Deaths

1940s

Agnes Evatt Prochaska 44N of Pompano Beach, Fla., on Sept. 28, 2017. She worked as a public health nurse in South Georgia during WWII and the Korean War. After moving to Fort Lauderdale, she became a fashion model. She was predeceased by her former husband, Arthur John Prochaska Sr., and her son, Arthur. Survivors include her longtime companion, Murray Hunter, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law.

Mary Nell Gholson 48N of Atlanta on Feb. 15, 2018, at age 90. She was a member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church for more than 60 years. Preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Alex Gholson, she is survived by her sister, a son, four daughters, their spouses, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Barbara Wetherell Stanton 48N of Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 4, 2016. Survivors include a son and daughter. They write that she enjoyed reading Emory Nursing.

1950s

Ann Russell Lukawecki 52N of Seneca, S.C., on Sept. 15, 2017, at age 89. Survivors include her husband, Stanley, and daughters Amy and Laura.

Pauline V. Ellis 53N of Spring Hill, Fla., on March 2, 2018, at age 86. She served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. She received her master’s degree at the University of Florida and was teaching pediatric nursing when she retired in 1976. Survivors include a sister and several nieces and nephews.

Dr. Constance (Connie) Havird Skalak 56N 61MSN of Augusta, Ga., on Feb. 9, 2018, at 83. She taught nursing at Emory, was chair of adult nursing at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and retired as chair and professor of nursing from Augusta State University. Survivors include two sons and five grandchildren from her first marriage and three children and more grandchildren from her second marriage.

Willa R. Jelks 59N of Macon, Ga., on Jan. 6, 2018. She began her nursing career at Henrietta Egleston Hospital in Atlanta before moving to Macon and working at Macon Hospital, which later became the Medical Center of Central Georgia. She continued nursing there until 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jordan O. Jelks, and a brother. Survivors include a brother, two sons, their spouses, and five grandchildren.

Rochelle H. Johnston 59N 69MSN of Tennessee on Sept. 21, 2017.

1960s

Mary Jane Carter 60N of Richardson, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2017. She was active in her community and in the lives of her four children and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son and her husband of 58 years, Buford Henry Carter Jr. Survivors include two sisters, two sons, a daughter, and 11 grandchildren.

Normeda L. Hope 61N of Dade City, Fla., on Oct. 22, 2016, at age 94. She was a member of the Descendants of Florida Pioneers, the Daughters of the American Revolution, First Baptist Church of Dade City, and the Dade City Garden Club. She is survived by a nephew and two nieces.

F. Geraldine (Gerry) Bowen 65MSN of Olive Branch, Miss., on Nov. 16, 2017, after a long illness. Her 26-year nursing career spanned from South Carolina to Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee. She was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving as captain in the U.S. Air Force in San Antonio, Texas. After completing her nursing career, she served three terms as a missionary with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. She served four years in the Gaza Strip, four years in the People’s Republic of China, and lastly in Wiesbaden, Germany. Survivors include a sister, niece, and nephew.

Marie Brown McGiboney 65N 66MSN of Conyers, Ga., on Oct. 9, 2017, at age 86. She worked at Crawford Long Hospital (presently Emory University Midtown Hospital) for 22 years. She was director of nursing at A.G. Rhodes Nursing Home in Atlanta and supervisor of nursing at Westbury Nursing Home in Conyers. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Algay McGiboney, and her daughter, Laural Ellen. Survivors include a brother, a nephew, two great-nieces, and two great-nephews, as well as her special friend, Marjorie Johnson.

Jeanne Walker Derington 69MSN of Huntsville, Ala., on Aug. 12, 2017, at age 80. She married Ralph St. Clair Sutphin and had two children before his death in 1963. In 1978, she married James C. Derington Sr., and they were married for 33 years. She taught nursing at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Survivors include a son and daughter, six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

1970s

Deborah Joy Hastings 76N of Stone Mountain, Ga., on Nov. 18, 2017, at age 62. A native of Columbia, S.C., the retired RN worked at Georgia Baptist Hospital and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. Her family and church were most important to her. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Richard W. Hastings, a daughter and son, their spouses, two sisters, three brothers, and seven grandchildren.

