Class Notes

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, announces the appointment of J. Edward Brea as general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok. Prior to this appointment, Mr Brea spent two years as general manager of Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai. An Australian-American national with more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, 14 of which were spent with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Mr Brea brings to Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok extensive management experience gained in five-star international hotels and resorts in Hawaii, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia and Canada. He first joined the Shangri-La family in 2000 at Island Shangri-La Hong Kong as hotel manager before moving through the ranks to senior management positions in various Shangri-La hotels, including Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore as hotel manager, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns; Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur; Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver; and Kerry Hotel, Pudong, Shanghai, where he was the general manager of these properties. Mr Brea graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Maryville College’s School of Liberal Arts, Tennessee, USA and attended the Executive Management and General Manager Programmes at Cornell University. In his new capacity, Mr Brea will oversee one of the group’s flagship properties in Bangkok. The 7.2-acre lush tropical city resort by the legendary Chao Phraya River has 802 guestrooms and suites, nine restaurants and bars, and a signature spa.

Ed Brea ’80, has been appointed Managing Director at Rosewood Yangon, Myanmar. With more than 30 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Ed has managed prestigious properties in Asia, most recently for Kempinski Hotels, as well as for Hyatt, Shangri-La, and One&Only Resorts. Scheduled to open in Q4 2018, the Rosewood Yangon, housed in a meticulously restored colonial-era building dating back to 1927, is located on the Strand riverfront in the heart of the city’s historic district within walking distance to the city’s most notable attractions and business district

retired as an educator for the Texas Public Schools, after 32 years of service. My last assignment was with Huntington High School, where I served as the Asst. Principal for nine years. I worked as a teacher, coach, bus driver, as well as other duties as assigned. Now I will play golf, ref football, find a low stress part time job, volunteer at non-profits, and sing off key in the choir at church.

55, passed away peacefully at Vidant Hospice Center following a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday at 3:30 pm in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel. Susan was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 30, 1958. She attended Stranahan High School and graduated from Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee, with a Bachelor’s degree in Interpreting for the Deaf. She earned a Master’s degree in Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. She was employed by the State of North Carolina as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor until her retirement. She was preceded in her death by parents, Grant and Jean Wenkstern of Fort Lauderdale. Left behind to cherish her memory include her husband of 29 years, Dr. Lewis B. Gidley; and her children, Emma, Grant and Molly Gidley all from Greenville; and brothers, Dr. Michael Wenkstern and wife, Phyllia, of Martinsville, Virginia and Kermit Wenkstern and wife, Laura, of Fort Lauderdale

Denise Hinds, named today as one of New York City’s LGBTQ+ Power Players!

The write up below is an inspirational testament to the work that Denise leads both inside and outside of GSS.

Information on the full list of LGBTQ+ Power Players can be found at   https://politicsny.com/power-lists/lgbtq-power-players/page/10/

Denise Hinds – Chief Program Officer for Youth and Family Well-Being

Good Shepherd Services

Denise Hinds (she/her) is the chief program officer for youth and family well-being at Good Shepherd Services. In 35 years at Good Shepherd Services, she has been instrumental in developing innovative programs. For 10 years, Denise has led the LGBTQ workgroup in creating a culture of awareness, acceptance, and celebration. Denise works to ensure Good Shepherd is a welcoming place for all within the LGBTQ community. Denise is also on the board of Family Equality, a national organization championing the rights and needs of LGBTQ people to have families. She is the board chair of the Newark LGBTQ Community Center.

What is your favorite Pride Month event or celebration?

My favorite Pride month event is the DYKE March!! It’s one of the most exhilarating and uplifting events I participate in during Pride and one that energizes me as I continue on in this work. I especially love marching with other LGBTQIA+ people in an act of resistance rather than celebration as we continue to fight for the rights of LGBTQIA people everywhere. To me it’s a real demonstration of the strength and resilience of the community I love so much!!

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?

I am most inspired daily by the life of icon Audre Lorde. Since I first read her work in my thirties she has been a guiding force and inspiration in my life. Sharing similar backgrounds being children of Caribbean parents and growing up in NYC made it easy for me to identify with her, but the power of her words and the way she lived her life unapologetically black and queer is the main thing that inspires me. She talked about learning to be unafraid to speak her truth, which helped me to find my own voice in the world.

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride Month?

Everyone has a part to play. Our community is in a fight for our lives now more than ever. There seem to be forces working to ensure that LGBTQIA+ rights are stripped away. We need everyone to help us fight against this type of erasure. We need to make sure our lives and the lives of all within our LGBTQIA spectrum matter, and we need our allies and our friends more than ever to help us do that. It’s about speaking up and speaking out when- and wherever possible, not just waving a flag or wearing a rainbow shirt.

