Class notes
June/July 2006
1934
Ross Nelson, Shreveport, LA, attended Centenary’s Commencement Ceremony in May to see his granddaughter, Emily Klepper, graduate.
1951
Donald Mack, Shreveport, LA, was named the recipient of the 2006 Liberty Award by the Shreveport Bar Association. The award is presented each year by the SBA to a group or individual recognizing outstanding leadership and community service.
1958
Ray Holt, Cleveland Heights, OH, and wife Elizabeth enjoy living only three blocks from their son Melvin and his wife Julie and two children, Catherine and Carolyn. They are also grandparents of Micheal and Drew who live in Lafayette, Colorado with their parents Charlie and Kim Richard Holt. Ray stays busy working in his local congregation, Church of the Saviour United Methodist Church and in the Western Reserve Emmaus Community. He is a retired clergy member of the Louisiana Annual Conference.
1962
Madeleine Trichel, Columbus, OH, the founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Peace for nearly 25 years, received the 2006 John Nevin Sayre Award from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship of the Episcopal Church in the United States. The award is named after a founding member of the U.S. branch of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) statement of award noted, “Madeleine Trichel is always growing with the times, offering her skills and services as they are needed. She exemplifies EPF’s founder, the Rev. John Nevin Sayre’s model of ‘walking by faith’.” She was at the 75th Annual General Convention of the Episcopal Church, June 12th – 21st in Columbus, Ohio where she, along with a second recipient, Rev. Canon Naim Ateek (a Palestinian Anglican priest and the founder and director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem), received their awards at a reception on Saturday, June 17th at Trinity Episcopal Church. She received a BA degree from Centenary College in 1962 and a MA from University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1965. She will retire at the end of 2006 as the Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Peace after serving the Center for nearly 25 years of dedication towards peace education.
1967
Charles Dunn, Lewisville, TX, is retired from Child Protective Services and is currently a Crisis Intervention Specialist for a 24 /7 mental health crisis line. He flew professionally for awhile and still has a private pilot’s license.
1967
Charlie Park, Springhill, LA, has been the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Webster Parish since 1999. They have built 18 houses since he started. They are preparing for a ¿2-Week Blitz¿ in Minden which will be televised on CMT (tentative air date is July 9, 2005).
Marsha Pickett Wells, San Antonio, TX, and her husband, Chip, moved to San Antonio after several years at Canyon Lake. She is a referral agent with Kuper Sotheby’s and serves as social chair of the ZTA Alumni Board in San Antonio. Through this she has enjoyed working with the Race for the Cure. She has also enjoyed reconnecting with Martha Wood Griffith ‘70.
1968
Bill Gibson, Boerne, TX, is the Assistant Vice President of Space and Engineering Division for Southwest Research Institute. He is responsible for business development, staff development and project managment.
Diane Wagner Somerville, Port Angeles, WA, is the author of hundreds of articles for magazines, newspapers and encyclopedias, and is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of Science Writers. She has just published her first book, Inside Out Down Under: Stories from a Spiritual Sabbatical. Check it out at www.beechworthpress.com
1972
John Weber, Jacksonville Beach, FL, of Jacksonville Beach, FL, married Judy S. Krug of Dallas, TX on May 26, 2006 in St. Kitts/Nevis in the British West Indies. They reside in Jacksonville Beach, FL.
1973
Jeffrey Daiell, Houston, TX, delivered a a presentation titled, “A Fireplace of Brick and Not of Paper: Respecting Constitutional Limits”, on May 16, 2006 in San Antonio, TX. This was his second compensated speech as he attempts to launch a side career as a professional writer, speaker, editor, and emcee.
1977
Bill Zeller, Shreveport, LA, graduated from the Army War College on June 10, 2006 and is being assigned as the Operations Officer of 3rd Corps Support Command, Wiesbaden, Germany. The unit is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also won the Army War College writing award for Logistics and Research.
