Class Agent: Heather Land

Happy New Year Class of 1990!

 

 

I've heard from so many of you since the last newsletter!  Can you believe that 16 years ago we left Fletcher Academy with a fabulous education, a greater understanding of God, and some wonderful friends?  Just in case you were wondering what happened to some of those people you sat through class with...

 

Melanie Wyatt Bitzer-  Melanie is happily married to Timothy, whom she met at Southern while getting her Nursing degree.  She is a stay-at-home mom to 3 beautiful children and is currently living in Texas.  When she can, she travels back East to visit family and friends...most recently was Beth Curran who was visiting the states (She and her husband are currently stationed in Italy, I think)!

 

Shelley Campbell Leonor- After marrying the love of her life, Sam (also a graduate of Fletcher), they moved to California, where they've been living for the past 9 years.  She works very part time as an Occupational Therapist and runs a play group once a week.  She describes the play group more as a place for Mom's to get together to support one another.  Shelley is Mom to two sweet children, Alexandra and Micah.

 

Kevin Brown- Kevin loved Southern so much that after he graduated, he became faculty in the Mathematics department.  He is married and has one child and another on the way!  Congratulations, Kevin!

 

Kathy Powers Withrow- Kathy graduated from Southern with her Nursing degree and began her career at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.  While working in the NICU she met her husband, Mark.   They have two handsome boys, Adam and Joshua, and are living in Johnson City, TN.  Kathy's free time is spent running 10K's, 15K's, half marathons, marathons, and the latest venture...a triathlon! 

 

Becky Patrie- Becky is living the good life in Hendersonville, NC.  She and her partner are the proud parents of a precious baby girl, Emma.  Actually, I'm sure their little one is walking and talking by now. 

 

Ricky Sulo- Ricky and his wife have two children and are living in Hendersonville, NC.  The last time I heard from Ricky he sent me an awesome picture of the Busch Racing Team he works for.  He's a Jack man and loves it!  If you've ever been to a race or watched one on TV, you know how quick he has to do his job and all the excitement that goes along with it.

 

Tammy Coon-  Tammy is a Medical Transcriptionist which has given her the great opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom to her two girls.  She's living in Hendersonville, NC and has become a darn good golfer.  She played in the Alumni Tournament this last fall.

 

Jaime Cruz Winton- Although Jaime didn't graduate from Fletcher, her two siblings (Ron and Rosellen Martinez) did.  Jaime graduated high school in Cape Coral, FLA and following that , enlisted in the United States Air Force.  She has since resigned from the Air Force and is now a wife to Jeff, and mom to three girls.  

 

While I was trying to fill the void of missing class members, Kevin so graciously contacted many of you and gave me your contact information.  Jaime Cruz is one of them.  Jaime has a MySpace and as I was reading it, something stood out loud and clear to me that demands recognition. 

 

Her brother, Ron is in the Army and at the time she wrote in her profile that he was about to be shipped out to Iraq (Ron’s contact information is in the 1988 Class Spirit, which is available on the Alumni Website www.fletcheralumni.com.).  Kevin is also in the process of getting me Jeremiah Curtis's information because he too has been or currently is in Iraq.  Brian Johnson is an Army Ranger and has had several trips to Afghanistan and Iraq.  Beth Curran's husband is in the Army and  Meretle Wilson was in the Army as well   We spent time working, sitting under the Willow Tree, or living with those that have given a great part of their lives to defend our freedom.   While we have coffee with friends, go to church, and live our lives, these guys are risking life and limb. 

 

I think I can say this for us all...Thank you, thank you, thank you Ron, Brian, Jeremiah, Meretle, to Beth's husband and any others that have served that I may not know about.  Thank you a thousand times.  You are doing a job that many of us have very little knowledge about or would be willing to do.  Thank you for defending our religious freedom so that those who have, and currently are, walking the halls of Fletcher Academy can openly experience the love of Jesus Christ.  We are honored to have you as classmates.

 

Please keep emailing me with news at hland0@earthlink.net!  I have a better computer now and hopefully any more pictures sent to me won't be erased. Then they can appear in the next newsletter.  Sorry to Becky and Ricky.  My wish is that each and every one of you has a wonderful New Year with much peace and many joys.

 

Heather Land