In Memoriam Fall 2025
Trailblazing Journalist and Founder of Boston’s Rose Brigade Dies At 93
China Altman (’54), a longtime journalist and founder of Boston’s Rose Brigade, died Feb. 2, 2026, in hospice care. Altman was just 16 when she left her family’s home in Waycross, Georgia, to attend what was then Georgia Teachers College (TC), even though she hadn’t applied.
“When I arrived on campus, I hid my small suitcase in the shrubbery and went straight to the president’s office,” she told Georgia Southern Magazine in a 2013 interview. “I told him that I needed to go to TC, and he could call my Methodist minister and my principal to verify who I was and validate my academic record.”
Throughout her life, she followed dual paths as a journalist and activist. In the latter role, among her most lasting contributions was founding the Rose Brigade of volunteers who take care of the Boston Public Garden’s rose beds. In her storied career as a reporter and magazine writer, Altman was at the forefront of women wire service reporters in New England for what later became United Press International. As a wire service reporter and a freelance foreign correspondent, she covered topics including the British royal family and apartheid in South Africa. She also wrote for Life and People magazines, hosted a television series on WGBH in Boston, and was the first woman on the East Coast to have her own radio call-in talk show.
As a lifelong activist, Altman campaigned for the equality of women and African Americans and was a national spokesperson for runaway and abused children.
A Lasting Legacy: Remembering Delma Presley, Scholar, Historian and Museum Visionary
Delma Presley, whose passion for storytelling and history helped define Georgia Southern University’s understanding of itself, died Jan. 8, 2026, at the age of 86 in his home in Statesboro. After four decades of service to the University, the English professor emeritus and University Museum director emeritus leaves behind an enduring legacy centered on community engagement and preservation of South Georgia’s history.
When Presley arrived in Statesboro in 1969 to teach English at Georgia Southern, language and literature were the core of his academic foundation. Educated at Mercer University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Emory University, he spent the early years of his career teaching classical literature. Over time, however, his focus shifted away from traditional studies toward the history and the lived experiences of the people in the surrounding communities.
“I decided that I was going to try to understand the people of South Georgia,” Presley once said in an interview with Georgia Southern Magazine. “I wanted to know the people: why they lived this way, who they are, and what their values are.”
That curiosity ultimately led him to local history, where he found a way to connect scholarship with community. With family ties to Georgia’s rural Laurens County, Presley was drawn to the stories, values and traditions that shaped the region.
In 1982, inspired by his grandfather’s work in the timber industry, Presley organized Project R.A.F.T. (Restore Altamaha Folklife Traditions) to preserve the memories of the men who once floated logs down the Ocmulgee and Altamaha rivers.
That same year, he became the first permanent director of the Georgia Southern University Museum. During his 17-year tenure, he transformed the Museum into a vibrant space that explored everything from regional culture and history to geology, zoology and botany — all while continuing his own research and writing.
When Presley retired in 1999, he continued his commitment to Georgia Southern. He agreed to take on a massive task at the request of then-President Bruce Grube — to document the University’s first 100 years. The result was “The Southern Century: Georgia Southern University, 1906–2006,” a comprehensive, 291-page history that remains a foundational record of the institution.Presley is survived by his wife of 64 years, Beverly Presley. Together, they provided a $25,000 lead gift for the permanent exhibit, “An Inspiring Past, A Promising Future: The Presley Exhibition.” It is housed in the Nessmith-Lane Building on the Statesboro Campus. Beyond the University, Presley was a founding member of the Bulloch County Historical Society and served as chairman of the Jack N. and Addie D. Averitt Foundation. A prolific author, editor and collaborator, he dedicated his life to preserving stories — ensuring that the history of Georgia Southern and South Georgia would be remembered, studied and shared.
1950s
Marilu Hurt McCarty (’54) of Atlanta passed away Jan. 14, 2026. The former faculty member at the Georgia Institute of Technology taught economics and served as assistant dean of the School of Management. In retirement, she served on the John and Mary Franklin Foundation for over 25 years, where her exceptional analytical skills helped her propose more than a thousand grants during her tenure, benefiting hundreds of nonprofit organizations.