How can businesses create more inclusive environments for their employees and patrons?

Businesses can make environments more inclusive by making sure that everyone feels welcome. Ensuring that everyone can see themselves in their branding is one way. From the moment you walk in the door, it can be the very subtle things that help employees and patrons know this is a welcoming and safe space. Encouraging the use of pronouns sends a very important message to everyone that the way they identify themselves matters and is respected.

Following a national search, the Limestone College Athletics Department introduced Tony Ierulli, formerly the defensive ends coach at Carson-Newman University, as the program’s third head football coach during a press conference at the Stephenson Dining Hall & Conference Center on Friday, February 10. See more: http://wspa.com/2018/02/16/limestone-names-tony-ierulli-as-head-football-coach/

Jill Kinsinger Koss, 1981, is the 2023 Distinguished Award Recipient from the Association Of Child Life Professionals.  If you would like to read more about it see the link below.

https://www.childlife.org/resources/aclp-bulletin/jill-koss-2023-distinguished-service-award-recipient

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville announces the death of Mr. John Franklin Rhodes, Jr., age 57, of Blairsville, who passed away on Monday, June 29, 2015 in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Mr. Rhodes was born in Arcadia, Florida, on October 23, 1957, a son of John Franklin Rhodes, Sr., and Charlotte Joann Stewart Rhodes. He was a physical therapist.

After 34 years in public education, Steve Serotte, has retired. As a teacher, head football coach, then an assistant principal, Steve began his career as a teacher in Miami, FL. In the mid 80’s Steve transitioned to Louisville, KY where he continued to teach, became a head football coach then earned a principal’s certificate from the University of Louisville. He then completed his career as an assistant principal for the school district in Louisville, KY.

James Lawrence “Larry” Wright passed peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning, the Lord’s day, November 26, 2017 from heart failure after having braved several heart surgeries over the past 5 years. Larry was born on March 2, 1959 in Gainesville, Florida to Rose Marie Vernier and Donald Drew Wright. He attended Maryville College in Tennessee where he played football as starting middle linebacker and graduated with a BA in History. He also played semi-professional football for the West Virginia Rockets as middle linebacker. In 1978, Larry received a Congressional Nomination and Appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York where he completed Beast Barracks and played football for the Black Knights of Army, but elected to pursue a career in law rather than the military. Larry attended University of Houston Law School and graduated at the top of his class. There, he met the love of his life, Belinda Davis Wright, when they became Moot Court partners, and they were married on August 29, 1987 in Austin, Texas. They moved to Elgin, Texas in 1989 where they established their family home on a ranch and were blessed with five daughters who are forever the light and joy of their father’s life: Savannah Marie Wright, Sarah Frances Wright, Alexandra Rose Wright, Lauren Mary Wright and Lacey Allison Wright. Larry began his law career as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Judge Jim Wallace on the Supreme Court of Texas, then became an associate attorney with Vinson & Elkins. He devoted the bulk of his career as a trial lawyer to helping the oppressed and those who’d suffered injury or wrongdoing, first as a partner with Mithoff & Jacks, then with the Watts Law Firm, and finally at Environmental Litigation Group before retiring last year. As a strong Christian man, Larry always endeavored to fulfill his calling by blessing others with his God-given talents as a brilliant lawyer and trusted friend. Larry was a member of First Baptist Church in Elgin and will be remembered fondly in the community as the doting father who took all five of his daughters to church and the City Cafe every Sunday when they were growing up. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends who drew strength from his wisdom and courage as one who loved others unconditionally and was always ready to lend a helping hand. Larry is survived by his wife, Belinda, and his five daughters, Savannah, Sarah, Alexandra, Lauren and Lacey; his mother Rose Vernier; his brothers Sam Wright and wife Yi Zhu, and Drew Wright and wife Bridget McKinley; his sister Alice Wright and husband Joga Rao; sister-in-law Beverly Garrett Feltis and husband Al Feltis; brother-in-law Jim Davis and wife Mary Davis; nephews Joshua Garrett and Devin McKinley-Wright, and niece Nola McKinley-Wright. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Wright; grandmothers Carrie Wright and Marie Fallin; aunt Mary Wright Butler; cousins Susan Lonon and Michael Lonon; brother-in-law Mark Garrett; and nieces Glorianne Davis and Elizabeth Garrett. A Celebration of Larry’s Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 9 at Family Worship Center in Elgin, Texas. A private family burial will be held on the family ranch at a later date.