1979
Jack Caldwell, West Bend, WI, is the Executive Director of the Washington County Economic Development Corporation in West Bend, Wisconsin.
1980
Stu Park, Mechanicsville, VA, is the Business Manager at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. His responsibilities include the administration and management of the school’s financial activities and day-to-day operations. He also has his USSF B and Barazillian “D” soccer coach licenses, coaching youth travel club soccer teams and a Varsity Boys team in the Richmond, VA area. When he has the time, he officiates games, gives private lessons and serves as a staff coach for the Virginia Olympic Development Program in the Central District.
1981
Karen Koelemay Boston, Shreveport, LA, is the Director of the Child Development Center at Providence House, a residential development center for homeless families with children. She and John are surprised to find themselves back in Shreveport...courtesy of “Katrina”. They have been incredibly fortunate, and appreciate the help from everyone, including alums Chaplain Betsy Eaves ‘78 and John Wesley White ‘98, for their warm welcome and assistance in relocating and recovering after the storm.
1982
Richard Liles, Shreveport, LA, is a Financial Consultant with A.G. Edwards
Mary Alfred Thoma, Shreveport, LA, is the Drama Specialist at Southfield School . She teaches middle school drama and stagecraft and directs middle school musicals. She is a Professional Actress/ Director. She recently portrayed Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker at East Bank Theatre to sold out houses and completed work on a Lifetime Movie of the Week, NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE playing “Cathy Butler” on the Lifetime Movie Network.
1985
Shelley Colbert Gele, Frederick, MD, says, “I am in the process of moving from Bowie, MD to Urbana, MD. The move will be final when my sons, Andrew (16) and Phillip (13), have finished the school year in June. It’s a new beginning for the boys and me. I’ve wondered from time to time over the past couple of years how on Earth God could bring good out of trials. He is faithful and sees us through. It’s always comforting, encouraging, and exciting to see how He was, and IS, in even the smallest details! “
Lee Morgan, Hightstown, NJ, who created the role of Taylor in the Denver production of Brooklyn: The Musical and was in the subsequent Broadway production will join the tour to re-create his role as Taylor joining Diana DeGarmo, a finalist on American Idol, Tony winner Melba Moore, and Cleavant Derricks. The first national Brooklyn tour is set to begin in Saint Paul, MN June 11th. Stops include Atlanta, Houston and Dallas this summer.
1986
Steven Grenchik, Broussard, LA, is an operations engineer/ trade director for a small barter exchange company. He handles the accounts, databases and tries to put members together. We have members in Lafayette and the Northshore New Orleans area.
1988
Chris Golden, Mc Kinney, TX, is working at Merck & Co, Inc. as a Senior Osteoporosis Specialty Representative. Wife: Babs, Kids: Phoebe (6) Liam (4)
1989
Charles Carpenter, Cabot, AR, has achieved his life-long dream of becomming a “Newman” – ie, a mailman! He is a City Carrier in the Cabot (north of Little Rock) AR area, and absolutely loves it! After spending a year on the road with Genny Owens (Christain artist) playing bass he decided it was best to settle down and get a real job. He has two beautiful daughters, Emma 5 and Isabel 2, and a wonderful stay-at-home wife, Deanna.
1990
Christopher Ehrlich, Sylva, NC, is working at Pollocksville Baptist Church in Pollocksville, NC.
Troy Morgan, Carson City, NV, has a new position with Universal Analyzers in Carson City, NV as their Product Development Manager. This is a manufacturer of sample probes and sample conditioning panels for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems. These systems monitor Nox, Sox, Cox, NH3 and O2 concentrations from combustion processes.
1991
Warren Clifton, Shreveport, LA, is the Account Manager at Magee Resources.
Laura Stuart-Solorzano, San Antonio, TX, is the Children’s Ministry Director at Travis Park United Methodist Church. She has 2 children, Alana 5 years old and Jaden 3 years old
Chase Waites, Montgomery, TX, is an Assistant Professor of Drama at Montgomery College in the North Harris Montgomery Community District. Houston is teaching, designing, directing, and creating a technical theatre of study.
