Dear Classmates,
Do I dare speak of the birthday most of us are celebrating during this year?
It’s such a joy to share news of accomplishments of our classmates’ families. Betty Jean Lee Hunsinger’s granddaughter, Dr. Lauren Gasque Kuykenrall, was chosen Outstanding Faculty Member at George Mason University where she and her husband David both teach. Betty Jean’s grandson, Conan Gasque and his wife are expecting their first child in September.
It was wonderful to spend an afternoon with Charlie Chewning whose niece had come to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend and arranged a get-together with friends. Charlie is still residing at Bethea Baptist Home near Darlington. Joyce Bell keeps in touch with Charlie and calls regularly.
How nice it was to receive a note from Joan Carter McKissick thanking me for the memorial for her husband John. She spoke of the many wonderful memories of her years at Coker and the friends she made there.
How saddened we were to learn of the death of Lynne Eidson Dudley. She was a Hartsville native and I had taught with her mother. Lynne’s granddaughter is now practicing medicine in Hartsville.
It’s so exciting to hear that Jean Fore McDaniel and Mac plan to come to their Pawleys Island home for a visit in September. I know they will enjoy being there.
Mickey McDowell, husband of Anne Merck, is still living happily at Clemson. He is so fortunate to have children nearby.
We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Beth DuBose Cottingham’s book. She loves the people of Kingstree and they love her. She and Jo Ann Boyd Sires are wonderful friends.
I keep in touch with Sarah Sampson Bell. She is very fortunate to have all three sons and their families living close enough to visit often.
As I write, Mitzi DuPre Matthews is recuperating in National Health Center after a hospital stay with pneumonia and other issues. She is so good about keeping in touch with Jennie Herlong Boatwright and Daphen Yarborough Edge.
I have been living with my daughter Brenda and her husband Keith Stewart in Marion sinceJanuary. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and after falling several times I came to live with them “temporarily.” I love being here and enjoy another daughter Nancy’s visits when her school day ends. She lives just a few blocks away. I want to go home and pray that I can improve enough that it will be safe for me to live alone. I am expecting my 10th great-grandchild any day now. It’s a boy! 6 boys and 4 girls. Wouldn’t Carl love this family?
My prayers and love are with each of you as we have all experienced an unbelievable period of our lives. May COVID soon be completely gone.
Cokernuts, do you know how blessed we are to reach our age? I would never have dreamed we would have lived this long.
Happy 90th Birthday,
Pat Chapman Huff