Alumni News Last Updated: September 1, 2020
1940s
Betty Johnson Samara (’49) lives near her daughter in Gainesville, FL in a retirement community. “We recently traveled to California for my youngest grandson’s wedding – he escorted me down the aisle and danced with me at the reception,” said Betty. “I often think of my high school days and the friends we made in that small class of 1949.”
1950s
Betty Kirksey (’57) made a presentation on March 31 at OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at the University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach Campus, on Taoism and the Tao Te Ching.
1960s
Chris R. Sheridan, Jr. (’67) received the Jack Steed Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Way of Central Georgia in July 2020.
1970s
Caroline LaBorde (’72) retired after 35 years of teaching special education in Bibb and Monroe counties in Georgia. She volunteered for 20 years as a local coordinator for Special Olympics; she continues volunteer work as the Local Coordinator for Special Olympics Georgia Sailing. Caroline also volunteers with a school in Trouin, Haiti, teaching English and training teachers.
Tara Thomason (’77) has been employed by Nassau County School Board since 1988. In 1995, she started a therapeutic program for Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED) students. The program served all SED students in Nassau County. For eight years, she was the program coordinator for what became STARRS (Students that are Responsible, Respectful, and Successful). For the past 15 years, she has taught middle school EBD (Emotionally Behaviorally Disabled) students. Tara has been recognized as Teacher of the Year once and nominated twice. She is also a youth mental health first aid instructor. She plans to retire in 2023 and to enjoy life on Amelia Island!
Laura Lee White (’78) and her godson, Sean VanMeter, are featured in the Netflix hit series “Queer Eye,” Season 2, episode 7, “Bedazzled.”
Steve Zurek (’79) retired from Procter & Gamble in April 2020 after 34 years.
1980s
Dr. Mark Albritton (’82) was recently named regional medical director of Georgia for CareATC, a company providing employer based healthcare.
Heather Cadle (’84) started a new career in mid-May 2019 helping individuals & self employed/small business owners find affordable health coverage. She has consistently been in the top ten of her division since training.
Todd Stuart (’87) and Iana Stuart welcomed their son James Ford Christopher Stuart on October 18, 2019.
Joy Smith (’88) earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration in July 2020.
1990s
Laura Stahl (’97) married Scott Wheeler on May 13, 2020.
2000s
Jessie Zaretsky (2000) is the first Teacher of the Year for McClure Health Science High School in Gwinnett County. The school opened in August of 2019 with a focus in the healthcare field and allows high school students to be certified in the medical field when they graduate with their high school diploma.
Jessica Asbell Oravec (2003) married Jonathan Oravec at the Library Ballroom on November 9, 2019. Jessica’s mother is MDS alumna and employee Amy Rose Brantley ’78. Jessica published her first book, Where Faith & Family Meet, a family devotional in December 2019.
Erik Hardison (2004) is a Behavior Specialist in the McDuffie County school system, and he knows the importance and impact reading can have on students’ lives. One year ago, he decided to read at least one book every day on Facebook and Instagram, a place where the children, and parents, could enjoy a book. August 9, 2020 marked the 365th day of “Mr. Erik Reads”, which reflects his commitment to his students, his schools, and his community.
Nate Masters (2004) has been hired as the defensive coordinator at University of West Georgia.
Elizabeth Gaughf Kozak (2006) and husband David Kozak welcomed Frances Louise Kozak on May 27, 2020. Frances joins big brother Michael.
David Patch (2008) completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in kinesiology from Georgia College and State University. He earned his M.D. in 2019 from St. George’s University School of Medicine, graduated cum laude, and is an active member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He is a first year pediatric resident at Memorial Health in Savannah and plans to pursue a fellowship in pediatric sports/emergency medicine.
2010s
Kaylee Gonzalez (2010) is the new 3K teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic School.
Ellis Anne Sykes Collins (2011) joined the St. Joseph’s Catholic School faculty as the Spanish teacher.
Oyinkan Mariam Muraina (2011) graduated with a JD from Columbia University Law School in New York in 2019. Oyinkan is an associate at Shearman and Sterling, LLC in New York.
Kyle Patch (2012) graduated in 2016 from UGA’s Terry College of Business with a BBA in management. He is an account manager with Airgas in Charleston, S.C. Kyle married Katie McKagen on May 16, 2020.
Logan Thomas (2012) celebrated her first anniversary with Georgia Farm Bureau in July. She is the photographer and marketing specialist and manages social the media accounts.
Megan Hinman (2013) graduated with a B.S. in exercise science from Georgia College & State University in 2017. Last year, she graduated from Georgia State University with a master of occupational therapy. She started her career as an entry-level occupational therapist in January 2020 at the Rehab Hospital in Macon.
