"University pauses to honor those lost"

(This is the article & picture that appeared in Athens' newspaper today--its by Lee Shearer. I'm hugging Shelley, the lady in purple. She is expecting her and Dirk's baby on July 4th.)

The University of Georgia honored members of the university community who lost their lives during the past year in an annual memorial service Tuesday evening.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams added three more names to the list, asking the solemn group of more than 100 outside the UGA Chapel to remember the three people slain Saturday at a community theater gathering.

"This year like every year and especially tonight, we come together as a community in mourning," Adams said and named Marie Bruce, 47, Tom Tanner, 40, and Ben Teague, 63, shot to death at the Athens Community Theater off Prince Avenue on Saturday afternoon.

None worked at or were students at UGA, but had close ties to the university, Adams said.

Bruce was a former employee and a graduate of the university's school of law; Tanner was a former faculty member; and Teague's wife is UGA English professor Fran Teague.

Authorities on Tuesday still were seeking the suspected gunman, 57-year-old UGA professor George Zinkhan.

"We struggle with what we know and we struggle yet with what we don't know," Adams said.

Following Adams' brief remarks and a prayer, a bell tolled and UGA students lit candles as Student Government Association President Katie Barlow, Staff Council President Stuart Ivy and University Council executive committee Chairman Bruce Hollett one by one read the names of the departed.

They called the names of 11 students, 11 faculty members and staff workers, and one recent graduate - far fewer than last year, when the bell tolled for 40 people, including 24 students.

More than a dozen family members came to remember physical plant worker Dora A. Williams, who died suddenly April 22, 2008, two weeks after her 44th birthday.

Williams' mother, Magnolia Williams, said afterward she is grateful for the annual service.

"It makes me feel really good that somebody besides me is thinking about my child," she said.

Students who were lost in the past year include:

Elena Rae Shaw, incoming freshman from Sautee;

Sara Beth Ward, a senior majoring in English, Lawrenceville;

Jason Z. Hao, sophomore pre-business major, Atlanta;

Isaias Ramos, senior majoring in genetics, Woodstock;

Brian C. Butler, senior majoring in health and physical education, Commerce;

Sloan E. Cleary, incoming freshman, Evans;

Nathan G. Yorke, freshman, Charlotte, N.C.;

John M. Conn Jr., a student in the School of Law, Monroe;

Michael T. Roberds, senior majoring in biology, Kennesaw;

Dirk P. Magwitz, a doctoral candidate in child and family development in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Girardeaux, Mo.;

Miley E. Duvall of Tiger, 2008 graduate, biology.

Staff and faculty remembered Tuesday include:

Alisha T. Davis, food services;

Dora A. Williams, physical plant;

Randy Linda Sturman, lecturer in religion;

W. Hamilton Jordan, public service associate in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government;

William B. Wheeler, Continuing Education Operating Services;

Ruth S. Fleming, Continuing Education Auxiliary Services;

John R. Harrell, Cooperative Extension;

W. Floyd Hall, physical plant;

Jeffrey L. Clemons, food services;

Michael A. Johnson, Graduate School;

Diane T. Miller, Cooperative Extension.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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