1960s
Harold “Hal” Henderson Sr., Ph.D., (’67) of Tifton, Georgia, passed away Aug. 18, 2025. He retired as a professor of political science at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 2000. An active member of the Tifton Kiwanis Club, he also served 10 years on the Tift County Board of Education.
Margie Mae Scharnitzky Gilmer (’63) of Augusta, Georgia, passed away Aug. 19, 2025. She was a teacher for 40 years for the Richmond County Board of Education.
Julie Bell Mangum (’67) of Buford, Georgia, passed away at home Sept. 2, 2025, several months after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. She devoted many years to raising her three sons before starting a career as a realtor in Atlanta for 25 years.
Durell Lynn (’62,’82) of Claxton, Georgia, passed away Sept. 4, 2025. He had more than 60 years of service in education as a teacher, coach, administrator and board chair of the Evans County Charter School System.
Miriam Carruth Hagan (’68) of Statesboro died Nov. 1, 2025, in hospice care. In her early career, she taught high school math. She later changed careers to become a certified public accountant and eventually opened her own accounting firm. She closed her practice to work for the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as the director of administrative services and conference treasurer.
Ronald Boatright (’68) of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Dec. 1, 2025. The Armstrong graduate served in the U.S. Air Force and retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he worked in quality assurance.
Charles Seyle (’65,’79) died Dec. 3, 2025, with his family by his side in Savannah, Georgia. He attended the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned in December 1968 and retired as a commander from the Naval Reserve in 1991. He had a career of more than 50 years in real estate.
Retired Brig. Gen. Jordan Brooks Gaudry III (’66) of Savannah, Georgia, died Dec. 9, 2025, at home surrounded by his family. After joining the U.S. Army and completing infantry officer candidate school in 1967, he served in Vietnam and retired from the Georgia Army National Guard in 1999, following 33 years of service. He was a past president of the Chatham Artillery, a member of the Savannah Volunteer Guard and active in the Savannah Jaycees and the American Legion Post 184.
Paul Ross (’65) passed away Dec. 25, 2025, in Kennesaw, Georgia, due to complications from dementia and a fall. He had a long career as a basketball coach, teacher and high school administrator. He served in schools in Tift County, Smyrna, Georgia, and Marietta, Georgia. He retired from education in 1997.
1970s
Ann McMillen (’75) of Ringgold, Georgia, passed away June 15, 2025. She was a first-grade teacher at Ringgold Primary School until her retirement. She was well known for her musical talent as the pianist at Ringgold United Methodist Church for over 45 years.
John W. Franklin Jr. (’71) of Brunswick, Georgia, died in hospice care July 16, 2025. He was the owner of a company that specialized in rigs for commercial fishing and shrimping until his retirement in 2020. His wife died one day after his passing.
Marcus Price Jr. (’74) of Swainsboro, Georgia, passed away July 24, 2025, surrounded by family. He worked as a psychological and behavioral specialist at the Jenkins County Training Center, as an assistant public defender for the Middle Judicial Circuit, and later as a probation officer in Swainsboro, where he retired.
Paul Caylor (’70) of Dalton, Georgia, passed away Aug. 12, 2025. He served in the U.S. Air Force and attained a commercial pilot rating. During his career, he worked in banking and real estate and owned several businesses.
Marsha Rogers Henson (’72) of Brentwood, Tennessee, passed away in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Aug. 31, 2025. She began her career as an elementary school teacher, but her greatest joy was creating a welcoming home for her family.
Madge Harper (’70) of Spokane, Washington, passed away Sept. 24, 2025. She had a long career in dental hygiene while raising her children.
Mary Bird Lanier (’71) of Metter, Georgia, passed away in hospice care Oct. 1, 2025. She was a retired teacher.
Tommy Gibbs (’71) of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Oct. 26, 2025, at home. He served in the U.S. Army and had a long career with the Fitzgerald City Schools.
James “Freddie/Fritz” Rathmann (’75,’00) of Statesboro passed away Oct. 28, 2025, following cancer treatment. He lived and worked in Atlanta for many years until returning to Statesboro when his mother became ill.
