Class Notes

Edith McMillan Sutton, 84, died Tuesday, November 29, 2016, following a hospitalization from a stroke. “Edie” graduated from Marrietta, GA high school, Maryville college TN, and did post graduate studies at the Kent School of Social Work in Louisville KY. She had served as a medical social worker, high school teacher, a librarian at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and as an office manager in the Recruiting department of the Presbyterian Church World Mission. As a volunteer she had been active in PTA, Girl Scouts, and served as a docent for the Farmington Plantation (the home of the Speed family in Louisville) and as a leader in women’s activities in the Presbyterian Church USA. She was a child of George Huie and Evelyn Longley McMillan, born in 1932 in Acworth Georgia. After high school and college she served as Youth Director for the First Presbyterian Church in Charleston WV, where she met her future husband Walter Sutton. They were married in 1956, and after his graduation from Seminary she served as an active partner in pastoral charges in Eminence, Elizabethtown, and Maysville KY. She was an active Elder and leader at Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church She is survived by her husband, her son Harold (Mary), her sisters Nancy McPherson (Bob) and Lilouise Disharoon (Garland), and two granddaughters: Katie and Evelyn. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Stephanie Jean Sutton, her sisters Emma Josephine Mize (Clyde) and Martha Somoza (Pete). A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church, 311 Browns Lane. Suggestions for memorial gifts include Presbyterian World Mission, Doctors without Borders, or a charity of the giver’s choosing.

Barbara McDonald Swain, 84, of Marietta passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Her parents, Kermit and Ruth McDonald, and her husband William T. Swain preceded Barbara in death. She is survived by her brother Paul McDonald and his wife, Connie; daughter, Allison Becker and her husband, Bill; son John K. Swain and his wife, Pam; grandson Mark Becker; grandson Philip Becker and his wife, Emily; and great granddaughter Lucy Ann Becker. Barbara was a beautiful Christian woman who loved her family, church, and friends. She was an active member of Marietta First Baptist Church for over 50 years where she volunteered as a preschool teacher and a leader in Woman’s Missionary Union. She was also a Mother’s Day Out teacher at First Baptist for 20 years. Barbara was a square dancer, ballroom dancer, and tap dancer who enjoyed friendships in several dance organizations. Her giving spirit and ready smile were a blessing to her friends, family and many others. Funeral Services were held in the Chapel at First Baptist Church of Marietta with Dr. Bill Ross officiating. Interment took place at Kennesaw Memorial Park in Marietta. Contributions may be made in loving memory of Barbara to First Baptist Church of Marietta, 148 Church Street, Marietta, Georgia 30060.

age 21, of Maryville, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2016. He graduated from Maryville College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. He loved kayaking, hiking, camping, rock climbing and outdoor adventures. He was a leader among his friends and will be greatly missed. Preceded in death by mother, Sara Latham, and grandmother, Kathy Latham. Survivors include; uncle, Perry Latham; aunt, Olive Clore; uncle, Eddie Carmichael; great-grandmother, Evelyn Latham; aunts, Vickie Latham, Betty Latham, and Regina Segars. The family received friends Friday, July 29, 2016 with a memorial servicefollowing at 7 pm at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home, 2300 Adair Dr. with Rev. Mike Vandergriff officiating. Condolences may be offered at www.berrylynnhurst.com

Joe Terry Gilliland, aged 89, died October 23, 2022, in Birmingham AL. Joe had lived at Brookdale Assisted Living in Birmingham since 2017.

He was born outside of Harriman, TN in 1933 and graduated from Harriman High School He attended Maryville College in Maryville, TN (class of 1955) and married Joan Frei Gilliland the same year. A few years later, he received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Mr. Gilliland spent his working life in journalism and communications roles, most of it as an associate editor at the Tullahoma News in Tullahoma, TN and then as a public affairs officer for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s offices in Atlanta, GA, Arlington, TX, and Rockville, MD.

After his first wife’s death in 1997, Mr. Gilliland married his second wife, Janet Thompson of Asheville NC. After her death, Mr. Gilliland married Lois Speaker of Peachtree City, GA. After his third wife’s death, Mr. Gilliland moved to Birmingham to live near his son.

