Update from Anne

There were eight of us MPE alums who met last Saturday at Jane Yelton's Christmas House to celebrate Christmas, renew friendships and to have a VERY GOOD TIME. Looking back, we were not only the oldest (age-wise) and smartest sorority at GSU and KSU, we knew how to enjoy our time together. That achievement continues. We welcomed a long lost member, Kathryn Offenhauer who has returned to Atlanta area and moved in at Park Springs where Alice Young lives. Caroline Wilson, in true sisterly spirit brought them to the brunch since neither of them are driving now.

Another attendee significant to our group was Christy Eckoff, who, in addition to being Director of Planned Giving at GSU, is our liaison with the GSU Foundation for our Mu Rho Sigma Scholarship. Our recipient this year is Ilona Prisacaru who may have set some achievement records in pursuit of becoming a Registered Nurse. She graduates tomorrow, 12/15/10. We congratulate Ilona and wish her well. The amount of her gift was $1,000. With tuition going up, we have hoped to have an award of $1,200. Christy answered our question by saying we would need a balance slightly above $25,000. LaVerne Miller, treasurer reported a balance on hand of close to $5,000. We voted to send $100 now in memory of our two who were deceased during this year, Anna Harrison Lindgren and Mary Childs.

We heard from several of our alums expressing regrets that they could not attend; an email from Kathleen Carey had special news to share--She and Sam are married now!! Kathleen is a person of no extra words so she did not give the date of the marriageCONGRATULATI or Sam's last name. We'll get all that later. They had been dating for quite a while. CONGRATULATIONS!

Each year we think the food can't get any better, and yet it does! There was sliced turkey, casseroles, salads and little quiches and Jane's pistachio cake as well as an assortment of cookies and candy. Most Christmasy thing were two platters of vivid green corn flake/marshmallow candies accented with brilliant red cinnamon candies. They were almost too delectable! The ten dollar gift exchange was a nice surprise--members knew where to snag marked down beautiful merchandise. As a THANK YOU to Jane, we say that every year we find happiness just being with her (and each other) in her home.

Please remember our contributions to Atlanta Day Shelter. Also, remember that we no longer pay dues, so maybe we can be a bit more generous. We are off to a good start, but deadline is December 20. Send a check to Anne Larcom, 244 River View Trail, Roswell, GA 30075.

First MPE Scholarship Recipient

Remember Sherry Shipskie, our first MPE Scholarship recipient? Actually, she was our first and second recipient--well, there have been some changes in her life which Anne wants to share with the blog--She and her husband were divorced a couple of years ago, as she said, "after 10 hard years together." She moved to Marietta, joined a church and began attending their Divorce Recovery Program, where, as she said, "I found amazing healing." Later she joined their singles ministry and somewhere along the way met a wonderful man named Chad. They dated for almost a year, then last July they were married. Now she is Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RD, LD, Sherry continues to work as a dietitian for the Cobb County School District.

Prior to the marriage, Sherry had gone on a mission trip to Karima in Kenya--a life-changing experience. She wrote an article about the journey which she titled, "Finding Abundance in Africa," and forwarded a copy along with her email. Sherry's new email address, dietitiansherry@gmail.com, will be added to Atlanta Alums so we can stay in touch. Anne invited her to our Holiday gathering. If she can make it, it will be quite a reunion. Also, she writes a blog--http://sherryrd.blogspot.com. Anne gave her our blog address.

Update from Kathy White

It's nice to read about everyone along with sorority news--thanks to Anne and BeBe! I talked with Jane yesterday and have considered flying up for the Christmas party but I guess that I'm getting too old and cranky to deal with the ever-changing security rules and regs. Would anyone be interested in a lunch get-together sometime next summer? That way I can drive from Va. to Atlanta. Kathy White

Update from Anne

THIS AND THAT--

Caroline Wilson has had a busy fall--went to CO to help when daughter Elizabeth had hip replacement surgery...then returned home to go on a tour of China. She will leave soon, going back to CO where Elizabeth will have replacement surgery done on BOTH KNEES at the same time! Surgeon says she is a good candidate. It should help having mama as a care-giver.

