Connections: Spring 2017

1956 Lawrence Barclay was named professor emeritus of Bible and biblical languages by the board of regents of Amridge University in June 2016 after 57 years of teaching (1959-75 at Faulkner University and 1967-2016 at Amridge University). He has been involved in deaf ministry for 45 years and currently serves as minister to the deaf at University Church of Christ in Montgomery, Alabama. His wife, Joanne Agnew (’57), taught many years at Alabama Christian Academy and Faulkner University and also was a media specialist in the Faulkner library. They have two sons, Nathan and David. (236 Harvard Road, Montgomery, AL 36109)

1967 David E. Smith was awarded the Fay Boozman Award, given annually to a physician who has demonstrated excellence in Christian faith and personal life, integration of faith into the practice of medicine, and commitment to community service and public health. He was a founder of Heart Clinic Arkansas and served as a cardiologist for 35 years. In 2012 he became director of supportive medicine at Baptist Health-Little Rock where he serves as chairman of the medical ethics committee. He is one of the founders of the Haiti Christian Development Project and has worked on short-term and development projects there since 1985. He also leads a group of physicians, dentists and eye specialists for clinical trips each year. After completing a master’s in bioethics, he has taught molecular biology, biochemistry and pre-med students at Harding each fall since 2000. He serves on Harding’s Missions Advisory Council and has helped develop a third-world village for training missionaries at Camp Tahkodah. He has been a deacon at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ for several decades and has been chairman of the missions committee. For almost 40 years, he taught a Wednesday night Bible and ethics class for medical students. He has worked in public health as chairman of the ad hoc physician orders for life sustaining treatment committee in an effort to enact legislation in Arkansas regarding patient care at the end of life. He and his wife, Linda Byrd , have three children, Jennifer Green (’94), Luke (’96) and Susie Madden (’00). (15 Shawbridge Lane, Little Rock AR 72212)

1978 Donald “Buzz” Ball has been named movie magic coordinator for B&B Theatres. He travels to all 51 locations in nine states training staff and management in guest relations, employee etiquette and guest experience. He has been with the company for more than five years after spending 35 years in the newspaper industry. He and his wife, Lanette Mahle , have two children. (710 S. Lincoln St., Neosho, MO 64850)

1982 Jo Matthews Umberger has been named vice president of philanthropy for New Life Behavior International. She has used her speech communications and education degree in business and missions. She and her husband, E.C. (’81), worked with an indigenous church in Adelaide, South Australia, in the 1980s before returning to the U.S. They have a son. (2902 Persimmon Place, Rowlett TX 75088).

1985 Todd Dewayne Edwards completed his doctorate in professional counseling from Mississippi College on Dec. 16, 2016. He and his wife, Anne Taylor , have three children, Emily, Allison and Joseph. (1916 Scenic Drive, Brandon, MS 39047)

1996 Phillip Shero has been named president of MasterMinds Leadership. He and his wife, Laura Rice (’94), have three children, Malachi, Israel and Annalise. (7625 Chestnut Drive, North Richland Hills, TX 76152)

Jason Wiles was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award at the 60th National Conference of the Association for College and University Biology Educators. He is a tenured professor of biology at Syracuse University. (1235 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203)

2001 Scott and Shannon Humphrey Sadik announce the birth of a daughter, Kennedy Isla, June 19, 2016. Scott is an engineer, and Shannon is in real estate. (157 Hamilton St., Rochester, NY 14620)

Sarah Terry married Zachary Lehr on Oct. 29, 2016. Sarah is a senior account executive with inVeritas, and Zachary is a public affairs specialist for the Arkansas Military Department. (1322-B Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, AR 72205).

2002 Tim Bewley , senior vice president and financial advisor at Pinnacle Financial Partners, has been named 2016 Young Leader of the Year by Young Leaders Council, a Nashville, Tennessee-based nonprofit organization. He has served on the YLC board of directors for the past five years. A recipient of Nashville Business Journals’ 2016 Power Leaders in Finance, he also is a member of the 2016 class of The Nashville Health Care Council Fellows program. He is past chairman, secretary and board member of AGAPE. He completed Belmont University’s executive leadership program in 2013. He and his wife, Holly McCulley (’03), have three children, McClain, Easton and Reagan. (103 Wickham Court, Hendersonville, TN 37075)

2003 Tyler Matlock was named head baseball coach at Newberg (Oregon) High School. He and his wife, Jessica Burger (’05), have a daughter, Bristol. (2203 Sam Parrett Drive, Newberg, OR 97132)

2004 Philip and Claire Davidson Draper announce the birth of a daughter, Miriam Margaret, Nov. 14, 2016. They also have a son, Zeke. (904 Sky Valley Trail, Smyrna, TN  37167)

Josh and Heather Guthrie Payne announce the birth of a daughter, Lydia Eve, Sept. 13, 2016. Josh is vice president and branch manager for Louisiana Land Bank. (130 Schneider Lane, Lake Providence, LA 71254)

2005 Scott (’04) and Alison Brown Colvin announce the birth of a daughter, Iris Faith, Sept. 26, 2016. They have three other children, Sophia, Silas and Josiah. (97 Coldspring Drive, Harvest, AL 35749)

2007 Peter (’09) and Tara Curtis Snell announce the birth of a daughter, Ruby Charlotte, Dec. 15, 2016. They have another daughter, Lena. (265 Betty Jo Lane, Memphis, TN 38117)

2008 Keenan and Lauren Rae Tish Carlton announce the birth of a son, Jace Harold, Nov. 21, 2016. They have another son, Tucker Judson. Keenan is a police officer for the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Lauren is a graphic designer. (3325 Marrast Drive, Clarksville, TN 37043)

2009 Jeffrey (’07) and Debbie Deacon Jones announce the birth of a daughter, Eliza Jean, Dec. 24, 2016. Jeffrey is a staff accountant, and Debbie is a teller supervisor. (11956 Meadow Run Court, Maryland Heights, MO 63043)

Caleb (’10) and Kristi Kridlo McNiece announce the birth of a daughter, Sophie June, Jan. 15, 2017. Caleb is educational audiologist for the Mid-Shore Special Education Consortium, and Kristi is a reading specialist at Sudlersville Middle School. (25455 Adams Landing Road, Denton, MD 21629)

2012 Samantha Simpson graduated cum laude from Belmont University College of Law in May 2016. She passed the Tennessee Bar Exam in October 2016 and was admitted to practice in the Tennessee Bar in November 2016. She is working as judicial law clerk for the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. (2021 Traemoor Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37209)

2013 Lacey Brown was named Teacher of the Year for Jim Allen Elementary in Pensacola, Florida. She teaches third grade. (11746 Old Course Road, Cantonment, FL 32533)

2014 Jackson Petty (’16) married Ashlyn Bolton on July 2, 2016. Jackson is in his first year of dental school at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Ashlyn is an assistant teacher for elementary girls at Youth Villages, a residential mental health facility. (610 Rienzie Drive, # 201, Memphis, TN 38103)