Survivors include children Anne Gilliland (Eric Conrad) of Durham, NC and Don Gilliland (Pat Taylor) of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren Patrick Flint (Lesley Cline) and Charlotte Gilliland; brother-in-law Mitchell Carnell;; brother Ralph Gerald Gilliland (Gail); sister-in-law Shirley Gilliland; and nieces, nephews, and stepchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Laura Gilliland of Harriman, TN and his brother David Gilliland, also of Harriman.

Joe was an avid reader and writer and a born storyteller. He had a gift for making life-long friends, and he kept in touch with them via email through the humorous stories and news items he wrote. His interests included politics, energy policy, music, and the First Amendment, especially freedom of speech and of the press. He was a member of the Episcopal Church throughout his adult life and worked in support of equitable issues within the church.

Ann Killebrew Taddie, age 76 of Alcoa, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 surrounded by family after a long illness. Ann grew up in Moultrie, GA, and graduated from Moultrie High School. After early study at Florida State University and Peabody Conservatory of Music, she earned her BA and MA in music at the University of Iowa. She made her career as a college voice teacher and professional performer. Preceded in death by her parents, James Herschel Killebrew, DDS and Louise Farley Killebrew. Survived by her husband, Daniel Taddie; daughters, Elena Cadle (Tommy), Betsey Bishop (Jeff); grandchildren, Hayley Cadle, Henry Bishop, Claire Bishop. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, 136 Harvest Ln, Maryville, TN 37801, Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 or a local food bank of your choice. No services are planned at this time. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com

Laura Josephine Widner Talbird, known to most as “Jo,” passed away on November 5, 2018, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Jo was 78 and living in Alabaster, AL near her youngest son, Chris, his wife, Cindy, and her beloved granddaughter, Ainsley. The oldest child of Lloyd and Louise Widner, Jo was born in Knoxville, TN on February 23, 1940. She has a younger sister, Margaret “Marge” Seymour, who lives in Knoxville, TN, and had a younger brother, Lloyd, who pre-deceased her. Jo studied elementary education at Maryville College and, after graduation, she moved to Alexandria, Virginia where she began her brief teaching career. She soon met her future husband, John D. Talbird, Jr., who was a student at the Virginia Theological Seminary. After they married, they relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where, in 1966, they had their first of three children, John D. Talbird, III. They briefly lived in Tallahassee, Florida where they had their daughter, Laura, and soon after, they settled in Gainesville, Florida, where Chris was born. Jo was a stay-at-home mother until her divorce, after which she found work at the University of Florida Library. Jo discovered that she loved mentoring college students and helping them reach their goals. As a single mother, she went to night school to obtain her Master’s Degree in Library Science from Florida State University. When Jo was not working and taking care of her three children, she was volunteering to help others in her community. Jo was an active Board Member with Alachua Habitat for Humanity. Her advocacy on behalf of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Gainesville (a precursor to Family Promise of Gainesville, which helps homeless families secure permanent housing) was critical in getting her church, Trinity United Methodist Church, to participate in the program. After retiring from the library in 2005, Jo moved from Gainesville to Alabama to live closer to her grandchild, Ainsley. Jo is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Marge and Gerald Seymour of Knoxville, and Jo’s niece and nephews, Rena Selke, Todd Lay and Lloyd Lay. A memorial service is set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home at 2300 West Adair Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 p.m. that day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at Michaeljfox.org. Condolences may be offered at berrylynnhurst.com.

