Bette Worsham Hawkins Dunford
42 Willway Ave.
Richmond, VA 23226
Awhawk@aol.com
I will condense for you a wonderful letter that I received in August from Mary Blanche “Jo” Webb Worrell. Jo traveled to Virginia with her suitemates to visit Angela Grizzard Wyche several years ago, just before Angela was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. They were a close group, Angela being the one who kept Jo informed about school and Virginia updates, including news about Lois Saunier Hornsby’s recording star son, Bruce. So, for nostalgic reasons and because she likes Bruce’s band, Jo attended a recent Bruce Hornsby concert near her home in Henderson, Nev. The concert was outside with the temperature around 105 degrees. It brought to Jo’s mind a snapshot that she had taken of Bruce’s piano, which Lois had donated to Ball Hall. In the photo, Dean Alvey is playing and Lois and Ashby Griffin Mitchell are looking over his shoulder. Nancy Leary claims credit for giving Mary Blanche the nickname of “Jo” (as in Joe College) because two names were too much to say. The name stuck.
Another touching story from our class was the September obituary of Katherine “Kitty” Kennedy Clark, a legendary figure among us. Kitty was an alternate in the Virginia delegation to the Democratic Convention that nominated Adlai Stevenson for president. She met his sister, Elizabeth Ives, who befriended her and included her in the Stevenson inner circle. This led to her lifelong friendship with both Elizabeth and Adlai. Kitty moved to Washington in 1980 and served with AID, the State Department, and the House Committee on Education and Labor. The article further stated that family and friendships from her early days in Abingdon, from college and from her professional life in Washington were especially important to Kitty.
Betsy Robertson recently enjoyed the company of her two nieces visiting from Ohio. They had brilliant and warm November weather to explore the local shops, help Betsy set up a new technical apparatus and visit old friends. Betsy sees Ellen Dyer Davis at bridge and occasionally spots Norvell Millner Johnson in town from Lynchburg, sporting her usual big smile.
Earle and I took a beautiful cruise to the Dalmatian Coast this fall. We sailed out of Venice, a thrill in itself, since we went right past San Marco Square, the Campanile and the whole Renaissance waterfront. I feel so blessed that my feet are still holding up, but I recognize that this is a finite condition.