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| Recent Year Losses Over the past years, information has been provided us about classmates who are deceased. Each time a new name surfaces, it is a personal loss for us. These people were good friends that we grew up with. We defnitely will miss them.
William Gray “Bill” Maxwell, 73, went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 4, 2011 after a brief illness. Bill was a native Memphian and graduated from Central High (1956) and Northwest Community College and also attended Memphis State. He served in the Army and the Army Reserves for over 10 years. He married the love of his life, Patricia Parker (Patsy) in 1960 at Speedway Baptist Church. He worked all his life in construction, owning his own business for 19 years. He retired twice but always went back to what he loved. He was presently working in his son Jeff's construction business with his long time friend and business associate Lonnie Gibson, doing what he had done all his life, teaching, mentoring, encouraging and being a good example. He enjoyed reading and teaching the Bible; serving in his church, Community Bible Church where he was an elder; ballroom dancing with Pat and teaching ballroom dancing, in Germantown and also on the riverboats. He enjoyed traveling and cruising when time permitted. He had a lifelong passion for baseball and enjoyed playing in his youth and coaching after that. He taught baseball skills as he was demonstrating life skills. Another love of his life was working with young people as youth director at Whitehaven Baptist and First Baptist of Marked Tree, He was born to Emmett J. and Lavada Gray Maxwell here in Memphis and had one sister, Lorena Lawrence (Tim), Houston, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pat Parker Maxwell, and three children he was proud of and thought the world of: Whitney Morrison (Charlie); Jeff Maxwell (Shannon); and Doug Maxwell; and six grandchildren.
Joel Woods Gibbons III, 73, died Sunday, November 20, 2011 near Hilo, Hawaii. He was born June 27, 1938 in Memphis. Joel was a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was an active member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Upon graduation, from UNC, he entered the Navy AOCS program at Pensacola FL where he earned his wings and was assigned to a Marine Corps fighter squadron. On July 28th, 1962, Joel married Judith Merritt also of Memphis, TN. In 1966-67, he served one tour of duty in Vietnam during which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He spent his professional life as a commercial pilot for Delta Air Lines. With Delta he flew several inaugural L10-11 flights including those to Moscow, Russia and Shannon, Ireland. Joel had a lifelong passion for hunting, fishing, classical music and great literature. He spent the last years of his life, living with his daughter, Merritt, and her family on their farm in eastern Hawaii. Joel is survived by Judy Gibbons of Paris, Texas; his daughter, Merritt, her husband Dan Mayer and their children, Edelweiss and Danny all of Pahoa, HI; and by his son, Joel and his wife Bunny and their children Woods and Clay of Charlottesville, VA. TX. A private family ceremony was held in Hawaii.
Very sorry to report to you of the death of our classmate, Sarah Elizabeth “Betty” Turnage Raffanti. I’m told that Betty (as she was known to us back in 1956) suffered with cancer for nine years before passing away on April 15, 2010. She is survived by her husband of many years, Jimmy; daughters Denise Santucci and Vicki Clark; brothers Mark and Bill Turnage; her son Christopher Raffanti; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.
Ruth (McWilliams) McCormick reports that Carolyn (Blackwell) Blackburn died over twenty years ago in Arlington, Texas. Ruth had no additional information. Though this is very old news, all of us can join in the remembrance of Carolyn
George Monroe Moreland II, 71, was born in New Orleans, LA, December 1, 1937 to Anna Benandi Moreland and George R. Moreland. George graduated from Central High School and Memphis State University. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Memphis State. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carol Ann Moreland, daughter, Cindy Zamora, son, George M. (Chip) Moreland III, Daughter-in-Law, Cindy Moreland, his four grandchildren; Alaina Geissler, Averie Kunz, Meredith Moreland, George Hays Moreland, sister, Marlene Nagel, brother-in-law, Bill Dowdy, and his wife Linda. George spent his career in the insurance industry beginning with General Adjustment Bureau and later continued his career as an executive with E. H. Crump and Companies. One of George’s passions was baseball. He began coaching little league baseball at Mullins United Methodist Church and continued through his long time association with Memphis Tiger Youth Baseball. He served as President of the Tiger organization for 14 years and was serving as President Emeritus at the time of his death. His pride and joy was keeping Gagliano and Sowell baseball fields in tip top shape. George was also very active in Civitan International serving as Club President, Valley District Governor, Area Director, and was currently Governor-at-large. He was also Field Representative for Civitan International. He was responsible for building many Civitan clubs including; Collierville, Germantown, Olive Branch, Southaven, Mt. Juliet, Ohio County, Pleasant View, and Martin. He was currently working on a new Cordova club. George was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Men’s Association and had many loving friends in Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teacher’s Sorority. George was a long time member of Mullins United Methodist Church. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His warm, friendly, outgoing personality and positive attitude will be remembered always
We also learned that Robert “Buddy” Green, 71, of Collierville, passed away suddenly on July 20, 2009. Buddy was a proud member of Collierville United Methodist Church where he was an active part of the Men’s Prayer Breakfast and the Open Door Sunday School Class. He was also a very involved member of the Collierville Civitan Club where he served as past-president. Buddy graduated from Central High School and attended Memphis State University. He worked dutifully for Dover Elevator for 43 years which took him to Kansas City, MO, St. Louis, MO, Lexington, KY and finally back to Memphis. Buddy also enjoyed a second career selling real estate for John Green Realtors. Buddy leaves behind a treasured wife of 48 years, Sandy Green. He is also survived by their daughter, Melinda Stidham (Ray) of Strafford, MO and son, Mark Green (Susan) of Collierville, TN as well as six cherished grandchildren: Heather, Ben, Taylor, Hannah, Jack, and Jacob and three great-grandchildren Zoey, Bailey, and Alison.
Sadly, David also informed us that our classmate, Jay Horne is deceased. This information came to David from Diann Davis, Jay's ex-wife, who, incidentally, is a member of the CHS Class of 1957. If anyone has more details on Jay's death, please let us know. Our condolences go out to Jay's family and friends It's hard to learn about these events, however, most of us would like to know. |
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