John Edward Talmage, Jr. age 81, of Oak Ridge passed away July 27, 2020 at his home surrounded by family. He was born March 15, 1939 in Kunsan, Korea of Presbyterian missionary parents John E. Sr. and Roslin Thorne (Arnold) Talmage. Due to potential war with Japan in 1940, the Talmage family moved to the United States where his father served several churches in the southeast. In 1949, the family returned to Korea but had to evacuate to Japan in 1950 due to the Korean Conflict. Following high school at Canadian Academy in Kobe, Japan, John returned to the United States for college, first at Rice University and then Maryville College in Tennessee. He received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Maryville and Masters and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Kentucky, Lexington. He taught physics for several years at Berea College in Kentucky and later moved to Oak Ridge where he completed his doctoral work at ORNL. He became technical director at Elographics in Oak Ridge where he was part of a team that invented transparent touch screens. When Elographics/EloTouch was sold to Raychem and moved to California, John worked for Comstock, another small startup company in Oak Ridge. From early childhood, John was a stamp collector, focusing on stamps of Korea and Japan. For several years, he was president of the Oak Ridge Stamp Club, and for many years served as secretary-treasurer of the international Korea Stamp Society. In addition to stamps, John’s other interests were genealogy, history, and travel. In 1962, John married his Maryville College sweetheart, Sylvia Smith of West Lawn, PA. They were blessed with two daughters, Heidi Lynn Talmage, wife of Christopher Nagorka of St. Albans, WV and Elaine Elizabeth Walker, wife of Tim Walker of Oak Ridge. Survivors include two grandchildren, Larry Reece Walker and Tia Talmage Walker; a brother Robert Harold Talmage of Statesville, NC; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother William Emerson Talmage of Maryville, TN. Family and friends will meet on Friday, July 31, 2020 at 11:30 AM at Oak Ridge Memorial Park for a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Friends of Korea, 129 Center Avenue, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

Helen Lucille Pratt Tapp, born in 1919 in Sheklung, China, passed away peacefully in Springfield on July 16, 2019 at the age of 99. Helen lived a long and fulfilling life, witnessing a century of incredible changes, maintaining friends all over the country, and raising three children with love and wisdom. Helen went to high school in Westerville, Ohio and graduated from Maryville College in Knoxville, Tenn. In 1943 she married Roland W. Tapp, Jr., who was about to leave to fly combat missions in Italy. After the war, Roland graduated from seminary in California, and the young family embarked on a series of moves, serving in Presbyterian churches, including Garberville, California, San Diego, California, and Menlo Park, California, and Centre College in Kentucky, before eventually settling in Springfield, PA, where Roland became Associate Editor of the Westminster Press in Philadelphia. Their three children, Gary, Janis, and Neil, all graduated from Springfield High School. In Springfield, Helen was active in the Princeton Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday School, serving as an elder, and also for a time working as secretary at the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield. After Roland retired they moved to the Morganwood retirement community in Swarthmore. She spent her last few years at the Springfield Senior Commons assisted living facility at Harlee Manor in Springfield. Helen was a loving mother and grandmother who kept her mind open as the world changed dramatically from her Depression childhood. Her legacy of love and caring will be carried on by her children (Gary, Janis, and Neil), their partners (Robey, Michael, and Maureen), her grandchildren (Alexis, Caitlin, and Susannah), Alexis’ husband, Tyson Weise, and great-grandchildren (Ryason, Jordan, and Corbin). Services private.

York, Maine – Robert Tarpinian, Jr, 72, passed away on Sunday, April 12th, 2020. Robert was born in Springfield, MA son of the late Robert and Marguerite (Baronian) Tarpinain. He spent his childhood in Enfield, CT where he graduated from Enfield High School (Class of 1966). After earning his BA from Maryville College in Maryville, TN (Class of 1970), he worked as a loan officer for Allstate and Morgan Stanley. His career provided him the opportunity to experience life in a variety of parts of the country including Chicago, IL and Murrietta, CA. After retirement, he continued to enjoy life in California for a few years before relocating to York, Maine in 2006 to enjoy, year-round, the town which he and his family had traditionally visited each summer as a favorite vacation spot. He is survived by his sister, Diane Hover and her husband, Gary; his nephew, Robert Hover and his wife, Britney Fox with their two children, Ainsley and Callum; and his nephew, Jonathan Hover and his husband, Kyle Poyar. A burial and private gravesite ceremony will take place in Enfield, CT at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to the York Volunteer Fire department or the York Ambulance Association.

Elizabeth lufkin Tate passed away July 14, 2011.