Jane Yelton has had a busy time recently but her tour was of the hospital! Seems that Jane inherited high blood pressure; when it spiked, it was off to the hospital for a week so it could be stabilized and brought under control. When she returned home, she was taking B/P meds 4 times a day which resulted in B/P being too low! Adjustments have been made and she is doing much better. Jane will, again, host our Holiday gathering on December 11th. Soon you will get an e-newsletter with details, but it is not too soon to locate and air out your Christmas sweater!

Susan Bennett has made a good recovery from rotator cuff (shoulder) surgery. However, she found that she did not get as much reading as she had planned--she couldn't get comfortable...bummer.

Our MPE Scholarship recipient is Ilona Prisacaru, a senior nursing student, who will graduate Dec. 15th. We have not been successful in arranging a date for getting together so that some of us could meet her, but it was her busy schedule and not for lack of trying that kept us apart. She will not be able to attend our Holiday luncheon but we hope that the "girls in the office" Christy Eckoff and Molly Shepherd will be available because we are looking forward to meeting Molly (who tried diligently to arrange a time for a get-to-gather) and to seeing Christy again.

The Booth Western Art Museum

Click on picture for museum link.
Please mark your calendars for the next adventure for The MRS Group:
On Saturday, September 25, we are going to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville. We are planning on being at the museum at 10:30. Directions at a later date.
*Seniors $8.00; Adults $10.00
*The fees need to be collected in advance in order to present one check to the museum.
*Wheelchairs are available upon request.
*Plans are being made for lunch.
*Call Jane Yelton for more information: 770-427-0533.
Link to the Booth Western Museum: http://www.boothmuseum.org/index.html
Directions: http://www.boothmuseum.org/visitor/visitor_home.html

Update from Anne

This is to let you know that we received a message this evening from Kathleen Carey that her mother, Virginia Carey died last Tuesday. A funeral mass was held today; she will be buried with her husband later but Kathleen did not give that information. Virginia had made her home with Kathleen until about three years ago when she needed to be in a personal care facility. It was there that she celebrated her 90th birthday.

Maybe some will remember her because she attended several of our sorority meetings and at least one of our annual meetings. She had been in a wheel chair for some years but she didn't let that get her down. She was self-sufficient and spent her days in painting and reading. You are encouraged to send a note or card to Kathleen--she has been stressed out at work from added responsibilities, with just enough energy to check on her mom. We need to let her know that we are thinking of her. Mailing address: 3154 Thornbush Court, Powder Springs, GA 30127.

Note to Susan

Hi Susan, Thank goodness your surgery is over and you only have to recover. Just follow your surgeon's suggestions and don't do too much too soon. I have had several in my staff who had the same operation and all three recovered beautifully and do whatever they want to. I fractured my back in two places in January, had surgery and am much better. Just takes time.

Darlene McCarter Whitetree

Note to Susan

Susan,

I sure don't envy you this surgery but you will feel so much better after the repair. Skip has had both shoulders done (I told him to be glad he wasn't an octopus!) and emphasizes how important the physical therapy is to full recovery. He did have rather explicit names for his therapists but gives them full credit for his mobility now! So hang in there and do your exercises.

OK--books suggested: Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), Year of Wonders (Geraldine Brooks), anything by Jodi Picoult, if you are a dog lover--The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein) and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (David Wroblewski)

Kathy White

Note to Susan

Hi Susan,

I'm glad you were able to take care of the troublesome rotator cuff, and won't have pain in the future from it. With a wonderful care-giver, and lots of loved ones around, the six weeks should pass quickly. What type of books do you like to read?

Have a very relaxed, easy ,and pain-free recovery.

