The 1979 Byrnes Scholars Comment
Judy Edwards Bailey received a degree in biology
from Baptist College and a degree in pharmacy from MUSC. She is a.
She is married to William Ray Bailey. Speaking of her Byrnes Scholarship,
Judy said: " It made me feel very special. Special in a good way.
Before, I was special because people had sympathy for me because I
had lost both of my parents. After becoming a Byrnes family member,
I felt more of an 'honored' special that I had been chosen to be part
of such a wonderful group of caring people. I was proud to be who I
was."
Jeffery David Edwards graduated summa cum laude from
USC with a degree in economics. He is president of a furniture company.
He and his wife, Sherry, have two sons, Nathaniel and Wilson. Jeff
writes: "My scholarship came after the Byrnes' death, but I helped
with an open house at the Byrnes home in Columbia, and ended up giving
tours that day. I got some sense of them from that, and the memories
of earlier scholars and, of course, Willie Byrd. I wish I had been
more involved with the Byrnes Foundation both while a Scholar and since.
My work and family situations have not always allowed that, but I still
regret it."
Kenneth W. Gillespie, Jr., graduated from Clemson
University with a BA degree in English. He was a Byrnes Scholars director
in 1986 -87.
Paul Gilliam earned his BA in international relations
from USC and his MS in education from Converse College. He is a teacher
in SC. He was named Teacher of the Year his junior high school 1994-95.
J. Charles Wall and wife Jane have three children,
Andrew, Elizabeth, and Katherine. Charles graduated from Furman cum
laude with a degree in physics and summa cum laude from
Clemson with a degree in chemical engineering. Charles is vice-president
and general manager at a steel company in SC. He served as student
representative on the Byrnes Scholars' Board in 1982, was a director
and vice-president in 1986-87, and was president of the Scholars in
1988-89. He has served as a director on the James F. Byrnes Foundation
Board since 1990. He received the Jake Salley Award in 1994.
Johnna Hope Edmunds is a Clemson graduate with a
degree in animal science. She is a service representative for an agricultural
firm. She was a director of the Byrnes Scholars organization 1998-99.
Henrietta Duncan earned her BS in accounting and
her master's in taxation from USC. She became a certified public accountant
in 1995. She is working in the corporate tax department of an environmental
engineering firm. Henri served as vice-president of the Byrnes Scholars
in 1984-85 and president in 1986-87. She was awarded the Jake Salley
award in 1989. Henri currently serves as chairman of the legacy giving
portion of the new living memorial campaign. She says: "I had
no idea what the JFB Foundation would add to my life when I applied
for the scholarship. I look at the friends I have gained through the
Foundation as family members."
Mildred Lee Dixon earned her BS in business administration
from the College of Charleston. She is an internal auditor for a bank.
She also serves as president of the North Carolina Internal Auditors
Division of The Financial Managers Society.
Rebecca (Bootsie) Crider Smoak received her BS in
business education from the University of South Carolina.
Mary (Patty) Connell Elam is a cum laude graduate
of Furman University. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence at the
University of South Carolina School of Law. Married to Elliott F. Elam
Jr., Patty now is Staff Counsel for the Administrative Law Judge Division
of South Carolina.
Chester Caulder graduated cum laude from
Francis Marion College with a degree in English. He also attended Wake
Forest University. He served as vice-president of the Byrnes Scholars
in 1994-95 and as president in 1996-97. In 1997, he received the Jake
Salley Award. Chester says: "The Scholarship represents an opportunity
to contribute to something greater than yourself, to extend a legacy
of caring for and encouraging others started by the Byrnes. That ought
to be what life is about, but seldom do we get a chance to exercise
that most fulfilling activity. My fellow Scholars give me a place where
I belong, that reenergizes me every time I'm down, that makes me feel
good about life and living when things are bleak. No matter what, I
always know there are others who care about me."
Carl Durant Carraway graduated from the Citadel with
a BA in mathematics and computer science. He and wife Denise have a
son, James Durant, two years old Carl is currently serving as a director
of the Byrnes Scholars.
Jackie L. Brewton graduated from Furman with a degree
in business administration. She is Human Resources Manager with a major
corporation. She says: "The Byrnes Scholarship enabled me to get
an excellent education which we would not have otherwise been able
to afford. I believe that the scholarship was definitely a part of
God's plan to make me the person I am today. God has truly blessed
my life beyond measure. My biggest regret is that I wasn't more active
when I was a student."
