Category: 1956

Kerry E. Spiers ’56 of Louisville, Ky., died January 12, 2007, at this home with his loving family. Born in Detroit, Mich., he soon moved to Mobile, Ala., where he became an Eagle Scout.

After graduation from Davidson, he served in the U.S. Navy, and then studied at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, earning his master of divinity degree. He earned his master of arts at the University of Chicago Divinity School, then was pastor of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile for three years.

After earning his Ph.D. at Tulane University, he became professor of history at the University of Louisville, teaching there for thirty-one years. An avid traveler, Kerry spent much time studying at the Vatican and leading student groups to Italy and Greece. Throughout, he continued to serve the U.S. Navy in the Chaplain Corps., retiring with the rank of commander.

Survivors include his wife of forty-three years, the former Barbara Ramey, 2402 Malvern Hill Ct., Louisville, Ky. 40242; his daughter, Laura Harrell; and granddaughter, Hannah; sons, Kelly and Patrick; his father and stepmother, Tally and Dolores Spiers of Mobile; and his brother Dennis (Sherry).

“Hey, Doc” was how most greeted him. “A carpenter by trade,” was his typical response.

Born Jan. 3, 1935, Dr. Sellers Luther Crisp was a gifted orthopedic surgeon, an avid cook and gardener, and a lover of learning. He enjoyed attending operas, reading books of history and listening to classical music.

Dr. Crisp was most happy when he was outdoors, sitting in a duck blind, setting drift nets in a rickety rowboat, or only watching the moon over the ocean.

Dr. Crisp, 70, died Thursday, May 5, 2005.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the corner of 14th and Elm Streets, where Dr. Crisp maintained a vegetable garden for more than two decades.

The son of Rose Nowell and Sellers Mark Crisp Jr., Dr. Crisp was born in Greenville and educated at Episcopal High School, Davidson College, and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. His medical training continued at Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University.

After serving in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, he returned to the University of NC to complete his residency. Then, he came back to Greenville, where he was an orthopedic surgeon and a farmer until his retirement.

In 1962, Dr. Crisp married Nelson Blount, also of Greenville.
During their 43 years of marriage, Dr. and Mrs. Crisp shared many joys. They included meals prepared by Dr. Crisp; the births of their three children, Mary Louise Lowe, Sellers Luther Crisp Jr., and Florence Amanda Crisp; playing doubles tennis; skiing (downhill in their younger years and cross-country in their later years); and swimming and sailing.

Dr. Crisp did not consider his family complete without a four-legged companion, generally a mischievous pug. His mornings were incomplete without a humorous exchange with his beloved friend, Carrie Barnes.

He enjoyed traveling to places of historical significance and to visit his seven grandchildren, Caroline, Grace, and Olivia Lowe, Sellers and Shepherd Crisp, and Beatrice and Luke Hruska.

Surviving Dr. Crisp are his wife, children, grandchildren, and Cleo, his pug.

Instead of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Davidson College or the UNC School of Medicine.

George J. Walker ’56, Brig. Gen., U.S. Army Retired, passed away April 11, 2005, at his home, in Niceville., Fla., after a sudden heart attack.

A graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Ga., he received a master’s in political science from Auburn University. General Walker served six years in the Quartermaster Corps of the Army and the remainder of his active service in Military Intelligence. He served tours in France, Germany, Korea and Vietnam, as well as stateside assignments.

He was a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College and the Air Force War College. He served as chief of staff and later as Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and as chief of staff, and later, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command in Washington, D.C. His final assignment prior to retirement in 1989 was as director of intelligence, J2, of Forces Command in Atlanta, Ga.

After retirement from the Army, he and Mrs. Walker resided in Huntsville, Ala., where he was employed by Science Applications International Corporation and did consulting work in the United Arab Emirates. He was president of the Huntsville chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and chairman of the Military Retiree Advisory Council to the Commander, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. He volunteered with the Huntsville chapter of the American Red Cross.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Hall of Fame at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. and served as the honorary colonel of the Army’s Military Intelligence Corps from 1994 until 1998. General Walker was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association of Uniformed Services, the Association of The United States Army.

He was also a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. Among General Walker’s awards and decorations were the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2OLC, Army Commendation Medal with 1OLC, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, four awards of the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign with four campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Cross.

Since moving to Niceville, Jerry he was active in the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of forty-four years, Mary Frances Pennacchio Walker, 4203 Whitetail Cir, Niceville, Fla. 32578; a daughter, Michelle Walker Carnes of Martinez, Ga.; two sons, Scott Thomas Walker of Hedgesville, W.Va., and George Allan Walker of Plano, Texas.

Additionally, he is survived by grandchildren Jason Carnes of Bluffton, S.C., Laurie Carnes Graham of Augusta, Ga., Jeremy Carnes of Martinez, Ga., Marlee, Colby, Wesley and Samantha Walker of Plano, Texas. He is survived by one great-grandson Hayden Graham of Martinez, Ga., by two brothers, Douglas W. Smith of Greensboro, N.C., and Andrew Smith of Rome, Ga.

Published in The Greenville News on Sept. 24, 2004