Five generations celebrated during a bridal shower for Ashley Cunningham. From left to right are Mya Johnson, Ashley Cunningham, Penny Conner, Marie North and Clara Dennis. Cunningham said they all live fairly close to each other and go to church together. Clara Dennis is her Granny and she is very healthy at age 96. She has never worked or driven a car. Cunningham’s daughter is eight-years-old and has a good relationship with the entire family.
Wyatt Gordon, a 2008 graduate of Thomas Dale High School, was recently in Malaysia for two weeks competing in the World Cup of Malay Language Speech. After living in Indonesia for about a year and a half through the Critical Language and Boren scholarships, he felt comfortable with the Indonesian language. This was the first time he would speak Malaysian on such a public platform. Wyatt is currently a fellow with the East-West Center and studying for a master’s degree in Urban Planning at the University of Hawaii. He was excited to learn that he had been selected to be…
Sue Patton and Betty Patton visitwith their mother, Susie Elliott, at Tyler’s Retreat almost daily. Mrs. Elliott celebrated her 106th birthday last weekend, August 1. She is the mother of nine children – three of her children have passed away. She is a grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother to many and loved by all. Minnie Susie Elliott was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains in an area called Meadows of Dan, Virginia. She was from a large family. All of her brothers and sisters have passed away. She has a lot of “adopted family” as well as she…
Helen Chase formerly of Point Pleasant,West Virginia, celebrated her 100th birthday July 17, at Lucy-Corr Village. In attendance were family members, including two of her great-great grandchildren.
Turning 100 is just another day for May Youngblood Kerwin. Her bright eyes and jubilent smile reflect the attitude she carries with her every day. She does not want to miss anything in life and most importantly she wants to see her family happy and healthy. “I don’t think much about it,” she said about turning 100 years old. “The only time I do think about it is when I hurt.” Kerwin suffers from arthritis and pseudo gout, and, after having a heart attack nearly 10 years ago, she is taking 15 pills a day. “I really need that medical…
World history and human geography teacher Anne Canipe has returned home from San Francisco after a week-long World Project Based Conference in Napa Valley. The R.E.B. recipient’s story was shared in the Village News June 24 issue detailing how she would be using the $12,000 grant she received for her excellence in teaching. The Village News is following Canipe and her travels over the summer through her blog – annecanipe.wordpress.com. Her summer travels will continue August 1, as she travels to Japan and China. Canipe returns to Chester with renewed energy for her classroom this fall following lectures from renowned…
Chester resident Anne Canipe boarded a plane to San Francisco on Friday beginning her trek around the world. Well, almost. Canipe loves to travel and she will be clocking a lot of air miles this summer thanks to a $12,000 grant awarded to her from the R.E.B. Foundation through the Community Foundation for her excellence in teaching. The 38-year veteran teacher of world history and human geography was a 2014 recipient for the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. This was her second R.E. B. award. The foundation allows past winners to become eligible at the beginning of the sixth year…
To the Meadowbrook Class of 1968; it feels like it was only yesterday when they all flipped their tassels and began their adult lives. They believe that 60 is the new 16, and they live their lives that way. “When we all get together, it’s like we’re all 16 again,” Gail Davis, unofficial organizer for the class shared. “We still love to get together after almost 50 years since we were all in school together.” Davis explains that the group has “become even closer now.” The group of about seven female classmates generally drive to all kinds of events that…
For six students of Irish dance, spring 2015 will live in their minds for many years to come. “Irish dance is like what you see at Riverdance,” explained Andrea McCarney, co-owner of The Heart of Ireland School of Dance studio in Midlothian. She owns the three-year-old dance studio with partner Aleise Matheson. The step dance is notable for its fast leg and foot movements, while the body and arms are, for the most part, very still. The world of Irish dance has become much more popular since Riverdance’s inception in 1994 as other shows, such as Lord of the Dance…
Daniel Cheatham, a graduate of Thomas Dale High school and Longwood University, was commissioned as an officer in the Army National Guard at Fort Pickett on April 18. After serving in the Guard since 2006 as a pharmacy tech, Sgt. Cheatham applied and was accepted into the Accelerated OCS, SOC program. At the graduation ceremony, Cheatham was referred to as a “natural leader” by guest speaker SFC Michael E. Nolan. Cheatham had the highest Army Physical Fitness test average among all Virginia candidates. For his score of 294 out of 300, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal. His parents Barron…