Spire Magazine 2021

Class Notes 1968

1996 Frederick Adams , of Winston Salem, North Carolina, wrote a commentary “I can’t breathe” on WS Chronicle on June 3, 2020. 1997 Lisa Robinson of Pearisburg, Virginia, successfully defended her dissertation project at Virginia Tech in August 2020 and completed her educational goal of receiving a Ph.D. in Sociology. She is a full-time faculty member in the MBA Justice Administration specialization at Bluefield University. 1998 Bryan Lee Young, of Moneta, Virginia, was selected to become the new South Boston’s Chief of Police in December 2020. Young has more than 22 years of state law enforcement experience and began his career with the Virginia Conservation Police in 1998. Young has served in the Lynchburg areas as well as in the Roanoke Valley, Southside Virginia and the Smith Mountain Lake area. In 2016, he was appointed assistant chief of the Virginia Conservation Police and has served as acting chief since then. 1999 Dr. Kevin DeHart of Norfolk, Virginia, was recognized in the Top Doc 2020 list by Coastal Virginia Magazine. 2000 Jessica Ramsey Williams of Mechanicsville, Maryland, married Aaron Clingman on Saturday, October 10, 2020 in Hilliard, Ohio. Jessica's sons, Lucas, Gavin & Bodie, were groomsmen and Aaron's daughters, Caitlyn & Abby, were bridesmaids. They reside in Mechanicsville, MD. Jessica also started her 20th year teaching at a new school, Northern High School in Owings, MD on September 1, 2020. 2002 Jamie Lynn Null, of Princeton, West Virginia, was named the “2020 West Virginia Wonder Woman” after her tourism campaigns, as an outdoor destination, have done wonder for West Virginia and won multiple advertising awards. She was named the executive director for the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2014. She now also serves as secretary of the West Virginia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. Dr. W. Dr. Kelly DeHart of Norfolk, Virginia, was recognized in Top Doc 2020 list by Virginia Living Magazine.

Elizabeth Carolyne “Betis” Snipes , of Hillsborough, North Carolina, received the C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award due to her tremendous effort and hard work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an employee. 1974 Timothy W. Sharp of Edmond , Oklahoma retired from the American Choral Director’s Association, and moved to his farm in Nashville, Tennessee. He will take sabbatical leave to spend time with family and will work internationally as a practicing conductor, teacher, and writer. Tim will continue to serve as Director of Innovation for Trevecca University’s Center for Community Arts Innovation and as Vice-President for the International Federation for Choral Music. Video announcement can be found through this link: https://bit.ly/3huJg2t 1978 Brent Lee Brown , of Bluefield, West Virginia, minister of Bland Street and Trinity United Methodist churches, put his sermons into print, and with the help of a couple member of the church, he published his dream book “Four Seasons of Coffee Talk”. Brent was called into ministry in the late 80s and he has become well known for his love of storytelling in sermons, and for the cup of coffee he carries in his hand. Brent was influenced by his father, but his primary influence and example has been Jesus Christ. “Four Seasons of Coffee Talk” is a collection of sermon stories that reflect upon Brent’s life experiences and that connect to his journey of faith. 1979 Harry C. Graninger , of Roanoke, Virginia, has been employed with Unilever for the past thirty-seven years. He is the team business manager for analysis of retail teams for the United States and Canada (over 1,000 retail reps). Unilever is the number one supply chain company in the world. 1980 Donna Hardy Watson obtained a Masters of Education in Reading from East Tennessee State University. She previously served Bluefield College as the Dean of the School of Education; she now serves King University in the same position. 1990 John Waverly Coggsdale , of Altavista, Virginia, was appointed as the new town manager of Strasburg, Virginia. He previously served as the county administrator of Southampton County for 13 years and as an administrative assistant/transit manager in Bluefield, West Virginia.

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