Constance Jackson (2014) graduated in December 2018 from Valdosta State University with a degree in exercise physiology. She also earned her American College of Sports Medicine certification in April 2019. She is employed at OrthoGeorgia Orthopedic Spine center working as a physical therapy technician.
Briana Whitfield (2014) graduated cum laude with a B.A. in political science from the University of South Carolina in 2019.
Julia Barroso (2016) graduated May 3, 2020 with magna cum laude honors from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in nutrition dietetics. She began a dual masters and internship program at East Tennessee State University in August. She has been accepted as the long-term trainee in the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND program for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Lydia Good (2017) has been awarded the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, which she will use to continue her research in protein structure and function. Lydia is a senior at Georgetown University. Lydia plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biophysics and computational biochemistry.
We mourn the following Cavaliers who recently passed away. Last updated: September 1, 2020.
1941 Dorothy “Tillie” Cunningham Lamb Doyle
1951 Carole Adams Nichols
1971 Thomas E. Barfield
1972 Roberta Lapinski Gangler
1979 Dargan McAfee
1995 Royce Alday
Mary Zoghby (formerly Sister Mary Sarto), Former Faculty
We extend sympathy to these Cavaliers who have lost loved ones recently. Last updated: September 1, 2020
Renne Beck Underwood (’89) on the death of her husband, Jeff Ray Underwood, October 10, 2019.
Caitlyn Slack (2009) and Stephen Slack (2013) on the death of their mother, Maria Romano, on November 2, 2019.
Amy Morgan Banks (’82) on the death of her mother, Louise Mooney Morgan, on December 1, 2019.
Carl Story (’73), Tim Story (’74), and Mark Story (76) on the death of their mother, Barbara Arnold, on January 19, 2020. Grandchildren include Seth Story (2003).
Holly Smith (’85) on the death of her mother, Jo Anne Hollingsworth Smith, on February 7, 2020.
Xavier Randall (’89) on the death of his mother, Mary Latimore Randall, February 9, 2020.
Allison Markwalter King (’81) and Blythe Markwalter Koplin (’85) on the death of their father, Robidier Markwalter, on February 14, 2020. Grandchildren include Brennan Hamilton (2013).
JoAnn Harden (’65) on the death of her mother, Mary Agnes McAliney Harden, on April 13, 2020.
Richard Lamb (’63), Mary Ann Doyle (’64), Carolyn Lamb Raines (’70), Katherine Lamb White (’74) on the death of their mother Dorothy May “Tillie” Lamb Doyle (’41) on April 24th, 2020. Grandchildren include Melinda Lamb Burdette (’83) and Kelly Raines Heath (’99).
Robbie Nichols (’75), Charles Nichols (’78), Melissa Nichols Showers (’79), Amy Nichols Dever (’81) on the death of their mother Carol Adams Nichols (’51) on April 21, 2020.
Jilian Brosas Tobaben (2004) on the death of her father, Virgilio Coronado Brosas, April 22, 2020.
Stacy Stubbs Michael (’81) on the death of her mother, Viva Pierce Stubbs, on May 4, 2020. Grandchildren include Bailey Michael (2015).
Mary Rooks McMahon (’77) on the death of her mother, Margaret Skaff Rooks, on May 22, 2020.
Frances Mobley Jason (’87) on the death of her mother, Erie Gee McDaniel Mobley, on May 25, 2020.
Roy Robinson (’82) on the death of his mother, Patricia Jones Robinson, on June 17, 2020.
Kara Deeb (2008) and Michael J. Deeb (2010) on the death of their father, Michael Joseph Deeb, Jr. on June 17, 2020.
Monroe Abram (’82) on the death of his mother, Joan Frances Abram, on August 7, 2020.
Alice Waller Dery (’79), Robert Waller II (’80), Edwin Waller (’82), and Samuel Waller (’85), on the death of their father, Retired Lt. Col. Robert Eugene Waller, on August 7, 2020 . Grandchildren include Brian Waller (2020) and Monica Waller (2008).
Jim Beall (’87) on the death of his father, Holst Clay Beall, Jr., on August 22, 2020. Grandchildren include Joyce Evelyn Beall (2020) and Mary Lin Beall (2022).
Dargan Edwin McAfee, III (2022) and Pam McAfee Spencer (’71), Margaret McAfee Miller (’72), Mike McAfee (’74), Kathy McAfee Colwell (’76), Sheri McAfee King (’77), Daly McAfee (’81), Mary McAfee Barth (’81), Sally McAfee Silbermann (’86) on the death of his father and their brother, Dargan Edwin McAfee (’79) on August 31, 2020.
