Cumberlite 2018 Spring

SPRING 2018
THE CUMBERLITE
Alumni
Weekend
2018

Perfect Peace
By Laura Dancek
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
2 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018

Peace – perfect peace – is a
longing in every heart. In the current
world, peace can sometimes seem
unattainable. Families break apart.
Natural disasters claim lives. Violence is
widespread. Rulers of nations unnerve
us with their unsettling statements.
Deaths from overdoses are on the rise.
Illnesses bring pain and loss. Life may
seem like it is spinning out of control!
Yet, regardless of our circumstance,
peace – perfect peace – IS available.
This alumni weekend our messages
were about finding and holding onto
the perfect peace found only in God.
During Friday vespers, Pastor
Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, ’88,
posed the question “What does peace
really look like?” Is peace truly what is
defined in the dictionary as tranquility,
quietness, and harmony?
Real peace is different than what
we often expect. Pastor Whitley-
Ferguson suggested that true peace is
a strange kind of peace. In John 14:27
(NIV) Jesus promises: “Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do
not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.” This promise
was given to His disciples just before
His crucifixion – a time when talk of
peace would seem strange. Jesus calls
us to peace at the most inopportune
times. Not only does He call us to
peace, He empowers us with peace not
based on external factors. The peace
God gives is unshaken by outer forces
that threaten to take it away.
Pastor Andy McDonald, ’73,
preached during the Sabbath worship
service, and stated that the way to
perfect peace is made clear to us by the
prophet Isaiah – we simply need to fix
our minds on God. It has nothing to do
with what is happening in the world,
nor in our personal circumstances.
Perfect peace is an elusive quality that
God gives to us when we seek Him.
Worry, shame, fear, regrets and busyness
steal peace from us because we are not
God-focused. When we focus on Jesus,
everything changes.
You can watch the messages from alumni
weekend online at:
https://bit.ly/2KjnH1G
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 3

Friday Night Vespers
Kailey Wales and Nathan DiBiase, ’13, were
part of the praise group.
Nicole Davis, ’13, sang in the praise
group.
Justin Peltier, ’13, played drums in the
praise group
Nancy Gerard, Alumni and
Development Director, opened the
weekend with prayer.
Bob Overstreet, ’88, Alumni President,
introduced the speaker.
Pastor Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, ’88, spoke
about “Strange Peace.”
Darby Jones, ’13, played and sang “Rest”
and was part of the praise group.
4 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
Allen Connelly, ’88, offered the benediction.
Courtney Buckhanon, ’13, sang a solo
for special music.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world

Sabbath Worship Service
Worship in song was led by Scott Begley, ‘84, pictured below; Darby Jones, ’13; Andy Nall, ’78; Judi (Boles) Hartman, ’78; Ashli
Dublin, ’13; Josh Woods, ’03; Nicole Davis, ’13; Mark Torsney, Staff.
David Denton, ’83, called
the congregation to worship.
Barry Tryon, ’78,
closed the service with a
benediction.
Brenda (Murray)
Morris, ’68, led the
congregation in prayer.
Andy McDonald, ’73, spoke on “The Possibility
of Peace”.
Peter Hwang, ’93, called for
the offering.
Geoffrey Fowler, ’18; Greg Fowler, ’83; Makaya
Williams, ’18 performed the reader’s theater “Peace.”
Camerata and alumni formed a mass choir to perform their signature song This I Know.
Harold Cunningham,
’73, introduced our
keynote speaker.
Scott Begley, ’84, played
a piano prelude.
you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 5

