Unionite

The Union University Magazine
Summer 2015

Old School


Alumni News


40’s Forties

James “Jim” Franklin Eaves (’49) and Dorothy Jeane (Hillman) Eaves (’49) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on March 17, 2015. Jim is a former member of Union’s Board of Trustees.


70’s Seventies

Bobby BraggBobby Bragg (’75) earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Dallas Baptist University. His dissertation study was on the “functional motivation of the boomer to volunteer through church.” Bobby serves as the Boomer Generation Pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison, Mississippi.

Joel WashburnJoel Washburn (’79) is the president of the Tennessee Press Association. He also serves on the Tennessee Press Association Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Washburn is the general business manager for his family’s two community newspapers, The McKenzie Banner and Dresden Enterprise.


80’s Eighties

Lawrence A. Ragland (’87) serves as senior pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in New Albany, Mississippi.


90’s Nineties

Jennifer Land Graham (’96, ’10, ’12, and ’14) graduated from Union University with her Ed.D. in July of 2014. She is the sixth grade math teacher and middle school community service coordinator at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee. Jennifer lives with her husband, Andy, and stepson, Ray, in Franklin, Tennessee.

John Grant Swafford (’93) and his wife Jennifer adopted a daughter from China in September 2014. They have two biological sons. Grandmother is Doris Sue Hardee Swafford (’55) and aunt and uncle are Carol Swafford Church (’85) and Harvey Church (’85). The Swaffords life in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he is director of ministries for the radio and TV ministry of First Baptist Church.

Shawn Stutz (’98) published a book entitled I Have Ears: Learning to Hear from God about his journey of faith and learning to listen to God in the midst of life and community. The book is available for purchase at Amazon. Shawn, his wife Michelle and their two children live in Seymour, Tennessee, and Shawn is a teacher and worship leader at Aroma Church in Knoxville. More information about his writing and ministry is available at shawnstutz.com.

Dee Leggett (’98) works as senior consultant with LTK Engineering Services, a premier rail systems engineering firm. Dee previously served as chief operating officer for the Denton County Transportation Authority and its 21-mile commuter rail line. Dee and her husband, Matt, live in Highland Village, Texas, with their 3-year-old son, Harrison.


00’s Two Thousands

Kathy O. LoftonKathy O. Lofton (’00) is working on a short film project entitled, “I am a Caregiver.” This social advocacy film will highlight the personal stories and challenges of select caregivers in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information about the project, visit kickstarter.com.

Becky Roode (’02) works with the Bridge Network of Churches, a network of over 90 churches serving southeastern Virginia with resources, training and support. For more information, visit norbaptist.com.

Ingrid Gindin (’03) completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry in June 2014. She now works as a psychiatrist in the state prison system in Pennsylvania.

Grant Taylor (’04) earned his Ph.D. in biblical theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in December 2014. He and his wife Rebecca welcomed Karah Mae to the family in July 2014. They reside in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where Grant teaches biblical studies at Southeastern and Rebecca works in the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Cam ArmstrongCam Armstrong (’05) is the assistant dean for undergraduate curriculum and student affairs for Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Science. She graduated in May with a Ph.D. in higher education from Azusa Pacific University.

Sherri ThomasSherri Thomas (’05) is the principal of Lewis and Clark Middle School in Jefferson City, Missouri. She was selected as one of six educators in the state of Missouri for the “2014 Missouri Lottery and St. Louis Cardinals “Stars of the Classroom!” This program celebrates excellence in education by honoring outstanding Missouri educators.

Melissa AlexanderMelissa Alexander (’06) was recently named Principal and Shareholder at Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Advisors in Memphis, Tenn.

Alvin D. Jeffrey (’07) published a book entitled Staff Educator’s Guide to Clinical Orientation: Onboarding Solutions for Nurses, published by Sigma Theta Tau International. The book is a practical guide to creating and sustaining high-quality orientation and on-boarding programs that meet the needs of nurses, organizations and patients.

Joe CarlenJoe Carlen (’07 and ’11) is returning home to Columbia, Tennessee, to work as director of finance for his family’s business, Williams Funeral Home and Crematory.

Matt Stimmel (’09) began the MBA program at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in fall 2014.


