Class Notes

Charles Erma McFarland of Roswell died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the age of 79. Born in Meridian, MS he was the son of the late Harris G. and Franke Brown McFarland. He was a graduate of Heidelberg High School (1952), Maryville College (B.A., 1956) and Georgia State University (M.Ed., 1977). He joined the Marine Reserves while at Maryville College and served for a number of years. He taught high school Biology and Human Physiology in the Fulton County School system for 41 years until his retirement in 1998. Since 1960, Charles was a dedicated member of Roswell Presbyterian Church, serving as both deacon and elder. He and his loving wife, Jean, served on many church committees, taught Sunday School classes, and were cherished youth group leaders. He served as president of Roswell Kiwanis Club and the North Fulton Retired Educators Association. He was a talented woodworker and an antique car enthusiast. Gifted with a quick wit, a generous heart, a love of nature and travel, a love of storytelling, and an indomitable spirit, Charles was a man who always focused on the positive and never met a stranger. Charles was preceded in death by a sister, Faye McFarland Nelson. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Jean Dildy McFarland ’57; two wonderful sons: Bryan Field (Diane ’85) McFarland ’83 of Greensboro, NC and Kent Erwin McFarland of Alpharetta; a cherished granddaughter: Meagan Aline McFarland. He is also survived by an “adopted” family: Robb and Lanette (Henry) McClendon and their children, Michaela, Shelly, and Alex; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. A ten-year cancer survivor, Charles had been on home dialysis for the past three years with Jean and Kent as certified assistants. Because of the home dialysis option he was able to travel and enjoy visiting family and friends. The family is deeply grateful to innumerable medical professionals over the years, including the doctors, nurses and specialists at North Fulton Hospital ICU over the past two weeks.

William M. McMaster passed away on April 25, 2014.

Mary Carol Coker Michie, of Black Mountain, North Carolina, died Friday, June 25, 2021. She was eighty-six. The daughter of Caroline and Winchester Coker, Mary Carol grew up in rural areas of Georgia and Kentucky, but spent most of her adult life in Charlotte. In the late 1960s, she and her husband, George, were propelled by the Civil Rights Movement-and by their Christian faith-to work toward racial justice and reconciliation. Their first step was to join Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church, located across the street from the Piedmont Courts public housing development, which had just begun to integrate. Over nearly four decades, Mary Carol became what one friend called “the beating heart of Seigle Avenue.” She ran boys’ and girls’ clubs, directed the church’s after- school program, played piano and sang in the choir, and helped found two long-running initiatives: a weekly Wednesday evening Bible- study and recreational time for children in Piedmont Courts; and a Prison Mission group, whose members corresponded with, and advocated for, men from the community who were incarcerated. All this, while raising three children of her own. Mary Carol went about her work with genuine humility, and without need for recognition. She provided wise counsel, a shoulder to cry on, a welcoming smile, a warm embrace, a place to stay, or a freshly baked pound cake (delivered in her little red truck) to countless children, teens, and adults over the years. Many have said she was like a “second mother” to them, and she had a gift for making those in her presence feel seen and heard. Yet she was quick to point out that the relationships she formed were reciprocal: “I have gotten much more from my time at Seigle Avenue,” she often said, “than I have ever given.” In recent years, Mary Carol developed Alzheimer’s, and the disease took a sharp turn for the worse in the final year of her life. A few days before she died, a doctor asked her a series of basic memory questions, none of which she could answer. But when the doctor asked, “How many children do you have,” her response came quickly. “Fifty,” she said. It was, to be sure, an understatement. Memorial services will be held on July 10, 2021 at 3:30pm at First Christian Church, Black Mountain and on July 24, 2021 at 2pm at Caldwell Presbyterian Church, Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, George, Greg, Lynn, and Kirk request that donations be made to Caldwell Presbyterian Church, 4-H (Home Affordable Housing Initiative) or Memory Care of Asheville. Our deepest gratitude goes to the staff at Givens Highland Farms, especially the kind and compassionate Home Care staff. Penland Family Funeral Home is honored to be caring for the Michie Family.