Susan E. Neer 76MSN of Alpharetta, Ga., and formerly of Decatur, Ga., on Jan. 4, 2016, at 75.

Dr. Hilda (Terry) Pickney Pitts  77MSN, formerly of Martinsville, Va., on Feb. 22, 2017, at age 84. She was a nursing instructor for many years at Patrick Henry Community College, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Averett College. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Clyde E. (Whitey) Pitts, three daughters, a sister and brother, their spouses, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

1980s

Patricia Ann (Cornell) Hasenyager  82MSN of Grand Rapids, Mich., on Aug. 5, 2017, after a stroke. She and her first husband, Dr. Homer E. (Gene) Cornell, had three children and lived in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Mich. He died suddenly in 1976. After earning her MSN at Emory, Pat accepted a managerial position in pediatrics at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. She remained there until her retirement in 1998. She married Rhonald Hasenyager in 1991, and they had four happy years together until his death. Survivors include two daughters, a stepdaughter and stepson, and seven grandchildren.

Elizabeth Campbell (Betty) Walker 83MSN of Atlanta, on Dec. 28, 2017. She worked many years at Egleston Hospital and was one of the original employees of the Marcus Autism Center. She completed her nursing career there as director of health services. Along the way, she mentored many nurses as an instructor at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. In 1958, she married M. Lawrence (Larry) Walker of Decatur. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, their three sons, and seven grandchildren.

Susan E. Young Dollar 89MSN of Dalton, Ga., on Dec. 11, 2015, at age 65. She worked in nursing for more than 44 years. In addition to her MSN from Emory, she earned a master’s in business administration and a nurse practitioner degree. Survivors include her husband, Roger, a daughter and daughter-in-law, and three sisters and their spouses.

James H. (Jay) Morgan 89N 95MSN of Dawsonville, Ga., at age 65 after a long battle with cancer. He was a nurse practitioner in a family practice serving the Blairsville area until recently. Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Mimi (Ridgely) Morgan, three daughters, five grandchildren, and three sisters.

1990s

Lovenia Lewis 90N of Roseville, Mich., and formerly of Atlanta, on July 16, 2017. She loved teaching and opened one of the first hemodialysis training centers in Michigan. Survivors include a daughter, two grandchildren, a sister, and three brothers.

Elma Lee McFall 93MSN of Decatur, Ga., on Nov. 21, 2017, at 74, from Lewy body dementia. She lived most of her life in DeKalb County and had two passions: nursing and horses.  She began her nursing career as a candy striper at Egleston Hospital and as president of the Future Nurses Club of Georgia. Lee worked as an RN at Georgia Baptist Hospital, Emory University Hospital, and DeKalb General Hospital before beginning her long tenure at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center. After her 6 AM to 2 PM shift at the VAMC, she hit the road in her pickup truck to stables in the Atlanta area. She loved riding, showing, and competition. Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, as well as her equitation friends.

Shelley M. Worden 97MSN of Gainesville, Ga., on Dec. 3, 2017, at age 56. She was a lifelong resident of Hall County, where she was a graduate of the North Hall High School Class of 1979.

2000s

Carol A. Hellmer 07MSN of Stockbridge, Ga., on Jan. 17, 2018, at age 61. She was a dedicated nurse practitioner, mother, and wife. Survivors include her husband Paul, two daughters, a son, two grandchildren, and her mother and sister.

Walter E. (Walt) Mason Jr. 15N of Cumming, Ga., unexpectedly, on Oct. 1, 2017, at age 48. He was a former employee of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Survivors include his wife Rebecca, a son, and his parents.