Alumni
Weekend
6 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and

2018
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 7

Alumni Golf
Tournament
By Nancy Gerard
Golf pro, Lee Trevino once said,
“There are two things you can do with
your head down, play golf and pray.”
It seems like we do a lot of praying
in regards to the GCA Alumni Golf
Tournament, and God has consistently
answered those prayers. Even with a few
raindrops this year at the shot gun start,
the tournament was not compromised
by the weather and the day turned out
to be pleasant.
Fields Ferry was the site of our
tournament again this year and with 105
players we had a healthy turnout for this
annual fundraising event.
Each year golf teams vie for
winning places in three flights, as well
as opportunities to win closest to the
pin and long shot awards. This year
we again conducted a Happy Gilmore
contest, which provided a lot of laughs
for those who watched and participated.
Todd Hunt, ’84, was the winner this year
and walked away with $50 in cash, with
the other $50 going into the Worthy
Student Fund.
Winners of the first flight were:
1st place – Peter Hwang, Joey Scarlett,
Daniel Lee, and Phil Koh. 2nd Place
– Brent Baldwin, Morgan Baldwin,
Madden Baldwin, and Steve Blackburn.
3rd Place – Joe Woods, Josh Woods, Chris Massengill, and Alex Paulk.
Other top winners were: 2nd flight, 1st place – Steve Posey, Brook Warren,
Pat Grenvicz, and Vic Comastro. 3rd flight, 1st place – Ed Dancek, Tony Baumann,
Kenny Turpen, and Mike McClung.
The Class of ’90 team (Kelly (Follett) Griffin, Keith Wahlbon, Scott Pritchett,
and Jeff Brought) captured the Alumni Cup this year – in their matching shirts.
Thank you to our generous sponsors who helped make our tournament a
resounding success! Thanks to all who golfed in support of the important work of
Georgia-Cumberland Academy!
8 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Title Sponsor - $3,000
Momon Construction, Inc.
Lunch Sponsor - $2,000
Johnny & Georgia (Butterfield)
O’Brien, ’83
Platinum Sponsors - $1,500
Mark, ’74 & Brenda (Brown), ’76,
Richardson
West Georgia Endodontics
Gold Sponsors - $1,000
Einhellig Family
Georgia-Cumberland Conference
Gordon Hospital
Gene & Bobby Jean Harrison -
Enterprises & Family in Memory
of Steve GCA ’81
Eddie, ’74, and Debbie Klein
Performance Food Service Miltons
Southern Union Youth Ministries
George Whitman, Class of ’68
Silver Sponsors - $500
David Bishop Construction, Inc., ’79
Alan & Diane (Artress) Connelly, ’88
Dalton Plastic Surgery,
Reginald Sherrill, M.D.
Tommy Davidson, Class of 1972
Roger Elliston, DMD, FAGD, ’75
Fox Systems, Inc.
Southern Adventist University
Southern Union Education
Department
Starr-Mathews Agency
Don Wilson, Class of 1969
Hole Sponsors - $250
Dr. Daniel Ahn, North Georgia
Eye Care
Larry Calloway, D.D.S.
Chase Farms, Inc.
College Press
Ed Dancek, Ameriprise Financial
Advisor
Greater Community Bank of Calhoun
Danny & Jackie Harris, ’75
Learning Labs
Brian Martin, Class of 1975
Postum - The Original Coffee
Substitute Since 1895 -
Peter Hwang, Class of 1993
David, ’75, and Tami (Baker)
Richardson, ’76
Martha Richardson in Loving
Memory of Thomas L.Richardson
Loving husband and father
Donna, ’70, Mark, ’74, David,’75,
John, ’80
The Sample Barn
TAG Manufacturing
Water Sponsor
Synovus Bank
THE RIDE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN
By Nancy Gerard
Everything looked in order for
the 2018 Ride for GCA, except the
weather. Would riders want to go out
under gray skies for a 3 hour ride in
40-degree temperatures?
Sabbath afternoon one of the Ride
leaders called. It was Lonnie Leech,
’81. “Do you think people are going to
want to ride tomorrow? It’s supposed
to be pretty cold.” After considering
what it would take to call people and
inform them of a change in plans, we
decided to pull the plug.
A group of hardy riders decided
to go anyway and met up on Sunday
morning at the GCA Church. The
original route would have taken the
group to the Cloudland Canyon area
with a stop for lunch at the state park.
This group decided to go another
direction and ride along the Ocoee
River. After passing out t-shirts and
having a prayer, we sent the group on
their way.
Not long after the group left we
received a message. A double homicide
had taken place that morning and
the shooter was armed and on the
run in the Cloudland Canyon area.
Oh, mercy! What if our Ride had
taken place, as planned? What if our
riders had been in the area where the
murderer was still on the loose?
Divine intervention? It sure
seemed so. Thank you, God, for the
Ride that didn’t happen!
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 9

Alumni of the
Rhondda Robinson Thomas, Ph.D., '78
Dr. Rhondda Thomas
Dr. Rhondda Thomas is an Associate
Professor of African American
Literature in the College of
Architecture, Arts and Humanities
at Clemson University. Dr. Thomas
earned her Ph.D. in English from the
University of Maryland and also holds
master’s degrees in Literature and
Journalism, and a bachelor’s degree in
Communication/Media Journalism.
Rhondda’s research and teaching
interests are in 19th-century
African American literature and
culture, politics of black identity,
autobiographical scholarship, African
American literature and the Bible, race
and culture studies, African American
historiography, migration narratives,
and African American women writers.
Dr. Thomas’s published works and
funded research are extensive. Her
“Thank you, GCA, for giving
me a strong foundation.”
writings and research have appeared in
journals such as Southern Quarterly,
South Carolina Review, and African
American Review. She has written
and edited books on African American
thought and culture, as well as edited
scholarly volumes, monographs,
and anthologies. Her more recent
sponsored research has focused
primarily on African Americans in the
history of Clemson University. Her
work, Black Clemson, will utilize an
interactive traveling museum exhibit
to share the stories of six generations
of African Americans who were
subjected to enslavement, coercion,
or discrimination yet developed their
own cultural practices and community
institutions.
Dr. Thomas’s heart for young
people is evident in her personal
interactions with her students, as well
as the broader Clemson community.
She invests herself generously in the
lives of others in many ways, including
a recent visit to GCA to inspire and
encourage our students.
Rhondda and her brothers,
Donald, ’77, and Carlton, ’82, graduated
from Georgia-Cumberland Academy
and have gone on to successful
careers in academia, banking, and law,
respectively. Rhondda is married to
her “beloved husband of 18 years,”
William Thomas, who is a computer
network architect.
In her spare time, Rhondda
actively volunteers in
church ministries that
support families in
difficult life transitions, as
well on volunteering in
the church’s community
garden, serving on the health
committee, and working with the
education department to develop
programs for students and young adults.
The alumna award was presented to Dr.
Thomas by her brother, Donald Robinson,
’77.
She enjoys travel, visiting historical
sites, reading, watching documentaries,
cooking vegan food, running, iPhone
photography, and gardening.
Dr. Rhondda Thomas received the Alumna of
the Year award.
10 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace

Year Awards
Danny Song, M.D., '88
Dr. Danny Song
Dr. Danny Song is an Associate
Professor of urology, oncology,
and radiation oncology at the
Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine. He serves as the
co-director of the Prostate
Cancer Multidisciplinary
Clinic at the Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine and
the Physician Advisory and
Director of Faculty Affairs for
the Department of Radiation
Oncology and Molecular
Radiation Sciences. His area of clinical expertise is in the
management of genitourinary cancers, including cancers of
the prostate, bladder and urinary tract, and testicular cancer.
Dr. Song’s research interests include the development and
refinement of new imaging methods to improve radiation
targeting, as well as innovative means of reducing potential
side effects of radiation treatment. His research efforts have
been sponsored and funded by competitive grants from
organizations such as the Department of Defense, the National
“Visiting here after not having been
able to come back for many years,
I’m so impressed… It is very clear
that God is blessing this campus and
this community in a very visible way.”
Dr. Danny Song received the Alumnus of the Year award.
and image-guided robotic brachytherapy (TH-192) produced
by the American Association of Physics in Medicine.
For the thousands of individuals diagnosed with cancers
of the prostate, bladder and urinary tract, as well as testicular
cancer, Dr. Danny Song is a bright ray of hope in a frighteningly
dark time of life.
Danny has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 26 years
and the couple have one son, 9 year-old Joshua. Danny and
Jennifer met while students at Southern Adventist University.
Jennifer is a faculty member in the School of Nursing at Johns
Hopkins University. Danny is active in his local church, where
he leads a praise and worship team. The Song family enjoys
spending time with friends and traveling with Danny to workrelated
meetings out of town. Danny also enjoys cycling, skiing,
and trout fishing.
Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society.
He is board-certified, and also a member of the
examination committee for the American Board of Radiology,
which administers the board certification process for radiation
oncologists nationwide. He serves on the editorial board of
the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and
Physics, the premier research journal for radiation oncology,
and on the scientific review committees for the American
Society for Radiation Oncology and American Brachytherapy
Society. He also participated in writing practice consensus
guidelines on stereotactic body radiation therapy (TG-101)
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
The Song Family: Jennifer, Danny and Joshua
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 11

Wally & Mary Ellen Fox:
Lives Well-lived and Well-loved
By Laura Dancek
Wally and Mary Ellen Fox with their daughter, Jennifer, ’91, and grandchildren, Gage, ’18 and Gracie Hufstetler.
Mark Twain wrote “No man is a failure
who has friends.” At GCA, no one has proved
that statement more true than Wally and
Mary Ellen Fox. After 43 years of teaching at
GCA they have touched countless lives and
created lifelong friendships. All good things
must come to an end-in March the Foxes
announced they will retire this summer.
“Making the decision to retire is one of
the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to
make. We will greatly miss GCA,” stated Wally,
adding that they plan to stay in Calhoun.
During the alumni weekend church
service, the Foxes were presented with a
beautiful crystal award to commemorate
their 77 combined years of service at
GCA. During these years they taught two
generations of students, including their own
daughter, Jennifer, who was two years old
when they moved to Calhoun, and their
grandson Gage, who is currently a senior.
Over 3,000 students attended GCA during
the Foxes’ years at this school.
While tributes were directed at Wally and Mary Ellen, their daughter
Jennifer shares the credit for their success. To work at an academy is
often a “family affair”, with spouses and children either directly involved,
or sacrificing their time with the staff member. Jennifer lived her entire
childhood under these circumstances, and she is appreciated.
Many of those former
students attended a special
retirement celebration to honor
the Foxes later that afternoon.
Some came long distances to
pay their respects. Each one had
their own connection, stories
and memories with Wally and/
or Mary Ellen.
During the program,
presentations were made by
former students and current
staff. Eight of our staff who are also former students presented each of the Foxes with
personalized stadium seats – gifts to encourage the Foxes to visit campus often. Melanie
DiBiase, science instructor, promised, “We will continue your legacy.”
12 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green