Judy Baer

Note to Susan

To Susan, We are all so sorry that you had to have such an immobilizing-type surgery and we wish you a good recovery. We are glad that it has worked out and know that you are a good patient! So will you be ready to "BOX" WITH SOMEONE by the time the MRS Sisters meet on September 25th. Susan, you have the very best next thing after good surgeons--A DEVOTED CARE-GIVER. Blessings to all your family members. Wish I was nearer to where you live, I would bake you a pan of brownies! Anne

Update from Susan

greetings. sisters.

today i had surgery for a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder which has hurt for years. i got home at seven this evening, and because the nerve block has not worn off yet. i am not in much pain. I will have a completely immobilized left arm for six weeks, and then i will start four months of physical therapy. please forgive the absense of capital letters - i am a one-armed bandit at the present. I'm lucky to have my sweet husband who is already hard at work waiting on me hand and foot.

i wish everyone a happy and safe summer. after my post-op appointment next week we will go to the cabin with our kids to celebrate the 4th and our older grandson's seventh birthday. i plan to spend most of my time in a recliner reading good books. does anyone have a recommendation for a good read?

hope to see everyone at our next get-together.

susan bennett

Update from Anne

I had promised to provide an address for those members who remembered Mary and wanted to send a note of sympathy to the family. This is the address:

David and Sherry Childs, 520 Woodland Lane; Lawrenceville, GA 30043. David is the youngest of three sons and the one who came to help his mother with her TO--DO list every second Saturday. They must have had a very loving, meaningful relationship and I thought he should be commended for that. It is beautiful to contemplate the peace of mind that he brought to her. Mary continued to live in her home in Morrow, but whenever she had to be in the hospital for treatment, it was to David and Sherry's home that she would go to recuperate until close to the end when she went to a personal care home for therapy. Mary's leadership skills were very helpful during the mid-1960s when the sorority was being chartered, began having annual conventions, moved to a new chapter room and started to expand by forming other chapters. She dropped out for a while but came back as a member of Atlanta Alums. At the service celebrating Mary's life achievements, the sorority was represented by Pat Robertson, Caroline Wilson, Faye Hall and Gerrelldine Addy, with her new husband! Anne has sent a message of sympathy to Mary's family on behalf of Atlanta Alums, but the family would be pleased to hear from others, as well.

Have not been in touch yet with Deirdre Russell who emailed to say that she was having to undergo a hysterectomy about a week ago at what seemed to her, at least, a young age. We send Get Well greetings to her with caution about picking up their adorable little girl until she has fully healed. It was probably robotic surgery or laproscopic and maybe she didn't have many stitches.

The Booth Western Art Museum

*Click on picture to visit website.
Please mark your calendars for the next adventure for The MRS Group:
On Saturday, September 25, we are going to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville. We are planning on being at the museum at 10:30. Directions at a later date.
*Seniors $8.00; Adults $10.00
*The fees need to be collected in advance in order to present one check to the museum.
*Wheelchairs are available upon request.
*Plans are being made for lunch.
More details closer to the event.

Mary Childs Update

Pat Robertson has called to let our members know that one of our own, Mary Childs is seriously ill. She has been in ICU at St. Joseph Hospital for several days. Her heart condition worsened but Mary is not a candidate for heart surgery, so, other treatment had to be devised. Also, she was not eating; it was the family's decision to have a feeding tube inserted. For those who may not remember Mary, she was among the very active members in the mid-1960's, a time of change and growth for Mu Rho Sigma Sorority. They moved to a new chapter room across Courtland St. in the (then) new student center. Also, the sorority was incorporated, making it possible for them to form chapters in other colleges. With incorporation, the group at GSU became Alpha Chapter. Mary was active right away in the formation of Beta Chapter at UGA. She served as president of Alpha Chapter, and, later when Atlanta Alumnae Chapter formed, she served a term as president of the alumnae group, and also as convention planner. Our prayers and thoughts are with her family members. An update will be posted soon.