10’s Twenty Tens

Hannah Crossett (’12) serves as chaplain intern at Friendship Village Chesterfield. She is working to discover how to strengthen connections (rather than isolation) within the retirement community. She is working on a dual master’s degree in counseling and educational ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

Marriages

Jonathan & Rachel Joy YorkowitzJonathan Yorkowitz (’05) married long-time friend, Rachel Joy (Klas) Yorkowitz, on June 21, 2014, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The couple lives in Fresno, California, where Jonathan works as the assistant director of residence life, and Rachel works as the front office manager for the registrar’s office, both at Fresno Pacific University.

Kevin & Laura Spotts ToddLaura Spotts Todd (’10) married Kevin Todd on April 19, 2014.

Matthew & Mary Alisa Techentin DuchekMary Alisa Techentin Duchek (’11) married Matthew Duchek on Aug. 9, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee. After their honeymoon in the Greek islands, the happy couple was blessed with a baby in May.

Justin & Jessica House RichmondJessica House Richmond (’11) married Justin Richmond on Sept. 21, 2013. Jessica is a teacher at South Pemiscot High School in Steele, Missouri.

Lori Morris Jacob (’12) married Brian Edward Jacob on Oct. 12, 2014.

Ethan & Maggie Ledbetter SanduskyMaggie Ledbetter Sandusky (’12) married Ethan Sandusky on Sept. 26, 2014, in Royse City, Texas. They met in hermeneutics class at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where they are both pursuing Master of Divinity degrees.

Births

Josiah Amgalan HookerTim Hooker (’93) and his wife Gana welcomed Josiah Amgalan Hooker on Dec. 10, 2014. Josiah weighed 8 lb., 7 oz and was 20 in. long.

Fancher Sargent (’96) and Carrie Sargent, along with their son Jack, announced the birth of Elizabeth Kate Sargent on Jan. 27, 2014. She was 6 lb., 2 oz.

Ellie Grace RobusJohn Robus (’03) and Leslie Robus (’04), along with their 5-year-old daughter Kelsey, welcomed Ellie Grace to their family on May 24, 2014. She weighed 8 lb., 5 oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long. They live in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Bullpups

Annie Jane Preston Annie Jane Preston was born Sept. 6, 2014, to Landon Preston (’07) and Stacy Preston (’05).

Josiah Amgalan Hooker Josiah Amgalan Hooker was born Dec. 10, 2014, to Tim Hooker (’93) and Gana Hooker.

Lucy Marie Powers Lucy Marie was born on June 30, 2014. She is the daughter of Shaun Powers (’02) and Beth Sentell Powers (’05).

Caleb Smith Caleb, born Jan. 1, 2012, and Ruby, born Sep. 11, 2013, are the children of Andrew Smith (’09) and Calli (Hankins) Smith (’10).


Memoriam

Elven D. HensleyElven D. Hensley (’50) passed away May 16, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Frances Hayes Hensley who passed away April 5, 2014.

Joseph Albert Coughlin Jr. died Jan. 1, 2015, at age 76. He attended Union for one semester in the spring of 1956. His is survived by his wife, three children and four step-children.

Billy Frank Hammonds (’58) passed away Nov. 14, 2013, in Dothan, Alabama. He was 79 years old. He was ordained as a Baptist minister at age 22 and served in the ministry for 57 years, retiring from First Baptist Church in Trenton, Tennessee, in 2001. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Bowman Hammonds, two children and six grandchildren.

Billy Joe WeinsteinBilly Joe Weinstein (’62) passed away Nov. 7, 2014, in Paducah, Kentucky. He was 76 years old. He received a bachelor’s degree in music from Union in 1962 and was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. After two years of service in the U.S. Army, he worked as a high school music teacher, salesman and agent. Mr. Weinstein also loved farming and raising Black Angus cattle. He will be remembered for his love of “family, music, and cows.” Mr. Winstein is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ann Harper-Simmons.

Janeen Googe Smith (’64, ’68) passed away in June 2014 at age 71. A lifelong resident of Jackson, Tennessee, she was a musician and piano teacher who was active in the musical community. She graduated from Union with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 before completing her Bachelor of Music degree in 1968. Survivors include her husband, Ward H. Smith, two children and one grandchild.

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