Briley Altman graduated from Francis Marion College
with a degree in business administration. He served as a Byrnes Scholars
director in 1985-86.
Marie Dixon Hein received her BS in special education
from the College of Charleston and her MS in special education from
the University of Tennessee. She is teacher of the hearing impaired.
She and her husband, Charles, have a son, Mason.
Kirby C. Winstead and wife Sheila have four children,
Sarah and Kirby Jr., and twins, Rachel and Rebecca. He received his
BA in religion from Charleston Southern University, where he was president
of the student body, and his Master of Divinity from Mid-American Baptist
Seminary. He is pastor of a Baptist Church in SC. Kirby is a member
of the Clemson Rotary Club, is chaplain of the Oconee Soil and Water
Conservation District, and is on the Charleston Southern Ministers
Advisory Board. He has fond memories of "Super Weekend at Garden
City with Hal and the gang." He says: "The James F. Byrnes
Foundation Scholarship enabled me to do something I could not have
done without it -- attend college!"
Joy A. Simpson graduated cum laude from
the College of Charleston.
Sue McKensie Harrison and husband Mike have two sons,
Philip and Lucas. Sue graduated from Clemson University with a degree
in financial management. She earned her teaching certificate in secondary
math from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. She remembers particularly
the weekend trips to the beach each spring and the fall dinners at
the colleges.
Theadore (Butch) Mickell received his BS in accounting
from the University of South Carolina. He is a pre-sales consultant
for a major corporation.
Nancy Youmans Howard received her BS in computer
science from the College of Charleston. She is Senior MIS Analyst for
a SC firm. She and Daniel have two children, William and Danielle.
Terry McCraw earned her BS degree in civil engineering
from Clemson University. She served as a Byrnes Scholars director in
1986-87, as vice-president in 1992-93, and as president in 1994-95.
Vicki Jinnette Ringer received her BA in journalism
from the University of South Carolina, where she was voted Panhellenic
Woman of the Year and Outstanding Senior. She is Public Affairs Director
with the South Carolina Department of Revenue. She and her husband,
Charlie, have a daughter, Sally. Vicki currently serves as deacon at
her church, homeroom parent and PTA committee chair at her daughters
chool, advisor to Delta Zeta Sorority at USC, and some times manages "to
be a decent wife and mother!" She writes: " I will always
be grateful to Governor Byrnes for his legacy to South Carolina education,
and he did it without fanfare. Unless you've experienced the same,
one cannot imagine the sorrow of losing a parent. Governor Byrnes knew
and he reached out to us. Now I'm without both parents and my sorrow
is doubled. But God is good, and I have been blessed. Whenever I count
my blessings, I always count Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes."
Dee Sandifer Rushing graduated from Clemson with
a degree in financial management. She and her husband have two children,
Mary Beth and Ross. She in an accountant.
Robin Sowell graduated cum laude with a
degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina. She is Manager
for Utilization Review for a major health insurance carrier. She and
Layne are parents of Will and Victoria.
Maryanne Grobusky Genus is Marketing Manager a major
financial institution. She graduated from Winthrop with a BA and an
MBA. She is married to John Genus. She writes: "I would have never
been able to go to college if not for JFB. The friendships and sense
of true family will always remain with me. There is no other organization
like it. I just hope that today's recipients will carry on with JFB's
legacy. Thank you for making an indelible impression on my life."
Cathy Jones Atkins received her BS from Mt. Olive
College. She is a tax during tax season. She stays home with their
three children, Mallory, Daniel, and Allison, the remainder of the
year. She is married to Ed Atkins. Cathy is a volunteer for the American
Heart Association, plays handbells at church, and is a PTA executive
board member and volunteer at her child's school. She says of the Byrnes
Foundation: "A truly unique organization that offers much more
than just financial assistance. What an honor to be a member!"
Edie Gunter, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, graduated cum
laude from the University of South Carolina with a BS degree
in computer science. She received her MS from Columbia University.
Pat Sullivan and Dianne have four children, Erin,
Ryan, Caleb, and Collin. He graduated from Clemson with a degree in
animal industries. He is Program Director a regional agricultural association.
His favorite memories are of the beach trips, particularly the one
when he was "caught red-handed (with others) at 3 a.m. fishing
the prizes out of cereal boxes."
Dawn Sudduth earned her BS degree in economics from
Clemson and her ME degree in elementary education from Converse College.
She is Project Director for the University of South Carolina School
of Medicine.