HUNTINGDON COLLEGE

News Release

July 7, 2026
For more information, contact:
Laura Brelsford | hcnews@hawks.huntingdon.edu | (334) 833-4563

June 2026 Alumni News

Births

• Destree Brown McNeil ’09 and her husband, Ray, welcomed twin sons, John Ray McNeil and James Darby McNeil, in June 2026.
• Morgan McQueen Zeigler ’11 and her husband, Justin, welcomed a son, Jase Zeigler, in June 2026.
• Alex Taylor ’12 and his wife, Alli, welcomed a daughter, Camille Joy Taylor, in June 2026.
• Darius Dixon ’15 and his wife, Melissa, welcomed a son, Daylen Malachi Dixon, in June 2026.
• Ann Oliveira ’15 and her husband, Brian, welcomed a daughter, Daphne Anne Oliveira in June 2026.
• Anna DeMedicis Wright ’16 and her husband, James, welcomed a daughter, Rosemary Margaret Wright, in May 2026.
• Parker Allen ’18 and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed a daughter, Faye Parker Allen, in June 2026.

Weddings

• Emily Gaines ’17 married McKenzie Parlier in May 2026.
• Blake Rowland ’17 married Trey Pearce in June 2026.
• Katelyn Gilmore ’19 married Mark McGough in June 2026.
• Olivia Webb ’26 married Matthew Singleton in June 2026.
• Mollie Furr ’27 married Cade Lawson in June 2026.

Graduate School Graduations

• Andre Ashley ’18 completed a master’s degree in integrated marketing and communications from the University of West Alabama in May 2026.
• Will Bearden ’22 completed a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law in June 2026.
• Ryan Campion ’23 completed a master’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in May 2026.

Retirements/Promotions/Honors/General News

• Maureen Kendrick Murphy ’78 received the Exchange Club Member of the Year award from the Exchange Club of Florence, Alabama in June 2026.
• Daniel Hudson ’87 was recognized for his retirement at the June 2026 AWFC UMC annual meeting.
• Pam Baker Barnhardt ’91 was awarded the #BeUMC Clergy Award at the AWFC UMC annual meeting in June 2026.
• Jamie Weeks ’97 has been invited to join the Forbes Business Council.
• Ashley Dobbs Hubbard ’03 was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at St. George’s Episcopal Memorial Church in Bismark, North Dakota in June 2026.
• Diana Gray ’04 was a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall in New York in June 2026 as part of MidAmerica’s 43rd Season. It was the world premiere of both of her compositions, “He is Able Today” and “Gracious Father” at the concert.
• Troy Turman ’07 has been named principal of Samson Middle School in Geneva County.
• Rishard Davis ’09 has been named a teacher and defensive line coach for the football team at Pike Road High School.
• J. Betts ’13 has been hired as a history teacher and head track and field coach at Bullock County High School.
• Thomas Hughes ’13 has been named the Head Football Coach at Chilton County High School in Clanton.
• Heather Jones Butler ’14 started a new position as the Director of Development for the United Way of Alabama.
• Taylor Hughes ’15 has been named Head Girls Basketball Coach at Prattville High School.
• Sara Pittman Luly ’15 had a solo show at the Tew Galleries in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing her latest paintings.
• Brooke Meadows Watson ’16 has been named a physical education teacher at Redland Elementary School in Elmore County.
• Jai’Lyn Lover ’17 was named the Assistant Basketball Coach at Salem College.
• Graham Childree ’18 was promoted to Assistant Chief Information Officer at Huntingdon College.
• Robyn Chambers Young ’18, a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, started the new business, Creative Expressions, which focuses on AAC education and collaboration with families, educators, and professionals.
• Lauren Attwood Cowan ’20 was commissioned as a Provisional Deacon in the United Methodist Church.
• Jennifer Knox Porto ’20 was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the United Methodist Church in June 2026.
• John Kelsoe ’21 has been appointed to serve as the pastor of First United Methodist Church of High Springs, Florida.
• DeVantae King ’21 has been hired as a safeties and special teams coach at LaFayette High School in Chambers County.
• Ahmaud Taylor ’21 has been hired as a 7th grade English Language Arts teacher and coach at Brewton Middle School.
• Susan Anthony ’22 has been hired as a fourth-grade teacher at Flomaton Elementary School.
• Kelan LeBlanc ’22 has been named Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Enterprise High School.
• Katy Pass ’22 was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the United Methodist Church in June 2026.
• Baylee Wills ’23 is the new band director at Saint James School.

In Memoriam

• Virginia Martin Stone ’48 passed away on June 20, 2026, in Hutsboro, Alabama.
• Martha Holman Wright ’54 passed away on June 8, 2026, in Dalton, Georgia.
• Robert Wilson ’57 passed away on June 15, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Waters Wilson ’56.
• Frances Goode Akridge ’61 passed away on June 5, 2026 in Peachtree City, Georgia.
• Peggy Elaine Goodwyn Kanche ’65 passed away on May 26, 2026, in Alburquerque, New Mexico.
• Jane Garrard Bennett ’66 passed away on June 26, 2026 in Thomasville, Georgia.
• Sanya Phillips Oldland ’67 passed away on June 16, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama.
• Billy Wayne Dunn ’72 passed away on May 28, 2026, in Talladega, Alabama.
• Rob Boyce ’99 passed away on June 3, 2026 in Roswell, Georgia.
• Thomas Ruffin Borden passed away on May 27, 2026 in Pike Road, Alabama. Mr. Borden was a Huntingdon supporter and the brother of Huntingdon Trustee, Dave Borden.
• Coach Jack Murray passed away on June 8, 2026 in Hanover, Pennsylvania. He was the Assistant Coach of the Huntingdon Men’s Lacrosse team.

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