passed away on March 22, 2015. Bob was born in Louisville, Kentucky on November 9, 1933. He graduated with the last all-boys graduating class of Louisville Male High school in 1951, attended Maryville College (Tenn.), Kentucky Wesleyan College (BA), the University of Kentucky (MA), and Vanderbilt University (PhD). Bob early exhibited a love of teaching, research, and writing and often remarked how lucky he was to be paid to do the things he loved to do most. He taught for over 50 years at various schools, including Kentucky Wesleyan College, the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and Armstrong State University (GA). Upon retirement from Armstrong, Bob continued to teach part-time at the College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, and for over a decade at The Citadel. Over the years, he received several student-elected awards for teaching excellence, as well as publishing on topics ranging from anti-New Deal organizations in the 1930s, to radical and reform movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, to literary and political biographies. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bob became active in human rights and political activities in Savannah, Georgia. He served as VP of the Chatham County Human Relations Council, drafted a model proposal for a Human Relations Commission in Savannah, served as the Co-Chairman of the 1968 Humphrey Campaign for President, and was elected to the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee. One of Bob’s other interests included athletics. He played basketball in college and, later in life, tennis and golf. Along the way he showed a skill as a coach, beginning with his activity as a basketball playing-coach while in the U.S. Army, and extending to a six-year stint in the 1980s as men’s tennis coach at Armstrong State University while teaching full-time, during which he was twice named Coach of the Year (South Atlantic Conference and Big South Conference). He also captained several USTA league tennis teams, two of which were Georgia state champions. Bob was predeceased by his parents, B.H. and Ruby Chinn Patterson, his sister Thelma Patterson Ruble, and his first wife, Judith Burgos Patterson. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Lee Rebl Patterson; three sons, Jonathan (Hana), David, and Thomas (Jennie); and two grandchildren, Phillip and Morgan.

Willard “Rod” Patton, 78, of Canton, died Saturday, March 23, 2013. The funeral was at First United Methodist Church. South Canton Funeral Home

Dorothy Bumgarner Petree, age 81, of Maryville, went to her heavenly home on Oct. 23, 2015, at Blount Memorial Hospital. She was born April 19, 1934. Preceded in death by her parents, Bonnie and Y J Bumgarner. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ralph L. Petree; daughter and son-in-law, Lesa (George) Abbott; daughter, Melba Petree; grandchildren, Megan (Matt) Lafon, Brandon Abbott, Ethan Abbott, Jacob Roberts; brother, Alfred (Jackie) Bumgarner; special extended family, Kyle (Roberta) Petree, Lucy (Elm) Way; Aunt, Hazel Gowan; several nieces and nephews. Dorothy taught for over 34 years with the Blount County Schools. She loved education, learning and teaching others. She enjoyed and truly loved all of her many students. She stayed busy with gardening, flowers, and birding. She was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church and the Sparkplug Sunday School Class. We would like to give special thanks to Fairview Church and the 5th floor nursing staff at Blount Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were with McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Mickey Rainwater officiating. The Entombment followed at Sherwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family received friends at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sparkplug Memorial Scholarship Fund of Fairview United Methodist Church, 2508 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803. www.mccammonammonsclick.com

Lawrence E. “Larry” Posey, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Marietta, Ga.

He was born Jan. 14, 1935, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, in Murphy. Larry was the son of a line pole worker for the telephone company and a homemaker. He was up early to chop wood for the kitchen stove, milk Daisy, the family cow, and then walk to school. At Murphy High School, he was an athlete, playing third base and quarterback, and developing lifelong friendships with a group that would gather yearly for “Hanging Dog” reunions.

After a year at Maryville College, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. Due to his typing skills, his orders were diverted from being a clandestine radio operator in Austria to a clerk at HQ in Waterford, England, where he never lost an inspection. As he once said, “Being in the Army in peacetime isn’t bad. It’s actually fun.””

Following his service, he completed his undergraduate work at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. While in college, he married Linda Ruth English, also of Murphy; they would be married for 55 years until her passing. Upon graduation, he got a job with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Larry and Linda moved to New York City.

For over a decade, he worked in the then Venereal Disease programs in New York City and Baltimore, Md., before completing a graduate program at the University of Virginia and then moved for good to Marietta, Ga.
Soon after arriving in Marietta, they welcomed a son, Drew Lawrence, and settled into a long pattern marked by Drew, family, CDC, real estate and the outdoors.

An avid outdoorsman, Larry enjoyed trout fishing in the spring and summer and hunting in the fall and winter with his beloved English Setters. Of these outdoor activities, his favorite was trout fishing. Larry once said on a Dec. 21, “It’s the shortest day of the year and I know that each day will get a little longer, and I start thinking about fly fishing.”” Larry loved leading family and friends on backpacking trips to the Smoky Mountains and telling tall tales of those adventures.

Outside of the woods, baseball was a passion, coaching Drew’s teams and then continuing to follow and support his former teams for years afterwards. While Drew was in high school, Larry and Linda were treasurers of the Lassiter Baseball Booster Club, and Larry played a leadership role in designing and building the original press box and locker room. Later, he was a steadfast supporter of the East Cobb Yankees.

