Alumni
CLASS OF 1937
Madeline Modlin Griffith of Raleigh. NC
recently celebrated her 84th birthday. She has
lived in Raleigh since January 1990, having
moved there a little over a year after the
October 1988 loss of her husband Herbert
Griffith. Griffith lived ten years in Florida, two
years in South Carolina and another two years
in the Philippines. The Harrellsville nati\e
has spent most of her life in seven counties of
her home state of North Carolina.
CLASS OF 1939
Richard (Dick) T. Vann resides in Mur
freesboro, NC. Vann is a retired businessman,
former Mayor of Murfreesboro, and former
Clerk of Courts for Hertford County.
CLASS OF 1942
Rose H. Donkin of Washington PA. spent
28 years working in the local hospital before
retiring in 1985. Immediately after leaving
Chowan, she spent three years working at the
Norfolk Naval Base before marrying and
moving to Pennsylvania. Donkin is a third
generation Chowanian. Her grandmother,
OUve Leigh and her mother, Olivia Leigh
Hedgepeth both attended Chowan.
CLASS OF 1962
Charles Pond, III of Suffolk. VA was
recently appointed to the board of trustees
and President’s Committee for the Virginia
Baptist Theological Seminar)’, in Richmond.
Pond also serves on the board of directors for
the Chowan College Alumni Association and
the Chowan College board of visitors.
CLASS OF 1966
Afler leaving Chowan, Ralph (Sam) Jarvis
attended NC State University graduating with
a CBS in Civil Engineering and served as City
Engineer for the city of Rocky Mount, NC
from 1970 to 1977. He now owns Jarvis
Associates, PA Consulting Engineers, a
private consulting practice in civil engineering
and land surveying in Bath, NC. Jarvis has 4
children and 3 grandchildren.
CLASS OF 1968
Floyd W. (F. W.) Abernathy, Jr. is semi
retired in Colonial Heights, VA. where he
assists his wife in her “Windows ‘n’ Walls”
business. Before joining his wife's business.
Abernathy worked 15 years with Brown and
Williamson Tobacco and owned and operated
a Meineke franchise, in Colonial Heights, for
10 years. He has two children. Trey and
Mary Beth, and one grandchild. Brandon
Allen Stout.
CLASS OF 1971
According to an article in the Virginian
Pilot, James L. (Skip) Holland, Jr. of Suffolk.
VA, was killed in a car accident November 20,
19%. After leaving Chowan. Holland
attended the University of North Carolina
and began a career in the entertainment
industry. He performed in comedy clubs up
and down the East Coast and in the South as
the “Mad Hatter.” The fatal accident, in
Mississippi, occurred as he was driving to an
engagement in Louisiana. Several fellow
comedians were quoted in the article praising
his attributes as both a talented comedian
A graduate and friend enjoyed reminiscing about Chowan experiences as they browsed
through old college catalogs and yearbooks during Homecoming.
and a generous friend. They noted that he
often gave advice, as well funding, to help
young comics.
CLASS OF 1973
Jane Whitley Pridgen, Tarboro. NC,
works ftill-time in Retirement Plan Services
with Centura Bank and attends Barton
College on weekends. Currently working on
a degree in accounting. Pridgen looks
forward to obtaining a CPA designation.
CLASS OF 1979
Helen Lindsey Hunter has been married
to Chowan alum. Mar\ in Hunter ‘79, for 16
years. They have two children, John, 4. and
Holly, 9 months. Hunter says they are
presently building a home and enjoying life
together in Hertford, NC.
CLASS OF 1981
Darlene Jacqueline Keene, Ayden. NC,
earned a B.S. in biology from East Carolina
University May 1983 and received her MD
from East Carolina University in May 1989.
She completed her pediatric residency' at Pitt
County Memorial Hospital and East Carolina
University in August 1992.
Keene practiced at Ahoskie Pediatrics
from 1992 to 1993 and served on the
pediatric faculty at the ECU School of
Medicine from 1994 to 1995. Keene has
been involved with a neonatal fellowship at
the ECU School of Medicine and Pitt County
Memorial Hospital since August 1995.
Freddie H. Davis and wife Teresa of
Drexel. NC, have two daughters. Tiffany, 5
and Terra, 3. Davis is the president of Davis
International.
CLASS OF 1986
Brenton (Brent) Mills Spivey married
Andrea Inman of Lumberton. NC, May 11,
1996. The couple now live in St. Pauls, NC,
where Spivey works as a Wildlife Enforce
ment Officer
CLASS OF 1991
Leona Jean Alexander of Chesterfield,
VA married Dean Evan Morin of Chester, VA
December 14, 1996 at the Mayfield Inn in
Petersburg, VA. The couple will reside in
Chesterfield.
Alumni enjoyed an
informal reception at
Hertford Academy
during Homecom
ing. Many faculty
and staff members
attended to greet
fomner students.
CHOWAN TODAY, December 1996 — Page 9