Alumni Association - 1995 to 2005 Class News

Fall 2005

Gathered and Written by Class Representatives

Sam J. Fryer III
2616 Lakeview Drive
Apartment G
Florence SC 29505
843.629.8372
S_Fryer@fsd1.org

Greeting Classmates:

Hope this finds everyone doing well. I don’t have much to report from our class (c’mon guys we’d all like to know what’s going on) so I’ll just share some other stuff.

The Coker College Charlotte Alumni group has taken off. Holly Hall Becker ’00, Mark Becker ’97, Joe Randolph ’99, Barbara Lansche ’68 and I got together last fall and held our first official get together – dinner at South End Brewery. Our second outing was in February at Sir Edwin Halley’s Pub and saw Holly and I meet up with Jeff Claridge ’97 to catch up. We hope to have another get together in the fall – so fellow Charlotteans and those in the surrounding area drop me or Holly a line and let us know if you’d like to join in

Congratulations to Hoyt Kelly ’96 who married Stephanie McNulty on April 30. He wrote to share that news while searching for Johnny Helms.

Everett Ward ’96 dropped me an email to say hi.

I also got a call from Maurice Jackson ’96. He said that he, Tamika Johnson Jackson ’96 and their daughter are doing well. I haven’t had the chance to call back, but I will – I promise.

I’ve also been trading emails with Sarah Chapman ’93. We’re trying to hook up so we can catch up but from her responses, it sounds like she’s doing well.

Well, that’s all I have to report. I’d really like to have more to say about the Class of 1995 in the next issue, so if you have the opportunity, please write, call or send an e-mail and let us know what’s new. And as always don’t forget to remember Coker by sending a donation to the annual scholarship fund.

Ciao,
Heather

Matt Shores
skinsfan_96@yahoo.com

Welcome Matt as your new class co-rep by sending him some news.

Alison Wood
2400 Pine Haven Street
Beaufort SC 29902-6042
425.338.9760

Hello all! I hope everyone’s summer went well. Things here in Hartsville are much the same, although we’ve been blessed with the return of a few familiar faces. I was walking through Wal-Mart (the grand meeting place) a few days ago when I heard my name posed in the form of a question. I looked up to find Sarah Scaffe Tew standing before me. She and Eric ’95 and their two little ones have moved back to Hartsville as of July. How exciting to have them back. Sarah was a little skeptical because she wasn’t sure if anyone they knew was still around. But I put her fears to rest and let her know there are some of us still here. A few days later I ran into Dan Shanks at Prestwood Lake where he was enjoying a morning out with his black lab. He’s in the area too and working in Florence.

There are those of us who have moved on to other places and adventures, however, like Jo Sim who is living in New York now and learning the hard way how to parallel park. Alison Wood is living on a sailboat in the Pacific. I don’t think any of us are surprised by either of these. But how many of us truly could imagine Sean O’Briant living in the suburbs and watching little league games in the park from his back deck with wife Jenny Osborn and daughter Maeli?! Sean attended Hoyt Kelley’s ’96 wedding in April in Pennsylvania and saw Mike ’96 and Sheri Speaks Berry ’95. Mike and Sheri have 4 kids, 2 horses and live in College Station, PA.

I recently heard from Summer Josey Meetze who, like Sean, has sold her house and is going through that dreadful process of packing. UGH! She talks often to Eve Waddell who is working on her Master’s. Way to go, Eve! Best wishes. She also keeps up with Paige Brown Phelps ’99 and Scott ’98 and their daughter Anna Carlin. They are all doing well. She sees John Curnias ’96 occasionally but hasn’t run into him lately.

The class of 1997 is doing quite well as we enter our fourth decade of life. We are leaving behind the youthful days of our 20s and embracing the changes and responsibilities of our 30s. But we have by no means left behind our fun-loving nature; we just find fun in different places now.

Regina

’98
Tanya Keith
407 C North Matson Street
Kershaw, SC 29067
anangeltlk@yahoo.com

Ashley M. Pruett
2055 Barrett Lakes Blvd
Apartment 814
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-289-8274
ashleypruett@comcast.net

I accepted a job as the Human Resources Administrator with Controls Southeast, Inc. which is located in Pineville, NC. In April, I bought a 2005 Toyota 4runner which I absolutely adore! My boyfriend, Kevin, and I just returned from Disney World (yes, we went in the middle of July) and had a blast! Nothing else exciting from me. Hope everyone is doing great! Tanya Keith, PHR Human Resources Administrator
Shane McElveen is currently working at The Morning News in Florence as Advertising Graphic Designer. He also continues to do freelance graphic design work and enjoys writing fiction in his spare time. Melissa is the Office Manager at Holbrooks Diamond Showroom in Florence. Shane and Melissa have two children: Seth (7) and Willow (2).