ALSO, this from Alice Young--she had a fall recently--she was standing too close to an automatic door at Park Springs and lost her balance when someone came charging through. She sustained a head injury and spent a night in Emory U. Hospital. They patched her up again and sent her home with instructions to use her walker (rolater). This coincided with her eye doctor appointment so it has been rescheduled for July--a long time to wait to find out why the Botox applied to the eyelid isn't working very well yet, making it difficult for her to see as well as she needs to. One good thing happened--daughter Cheri came from CA and spent four days with her mom.

From Anne

Thanks, Susan for filling us in on your family vacation at Saint Simons Island. You made it sound so appealing that we were ready to take off and join you but that would go beyond family. So, treasure these times together. The Larcoms certainly do--on Saturday we will travel to Tampa to attend our granddaughter's H/S graduation events. Susan, we do appreciate that you stay in touch even when traveling. Keep updating us on your happenings.

Best wishes from Anne and the gang.

ABOUT THE TRIP (FINALLY) TO BARNSLEY-- not many of us made the trip, eight altogether including three of the husbands. We enjoyed the day, walking between points of interest in a perfect-weather day. Almost everything seemed to be in bloom and many trees and shrubs had identification markers. We were impressed with the museum, created in parts of the ruins. Almost a century and a half have passed since Barnsley stood in regal splendor, unaware of the fate that awaited it. Still, curators have been able to come up with documents, photographs and pieces of furniture that tell a story of a much earlier time. We were fascinated to learn that when war, disease and other bad happenings took the men away, strong-minded women emerged to carry on, to save what they could, and to feed and care for the children.

Our last stop before departing for Red Top Mountain and the restaurant was the rose arbor where many climbing rose bushes had been trained over an overhead, curving frame work that seemed to go on for ever...the entrance was a good place for picture-making (with Judy Baer's I-phone and Caroline's disposable camera) as had been the fountain in front of the ruins, rising out of the parterre garden with boxwoods which had been planted in the 1840's when the mansion was young. Barnsley remains a place of history, intrigue and romance as was evident in preparations for a late afternoon garden wedding the day of our visit.

And, to Nola, if you had made it to Barnsley as you had planned, you would have been given a long, lost sister's welcome! We don't give up on our members, we are always waiting to welcome them. Bye for now.

From Nola

I hope everyone had a great time at Barnsley. I wasn't able to attend after all. Please click on link below:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/alumni/association/assoc.htm

From Susan Bennett

Dear Sisters,

I'm sorry to miss our reunion trip to Barnsley Gardens, but I am on St. Simons Island with my family for our annual Spring trip to the beach. We are staying in a wonderful four-story house right on the beach. At high tide, half of our steps to the beach are under water. It's more like being on a ship than in a house at some times of the day. David and I are here with our son Davis, his wife Helen and our two precious grandsons , Grayson, 6, and Candler, 5. We just love this week of non-stop fun and games - and arguing over who gets to punch the buttons on the elevator. Our days are filled with swimming in the pool, playing on the beach, arts and crafts, playing in the village playground, playing putt putt, and eating whatever we want whenever we want. We just hope that we can keep this tradition going forever.

We're really lucky to be here this week. We had quite a scare last week when David passed out at a church picnic and took a fast ride in an ambulance to Emory Hospital. It turned out that he had a complete electrical heart block, which the doctor said could very well have been fatal, but a pacemaker implanted last Monday fixed the problem. He's bruised and tired, but a very lucky man, and the doctors agreed that a week of rest and recovery at the beach surrounded by those who love him is just what he needed. How blessed we are! Just another reminder what a fine line we walk on all the time and how important it is to live life to the fullest every day. We know how fortunate we are that this happened five minutes from Emory Hospital and not two months ago when we were in Antarctica.

I hope everyone enjoyed the visit to Barnsley Gardens and being together. I look forward to the next Mu Rho Sigma event. I'm so happy that we decided we just couldn't let our association with each other end. Here's to a happy and healthy summer for everyone.