1992
Scott Durbin, New Orleans, LA, reports that Imagination Movers just signed a deal with Disney.
Mark Gragg, Fort Worth, TX, works for a $4B Hedge Fund named Q Investments in Fort Worth,TX. He has been with the organization for close to 6 years.
Leeth Harper, Rogers, AR, is a practicing veterinarian at Village Animal Hospital in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
Stacy Heckman, Humble, TX, is working with Humble ISD teaching first grade. Stacy is in her fourteenth year of teaching. She hopes to finish her master’s degree within the next year and a half. Stacy has a five year-old boy, Corey.
1993
Erin Hatch Neal, Arlington, VA, is Director, Congressional Relations, for ATK (Allian Techsystems), a defense and aerospace government contractor. In this capacity, she lobbies members of Congress on behalf of NOAA, missile defense, and military aerospace programs of interest to her company.
Angie White, Shreveport, LA, has moved back to Shreveport from Washington, DC. She plans to open a cafe.
1994
Amy Smith Doar, Allen, TX, received an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX in December 1998. She married Jeff Doar on January 2, 1999. Jeff is a graduate of SMU. They have one son, Robert Barton Doar, born October 29, 2001. She is active at Creekwood United Methodist Church in Allen, TX. She serves on the Praise Team and was a delegate to the North Texas Annual Conference of the UMC for 2006. Amy is a Technical Recruiter for NewMarket Technology.
Serena Simmons Magrogan, Houston, TX, is the Fort Bend ISD Hightower HS AP Biology and Aquatic Science Teacher. She just published her first book, The Lost and Found: Book One by S.S. Magrogan and will be here August 19th for a book signing at the Youree Drive Barnes and Noble in Shreveport.
1995
Theresa Carlson Ellis, Nashville, TN, and husband, Chad Ellis ‘95, had their second son May 1, 2006, named Duke Bennett Ellis
Charles Mentesana, Garland, TX, is a Senior Loan Officer with Realty Mortgage
Lora Moser, Richardson, TX, is a Speech Language Pathologist at Richardson ISD.
1997
Elizabeth Means Culp, Cleburne, TX, and her husband, J. Brian Culp, celebrated the birth of their first child, Ian Taylor Culp on February 25, 2006.
1998
Jeremy Erwin and Carolyn Hale ‘01, Bossier City, LA, are excited to announce the expected arrival of their first child in early August. Jeremy will finish his residency in OB/GYN at Baylor in June 2006 and will join the medical practice of Dr. Hart, Carter, and Dean in Shreveport-Bossier.
Holly Hatten, Dallas, TX, teaches first grade at Richardson ISD and is currently in graduate school at Texas A&M-Commerce.
Kristin Sanders Malka, Sherman Oaks, CA, married the man of her dreams, Haim Malka, on April 14, 2006, and is excited about their future together in Los Angeles. After five years of living in the same building they finally were introduced and hit it off immediately. After nearly a year of dating, they decided to tie the knot! He is a contractor by trade and with her background in construction growing up as the daughter of a contractor, it makes a perfect fit for them to work, live and love together! Her daughter Olivia Caroline will turn 4 this summer and she can hardly believe that she is growing so fast. She and her family hope to make it to Homecoming in 2007 so she can see those of you she hasn’t seen in almost 10 years!
Melanie Martin, Lawrenceville, GA, is currently serving at Norcross First United Methodist Church in Norcross, GA (Northeast Atlanta) as the Minister of Discipleship, handling Adult Christian Education. She was commissioned as a probationary Deacon in the United Methodist Church at the North Georgia Conference in June 2006. She also attended Asbury Theological Seminary from Feb. 2001- Feb. 2003 for graduate studies, receiving a masters in Christian Education.
1999
Beth Bonner, Baton Rouge,LA married Matt DeVille on May 13, 2006 at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. Beth is Vice President of Zyber Pharmaceuticals and is currently serving as President of the South Louisiana Alumni Chapter.