David Wardlaw (’78) of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, passed away Nov. 5, 2025, surrounded by loved ones and his faithful canine companion. He is remembered not only for his professional accomplishments and love of sports, but also for his kind heart, quiet strength and steadfast faith.
Elizabeth Beckemeyer (’73) of Greensboro, Georgia, died Nov. 9, 2025. She was a retired professor of biology at Georgia State University. She taught for many years at the three campuses of Georgia Perimeter College.
Daniel Liftman (’73) of West Palm Beach, Florida, died Nov. 11, 2025, after a long illness. He served for several decades on the staff of a U.S. House Representative from Florida.
Ann Sparks Lanier (’73) of Portal, Georgia, passed away Nov. 18, 2025, at home in hospice care. She dedicated her career to serving children with the Division of Family and Child Services and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
David Stewart (’71,’79,’83) of Statesboro died Dec. 22, 2025. He started his career as an industrial arts teacher and later moved into school administration, serving as an assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent in the Toombs County School District.
Hazel Jarriel Lanier (’74) of Statesboro died at home surrounded by her children on Dec. 25, 2025, at age 92. She retired from teaching after 35 years in classrooms in Cuba, Africa, Virginia and Bulloch County, Georgia.
1980s
Mae Fonda Deloach-Riggs (’87) of Statesboro passed away July 29, 2025. Over the years, she worked in human resources, served as a parent-teacher liaison in the school system, acted as a mediator with the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, and was a co-owner of the Family Violence Prevention Program.
Soraya Randle (’83) of Warner Robins, Georgia, passed away Aug. 1, 2025. She worked as an acquisition specialist at Robins Air Force Base and served as the first lady and a minister in a church led by her husband.
E. LaWanda Ransom (’84,’04) of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Aug. 8, 2025, surrounded by the love of her devoted family. She was an educator and administrator in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System for 40 years.
Gordon DeLoach (’80) passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 8, 2025, at his home on Tybee Island, Georgia. Over the years, he worked with his father at an oil company and was skilled in construction and other trades. He partnered with his wife in a wedding business where he sometimes served as the officiant, joyfully uniting couples on the beach.
Charles “Eddie” Reeves (’88) of Calhoun, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly on Sept.23, 2025, in Columbus, Georgia. He worked for more than three decades in human resources. He served as board chair for nearly a decade during his 16 years on the Calhoun City Schools Board of Education.
Mark Arnold (’84) of Savannah, Georgia, passed away at home Oct. 2, 2025. He dedicated more than 30 years to health care and information services, working for hospitals in Savannah before retiring in 2021.
Millie Neal Page (’89) of Albany, Georgia, passed away Oct. 3, 2025, surrounded by her family. She worked in sales before joining the family business. She loved photography, horses, the beach and especially her family.
Durwin Vaughn (’88) of Barnesville, Georgia, died Nov. 2, 2025. The devoted family man was a staunch fan of the Lamar County Trojans and enjoyed coaching his sons in both football and baseball.
Wilson Scott Berry (’86) of Savannah, Georgia, died at home Nov. 11, 2025. He was a photographer and had his own property management business. He had surgery twice to remove a large acoustic neuroma and founded a support group for others facing the same diagnosis. His legacy includes his generosity in creating the Armstrong Emergency Food Resource (Captain’s Cupboard) in honor of his mother, and his deep love of Armstrong and awareness of food insecurity among students.
James “Jim” Peak (’87) of Bainbridge, Georgia, died Feb. 12, 2026. He was a licensed CPA, a past member of the Rotary Club and Lions Club and a proud Mason. In his career, he served in leadership roles in Hazlehurst, Perry and Bainbridge, Georgia. He also served on the Regional Policy Board of the American Hospital Association.
1990s
Patricia Tobergte Wilson (’93,’13) of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away July 12, 2025. She dedicated her life to caring for others and was an ICU medical professional for many years. An avid runner and power walker, she always found time to tend to animals, especially rescuing animals in danger.
Matthew McGhee (’98) of Statesboro died Aug. 19, 2025, in hospice care. He was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago. He was an entrepreneur, business owner and the ultimate salesman in the convenience store industry. On Saturdays in the fall, he loved tailgating with friends and family, whether at home in Paulson Stadium or away.