Clint Higginbotham, ’99, a GCA Coach,
led current athletes in presenting Coach Fox
with a large banner with Wally’s name and
the GCA seal. The banner will be hung from
the rafters of the new gymnasium.
Camerata and soloist Cassie Freeman,
’17, performed a medley of songs. As they
ended with “Thank You” current students
made their way to the stage to hug each of
the Foxes. The lyrics “thank you for giving
to the Lord, I am a life that was changed”
brought tears to many eyes. Afterward, Wally
unexpectedly and emotionally addressed the
audience to share his gratitude, saying “God
gets the praise – it’s all Him.”
Georgia-Cumberland Conference
President, and chairman of the GCA board,
Ed Wright paid his tribute to the Foxes,
noting their unprecedented length of
employment.
Amongst all the praise, honor and gifts
presented to the Foxes perhaps the most
noteworthy and enduring came when Dr.
Greg Gerard, GCA principal, had the privilege
of announcing that the new gymnasium and
cafeteria complex will be named the “Wally
Fox Wellness Center.” The gymnasium will
be completed before graduation in May.
The cafeteria will be ready for next school
year. The newly remodeled library is part of
construction that will be done, adding a new
student center and additional classrooms.
When this is completed in 2019 the library
will be named “The Mary Ellen Fox Library
and Resource Center.”
After the program, dozens of
peoples flocked the stage to convey their
personal gratitude. Each of the Foxes were
surrounded by admirers, including a group
of collegiate young men gathered before
Coach Fox repeating “We are here because
of you.” Nearly an hour later a line of people
remained waiting to get their turn to speak
to the soon-to-be retirees.
The Foxes came to GCA in 1975,
following seven years at Maplewood
Academy. After 50 years of dedicating
themselves to young people, their retirement
is well-deserved. They will be missed, but
their legacy will remain. We wish them God’s
very best in the years ahead.
Mary Ellen taught home economics, until it
was discontinued in 2003. In 1984 she also was
the school librarian, a position she will continue
in until retirement. Mary Ellen loves reading,
and has enjoyed sharing her love for books with
students over the years. She states, “My husband
and I have been truly blessed to cross paths with
so many wonderful students and staff.”
We would like to take
this opportunity to say
thank you for making our
retirement celebration so
special. The generosity
and kindness expressed to
us will never be forgotten.
-Wally & Mary Ellen
Coach Fox is only the second athletic director at GCA.
He was responsible for all sports activities – varsity and
intermural. Traveling with the teams, as well as being a
sponsor in other areas of GCA, he has literally spent
months of his life on a GCA bus. Wally also teaches the
health classes. Perhaps the most nerve-wracking job in
high school, Wally taught driver’s education until it was
recently discontinued.
Wally’s parting advice: “Put others first. Remember who
gave you your talents and glorify Him. Put Christ as your
first priority and success will follow.”
pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 13

Food service work is hard work. Feeding a
couple of hundred teenagers three meals a day is
especially hard work! But Gerry and Chris Bliven
dedicated their lives to this task, serving at several
Adventist boarding academies and other Adventist
institutions before arriving at GCA during the
summer of 2007.
Chris grew up in the food service environment.
Her father, Clinton Wall, was a pillar of Adventist
food service practice and education. During
his tenure as Andrews University Food Service
Director, Chris attended Andrews Academy. It was
there she met her future husband, Gerald Bliven,
who later trained with her father in the Andrews
food service program.
Following their marriage in 1971, the Bliven
family grew as three children were born. First
came Tamie, then Tracy, and finally Trent. Now the
children are grown and married with children of
their own.
Sadly, Chris was diagnosed with cancer in
2016. But hard work was no stranger to Chris and
Gerry, and they channeled their energies into this
new challenge. With strong faith and the help of
the best medical care they could find, Gerry and
Chris entered into this difficult and uncertain battle.
It was an up and down journey with the horrific
side effects of chemotherapy and radiation but
Chris never complained. She continued to fulfill
her duties at the cafeteria, showing up even on the
days when she felt weak and sick. The GCA family
saw her at her worst and at her best. Chris soldiered
on for a little more than 18 months, waging war
with this terrible illness, with Gerry carefully and
lovingly providing care.
In March the doctors told her the cancer was in
her brain and other vital organs and that she would
not live long. With her family by her bedside, Chris
died on March 20, 2018.
Serving
Until the
End
By Nancy Gerard
Gerry and Chris worked side by side in food service for 40+ years.
Losing the love of his life and his colleague at work has been devastating
for Gerry. Retirement at the end of this school year now looks different
for Gerry than he and Chris had imagined it. As he finishes this school
year without Chris, we pray that our faithful God will supply all of his
needs and that he will experience the love and support of this caring
Christian community.
Thank you, Gerry and Chris, for your faithful service to the
Adventist Church and to Georgia-Cumberland Academy.
14 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“Great peace have those who love your law, and

Class of ’78 Memorial Garden
By Nancy Gerard
The class of ’78 is a close-knit bunch. And
their 40-year honor class reunion this year
underscored the love they have for each other.
When news of another classmate dying sent
shock waves through the class, they wanted to do
something tangible to communicate the loss they
were feeling. “Our class wanted to honor our
friends that have passed as well as give back to
the school that brought us all together,” stated Jan
Ashcraft Upton.
Knowing that GCA was starting to lose some
of the historic dogwood trees that were planted
in 1962, Jan thought it would be nice to plant
a dogwood tree in memory of their classmates,
especially since Westley Hayner planted trees after
graduation. When she put the word out of a
memorial fund established at GCA in honor of
deceased classmates, donations started coming in.
In the end, the group raised enough money for
three dogwood trees, one of which was planted in
the midst of five beautiful azalea bushes, along with a granite marker. Jan says, “As donations continue to come in, we are hoping
to add to our memorial or encourage annual giving to other areas of need at the school.”
The group held a memorial service on Sabbath afternoon of Alumni Weekend. In addition to the three classmates who have
passed away (Sherry Bowman Stansell, Westley Hayner, Todd Silver), the lives of several deceased faculty members who impacted
the class of ’78 were celebrated as well. Life sketches were read for some and memories were shared for the three classmates, as
well as Jan Haluska, Roger Bothwell, and Howard and Effie Birch.
The GCA Bell Gets a New Home, Thanks to the Class of 1968
By Nancy Gerard
A relatively new giving tradition, initiated by the Class of 1966 continues this
year as the Class of 1968 raises money for a new housing for the historic GCA bell.
Class members are excited to bring the bell out of storage and provide a way to
display it, as well as share the history of the bell.
The steam engine bell was donated to the school in 1962 from the Southern
Railway System after an exhaustive search of every major railway company in the
south. The bell was to be mounted in a bell tower at the academy and would be used
to call students and staff to worship, chapel services, etc.
Unfortunately, the bell was never mounted in a bell tower. It was placed atop a
pole and was used for the first few years of the school’s existence. After some time,
the bell went into storage and has not been actively used since.
It is the goal of the Class of 1968 to raise several thousand dollars to build
a housing for the bell and display it near the new entrance to the administration
building when construction is completed. If you would like to donate to the bell
project and help the Class of 1968 reach their goal, gifts may be sent to GCA for
“The Bell Project.”
nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119: 165
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 15