Susan Bennett

Deirdre Russell Comment

Just wanted to let you know that I cannot come to the reunion/meeting/event at Barnsley Gardens this Saturday. I am having all four wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday and I don’t think I will be up to much on Saturday.

You ladies have fun and take lots of pictures. Speaking of photos – here is a new one of my sweet baby girl Ginny.

and one of me AND Trish Early at a recent women’s conference (Trish is on the right, I am on the left)

Anna Lindren

DEATH OF OUR OTHER ANNA--It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Anna Harrison Lindgren on April 23, at age 89. She was a gifted violinist and active in many groups, including Mu Rho Sigma Sorority. In 1980, Anna was elected president of Atlanta Alumnae Chapter where she took on the project of innovative (goal-setting) and ongoing fund raising for the sorority's scholarship. Up until then the treasury would be depleted after the awarding of the scholarship. She was named "Alumna of the Year" in 1980. Anna became active in expansion by helping to organize other collegiate chapters of MPE. Additional info about Anna is found in "A History of Mu Rho Sigma" by checking the index

A private celebration of her life will be held at a later date where she made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, who, following retirement made their home in Pinehurst, NC. The sorority will make a contribution to our scholarship in her memory. Condolences may be expressed at http://www.ajc.com/obits.

Barnsley Gardens

Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville; I-75, exit 305. It is very well marked.
The cost for senior citizens is $8.00 and we are taking a self guided tour.
This is our reunion and we have to know how many will be attending.
Please call Jane Yelton at 770-427-0533 by May 7.
The date is Saturday, May 15 at 10:00.
Lunch at Red Top Mountain State Park.
Plans and business will be discussed at lunch.
Hope you can make it and look forward to hearing from you.
Click on the link below for Barnsley Gardens Information:
https://www.barnsleyresort.com/about/about.asp

Update from Anne!

From Anne --hope everyone had a beautiful Easter weekend. The weather was unusually nice (and warm), and trees and shrubs were in bloom. Everything was saying, "SPRING!" Anne is so used to cold weather at Easter that she had to scramble to find something suitable to wear to church! Guess it is OK to do the closet change-out now.

Hope most is well with our sisterhood. Let us hear from you. Don't forget May 15 and our trip to Barnsley Gardens.

Anna Lindgren Update

From Anne:
Anna Lindgren lives in Pinehurst, NC with her daughter and son-in-law. She fell and broke her hip in November. She had pneumonia while in the hospital and has spent the last three months recuperating. She is OK now and able to walk. I am sure that she would love to hear from any and all of her MRS friends:
Anna Lindgren
Y-40 CCNC
1600 Morganton Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374

Mary Childs Update

From Anne:
Atlanta Alum member Mary Childs has been dismissed from the Atlanta Medical Center, where she was being treated for a heart condition. She is now at Life Care Center for rehab. Her address her is: 3850 Safehaven Drive, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30044. A shower of cards would make her feel better, don't you think? Let's do it.

Bobbie Spivey Comment

Wow does that take me back! I remember Darlene - because I, too, was one of the group of new pledges that first semester at Georgia State (wasn't called GUS until later). I moved up later to become VP in charge of pledges and loved every minute of my two years at school and even more so the Alumni Chapter when it was much more social (with just a bit of business added). My Love to everyone still involved and I have enjoyed the long distance connection thru Anne's newsletters - but am ready to jump into the 21st century and use the blog. Bobbie Spivey '64 (jim-bobbie@att.net)

Comment from Darlene

A huge thank you for all of you who have kept the group going all these years. I am Darlene Whitetree, my maiden name, and was Darlene McCarter when I attended Georgia State in the 60s. I have moved back to my home in Cherokee, NC and am much closer to Atlanta. I would like to attend some of the MRS functions. I drafted the first copies of the MRS newsletter along with Sharon Arrowsmith.

MRS Sisters

Our group is comprised of girls who support and care for their MRS Sisters. The main objective of the group is to encourage and enrich the lives of their group.