2025, Earl and Martino Galleries, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD, 2025 – 2 works accepted (55 works accepted from 380 entries; 36 artists accepted out of 124 submitted); Limited Palette – Limitless Possibilities National Juried Exhibition, Kavanagh Gallery, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL, 2025, Honorable Mention Award; Th e Splendor of Blue National Juried Exhibition, Modern Visual Arts (MVA) Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 2025; Digital Directions National Juried Exhibition 2025, MFA Circle Gallery, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland, 2025 (57 works accepted from 275 entries by 84 artists); Park, K. I., & Nawrocki, S. C. (2025, March). Implication of Wellness: Integrating Biophilia through the Curriculum [Paper Presentation]. 2025 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois (national); and Park, K. I., & Nawrocki, S. C. (2025, March). Implication of Brand Identity on the Built Environment of a Bakery Café [Poster Presentation] 2025 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois (national).

Dr. Lacey Gentry, ’95 and ’98, of the Mississippi Delta was announced as the treasurer of the Mississippi Board of Nursing.

Joni Dusenbery House, ’99, of Jackson, was announced executive director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Jackson, effective Oct. 1.

2010s

Jennifer Caldwell, ’12, of Columbus has joined Th e University of Mississippi Medical Center faculty as an instructor of nursing in the School of Nursing

Calin Mullins, ’19, of Nettleton is Magnolia Dermatology & Aesthetics’ newest board-certifi ed Family Nurse Practitioner at its Clinton location.

2020s

Emma Grace Olsen, ’20 and ’22, who works at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was recognized as a Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate recipient. The ECP Certificate was created to recognize and identify ECPs in the fields of audiology and speech language pathology who are making an impact in the areas of leadership, volunteering, or advocacy at the local, state and/or national level.

Deaths

1940s

Margaret “Maggie” Price Mullins, ’43, of Ft. Myers, Florida, Aug. 15, 2025.

Becky Izard, ’45, of Ridgeland, July 17, 2025.

Lois Woodward Pennington, ’45, of Decatur, Dec. 5, 2024.

Charlotte Andersen Watkins Turner, ’48, of Jackson, June 2, 2025.

Bettye Googe Buckley, ’49, of Long Beach, Aug. 4, 2025.

Martha Pinkston Davis, ’49, of Greenwood, Oct. 29, 2024.

Josephine Wollam Davis, ’49, of Tupelo, Aug. 6, 2024.

Margie Box Germany, ’49, of Austin, Texas, Sept. 10, 2024.

Anne Smith Passantino, ’49, of Seattle, Washington, March 25, 2025.

1950s

Virginia Pulliam Boswell, ’50, of Somerville, Tennessee, March 25, 2025.

Dorothy Parks Buchanan, ’50, Meridianville, Alabama, June 30, 2025.

Annice Riddell Howard, ’50, of Macon, April 30, 2025.

Agnes Burrous Burkley, ’51, of Olive Branch, Nov. 16, 2024.

Betty Sue Gates Hall, ’51, of Dallas, Texas, June 8, 2024.

Elizabeth Freeman Hardy, ’51, of Brandon, April 26, 2025.

Juanita “Nita” Simmons Ivy, ’51, of San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 9, 2025.

Elise Polk Parish, ’51, of Alvin, Texas, Nov. 7, 2024.

Betty Jo Blackmon Perry, ’51, of Columbus, May 24, 2025.

Mary Barr Fleming Touchstone, ’51, of Crystal Springs, Sept. 12, 2024.

Billy Ruth Miller Van Brocklin, ’51, of Memphis, Tennessee, June 22, 2025.

Ruth Crumpton Warner, ’51, of Louisville, Aug. 21, 2025.

Carolyn McDowell Brister, ’52, of Fort Worth, Texas, July 4, 2024.

JoAnne Blankley Heinsz, ’52, of Shelby, Nov. 4, 2024.

Betty McRoberts Hollingsworth, ’52, of Lafayette, Louisiana, March 9, 2025.

Martha Morris Land, ’52, of Germantown, Tennessee, Aug. 13, 2025.

Arlena Lambert Smith, ’52, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, June 28, 2024.

Dorothy “Dot” Robinson Tramel, ’52, of Starkville, Dec. 5, 2024.

Sue Colvin Tutt, ’52, of Collierville, Tennessee, Oct. 30, 2024.

Anne Baird Chatoney, ’53, of Houston, Texas, Jan. 27, 2025.

Frankie Price Harpole, ’53, of Philadelphia, March 8, 2025.

Virginia Joyce Kilmer, ’53, Columbus, Feb. 7, 2025.

Martha Wood Reeves, ’53, of Marietta, Georgia, May 11, 2025.

Mamie Carr Taylor, ’53, of Columbus, March 4, 2025.

Frances Putnam Byars, ’54, of Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 27, 2024.

Nancy Neely Heath, ’54, of Holcomb, Nov. 4, 2024.

Sara Boone Langston, ’54, of Pensacola, Florida, Jan. 20, 2025.

Ellen Goen Mulroney, ’54, of Orleans, Massachusetts, Oct. 3, 2024.

