Old School

Alumni News

70’s Seventies

John Bailey (’73) retired after a 39-year career teaching middle school science. He plans to focus on his hobbies of fishing, biking, boating and traveling and spend time with his granddaughter and family.

80’s Eighties

Gayle Smith (’80, ’83) recently retired from a career in nursing at Mid-South ENT to be a full-time pastor’s wife.

Diane Towater Kelley (’84) retired as CEO from Extendicare of Western Tennessee, Inc., after 33 years in community health nursing. She spends her time at both her Jackson, Tenn., home and her Tennessee River home. Diane has one daughter, Julia Faulder, and one granddaughter, Harper Lee Grace.

Sharon Crihfield Morris (’84) began her fourth year as worship director for First Baptist Church in Ripley, Tenn., in 2016. Sharon also serves as choral and theater director at Ripley High School where her daughter Shelby is a junior. Her other daughter, Anna Morris, is a freshman at Union.

David Samples (’85) and Tina Samples (’85) released a new book in January 2016 through Kregel Publications entitled, “Messed up Men of the Bible: Seeing Your Men Through God’s Eyes.” The book is a follow-up to Tina’s 2013 book, “Wounded Women of the Bible,” which won The Golden Scroll Award for Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

Eric Barron (’87) launched The Family Life Map, a new ministry to help families develop a plan for the future. The system is designed for use in churches, schools, businesses and other group settings. Eric is the founder and lead coach and is married to Jane Barron (’87).

Marty Phillips (’88) became a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers this past year after 24 years of practicing law as a partner of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, P.L.C. He was inducted during the 2015 spring annual meeting of the college in Key Biscayne, Fla.

J.J. Jones (’89) earned his Doctor of Ministry in youth, family and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary. His dissertation is entitled “Church as Secure Base: A Strategy for Adopting Adolescents into Intentional Intergenerational Community.” He is married to Anna Ruth (Conlee) Jones (’90). He serves as the students and families pastor at Cypress Bible Church in Cypress, Texas, and as an adjust professor in Bible and ministry for the Moody Bible Institute’s Houston, Texas, extension site.

90’s Nineties

Hope Cooper (’93) accepted the position of regional account and marketing manager with Central Service Association for West Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

Mike King (’93) recently joined Strategic Behavioral Health as a corporate controller in Memphis, Tenn. Mike will begin the new position June 1.

Leila Keel Nichols (’95), along with her family, moved to Charleston, W.V., from Jackson, Tenn., to begin working as a certified nurse midwife with FamilyCare HealthCenters. Leila works at both Women and Children’s Hospital and the only free standing birth center in West Virginia.

Eddie Wren (’95) was elected president of the Louisiana Baptist Pastors’ Conference 2015 in November 2014. Eddie is the pastor of First Baptist Church Rayville in Louisiana.

Scott Lamb (’96) wrote a biography of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Huckabee: The Authorized Biography was published in 2015 by W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, and is the only authorized account of Huckabee’s life and career. Scott and his wife Pearl live in Spring Hill, Tenn., with their six children.

Laurel Ruth Burrought Deloney (’98) graduated from Anderson University in 2015 with her Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning Disabilities add-on certificate. She lives in Anderson, S.C., and is currently pursuing a teaching career.

Laura M. Rector (’99) earned her Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2014. In spring 2015, she became an affiliate faculty member at Fuller.

00’s Two Thousands

Erin (Hale) Phillips (’06, ’12) was awarded a full tuition scholarship after being accepted into the University of Tennessee College of Law. She is married to Justin Randall Phillips (’00).

Paul Whitt (’01) was elected shareholder at Lewis Thomason, a law firm with offices in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis.

Chris Haak (’02) has worked as a lead events specialist at Crossmark since May 2012. He is also a member and lion tamer of the Medina Lions Club in Medina, Tenn., and serves on the one-year board of directors. Chris recently moved to Trenton, Tenn.

Jacob Shatzer (’07) published his new book, “A Spreading and Abiding Hope: A Vision for Evangelical Theopolitics,” with Cascade Books in October 2015. The book explores the ideas of late theologian A. J. Conyers to give readers a different perspective on evangelism.

Scott Talley (’07) earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in December 2015. He is the pastor of students at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hillsborough, N.C., and is married to Leigh Talley (’11).

10’s Twenty Tens

Adam D. York (’10) released his first in a series of children’s books called “The Adventures of Penny Nickels.” The book, “Meet Penny Nickels,” introduces Penny as she begins to learn the importance of being a good steward. Adam is a former minister, writer and curriculum editor for children, teens and young adults. He is currently director of alumni communication and young alumni at Belmont University

Molly Bricker (’13) donated a part of her liver in 2015 to a 5-year-old girl, Sage Baker, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at 6 months old. Bricker is a law student at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.

Births

Cade Jacob Brown Cade Jacob Brown, born Feb. 12, 2016, is the fourth child of James Brown (’04) and Anna Brown (’04).

Emmalyn Hitt was born in February 2015 to Erin Hitt (’04) and Jonathan Hitt (’02). She is the fourth child, following siblings Bethany, Jonathan Jr. and Lillian.

Audrey Grace Goodrum Audrey Grace was born Aug. 9, 2014, to Jonathan Goodrum (’12) and Jill Goodrum (’12).