Kurt and I are still living in Charleston (and trying to survive this very hot summer!). Kurt is currently on staff at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit and is really enjoying it. I have taken a job with a non-profit organization that provides courses to sailors after they complete a portion of their training at the nuclear training school. I’ve been with this position for about a month and it’s great. I love working in a classroom setting with the sailors and it gives me a very flexible work schedule. I went on my annual trek to Disney World for Easter and on a very memorable trip to Ireland in April. I hope this finds everyone else from the Class of '98 doing well! Mirah White Welday

Hi everyone! I am still living in Atlanta and working at ASHRAE, Inc. as the Manager of Student Activities. I will be moving to the Vinings area in Atlanta in August and am really looking forward to it. Enjoy your summer! Ashley Pruett

Megan Brenna Holmes and her husband Bradford are still in Livingston, Montana. Their daughter Brayton is four years old and their son Gabriel is 18 months old.

Lisa J. Miller writes “Hey there!!! It is so good to hear from you!!! Unfortunately, there really isn’t a whole lot to report here: I am still a Consultant with Randstad. Still living in Columbia. However, I can give you an update on other grads: Greg and his wife Courtney have relocated from VA back to SC. They are living in Lake Wylie and are both working in the Mortgage business. Tara and Dan Rausch now have four children and are living in Washington State. Dan is now an S3 for the regiment (brigade) and Tara is a proud stay at home mom.”

Rebecca Lynn Teal
1116 Swift Creek Road
Hartsville, SC 29550
843-383-2994
becbec1324@aol.com

Shonda Miles Knotts
925 Lynch Road
Coward, SC 29530
843-210-3346
Shonda.Knotts@PalmettoGBA.com

Sheila Brodie Trapp
Post Office Box 967
Hartsville, SC 29551

'00
Holly Hall Becker
20809 Brinkley Street
Cornelius NC 28031
704.655.9720
pistolhip@yahoo.com

Patience Drabick
6322 Rhodins Lane
Fort Mill, SC 29715-2535
904-377-1796
paypay03@hotmail.com

Greetings Violet Power!

It’s good to hear from so many of you. Keep the e-mail coming. Let’s get down to business.

Anna-Marie Caldwell got a transfer with WBTW and moved to Myrtle Beach. She is a senior producer for the 11 p.m. news. She and her boyfriend, Jason, enjoy living less than five minutes from the ocean, and she said they hit the beach whenever possible.

Our class sweethearts Arthur and Brenda Tallon Bradshaw had a busy summer. They caught up with old Coker pals at Quentin Grant’s wedding in June. They saw Dean and Jessica Thigpen Legge, Phillip Dowdy ’99, Matt Hornsby ’99, Jamie Harloff ’99 and Geoff and Brent Freeman Hughes ’02. Brenda finished her summer clinicals with yet another A. She only has two semesters of dental hygiene school left.

Greg Lunn still lives in Columbia and works for ETV. He’s also teaches classes as an adjunct professor at Midlands Technical College. He said the classes are mostly three-to four-day continuing education courses in the Web design and programming realm. You can check out his work on his personal Web site, http://www.monkeyflash.com.

Deena Epps still teaches second grade in her hometown of Orangeburg. She said she is considering the possibility of moving to a new city to teach next year. Deena came to my house in June, and we had a blast shopping and catching up.

Another education major, Reagan Doster Miles, hopes to finish her doctoral degree in educational leadership through Nova Southeastern University in Florida in July 2006.

In May, Tara Trotter graduated from law school at Regent University. She takes the bar exam this summer and plans to remain in the Virginia Beach area.

Two of our classmates have made the walk down the aisle. Kimmie White Davis got married May 28, 2005. Matt Euten married Amy Bullock in December 2004. Greg Bachelor officiated the ceremony. The newlyweds live in Nashville, and Matt manages fish ponds. A few months ago he did work for country singer Alan Jackson.

Greg Bachelor, who officiated the Euten-Bullock wedding, visited Matt while on a baseball mission trip in Nashville. Greg and his wife recently moved to Great Falls where he serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church.

Our Florida residents are doing well and surviving the hurricanes. Missy Patterson Hernandez teaches physical education at Durant High School. She also coaches junior varsity volleyball and varsity softball. In her spare time, she gives private pitching lessons. Missy plans to pursue a doctorate of education at Nova Southeastern University. She said married life is still awesome.

Dia Byrd Dooley made a job switch earlier this year. She now is director of clinical research at the Jacksonville Cardiovascular Center. She and her husband, Bryan, are doing well.