Martha “Martie” Hudson VanDervort, ’54, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Jan. 15, 2025.

Carolyn Majure Dearman, ’55, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Jan. 4, 2025.

Mary Carolyn Massey Katov, ’55, of Englewood, Florida, June 15, 2024.

Sylvia Duck Clark, ’56, of Louisville, Aug. 30, 2025.

Bettie Caldwell Graham, ’56, of Metairie, Louisiana, June 20, 2025.

Dorothy “Dot” Sanders Shaw, ’56, of Decatur, Georgia, Feb. 23, 2025.

Nancy Herron Thomson, ’56, of Batesville, March 30, 2025.

Henryse “Ressie” Cox Carpenter, ’57, of Starkville, July 12, 2025.

Bettye Powell Thornton, ’57, of New Albany, July 21, 2025.

Patricia “Pat” Poe Tilley, ’57, of Gulfport, March 24, 2025.

Ann Aven Walker, ’57, of Greenwood, Feb. 14, 2025.

Mary Ann Roberson Herndon, ’58, of Memphis, Tennessee, July 28, 2024.

Mary Ruth Williams Hill, 1958, of Cedar Bluff, Aug. 15, 2025.

Jessica Ann Stone, ’58, of Ocean Springs, May 12, 2025.

Louise Walter Campbell, ’59, of West Point, May 22, 2025.

Marie Clark Cato, ’59, of Yazoo City, Aug. 7, 2024.

Charlotte Irby Hines, ’59, of Millington, Tennessee, Dec. 18, 2024.

Nelda Burns Madden, ’59, of Mantachie, July 3, 2025.

1960s

Daisy Holland Aycock, ’60, of Tupelo, Aug. 12, 2025.

Sara Smith Davis, ’60, Fort Worth, Texas, June 16, 2025.

Betty Jean Covich Hughes, ’60, of Biloxi, Nov. 11, 2024.

Ethelda Oaks Potts, ’61, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, June 5, 2024.

Joyce Turner, ’61, of Houlka, January 24, 2025.

Brenda Spier Hardin, ’62, of Tupelo, June 13, 2025.

Brenda Sailors Hudson, ’62, of Florence, Alabama, June 15, 2025.

Sylvia Davidson Briscoe, ’63, of Biloxi, April 30, 2025.

Nancy Ellis Poore, ’63, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sept. 22, 2024.

Marian Hester Trigg, ’65, of Gautier, Feb. 20, 2025.

Linda Nicholson Wilemon, ’65, of Iuka, June 7, 2025.

Catherine Church Ahl, ’66, of Poulsbo, Washington, March 7, 2025.

Brenda Windham Bolen, ’68, of Booneville, July 24, 2025.

Phyllis Young Cade, ’66, of Columbus, Aug. 15, 2025.

Sherrill Dale, ’66, of Brandon, July 22, 2025.

1970s

Linda Hill Eakes, ’71, of Philadelphia, Oct. 29, 2024.

Pamela Johnson Whitney, ’72, of Columbus, Aug. 4, 2025.

Emily Clark Smith, ’73, of Mobile, Alabama, Sept. 18, 2024.

Sally Caviness Wallace, ’73, of Meadville, Aug. 19, 2025.

Maggi Rye Bordman, ’75, of Marietta, Georgia, April 26, 2025.

Gwendolyn Morris Burgin, ’77, of Missouri City, Texas, Feb. 9, 2025.

Vikki Howard, ’79, of Rye, New Hampshire, April 2, 2025.

1980s

Elizabeth Heard Jewett, ’81, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, Dec. 19, 2024.

Cynthia “Cindy” Jaynes Wingo, ’82, of Columbus, May 31, 2025.

Stanley Scott, ’87, of West Point, Jan. 17, 2025.

Virginia Brock Andrews, ’89, of Columbus, Nov. 12, 2024.

Martha Hairston Puckett, ’89, of Scooba, Sept. 29, 2024.

1990s

Debra Palmer George, ’94, of Caledonia, July 16, 2025.

Steven Lennell James, Sr., ’96, of Columbus, May 22, 2025.

2000s

Gloria Broyles Dunlap, ’02, of Prairie, Jan. 5, 2025

2010s

Joshua “Josh” Floyd Scott, ’10, of Caledonia, July 22, 2025.

Troy Waldrep, ’13, of West Point, July 19, 2025.

Connie Whitfield, ’14, of Hamilton, Nov. 10, 2024.

Monshale “Layy” Harris Pippins, ’17, of Jackson, July 27, 2025.

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Barbara Garrett, ‘56, professor emerita of Health and Kinesiology and former tennis coach, Jan. 6, 2025.

Dr. Samuel (Sam) Gingerich, former provost, on April 16, 2025.

Paul Mack, professor emeritus of biology, May 20, 2025.

Terry Laverne Weech, former head of the Department of Library Science, June 5, 2025.

Carol Ann Moore Blount, former Financial Aid Clerk, July 7, 2025.

Carole Ann Stewart, professor emerita of health and kinesiology, July 28, 2025.

Heather Bliss, former assistant professor of psychology, Aug. 13, 2025.