Lee Nesbitt Taylor, 65, passed away unexpectedly early Saturday, April 4, 2020 in his home in Longwood, FL. Lee was born in Amsterdam, New York, February 27, 1955 to Manning Taylor and Nancy Nesbitt Taylor. His family settled in Cocoa Beach, Florida for the remainder of his school years. He was a graduate and football star at Cocoa Beach High School from 1970-1973, earning the honor of team captain and MVP in his senior year. Lee earned a scholarship to Maryville College, attended from 1973-1977. His football stardom continued as a defensive lineman – one of the Fighting Scots greatest football careers. Lee was inducted into the Maryville Scots Wall of Fame in 2012 as one of its all-time strongest leaders and defensive linemen. From 1977 on, Lee had a lucrative career in business and sales in the Orlando area for the remainder of his life. Lee was loved and respected by so many in his small, close community of Longwood for over 25 years where he raised his family. He eagerly shared his tenacious love of people and of life itself. Lee is survived by his wife Inna Taylor, his children Clay, Courtney, Lindsey, Jeff, and Egor, his brothers Mickey and Coleman, and sister Nancy, and five grandchildren Austin, Hunter, Jake, Ella, and Simon. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Diabetes Association at https://diabetes.org/donate or 4Ocean beach clean up initiative at 4Ocean.com/about in honor of Lee.

Sherrillyn Ann Taylor,79, of Fairbury, IL, formerly of Normal, IL, passed away at 2:30 a.m. on Monday, September 12, 2016 at her residence with her daughters by her side. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at St. Luke Union Church, Bloomington, IL. Rev. Dr. Andrew Gifford will be officiating. Burial will be at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, IL. Visitation will be 5-8p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. Luke Union Church or Home Sweet Home Mission both of Bloomington, IL. Please mail your memorials to daughter Susan Popejoy 203 S. Tenth Street, Fairbury, IL 61739. Sherrillyn was born November 19,1936 in Bloomington, IL, the daughter of Alvin Joseph and Maretta M. Mapes Martin. She married Roger P. Taylor on August 9, 1958 in Bloomington, IL. He passed away April 12, 2015. Surviving are her daughters, Kathy L. (Kirk) Boyer, Jefferson City, MO; and Susan T. (Ray) Popejoy, Fairbury, IL; two grandchildren, Joshua Boyer, Towson, MD; Michelle Boyer, Jefferson City, MO; two step-grandchildren, Dustin (Tess) Popejoy, Fairbury, IL; Beau (Jodi) Popejoy, Fairbury, IL; Four step-great grandchildren; one sister, Sandra (John) Edwards, Cushing, Texas; one brother, Stephen (Georgia) Martin, Bloomington, IL; sister-in-law, Juanita “Skeet” Taylor, St. Charles, MO. She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother in-law, Barry Taylor; two sister in-laws’, Janet Gasser, and Nancy Hanawalt. She was a graduate Bloomington High School in 1954. She received a degree in Business Education from Illinois State University, Normal in 1971 after raising her daughters. Sherrie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved gardening and traveling. Sherrie was the secretary and bookkeeper for her husband Roger Taylor Plumbing & Heating for 38 years. Sherrie was the Children’s Choir Director for the First Presbyterian Church, Normal and Girl Scout Leader both for 6 years. She will be deeply missed.

J. Carl Teague passed away in a local hospital on August 1, 2015 at the age of 97. Carl was born and raised in Monroe County, TN. He earned a BA degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College. He worked for a short time as an educator, then for 21 years as a salesman for Investor’s Diversified Services. He retired after 15 years with the State of Tennessee as a supervisor for Vocational Rehabilitation. He was a member of Brainerd Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Iley and Mary Teague; brothers Charlie and Lem Teague; and sisters Ruby Bowers and Sue Hamby. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lena M. Teague; daughters Linda (Tom) Bowden, and Rosemary (Bryan) Rhodes; son Jack (Hazel) Teague; and grandson Travis Bowden.

