Spire 2022 Centennial Edition

CLASS NOTES

2009

Valerie Burrell , Ph.D., of Bluefield, West Virginia graduated with a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from Halifax Community College. Valerie is a 2009 graduate of

Bluefield College where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Management and Leadership. She then completed her master’s work at Capella and Liberty University. Dr. Valerie Burrell is passionate about creating an atmosphere for change in the Kingdom.

1971

She founded Empowerment Place Ministries in 2012 and began the work, aiding those who have been physically, emotionally, and spiritually abused. Dr. Valerie and her husband Benny Burrell both serve as character coaches, Valerie at Bluefield University and Benny at Bluefield State University. To learn more about Dr. Valerie’s work, Empowerment Place Ministries can be found here https://theempowermentplace.org/

Dr. Robert Smith Shackleford, Jr. of Randleman, North Carolina has retired after fifteen years of service as president of Randolph Community College in Asheboro, North Carolina. After July 1, 2022 Bob hopes to

spend his retirement being with his family more includingand his wife, Teresa, their son, Will, two grown children, Kristi and Kori, and one granddaughter, Brianna. Shackleford earned an associate degree in secondary education from Bluefield University in Bluefield,

2010

Jerry Dana Frech , of Culpeper, Virginia, was offered a job as an assistant supervisor position at SeaWorld.

Va., and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the School of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. He completed his master’s degree in child development and family studies and a doctorate in human development and family studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

Megan Kathleen Westra , of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been welcomed by St. Thomas More High School to its Theology Department. Megan will be teaching three sections of Christian Bioethics and three sections of Personal Morality & Social Justice for the 2021-22 spring semester. Megan has a Master of Divinity from Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Science from Bluefield University.

1981

2011

Ronald Clifton Hall , of Mechanicsville, Virginia, has announced his retirement as president and CEO of Virginia Baptist Foundation effective as of January 31, 2022. When joining the Virginia Baptist Foundation in 1996 as the director of communications/public relations, Ronald was named as the 5th president, CEO of the foundation in 2005.

Kyle Douglas Neal , of Bluefield, Virginia, retired from pastoring at Immanuel Baptist Church after 10 years. He will soon be transitioning to be the Senior Pastor at Fairlawn Baptist Church in Parkersburg.

2013

Caleb Allen Bittler , of Aylett, Virginia, obtained his Master of Divinity in Christian Ministries from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He currently serves as pastor at New Bethesda Baptist Church.

1996

Frederick Bertrand Adams II , of Winston Salem, North Carolina, has been appointed to serve as a district court judge in Judicial District 21, serving Forsyth County. He practiced law at Crumley & Associates and Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice LLP. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Winston-Salem State University. Adams received his Bachelor of Science degree from Bluefield University and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. Kelli Janan Lowe , of Indian Trail, North Carolina, was recognized as the 2022 Teacher of the Year for Union County Public Schools. She currently teaches at Porter Ridge Elementary School in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Ryan F. Schalles , of Charlotte, North Carolina, has started a new position as Franchise Business Consultant at Culver Franchising System, LLC. 2002

2014

Jahlisa Ashlian Harvey , of Pompano Beach, California, has recently gotten a new job at JetBlue. She graduated from Bluefield University in 2014 and was also part of the women’s soccer team.

2016

Walter Nelson Gainer, II, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, was selected by LinkedIn for creators to create engaging and insightful content that educates, inspires, and form communities. Walter will be creating support systems for people #WorkingWhileBlack on LinkedIn.

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