HONOR CLASSES
HONOR CLASSES
Class of 1968
Front Row: Gloria (Lee) Barenie, Barbara (Cummings) Willis, Jean (Harrold) LaClair, Brenda
(Murray) Morris
2nd Row: Andi (McGaha) Erwin, Nancy (Sweat) Witt, Bruce Bowen, Donald Robbins, Sandy (Joiner) Coppage
Back Row: Daniel Foote, Lawrence Loveless, Randolph McGaha, Russell Friberg, Allan Chastain, George Whitman
GCA News: The S.A. involved all the students in raising money for two tennis courts. Construction began on the
new (now our old) gymnasium.
World News: Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.*
CLASS OF 1968
Class of 1973
Front Row: Harold Cunningham, Candace (Elkins) Foreman, Patty McGhee, Teresa (Meissner) Kochenower, Truby
(Christman) Bowen, Theresa (Klein) Doran, Patricia (Thomson) Putnam, Charles Lokas, Sharon Hanson
2nd Row: Andy McDonald, Melody (Everts) Hopson, Jeannie (Newgard) Cunningham, Susan (Summerour) DeFoor
Back Row: Robert Fedusenko, Scott Wilson, Terry Day, Chad Chastain, Warren Rood, Steve Fuchcar, Byron DeFoor
World News: Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs competed in “The Battle of the Sexes” exhibition tennis match. King
won all three sets.*
16 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
CLASS
OF
1973
“The Lord gives strength to His people; the

Class of 1978
Front Row: Marcia Haluska (former staff), Judy (Ringer) Twigg, Chere’ (Bresee) Atherton, Lori (Abston) Quick, Linda
(McCarthur) Norman, Jan (Ashcraft) Upton, Judi (Boles) Hartman, Onecia (Lee) George, Cynthia (Filler) Vann
2nd Row: Rhondda (Robinson) Thomas, Diana Wallace, Sandra (Friesen) Fitzgerald, Delvin Delong, Barry Tryon,
Monty Jenkins, John Davis
3rd Row: Debbie (Upton) Strawn, Andy Nall, Tony Shadix, Mark Farrar
Back Row: Wally Fox (staff), Ken Cook, Clayton Strawn, Richard Harris, Douglas Gray, Gregory Owens, David Lovell,
Marvin Wilson
GCA News: The school year opened with a record enrollment of 253 students.
HONOR CLASSES
World News: The first ever cellular mobile phone was introduced in Illinois by the Motorola Company.*
CLASS
OF
1978
HONOR CLASSES
Class of 1983
Greg Fowler, Lisa (Matyas) Paulauskis, Regina (Ritchey) Stojkic, Karen (Artress) Orquia
CLASS
O
F
1983
GCA News: Short-term mission trips began at GCA and have provided outreach opportunities ever since.
World News: President Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada after the government was overthrown by a
Cuban military coup. Five thousand marines were sent. Approximately 1,000 U.S. civilians, mostly medical
students, were rescued.*
Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 17

HONOR CLASSES
HONOR CLASSES
Class of 1988
CLASS OF 1988
Front Row: Mike Mendez, Karen Williams, Rachael Burger, Stephanie Whitley-Ferguson, Diane (Artress) Connelly
2nd Row: Danny Song, Eldon Eskridge, Elizabeth Theus Glass, Sonyja Miner, Joahnna (Evans) Budge, Joy Perry-
Jaqua, Georgie (Seckler) Smith
3rd Row: Keith Dotson, Kenneth Wallace, Anthony Harris, Trent Epperson, Kenny Brown
Back Row: Bruce Brunner, Alan Connelly, Bob Overstreet, Jonathan Stock, Byron Schmidt
World News: A bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all 259 people on board and
eleven more on the ground.* **
Class of 1993
Front row: Lillian Ceribelli-Dickerson, Synnova (Hill) Goodge, Stephanie (Stover) Rucker, Alexa (Witt)
Hernandez, Michelle Porter, Joni (Self) Yamamoto, Eve (Parker) Knight, Jewel (Follett) Taft
Back row: James Crosby, Rebecca (Sturtevant) Sitz, David Shinn, David Steele, Peter Hwang, Joey Scarlett
GCA News: The great snow storm of March 13 dumped double digits of snow, downing trees, taking out
power lines and crippling the state of Ga. Students and staff struggled to keep warm and have food to eat
until the roads were cleared enough to get buses off campus and take students home.
World News: The Waco siege on the compound belonging to the religious group, Branch Davidians, by
American federal and Texas state law enforcement and US military started on February 28 and ended on
April 19 when 76 Branch Davidians died.*
CLASS
OF
1993
18 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts

Class of 1998
HONOR CLASSES
Front Row: Brooke (Naus) Tatum, Diane Rivera, Mindy (Sterndale) Jerkins, Lila (Remaley) Didenko, Corina (Falkenhage)
Rawson, Jolene (Harrell) Sharp, Cleve Philossaint, Becky (Simmons) Bryson
Back Row: Jim Whetmore, Hanna Baird, Melinda Monterde, Meghan Olis, Richard Shinn, Jon Sharp, Ben Martin
World News: The search engine Google was incorporated as a private company in Menlo Park, Calif. by Larry Page and Sergey
Brin, Ph.D students at Stanford University. They previously created the website as a research project starting in 1996. The company
grew rapidly and received investments early on from the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Amazon.*
CLASS
OF
1998
HONOR CLASSES
Class of 2003
Front Row: Michelle Thomas, Monica Carter, Nicole (Antone) Lasley, Laura (Bowen) Knutson, Jessica (Johnston) Harrington
2nd Row: Terry Skaggs, Stephanie (Robertson) Fetzer, Jennifer (Knox) Tello
Back Row: Ashley (Stanley) Galloway, Jeremy Mills, Jennifer (Stout) Smith, Ricky Naus, Josh Woods, Steven Wilson
CLASS OF 2003
World News: The Human Genome Project was completed. Scientists from around the world successfully finished sequencing about
99% of the human genome. They identified over 20,000 individual genes and base pairs that create the basic DNA composition of
humans. The project began in 1990 and was a collaborative global effort led by the National Institutes of Health.*
of peace and not evil, to live you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 19

HONOR CLASSES
HONOR CLASSES
Class of 2008
Front Row: Allyson (Bridges) Humphrey, Mallory Teague, Joseph Thomas, Gabe Beaven, Christy Lam,
Rebecca Shields, Aracely Elizondo, Ruhamah Sanchez, Meaghan Czachor, Maite Oliva
2nd Row: Kyle Humphrey, Kristopher Gates, Albert Hernandez, Noemi Monarrez, Giovanna Alves, Heather
(Thames) Leeper, Francheska Mora-Colon
Back Row: Jessica (Hunt) McCabe, Shaina (Clough) Rodriguez, Anthony White, Jacob Arellano, Nicole
(Humphrey) Arellano, Kaleb Leeper
GCA News: GCA opened with 269 students, the largest enrollment in the history of the school.
World News: President George W. Bush signs the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 into law,
authorizing a $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial system.* ***
CLASS
OF
2008
Class of 2013
Front Row: Ashli Dublin, Brandi Taylor, Kailey Wales, Nicole Davis, Kelli (Stickney) Brady, Darby Jones, Leah
Teague
2nd Row: Jonathan Lee, Alex Brady, Christopher Pubillones, Kevin Candamil, Ben Brooks
Back Row: Jeffrey Simmons, Ramey Miller, Steven Metott, Nicolas Hayward, Sam Voegele, Steven Pubillones
World News: Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term as President of the Unites States.
President Obama is the country’s first African-American president.*
CLASS
OF
2013
20 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
* www.thepeoplehistory.com
**en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103
***en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Economic_Stabilization_Act_of_2008
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the

FORMER STAFF
Front row: Janet Wood, Cathy Olson,
Marcia Haluska, Barbara Willis, Ken
Peck, Charles Zacharias, Margaret
Anderson, Fred Anderson
2nd row: David Olson, Charles
Young, Marty Sutton, Barbara Livesay,
June York, Elsa Patton
Back row: Greg Hudson, Bill Wood,
Don Keele, Don Livesay, John
Thomas, Del Patton
REGIONAL REUNIONS
Southern California Alumni Event
A group of nearly 40 gathered in Loma Linda on January 20 for the annual Southern California alumni and friends event. Attendees got
acquainted with alumni from other time periods and shared the history and traditions from their eras through the vehicle of a GCA get-acquainted
activity.
Greg Gerard, principal, shared news from GCA which included photos and updates on the new facility construction. Fundraising progress was
reported and stories of generosity were shared.
The big hit this year was a delicious lunch catered by a local taco truck. Everyone seemed to enjoy the great food and the opportunity to
reconnect with friends and the school they love.
We are grateful to all who come out for this annual event which reunites the GCA family in Southern California.
Florida Alumni Event
Friends and Alumni of Georgia-Cumberland Academy gathered at Florida
Hospital Church on February 17 to share their connections to GCA and enjoy
good food and fellowship. A get-acquainted game introduced alumni and
friends to the traditions and history celebrated at various times throughout
the years and helped people interact across the decades.
The group received a report of news and information from GCA, including
an update on the new facility construction. Questions were fielded by the
Gerards, who along with Andy McDonald, ’73, hosted the event.
Thanks to all who came out to join us for this annual alumni event in
Orlando!
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 21