Sidney Hamilton Tedford, age 91 years, a resident of Elkins, WV departed this life Saturday morning, March 3, 2018 at the Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center at Elkins, WV. He was born Tuesday, August 13, 1926 at Pittsburgh, PA a son of the late Albert and Mary Elizabeth Mathers Tedford. He sang in choirs and studied violin as a child. Later he studied voice privately and played violin and viola in community orchestras in Pittsburgh, while employed as a banker at South Hills Trust. He sang in the Mendelssohn choir and at East Liberty Presbyterian Church before enrolling in Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee, where he received a Presser Music Scholarship in 1953. He was a tenor soloist with the Vesper Choir, directed by Harry Harter, and was also a member of the College orchestra. He received the B.A. in voice in 1957. His graduate work includes the M.A. in musicology from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (1960), where he was a graduate assistant, and graduate work at West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh, where he was an Andrew Mellon Fellow. He also studied violin at WVU and Carnegie Mellon University. He was a professor of music at Davis & Elkins College 1959-1970 and was adjunct instructor of music at Robert Morris College, Glenville State College, and Salem College. He directed choral groups at each college, church choirs in Indiana, Elkins, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and college-community choruses that performed Handel’s “Messiah” (1961-1969 and 1974) in Elkins. His Davis & Elkins College A Cappella Choir toured annually in West Virginia and eastern states. He was a former choir director of Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church and Grace Episcopal Church, Elkins as well as of Christ Episcopal Church, Clarksburg. Among the instrumental groups in which he played were the Elkins Baroque Trio (violin, flute, and piano) in the 1960’s with Walter and Sandra Hartley and the Tanner Trio (oboe, violin, and flute) in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He sang for a time with the Clarksburg Madrigal Singers, developed madrigal singing groups in Elkins, and taught Elderhostel courses and gave programs to senior citizens groups in WV. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dr. Barbara W. Tedford, a retired English professor, of Elkins; a sister, Peggie Tedford Watson, of Pitcairn, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jack and Albert Tedford, and a nephew, Ronnie Tedford.

David Harold Templin, age 81, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2017. He was a member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. David was born August 19, 1935, in Sevier County, Tennessee, to Wilbur and Pearl Houk Templin. He retired from State Auto Insurance Co. and was a graduate of Porter High School and Maryville College. He is survived by: Wife, Joan; Daughters, Holly Kenner (Mark) and Melinda (Roger) Shipwash; Grandchildren, Kelly, Nathan, Sam and Ben Kenner, Joshua and Emmalea Shipwash; Brother-in-law, Mark Hughes; Cousins, Cindy Epps and John Creel. Interment at Grandview Cemetery with Pastor Raymond Burnett officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to a favorite charity of your choice. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com.

TESTA, CHRISTINE (HOLSCHER) 89, died on December 31, 2010, at Epoch Senior Living in Providence, Rhode Island. Born in Johnston, she was the daughter of the late Herman R. and Elizabeth (Drees) Holscher. Formerly of Laurelmead in Providence. Christine married Michael Testa on June 30, 1942.

Kenneth was born on September 28, 1934 and passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2010. Kenneth was a resident of Bristol, Tennessee.

Mary Sue Waters Thames, 4 days before her 101st birthday, passed away peacefully at her life long home in Wildwood. She was a member of Logan’s Chapel United Methodist Church and a retired Blount County School Teacher for 34 years. During her century of life she enjoyed visiting her relatives, flowers, birds and traveling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence W. Thames, daughter, Eugenia Sue Thames Carnes and parents, Joseph and Lula Yearout Waters. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Thames Holland and Virginia Thames Dodson and husband Richard; 4 grandchildren, Jessica Lloyd Maurer and husband Thom, Saundra Wilson Pitt and husband Matt, William Dodson, Alexander Dodson; great grandchildren, Henry and Mae Maurer and Maddie Pitt. Funeral services were April 15, at Logan’s Chapel United Methodist Church with Dr. Charles Ledger officiating. The interment followed in the Church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Logan’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 4626 Logan’s Chapel Road, Maryville, TN 37804.