As for me, I started my own freelance-writing business this year, and I’m enjoying writing for several publications and businesses in the Charlotte area. My husband, Mark Becker ’97, and I are doing well. We’re celebrating our fifth anniversary in August. I can’t believe how quickly time flies.
Don’t forget Homecoming is Sept. 30-Oct. 2!

’01

Cheri Bissonnette Proctor
709 Summit Walk Circle
Marietta, GA 30067

David McKee
933 Potomac Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338-6975
404-929-0623
Dmckee@rtminc.Com

Roslynn D. Elom
572 East McIver Road
Florence, SC 29506
843-667-0502
Ravenrose3@aol.com

  ’02
Blayke P. Epley
6506 Eaglecrest Road
Charlotte, NC 28212
704.535.1504
bpepley@yahoo.com

Dearest Class of 2002…here’s the news!

Brent Freeman Hughes recently quit her job at the lawyer’s office and is now working for the South Carolina Central Railroad. Her husband, Geoff’s ’00 business is going well, especially for the “lazy, hazy days of summer.” She says that life is going wonderfully for them in “Hartsvegas!”

Congratulations to Katherine "Kammie" Rickles-Mann who had a new baby on December 12, 2004. Her name is Taylen Emily Mann. She also has a new job teaching 8th grade language arts at Chester Middle School and bought her first home in April 2004!

Sabrina Wotier Peterson is staying busy as usual. She is working as a Quality Assurance Supervisor for M. Hayes and Associates Disability Management Company. According to Sabrina, she was lucky enough to sucker Cristy Howell ’03, into working for her as a Vocational Consultant. She also just opened her own business! She opened up a Pilates Studio in Fort Mill named Bodies in Balance Pilates. Check out her website: www.binbalance.com. Cristy and Bessie Tomberlin ’03 took the first Mat Class. She and husband Nathan Peterson are about to celebrate their first year anniversary! Nathan is working for Morgan Keegan, a stock brokerage firm, as the Financial Sales Assistant to the Branch Manager. He is looking forward to working his way up the ranks and, according to Sabrina, taking all of your money soon! : )

Stephanie Carwile Parker is currently coaching volleyball and teaching Texas history at a public school in Texas. She and her husband have been married for three years now and are doing awesome! They are expecting their first child in January! They still live in the same place and bought more land, cows, and a new horse. Stephanie would love for you to send her an email! Her address is: StephanieRodeo@aol.com.

Stephanie also sent information about two of our classmates! Juliette Maybay is in Vet school in Georgia and just bought a new house! Shannon Brewer is living in Colorado and is doing wonderfully!
Cristin Casper spent the summer in sunny LA as a part of a new program in advertising/pr at BU. She has one semester left and in December will have her Master of Science in PR. When she graduates, she plans on moving back down south, getting a job and being a “grown up”.

Curtis Lloyd has moved to Birmingham Alabama from Hartsville and just got a job at Tarrant High School teaching Spanish, PE and Drivers Ed. He is the head coach for the Varsity Baseball and Volleyball team. The colors are Blue and Gold so Curtis said it was easy to take the job. Congratulations to Curtis and Jessica Brill ’05 who are getting married on October 1, 2005 in Birmingham.

I talked to Amy Kesler on the phone this week. She is just as fabulous as ever. I’m also really looking forward to seeing all “the girls” for Cheryl Bruno’s shower. She is getting married this December!
As for myself, I am still living in Charlotte and working in Gastonia. I work with a beautiful 16-year-old girl who has some developmental disabilities. We work on goals such as social interaction and communication, among others. I truly love what I do and I am learning so much about this field and these special children. I am still happily dating Eduardo and we love to go Salsa dancing! I have even learned a little Spanish! I also walked in the Avon Marathon Walk for Breast Cancer in April. It was such an amazing experience. I will never forget the people I met and the awesome stories of personal triumph I was able hear and be a part of.

It was great to hear from some of you! I hope everyone is doing wonderfully and is very happy. Please continue to send me emails about the amazing adventures in your lives! Take Care!

Blayke

’03

Wes Daniels
22 Mowler Court
Charleston, SC 29414
843-225-1209
wdaniels@csuniv.edu

Emily Marovich
Emily Marovich
155 Lakeside Drive, Apt 3306
Waxahachie, TX 75165
863-205-6590
EmilyVB8@aol.com

’04

Julia Cox Kokemor
822 Joe Yenni Blvd., Apt 13
Kenner, LA 70065
504-466-3096
jucarcox@hotmail.com

’05

Class Rep Needed. Contact the Alumni Office at 1-800-65-COKER