A total fan of CDC and a true old-school Public Health Advisor, his love, appreciation and passion for CDC knew no bounds. Cups, visors, jackets and even a onesie for his granddaughters, CDC was never far from view.
For the last half of a long and distinguished career that spanned over 40 years, he worked in Environmental Health. His groups were involved in the original Love Canal investigation, hypervitaminosis D, responses to floods and natural disasters, and improving environmental conditions along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The last couple of decades were marked by his granddaughters, Katherine Ann and Ashley Kristen Posey, seeing them grow up and experiencing their milestones: baptisms, birthday parties, sports, and helping teach each of them how to drive.

It was also during this time he served as Chair of the Finance Committee at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and was a regular at Men’s Breakfast.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, John Erwin Posey Jr., and Sarah Padgett Posey; his wife, Linda; brother-in-law, William A. “”Dub”” Sherrill; and nephew, Todd Patrick Gibson.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Drew (Kristen) Posey of Marietta, Ga.; sister, Sara Sherrill of Murphy; granddaughters, Katherine and Ashley Posey of Marietta, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Peggy Withrow of Holly Springs, Ga., and Janet Bennett of Canton, Ga.; brother-in-law, Ken English of Brasstown; niece, Paige (Brian) Sherrill of Robbinsville; nephews, Jeff (Katie) English of Athens, Ga., John English of Alto, Ga., Ryan (Arin) Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., Corey (Nai) Johnson of Johns Creek, Ga.; and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and friends.

Charles Clanton Rogers was born May 18, 1934 and passed away April 1, 2016.

Edgar Patton Shackelford Knoxville – The Reverend Edgar “Sonny” Patton Shackelford, 86, died on March 28, 2020, in Knoxville, TN. He was born in Spartanburg, SC, and grew up in Oak Ridge, TN. He was a 1952 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, TN; a 1956 graduate of Maryville College, Maryville, TN, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in English; a graduate of Georgia State University, where he received his Master’s Degree in Counseling; and a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree. He was a retired Chaplain and Lt. Colonel in the United States Army. He served in Vietnam, Korea, and Germany along with many stateside assignments. He was an accomplished athlete and enjoyed walking and hiking mountain trails and reading. He had a deep appreciation for drama and music. He loved spending time at “The Cabin” in Pisgah Forest, NC, and had very fond memories of family trips to the beach, Montana, and Switzerland. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy Jones Shackelford; son William “Randy” Randolph Shackelford (Cathie) of Johnson City, TN; son Anthony “Tony” Patton Shackelford (Jennifer) of Yonges Island, SC; daughter Becky Patton Shackelford Marambio (Henry) of Knoxville, TN; grandson Jason Allen Shackelford of Yonges Island, SC; and three special nieces and a special nephew. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Adelaide Patton Shackelford (who died during childbirth); father, Macfarland Shackelford, Sr.; stepmother, Frances Cleaveland Shackelford; brother, Macfarland Shackelford, Jr.; sister, Carol Easler Hayworth; and guardians, Margaret Patton Easler and Carroll Easler. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, 213 Colonial Heights Road, Kingsport, TN 37663 or Habitat for Humanity. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Click Funeral Home, 9020 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN, is serving the family. www.clickfh.com

Betty Messer Surrett died at home on January 15, at the age of 88. Betty was born April 28, 1934, in White Pine, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of the late Roy J. Messer and Florence Mitchell Messer.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Earl Lee Surrett, sisters Margaret Jane McClure and Jean Messer Williams, and grandson Nathaniel Seth Allen.

Betty is survived by four children, Kathryn Leah Surrett, Madisonville, Louisiana; William Roy (Janet) Surrett, Silver Old PoncSpring, Maryland; Anne Mitchell Surrett Nebel, Emmaus, Pennsylvania; and Lydia Ruth Surrett (David) Warbrick, Souderton, Pennsylvania; twelve grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Betty earned a Bachelor of Arts from Maryville College in 1956 and attended Scarritt College for Christian Workers.  Betty was very active in her community of North Wales where she has lived for 55 years.  She loved family, promoted neighborhood friendships and civic engagement.  Betty took an active role in the family business and in our church congregations including St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Sanctuary United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Ambler.  Over the years she served on numerous committees and regularly led small groups and women’s retreats.  Betty served as a census taker, worked at the polls, and registered voters.  She loved to travel.  When she wasn’t picking apples in Lancaster, she enjoyed visiting her children and grandchildren and traveling to Bermuda, the United Kingdom and Turkey.