Nikki Kitchens Hollingsworth, Bossier City, LA, teaches choir at Airline High School in Bossier City and assists Dr. Will Andress with the children and youth choirs at First United Methodist Church in Shreveport. She is also a consultant for Arbonne International.
1999
Leslie Gatlin Stephens, Bossier City, LA, was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church during the Louisiana Annual Conference on June 6. She is a minister at Asbury United Methodist Church on Airline Drive in Bossier City.
Jeff Tietjen, Dallas, TX, has been working for the mortgage company, Homecomings Financial, for the last 7 years. He started out taking calls in the customer service department and is now a Quality Control Specialist and Trainer.
2000
Thomas Avallone, Shreveport, LA, announces the launch of his new enterprise – Maccentric, L.L.C. who is an Apple Authorized Business Agent (“AABA”), Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (“ACHDS”), and a member of the Apple Consultants Network (“ACN”). He is also a former Apple employee of two (2) years out of Plano, Texas.
Catherine Cabaniss, Memphis, TN, is an Associate Vice President of National Planned Giving for Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch (a nurturing, structured environment for boys and girls from pre-school through high school who live in group homes with house parents and enjoy a variety of academic, vocational, spiritual, and extra-ciricular activities to help them become responsible and resilient young people.).
2001
Evette Barnes, Manhattan, KS, is a 2LT-US ARMY Evacuation Platoon Leader C Co, 610 BSB 41BCT, 1ID Ft Riley KS
Ashley Dill, Denton, TX, has taught 3rd grade for 2 years in Aubrey ISD and 5th grade for 2 years previously in Richardson ISD. She is moving back to Richardson as a Campus Reading Specialist.
Ashley Knecht, Baton Rouge, LA, competed in her first Half Ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) in Panama City Beach, Fl. and placed 19th out of 45 in her age group with a time of 5 hours and 36 minutes. J
Greg Peco, Houston, TX, is a Physician’s Assistant working at a pediatric private practice in Houston.
2002
Nikki Doughty, Dallas, TX, married Brett Sumrow, an architect for Corgan Associates, Inc. on June 10 in Dallas.
Bryan Ehricht, Hammond, LA, is an In-Charge CPA at Wegmann-Dazet & Company.
John Grand, Dallas, TX, graduated from LSU Law School and will work in Dallas as an Associate Attorney at Vinson & Elkins.
Josh Greer, Shreveport, LA, just competed in Ironman in Panama City Beach, Fl. and finished in 5 hours and 18 minutes.
Lesley Thull, Peachtree City, GA, is working at a coffee shop.
2003
Claire Galloway, Fort Worth, TX, attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for graduate school and worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Archives of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library from August 2003 through May 2005. She graduated with a Master of Arts in Public History in December 2005. In March 2006 she began work as an Archivist in Special Collections at the Mary Couts Burnett Library at Texas Christian University.
Krystil Garrett, Baton Rouge, LA, graduated from LSU Law School in May 2006.
Amanda Holloway, Tyler, TX, is working at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas as the Dance Team Sponsor and the Camp & Outreach Coordinator. She completed her first year of graduate school at UT-Tyler and is pursing a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology, Speech, and Journalism) and will graduate in Spring 2007. Her goal is to begin teaching full time at Lon Morris College.
Andrew Irby, Winston Salem, NC, graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law on May 15, 2006. Earlier this year, Andrew advanced to the Final Four in the National Moot Court Competition – a law school competition fielding more than 200 teams nationwide. This was just the third time in Wake Law’s history to advance to the Final Four. The faculty of Wake Forest also recently elected Andrew into the Order of Barristers in recognition of his achievements in trial advocacy, an honor granted to only ten Wake Forest graduates. Andrew is currently making plans with a fellow graduate to open up his own litigation firm in North Carolina, following the BAR in July.
Chip LeDuff, Camp Lejeune, NC, and Christy Melton ‘03 got engaged on May 27 at Christy’s home in Spartanburg, SC.