James (Jim) Oxford Jr. (’93) of Summerville, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 25, 2025. He had a passion for helping people through his law practice.
Tracy Sands (’96) of Glennville, Georgia, passed away Aug. 30, 2025. His impressive career in law enforcement spanned over 30 years, with 25 of those years dedicated to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Melissa Winters Mielke (’93) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, passed away Sept. 2, 2025, a decade after a breast cancer diagnosis. She was a professor of public speaking and an artist who loved creating pottery, mosaics and collages.
Linda Porterfield Byerly (’93,’97) of Savannah, Georgia, died Sept. 4, 2025, after a chronic illness. She had a 27-year career as an elementary school teacher. In retirement, she started her favorite job as a grandparent.
Linda Presnell Hilderbrand (’93) of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Sept. 9, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida. She was employed as a human resources executive for more than 50 years. She had a passion for travel, a special affection for Sheltie dogs and a love of butterfly gardening to become a master gardener.
Shareaka Green, Ph.D., (’97,’99) of Statesboro passed away Sept. 25, 2025, in a specialty care facility. She worked part-time as an adjunct professor, a mental health manager and counselor, and as a drug addiction counselor.
Scott Thompson (’92) died Sept. 27, 2025, at his home in Sylvania, Georgia. He was a certified arborist and owned and operated a garden nursery for many years.
Margaret Kiene “Peggy” Thompson (’94) died Sept. 28, 2025, in Savannah, Georgia. She worked for an airline before beginning her career as a registered nurse and employment with the state of Georgia.
Charles “Mac” McDaniel Jr. (’90,’92) passed away Oct. 15, 2025, at home in Dawson, Georgia. He was a school band director and the chief counselor at a correctional facility. His real passion was music. He played the sousaphone in the Southern Pride Marching Band for four years.
Herbert Hoover Bailey Jr. (’98) of Waycross, Georgia, died Nov. 14, 2025, following a long illness. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. His greatest passion was working with the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved teaching boys how to fish, camp and develop essential survival skills.
Deborah Hobbs Clark (’96) of Alamo, Georgia, died Nov. 27, 2025, surrounded by her family. She built a career in journalism, education and community communications. At the time of her passing, she was the regional editor at The Vidalia Advance.
Ronald George (’91) of Fountain Valley, Calif., died Dec. 20, 2025. In his mid-30s, he moved from Georgia and started his family and teaching career.
Michelle Capece (’93) of Dublin, Georgia, passed away suddenly Jan. 6, 2026. Born in Germany into a proud military family, she found her calling in education. The Jeffersonville, Georgia, elementary school teacher served in the Twiggs County School System for 24 years.
2000s
Brian Jenkins (’16) of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away at home July 20, 2025. Brian had a successful career as a senior solutions consultant with a human resources software firm.
Linnea Markland Judah (’04) of Elizabethton, Tennessee, died Aug. 6, 2025. She was a director of technical accounting and had been in the profession for over 25 years.
Louis “Louie” White (’24) of Nashville passed away Sept. 18, 2025. He started a career as a functional consultant with a global technology corporation.
Lauren Rae Dupree (’06) of Chickamauga, Georgia, passed away Oct. 6, 2025. She studied public relations at Georgia Southern University and had a successful career in the field.
Robert “Bob” Marsh (’01,’02) of Statesboro passed away Oct. 14, 2025. He was a Journeyman Carman for the Milwaukee Road — a skilled railway mechanic who inspected, maintained and repaired freight and passenger cars. He was also a skilled electronic technician in the U.S. Navy and an expert industrial electrician.
Matthew Pierce (’12) of Decatur, Georgia, passed away Oct. 18, 2025. He had a passion for traveling and was employed as a flight attendant.
Jennifer “Jenny” Dillard (‘22), of Washington, D.C., passed away Oct. 25, 2025. After graduating, she secured a position with the U.S. Department of State.
Karmen Santiago (’13) of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away Nov. 2, 2025. She began her career teaching in Atlanta before moving to Wuxi, China, to teach elementary grades at an English immersion school for Chinese and Korean students. She later moved to Shanghai to teach Advanced Placement American Literature for English-speaking students.