died July 13, following a brief illness. Mary grew up in Butler, MO, where she excelled in music at an early age. She attended Maryville College in Tennessee to major in music with an emphasis on organ and church music . At Maryville she met William C. Wheatley, Jr., of St. Petersburg, FL, and they were married in 1956. Mary’s music career included being organist at First Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL, 1959-62, Organist-Choir Director First Christian Church, Jacksonville, FL, 1978-92 where she supervised rebuilding of the pipe organ at the church’s new location in Mandarin, and Organist-Choir Director Avondale Methodist 1993-98. In the latter two positions she took great pride in her work with children’s choirs and hand bell ensembles. In addition to her music career, Mary was also an active volunteer. She helped found the Volunteer Community School in Chattanooga, TN, a preschool for inner city children. After retiring in 1998, Mary had time to devote to her interest in native plants and xeriscape gardening as well as cultivating plants to host butterflies and attract hummingbirds. She was an active member of the Florida Native Plant Society, participating in plant exchanges and giving advice to new native plant gardeners. She created a wildflower and butterfly garden in Nathan Krestul Park in Jacksonville’s Southside, and in 2003 it won first prize from the FNPS in the non-professional butterfly habitat category. She is survived by her husband Bill; their four children, Edward Wheatley and his wife Mary Mackay of Chicago, IL; Gene Wheatley and his wife Becky Hayward of Knoxville, TN; Gail Wheatley of Columbus, OH; and John Wheatley and his wife Sarah Song Wheatley of Taipei, Taiwan; sisters Roseanna Viggers and Elizabeth Melinsky; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Gifts in Mary’s memory may be given to the Florida Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 278, Melbourne, FL 32902. In lieu of a traditional funeral, a wake will be held at a later date to celebrate Mary’s life. To receive notification of the time and place of the wake, send your email address to mwheat9584@yahoo.com .

David Noel Williams, age 89, of Ann Arbor, MI passed away on March 19,2024. He was one of the smartest people around (yes, a particle physicist) but was known even more for his generous heart and caring spirit. A true southern gentleman (as his wife often described him). He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
David Williams was born October 10, 1934, in Lewisburg, Tennessee to Eudora and Revell Williams. David grew up in the south enjoying spring fed swimming holes and climbing the giant’s thumb (a rock formation he brought his kids back to climb in future years). He graduated from Spring City High School and went on to attend Maryville College, where he had strong family ties. While a student there, he met Jean Boyd, who had come from Pennsylvania to study at Maryville. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Physics and Philosophy from Maryville, he married his Pennsylvania sweetheart. The young couple moved to California, where David supported the family by working at Lockheed while also pursuing physics at the University of California at Berkeley. Once Jean earned her degree and teaching certificate, he was able to devote himself full time to his studies and earned a PhD in Physics. The young couple lived in Europe while David did Postdoctoral Studies at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland and then at the French National Center for Scientific research in Saclay, France. Then it was back to the United States for a year at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and for the birth of his daughter Judith. David then accepted a teaching position at the University of Michigan where he taught and did research for 33 years. During those years he was able to take Sabbaticals in Berlin and Melbourne, Australia. As a Professor Emeritus he continued to “work on Physics”.
During his career as a professor, David also pursued a passion for a new up and coming gadget-the home computer. This interest led him to help develop a software language program for physicists that is still being used today. Many years after he had retired, one of his nephews was in a Bachelor’s Program at Princeton University and was thrilled to read an article for class written by his uncle David!
A lifelong learner, David always had a stack of books (which he finished in record time), took up a number of languages foreign to him (French, German, Spanish), and was always looking for ways to help (tutoring relatives virtually during the pandemic for example). When facing health challenges, he was always known by his grace and kindness to the medical staff who walked alongside. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and professor.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Jean; his children, Judi (Curt) Quiner of Chanhassen, MN and Alex (Maricela) Williams of Toluca MX; his grandchildren, Christy and Hannah Quiner of Chanhassen, MN and Alexander Williams of Toluca MX; brother, John; siblings-in-law, Jim Boyd, Charlie (Pat) Boyd, Marge (Dave) Rupp, Dick Boyd, Nancy Boyd, Sam (Cheryl) Boyd, Shirley O’Baker, and Marilyn White; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
David was preceded in death by parents, F. Revell and Eudora; and by half siblings-in-law, Douglas Dougherty, Harry Dougherty, Louis Dougherty, and June Wise.