Maria Moores, Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a senior financial analyst at a boutique investment bank called Farlie, Turner & Company.
Amanda Mustin, Baton Rouge, LA, graduated from LSU law school.
Valerie Olson, Fairburn, GA, is in seminary at Candler School of Theology and working part-time as the Women’s Discipleship Associate at Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta.
Stuart Ponder, Baton Rouge, LA, graduated from LSU Law School in May 2006, and will be a clerk for Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeff Victory ‘67.
2004
Sterling Allen, Austin, TX, is the Director of Music Ministries at Bethany United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas, where he is working on his doctorate in music.
Jeff Broussard, Chicago, IL, is working at Evanston Morthwestern Hospital and is a 2nd year pH. D student researching the physiology of preterm labor due to pathogen infections.
Barbra Bearden, Pristina, Kosovo, is one of eighteen graduate students from North American universities to intern this summer with AP partner organizations around the world. Barbra will be working with the Kosova Women’s Network. The Kosova Women’s Network seeks to support, protect, and promote the rights and interests of women and girls throughout Kosovo. Please see http://www.advocacynet.org/cpage_view/06kwn_Introduction_77_440.html for Barbra’s bio and blogs.
DeAndre Johnson ‘04, Shreveport, LA, will begin graduate studies at Southern Methodist University this fall. He and his wife of two years Kelsey Bellamy Johnson '05 will continue to reside in Shreveport while he commutes to Dallas to pursue his master's of sacred music degree. DeAndre works as choir director at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, and Kelsey works as communications specialist in Centenary's Office of Public Relations.
Aimee Lange, Baton Rouge, LA, works at Our Lady of the Lake College as the Student Accounts Coordinator.
Jennifer Powell, Gilmer, TX, is the Children’s Ministry Director at the First United Methodist Church in Gilmer.
2004
Joseph Robideaux, Fairburn, GA, attends Candler School of Theology and serves Campbellton United Methodist Church in Fairburn as a student pastor.
2004
Brandon Wollerson, Austin, TX, has received a master’s in social work in May from the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. He works as an Admissions Counselor/Volunteer Coordinator for the Freshman Admissions Center at UT.
2005
Jesse Allen, Pascagoula, MS, is the Vice President for Plains Capital Bank in Mississippi and handles mortgages, personal loans, and branch operations.
Andrew Barkley, New Orleans, LA, is now an accountant with ACORN, a non-profit organization.
Kelsey Bellamy Johnson, Shreveport, LA, works as communications specialist in Centenary’s Office of Public Relations. She will reside in Shreveport while, husband, DeAndre Johnson ‘04, commutes to Dallas to pursue a master’s of sacred music degree at Southern Methodist University this fall. DeAndre is the choir director at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church.
Darren Gibbs, Fayetteville, AR, will attend law school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville beginning this Fall and expects to graduate in 2009.
Matthew Martin, Shreveport, LA, is working at Sterling Life Insurance Company as a Field Sales Manager. Matthew is responsible for recruiting, training and personal insurance production.
Jesse Smith, Goose Creek, SC, is working on her masters in Dance Movement Therapy at Columbia College Chicago.
Sara Thompson, Grapevine, TX, won 1st place in the Undergraduate Division in Spring ‘05 for her paper, “Optimism was not Enough: Shreveport’s Reaction to the Onset of the Great Depression.”
Kate Watts, Garland, TX, is a loan officer for Benchmark Mortgage, a rapidly growing net branch firm with hundreds of locations across the US. She lives in Dallas with Chi Omega sister Rita Coolidge ’05 and plans on attending graduate school.
Saige Wilhite, Shreveport, LA, works with Deep South Surplus Insurance Co. in the claims department.
2006
Elizabeth Allen, Bossier City, LA, is attending Medical School.
Matthew Brooksher, New Orleans, LA, is working in guest relations at The Bourbon Orleans Hotel in The French Quarter.