Madeline Grace Pusser, born Sept. 19, 2015, is the first child of Susan Bacon Pusser (’05) and Daryl Pusser (’04).

Micah Philip Williams was born June 11, 2015, to Daniel Philip Williams and Bethany Ann (Thrower) Williams (’99).

Asher Samuel Childers, born May 20, 2015, is the third child of Angie (Brown) Childers (’98) and Edmond Childers (’99), following older sisters Addison and Anna Kate.

Adeline Grace Thomas was born June 17, 2015, to Stephen Thomas (’11) and Ashley Thomas.

Michael Bobby Rushing, born June 28, 2015, is the son of Bobby P. Rushing (’04) and Megan J. Rushing.

Reagan Lari White was born Feb. 1, 2014, to Tori (Gill) White (’05) and William White (’04).

Coraline Ruth Johnson, born May 13, 2015, was welcomed by parents Jenny Heineken Johnson (’04) and Isaac Johnson, along with their daughter Eliana.

Isaiah Tobin Tuggle was born Sept. 6, 2015, to Chase Tuggle (’12) and Avery Tuggle of Birmingham, Ala.

Lillian Annelise, born Dec. 22, 2014, is the second child of Kandace Thornhill (’11) and Michael Thornhill (’12), following older brother Michael.

Annsleigh Jaymes Martin, born Dec. 1, 2015, was welcomed by parents Candi Martin (’05) and Chad Martin, along with their son Henderson.

Clara Madeline Seale was born Feb. 1, 2016, to Bethany (Kossick) Seale (’08) and Brandon Seale of Kingsport, Tenn.

Marriages

Ginger McElroy (’01) married Dr. Paul Ranney, DMD, of Jeffersonville, Ind., at The Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 20, 2015.

Julie Paul (’04) married Eleazal Niyonizera in August 2014. Following the wedding, she returned to the U.S. after living in East Africa and India, opening Revive Chiropractic in Hendersonville, Tenn., in 2016.

Holly Burnett (’05) married Lanre Shogbesan on Nov. 28, 2015, in Oakland, Calif.

Anna White Holt (’05) married Andy Holt of Memphis, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2015.

Shannon Kish McElroy (’05) married Geoff McElroy on Oct.11, 2015, in Huntsville, Ala.

Cristin Sullivan (’11) married Adam Hillis on March 21, 2015, at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ark.

Rachel Donaldson (’11) married Brice Swann on Oct. 4, 2015, in Louisville, Ky.

Madeleine Hemphill Shore (’15) married Caleb Shore on Sept. 20, 2015, at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Savannah Hughes (’15) married Grahm Agee on June 4, 2015. She is now working on her doctorate in occupational therapy at Arkansas State University.

Memoriam

Melanie Matthews, retired associate professor of nursing, died Aug. 4, 2015. She taught Union University nursing students for more than 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Ben Matthews; her son, Ryan Matthews (’08); her daughter, Emily Matthews Wan (’10); her daughter-in-law, Jessica Keen Matthews; and her two granddaughters. Her family established a scholarship fund for a nursing student in her memory.

James F. Eaves ('49) passed away in December 2015 at the age of 90. In addition to serving as pastor of churches in New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas, James was the professor of evangelism fulltime for 17 years and professor emeritus for another 10 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as a Union University trustee for seven years and helped plan the campus relocation. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jeane Eaves (’49).

John Childress passed away Jan. 29, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Debbie Trail Childress (’89).

Emily Wieland McMinn (‘55), of Kalamazoo, Mich., died Nov. 4, 2015.

James Hackney (’50) passed away July 2, 2014, at age 87. He served in ministry for 66 years. James is survived by his wife, Marjorie Gable Hackney (’50) of Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Walter Kruschwitz, former Union University professor of physics and mathematics, died Sept. 14, 2015, at age 95. The local VFW Honor Guard gave a military salute program during his funeral service. He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Kruschwitz and Sharon Walters; his grandchildren, Ryan Walters, Erin Robinson and Kelsey Olsen; and one great-grandson, Stone Robinson.

Ernest Courtney Wilson, Union University alumnus, passed away May 12, 2014, at the age of 89. He served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and then pastor of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville for 27 years. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by daughters Sylvia Smith and Laurie Gray; sons Jerry Wilson and Philip Wilson; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

James Barton Shanklin passed away Oct. 25, 2015, at the age of 64. He served as the first director of the Western Illinois University School of Music for just over 10 years. He taught at Southern Utah University for 15 years served as a choral director after earning a bachelor of degree in music education from Union.

Alfred Tennyson Royer, Union University student from 1945-1947, passed away Jan. 31, 2016, at the age of 90 in Knoxville, Tenn. He served as a pastor for 43 years until his retirement. Alfred is survived by his wife of 69 years, Theo Lane Royer (’46); sons and daughters-in-law, Phillip and Betty and John and Alice; grandchildren, Rachel Goins (Justin), Lane Root (Bill), Josh Royer (Hannah) and Ben Royer (Kristy); brothers, William and Ralph Royer; and sister, Clarice Allen.

G. Ann Livingstone

Holli Lancaster

The Union University Magazine
Spring 2016