ALUMNI UPDATES
ALUMNI UPDATES
We love hearing from you!
Please send us updates about
educational accomplishments, new
career opportunities, professional
recognition, additions to your family,
whether through marriage or birth,
or any other news you’d like to
share. Just email Laura Dancek at
ldancek@gcasda.org.
Christine Bliven,
former staff, wife of
food service director,
Gerry Bliven, and one
of the long-time food
service supervisors in
our cafeteria, had been battling cancer
for the past year and a half. On March
20, 2018 she passed away. Gerry and
their family were with her at the time
of her passing. Gerry and Chris Bliven
have been married for 43 years. For over
30 years they have worked together
every day in our cafeteria, or cafeterias
at other Adventist academies.
Carol Hoffmann, former staff, passed
away on January 27, 2018. Carol served
as the GCA registrar and secretary to
the principal from 1976-1979. For 23
years, she volunteered with the Park
Ridge Hospital Auxiliary and was
involved in various ministries at Fletcher
Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was
preceded in death by her husband of
56 years, Raymond Hoffmann, former
staff. She is survived by daughters Linda
Connell and Janet Novak, as well as
three granddaughters and two greatgrandchildren.
Nevin Rice, former staff, passed away on
November 1, 2017 in Stevensville, Mich.
A celebration of life service was held at
the Berrien Springs Village Seventhday
Adventist Church on November
5, 2017. While serving at GCA from
1970-1974, Nevin was the registrar and
taught driver’s education and American
history. Nevin’s greatest love was for
Jesus and spending time with his church
family. Nevin is survived by his wife,
Lana; sons, Jefferson and Timothy; four
grandchildren, one great-grandchild
and many step grandchildren and step
great-grandchildren; and his brothers,
Lawrence Rice, Jr. and La Vern Rice.
William Voss, former staff, died on April
7, 2017. William was the GCA treasurer
and assistant principal from 1973-1977.
He later served as the assistant treasurer
for the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference,
where he was ordained to the ministry
and pastored two churches. He is survived
by Fay, his wife of 70 years; daughters
Linda Herman and Shirley Rumsey; six
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Gloria (Lee) Barenie, ’68, retired from
nursing in January 2018. She resides in
Berrien Springs, Mich.
Sandy (Joiner) Coppage, ’68,
attended, is enjoying her 48 years of
marriage and her six grandchildren.
Andrea “Andi” (McGaha) Erwin,
’68, has been married 49 years, and has
two daughters and one granddaughter.
Andi is caring for her husband who has
suffered from Alzheimer’s for 14 years,
and is hopeful in the Lord’s soon return.
Brenda (Murray) Morris, ’68, retired
after 45 years of nursing as a teacher,
clinical researcher, and clinical specialist.
She keeps busy with volunteer work in
her retirement years.
Donald Robbins, ’68, has seven
grandchildren and is looking forward
to retiring and moving from Ill. to
Cleveland, Ohio to be near them.
Charles Lokas, ’73, is enjoying his
retirement from the Veterans Affairs
Medical Center after 25 years of service.
He now spends his time fishing and
with his granddaughter.
Warren Rood, ’73, is an art instructor
at a community college. Warren lives in
Walla Walla, Wash. and loves mentoring
and watching the growth in his students.
Warren has been married for 37 years
and has three adult sons.
Douglas Ellis, ’76, passed away Tuesday,
April 3, 2018. He is survived by his wife,
Jeanee; and daughters Caroline Ellis,
Lauren Collins, Natalie Davis, Kristen
Smith, and Mikaela Smith; as well as
four grandchildren and his brother,
Gene Ellis, ’69. His memorial service
was held on April 7 at the Chapel of
Parrott Funeral Home with B.J. Boles,
’87, officiating. Those wishing, may
sign the online guestbook at www.
parrottfuneralhome.com.
Chere’ (Bresee) Atherton, ’78, has
retired from nursing and started a new
career in trading. She loves camping
and riding her Gold Wing.
Linda (McCarthur) Norman, ’78, has
been an international flight attendant/
purser for American Airlines for 34
years. She has one daughter, Jerri, who
is a college freshman. Linda’s hobbies
are reading, traveling and volunteering
in her community.
Douglas Ellis, ’03, and Bridget
Childers, had a baby girl on April 5.
Stella Carly Grace Sheldon weighed 7
pounds, and was 19.5 inches long. They
live in Adairsville, Ga.
Tony Shadix, ’78, is living in
Ooltewah, Tenn. and is still married
to his childhood sweetheart, Bonnie
(Shelton) Shadix, ’80.
Debbie (Upton) Strawn, ’78, has a
daughter that was recently married,
and a son graduating from University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S.
in mechanical engineering.
Lisa (Matyas) Paulauski, ’83, married
Dr. Gregory Paulauskis in 2013 and
moved to Woodstock, Ga. at Lake
Allatoona. They just returned from a
22 CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018
“The Lord lift up His countenance upon