Patrick Cole, New Orleans, LA, is attending Loyola Law School.
Jared Frank, New Orleans, LA, will begin working as an accountant at Ernst & Young in the fall.
Ashlie Junot, New Orleans, LA, is attending graduate school at Tulane School of Social Work, in the fall 2006. This summer she is working at First United Methodist Church in Slidell, LA helping with mission efforts.
Megan Lerchie, Shreveport, LA, in summer 2006 began her graduate education at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport in Communication Disorders. After 2 years of study she hopes to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist in either a school system or private setting. After 7 years of dating, she was married on December 31, 2005 to another 2006 graduate, David Scott Lerchie.
Sarah Smith, Shreveport, LA, is attending Tulane Law School.
Kathryn Trahan, New Orleans, LA, is working in the accounting department at The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Kakie Walker, Katy, TX, is a marketing representative for Winters Title Agency.
Marriages
John Weber '72, Jacksonville Beach, FL, married Judy S. Krug of Dallas, TX on May 26, 2006 in St. Kitts/Nevis. They live in Jacksonville Beach, FL.
Jennifer Bateman '99, Minden, LA, married Dane Eitelman of Longview, TX on April 22, 2006, at First Baptist Church in Hallsville.
Ashley Dill '01, Denton, TX, was married in October 2004 to Kody Dill of Muenster, Texas. They live in Denton, but will move back to Dallas soon.
Jeff Broussard '04, Chicago, IL, married Oana Nan on May 6th, 2006
Births
Michelle Haynie Benwitz '00, Summerville, SC, had a son, Jackson Chase Benwitz March 9, 2006.
Elizabeth Means Culp '97, Cleburne, TX, and her husband, J. Brian Culp, celebrated the birth of their first child, Ian Taylor Culp on February 25, 2006.
Theresa Carlson Ellis '95, Nashville, TN, and husband, Chad Ellis '95, had their second son May 1, 2006, named Duke Bennett Ellis
Michele Hendrix '05, Shreveport, LA, and her husband, Robert Edward Hendrix '05, joyfully annouce the birth of their son, Nathan Edward Hendrix on April 4, 2006.
Chris Jandebeur '99, and Michelle Mullis Jandebeur '98, Charlotte, NC, joyfully announce the birth of their son, Caden Lee on January 6, 2006.
Eneile Cooke Mears '66, Shreveport, LA, is busy these days with new granddaughter, Cameron Eneile Tucker born May 1, 2006. Parents are Holly and Lance Tucker.
Jennifer Everett Pledger '95, and Chris Pledger '95 Dallas, TX, annouce the arrival of their daughter, Caroline Kendall Pledger, on Monday, May 8, 2006. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz. and is 21 inches long.
Clyde Shields '04, Bristow, OK, had a daughter, Rachel "Rowan" Shields, who was born on Father's Day, June 19, 2005.
Deaths
Marjorie O'Neal Snider '33
5/17/2006
Aloyese Menasco Seyburn '39
5/15/2006
Beverly Robertson Evans '41
5/28/2006
Hugh Baker '43
5/26/2006
Edwin Frost Whited '43
6/9/2006
Mary Burt '45
6/2/2006
Margaret Stringer Lewis '46
5/27/2006
Beverly Duerson Alford '47
6/4/2006
Eugene Clarke '47
5/29/2006
Neil Hargrove '48
4/4/2006
Joe B McClellan '50
2/15/2005
Grady McWhiney '50
4/18/2006
William Brown '51
6/3/2006
Martha Fulton McClelland '51
5/29/2006
Emily Brown Reynolds '52
5/11/2006
Jack Smithwick '52
2/22/2006
John P. Hess '55
5/11/2006
Mary Holt Wright '55
6/4/2006
Leo Cage '59
5/29/2006
Jean Ricks Driver '65
5/2/2006
Reverend C. Randal James '65
5/10/2006
Jim Hargrove '68
12/1/2004
Kay Walther-Jones '81
2/28/2006