Son Kim Nguyen (’13) of Savannah, Georgia, passed away Dec. 2, 2025, at home under hospice care following a cancer diagnosis. He, his father and two younger brothers escaped from Vietnam and were sponsored out of a refugee camp by a Rotary Club in Apex, North Carolina, in 1980. He served as a mechanic in the Georgia National Guard, where he became a U.S. citizen. He was employed as a logistics computer operator.
Mark Wilhelmi (’11) of Augusta, Georgia, died Dec. 31, 2025. He began his career in real estate and later developed a successful online furniture business. In the last year of his life, he visited 16 countries with nothing more than his passport, cell phone, a few dollars and his hiking boots.
Katherine “Katie” Sweat (’18) of Waycross, Georgia, died Jan. 28, 2026, on St. Simons Island, Georgia, following an automobile accident. She most recently served as the director of operations for a clothing retailer.
Eagle Nation
Professor Emeritus Fredrick Rich of Statesboro passed away July 12, 2025. His parents instilled in him an enduring love for nature, and he discovered his love for the swamp while in graduate school. In 1988, he accepted the position as chair of the Department of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University, which brought him closer to the Okefenokee Swamp. During his 31-year tenure, he received the University Award for Excellence in Research and many other awards and honors. He retired in 2019.
Professor Emerita Dorothy Battle of Statesboro passed away July 27, 2025. She served as a professor in the Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading until her retirement in 2012. She was a passionate advocate for gifted/exceptional learners and devoted her career to ensuring all students had access to quality education and support.
Nicholas “Nick” Scull, a dedicated professional in collegiate athletics, passed away July 30, 2025, in Statesboro. He channeled his love of athletics into a meaningful career, serving in Georgia Southern Athletics, where his dedication to college sports and student-athletes left a lasting impact.
Andrew “Joe” McGlamery of Statesboro passed away Aug. 2, 2025, in hospice care after a lengthy illness. As a strong supporter of Georgia Southern, he served on the board of the Georgia Southern University Foundation for more than 20 years and chaired it from 1992-94. He also chaired the Day for Southern campaign in 2000. McGlamery joined the staff of the Statesboro Herald newspaper in 1975. With the Herald as the primary sponsor, he co-founded the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Awards and helped produce the prestigious event for 31 years.
Professor Emeritus James Nichols of Statesboro passed away at home on Aug. 11, 2025, after an extended illness. He joined Georgia Southern in 1987 as professor and chair of the Department of English and Philosophy, retiring in 2000. He was a U.S. Marine veteran and was active in community organizations and events.
Professor Dolores E. Rangel of Statesboro passed away at home on Oct. 27, 2025, surrounded by family. The native of Monterrey, Mexico, joined the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Georgia Southern University in 2005. Throughout her career, she was admired for her brilliance, warmth, and unwavering support for her students and colleagues. Her research focused on Mexican narrative, contemporary Latin American literature and women’s writing, leaving a lasting impact in her field.
Professor Emeritus Jonathan Copeland of Savannah died on Oct. 31, 2025. He was a dedicated scientist with a career spanning decades and continents. His research into synchronously flashing fireflies took him to Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and later to the Great Smoky Mountains, where he helped set up workshops and tours that have become so popular that people are booking them years and months in advance. His 34-year career as a biology teacher included the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Grinnell College, Swarthmore College and Georgia Southern University. He made a tremendous impact on students and colleagues alike, with a colorful and charismatic approach to pedagogy.
Professor Emeritus Ronald MacKinnon of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, passed away Dec. 21, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. He spent 40 years teaching at his alma mater, St. Francis Xavier University, before joining Georgia Southern as a visiting professor. He retired in 2018 as an associate professor of information systems. He developed and nurtured highly regarded SAP programs, received awards for teaching, chaired university-wide committees, including the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and served on the University Senate.
Professor Emeritus Waldo Meeks (’69) of Statesboro died Jan. 25, 2026, at Candler County Hospital in Metter, Georgia. He was a professor at Georgia Southern University for over 30 years, beginning in the School of Education and later moving to the engineering department as program coordinator of the Industrial Management Program. A tinkerer at heart, he could fix almost anything.