five-week trip to Australia. They have
five granddaughters and love spending
time with their family and friends. They
are thankful for God’s greatness to them.
Peter Hwang, ’93, and his wife, have
three sons. Peter keeps busy in his new
business – Postum is back!
Rebecca (Sturtevant) Sitz, ’93, is
currently living in Powell’s Crossroads,
Tenn. She has a daughter in the fifth
grade. Rebecca hopes to finish her
doctorate (DBA) in business this year
and plans to teach college-level business,
travel, and enjoy the rest of her life.
Hanna Baird, ’98, is retired and is the
proud mother of a daughter.
Cleve Philossaint, ’98, lives in
Ellenwood, Ga. and has two children.
Ruth Thomas, ’99, lives in Lakeland, Fla.
with her 14 year-old daughter, Lorelai.
Michal (Kurzynske) Bramblett, ’00,
entered into rest on March 13, 2018 after
a courageous battle with diabetes. She
was preceded in death by her father, Jon
Kurzynske. Funeral services were held
on March 16 at the Calhoun Seventhday
Adventist Church, where she was
a member. Michal was employed as an
administrative assistant at the Calhoun
Fire Department. Michal is survived by
her devoted husband Mark Bramblett,
whom she married on Sept. 27, 2015;
children, Dawson, Abby, and Ty; mother,
Julie, and step-father Doug Mittleider of
Adairsville; siblings, Kim (Sager) Turner,
’93, Morgan (Kurzynske) Bailey, ’03,
Kevin Kurzynske, ‘04, and Taylor
Mittleider, ’10.
Julie (Young) Keaton, ’01, is a
Commercial Credit Analyst for First
Interstate Bank in scenic Bozeman,
Montana.
Monica (Carter) Barnes, ’03, works
in an assisted living facility. She has two
sons – Joseph, 9, and Jacob, 5.
you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
ALUMNI UPDATES
Nicole (Antone) Lasley, ’03, has
three sons ranging from six months to
six years. Nicole is a massage therapist
owning a business specializing in
pediatric and pregnancy massage.
Steven Wilson, ’03, lives in the jungle
of northern Bolivia with his wife, Helen,
and their two sons, Timothy and James.
Steven has been serving as a mission
pilot since 2009.
Brittany (Graves) Saunders, ’05 and
Billy Saunders welcomed Emma Jane
to their family on April 3, 2018. Emma
weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz., and was 20.5
inches long. Grandparents, Melanie
and George Graves, ’76, are pleased
with this new addition to their family.
Victoria (Henson) Kreiter, ’06, is
living in in Apopka, Fla. Her daughter,
Lillian Jane, was born on April 19, 2017.
Victoria is an adjunct professor of music
at Seminole State College. She also runs
her own music studio where she teaches
vocal lessons and coaching.
Caressa (Rogers) Manly, ’06, married
Jeffrey Manly on April 15 at Barnsley
Gardens, Ga. The newlyweds reside in
the Chattanooga, Tenn. area.
Jonathan Harper,
’09, married Lauren
(Sigsworth) Harper
on April 8, 2018
in Sugar Hill, Ga.
They are graduates
of Loma Linda School of Medicine.
Jonathan is in his first year of an internal
medicine residency, and Lauren in her
first year of pediatric residency at Loma
Linda Hospital.
Dalton Day, ’12,
and Katarina
(Monteagudo)
Day, ’12, were wed
in Newnan, Ga. on
March 18, 2018.
Katarina is working as a travel nurse
in Calif. while working on her nurse
practitioner degree. Dalton is working
on his M.B.A. The newlyweds are
planning to move back to Ga. in the
next few months.
Laura Chase, ’13, received the Florence
Oliver Anderson – Outstanding Scholastic
Achievement and Professionalism Award
at Southern Adventist Univeristy (SAU).
This award is given to the senior with
the highest GPA in the B.S. nursing
program and has been observed to have
leadership potential by the faculty. Laura
will begin working at Erlanger Hospital
in Chattanooga, Tenn. in June.
Shelby (Cohen) LeMaitre, ’13, and
Philippe LeMaitre, ’13, were married
on October 21, 2017 in Soddy Daisy,
Tenn. Shelby is working at a preschool
in the Hamilton County school system
and is working on her bachelor’s degree
in early childhood education. Philippe
works at a digital marketing agency in
Chattanooga while he completes his
business degree. The newlyweds are
living in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Christopher Pubillones, ’13, is
graduating with a B.S. in aerospace
engineering from Georgia Tech.
Christopher will move to Dulles, Va.
to work at Orbital ATK as a software
engineer for satellite ground control
and mission planning.
Jessica Ahn ’14, received the
“Outstanding Biology Senior Award” at
Southern Adventist University, where she
will be graduating with a B.S. in Biology,
Biomedical emphasis, with minors in
chemistry and music (piano). She was
the Pre-med club president this year
and will enter the Loma Linda School
of Medicine in 2019, after spending a
semester to study Spanish in Argentina
followed by a semester in Peru doing
medical evangelism as a student missionary.
Her goal after medical school is to become
a medical missionary.
ALUMNI UPDATES
CUMBERLITE SPRING 2018 23

Georgia-Cumberland Academy
Alumni & Development
397 Academy Dr. SW
Calhoun, GA 30701
Phone: 706-629-4591
Fax: 706-629-1272
ngerard@gcasda.org
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
CHATTANOOGA, TN
PERMIT NO. 1114
CUMBERLITE STAFF
EDITOR:
LAURA DANCEK
ASSISTANT EDITOR:
NANCY GERARD
LAYOUT & DESIGN:
MEGAN KELLER, COLLEGE PRESS
COPY EDITING:
SUSAN JENKINS
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
LAURA DANCEK
ZOE DORSETT
GREG GERARD
GRACIE JENKINS
GRANT TUTTLE
June 2:
GCA Alumni Campmeeting Supper
Plan on going to campmeeting or live in the
Collegedale area? Join us for supper and a
chance to visit with fellow alumni and staff.
On Saturday, June 2 at 5:30, meet us in
the White Oak Room in Thatcher South
(girls’ dorm) on the campus of
Southern Adventist University.
Call or text Nancy Gerard at 770-548-3233
or email ngerard@gcasda.org.