MISPRINT – In LAST FOCUS – Corrected Information Joseph E. Thomas, OD, age 66, of Manchester passed away on October 29, 2011. He was born in Birmingham, AL on March 29, 1945, the son of John W. and Barbera A. (Whitmore) Thomas. Joseph graduated from Maryville College, Maryville, TN, where he met his first love, Laurel Erskine. They were joined in marriage in 1968 in Manchester. He graduated from Yale Divinity School earning a Master of Divinity degree. The Reverend Joseph E. Thomas pastored for over 30 years in churches throughout New England, retiring from the First Congregational Church of Mont Vernon, NH. Joseph was an eternal student of religion and spirituality, and had just been accepted as a student at The University of Wales/St. David in Lampeter, Wales. While ministering Joseph completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the New England School of Optometry, Boston, MA. He pursued a dual calling as an optometrist and as a minister. Joseph loved the mountains, the ocean, traveling throughout Europe and music was a family tradition which he carried on as a long time member of the choir of Grace Episcopal Church. He was passionate about parenting, he and his wife Laurel raised three children. They enjoyed 34 years together until her passing in 2002. He was joined in marriage with Linda Garish in 2004 and joyfully embraced the role of step father to her son. He is survived by his loving wife of 7 years, Linda; 3 children, Evan Thomas of Santa Monica, CA, Barbera Thomas Dooley and her husband Jason and their son Seamus of Washington, DC, and Daniel Thomas and his wife Leila of Nashua, NH; a step son, Jonathan Garrish of Portland, ME; a brother Albert Thomas and his wife Cindy of Coco Beach, FL; sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; and their “sentient beings” the cats, Bowser and Princess.

THOMAS, Leah Joyce Carson, age 92, of Madisonville, died Monday, June 18, 2012 at Wood Presbyterian Home, Sweetwater. Joyce was born October 26, 1919 in Madisonville to Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Cooke Carson. Her father had a dental practice and also served as a Monroe County Judge as well as Mayor of Madisonville. She graduated from Madisonville High School in 1936. She attended Maryville College and The University of Tennessee, where she met and joyfully married the love of her life, Alfred William Thomas on February 14, 1940. Joyce was a devoted wife and mother. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Madisonville and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Joyce was also an avid UT Vols fan and rarely missed one of their football or basketball games on television. She also loved to read; particularly novels, historical books and the newspaper, always starting with the sports section first. Mrs. Thomas was also a philanthropist. She held two schools especially close to her heart, Hiwassee College and The St. Labre Indian School. She is survived by four children and their spouses: Ann Christeen Carpenter, James Alfred and Gladys Ann Harvey Thomas, Thomas Cooke and Audrey Bookout Thomas, Timothy Richards and Karen Atkins Thomas, Sister: Bobbye Carson Davies, Several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother James Cooke Carson and her beloved husband Alfred.

Lawrence W. Thomas passed away on August 28, 2009.

John E. Thomas passed away March 11, 2001.

Nina Ruth (Gillette) Thomas passed away with her family by her side on February 18, 2020, at the age of 89. Ni was comfortable to the end, leaving peacefully into the kingdom of heaven. She loved her family, her God, and music of all sorts. Born and raised in Vineland, NJ, Ni went to Maryville College where she met her future husband, David Lee Thomas. She graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1953. Sons Timothy (1954), Joel (1957) and Arthur (1960) soon followed as David’s Presbyterian ministry led his family to churches in Ohio and Indiana. Ni and David moved to Tequesta, FL in 1981, but went their separate ways in 1988. Ni worked as an elementary school teacher in the Tequesta public school system at Jerry Thomas Elementary School for many years until her retirement and later moved to the Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Kissimmee, FL. She enjoyed her final years there with much gusto, being active in church and choir activities, and particularly the handbell choir. Ni is survived by her sons Timothy and Arthur, her beloved daughters-in-law Susan Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas, and Susan Jacoberger, her grandchildren Kyle and Shelby, her sister Josephine Reinhardt, and her brother George Gillette. She was predeceased by her parents Eugene and Eva Gillette, her sister Carol Gorton, and her son Joel. Services are pending. Please return to our website at a later time.

Noel William (Bill) Thomas, age 79, passed away October 28, 2023. Mr. Thomas was in the class of 1961 MHS. He worked for the CIA and retired from TDOT. He was preceded in death by his wife, Glendia Carol Philpott Thomas; parents, Marion Leroy (Roy) Thomas and Anna (Ann) Mae Hinton Thomas; brother, Larry Grant Thomas.

He is survived by his son, Christopher Kevin Thomas (Jennifer); grandson, Zachary Ryan Thomas; step-grandchildren, Sara Harrington (Alex), Phillip York (Jessica), Andrew York; great-grandchildren, Maeve Riley Harrington.