Category: 1970

William Davis Fishback, Jr., 76, passed away at home Tuesday, July 16th. Born in Lexington, KY, he was the son of the late William Davis Fishback, Sr. and Frances Gore Fishback. Dave graduated from The Lexington School, Henry Clay, Davidson College and Auburn University where he received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. While doing a veterinary internship in Charlottesville, VA he met his future wife, Betsy Buchanan Fishback. Dave began his veterinary career at Woodford Veterinary Clinic, moving to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in 1975. He would remain at Hagyard for the remainder of his career, serving as President for over a decade, and retiring in 2018. He would always state that he had the best job because he was able to drive around the bluegrass, see all of his best friends, and take care of horses everyday. Dave also had a passion for his family business. He and his father bred stakes winning Thoroughbreds and Angus cattle at their family farm, Glen Airy, in Versailles. Dave wore several other hats in the equine and local community. He served many boards and organizations throughout his life: The Lexington School Board of Trustees, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Pisgah Community Club, Pisgah Presbyterian Church Session, Woodford Humane Society, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, The American Veterinary Medical Association-Council on Education, American Association of Equine Practitioners, Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, and Thoroughbred Club of America. Giving back was a way of life for him, and something for which he never wanted to receive praise. 

More than anything, Dave took much pride in his relationships with family and friends. Dave was a devoted friend, son, brother, husband, father, and a very proud grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betsy Buchanan Fishback. Dave is survived by his daughters, Leslie Fishback Cutchins and husband Chip of Virginia Beach, Sarah Davis Fishback of Lexington, and his grandchildren, Cooper Anne Cutchins, Cecil Vaughan Cutchins, III, and Elizabeth Davis Cutchins, all of Virginia Beach. Dave is also survived by his sister, Frances Fishback Allen, his sister-in-law, Deborah Ann Buchanan, and three nieces, Sheila Camp Motley, Robin Janette Allen, and Elizabeth Allen Giordano.

Visitation will be held at Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home in Versailles, KY from 5pm to 8pm on Sunday, July 21st. On Monday, July 22nd a Celebration of Life will take place at Holly Hill Inn in Midway, KY from 2pm to 5pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, P.O. Box 13155, Lexington, KY 40511, the Markey Cancer Foundation, 115 Waller Avenue, Lexington, KY 40503, or Woodford Humane Society, P.O. Box 44, Versailles, KY 40383.

Anne Borden Lee, who died unexpectedly on September 14, 2022 at age 73, loved sailing, hunting, and fishing and was looking forward to her first saltwater fly-fishing expedition in the Pacific Line Islands. An intrepid traveler, Anne enjoyed exploring the world on safaris and far flung adventures as well as professionally, as a surgeon.

Born in Wilmington, NC, on December 7, 1948, Anne attended the Porter-Gaud School, Charleston High School, and Davidson College, a school to which she was devoted—most recently enjoying her 50^th reunion. Anne received her training at the Medical University of South Carolina. She practiced in the Charleston area, in the Florida Keys, and, as a locum tenems surgeon in a number of remote areas of the United States.

Anne read widely and loved to write. Fascinated by Jungian psychology, she was deeply religious and an active participant in several study and dream groups.

She was married twice. Her first spouse died of cancer; Anne was a devoted caregiver throughout that long illness. Her second marriage ended in divorce. She is predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Mary Borden Lee of Charleston, SC, and a brother Lawrence Lee of Savannah, GA. Survivors include a nephew, L. Borden Lee, two nieces, Shannon Lee and Ramsay Jarvis, six great nephews and one great niece—as well as many other relatives from both sides of her family.

Funeral arrangements in Charleston are by the J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home. A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September, 30, 2022, at Lebanon Chapel in Airlie Gardens, Wilmington, NC, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery to follow. Memorial contributions may be made to: the Kanuga Conference and Retreat Center, Hendersonville, NC. or to Davidson College.

John Witherspoon Foster passed away on July 8, 2022 at the age of 73 after a long battle with Lewy Body dementia. 

John was born on November 6, 1948 in Columbia, South Carolina to Charles Cantzon and Isabel Witherspoon Foster. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Charles McDonald Foster. Raised by an accountant with a penchant for farming and a schoolteacher, John deeply valued education and the outdoors. Congaree Farm, which belonged to John’s grandfather, is where he felt most at home. 

John obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Davidson College in 1970 before studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. He then went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude in 1976. Following law school, John moved to New York City where he began his career as an attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell. He was married to Vesta Anne Haselden in 1977, and the two eventually moved back to their mutual hometown of Columbia to start a family. John practiced law and co-founded Foster Saad, a real estate development company dedicated to new development in the Midands and the preservation of historic buildings in downtown Columbia. 

John was an avid outdoorsman and particularly enjoyed hunting, horseracing, sailing, and flying airplanes. A colorful storyteller, John relished sharing tales of his adventures, like the time he crewed a sailboat from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Gibraltar, eating flying fish for dinner. He also had a passion for animals and a penchant for history. John’s greatest love of all however, was reserved for his daughters and grandchildren. 

John was a member of the Palmetto Club, Forest Lake Country Club, the Columbia Cotillion, The Centurion, and the Pine Tree Hunt Club. 

John is survived by his two daughters, Vesta Murray Ferris (Mead) and Isabel Foster Berbert (Tayloe); his grandchildren, Mead Boykin Ferris IV, Charles Witherspoon Ferris, Louise Blalock Ferris, Knox Blalock Berbert; his sister, Ann Foster Alexander; and his former spouse, Anne Haselden Foster. 

His family would like to give special thanks to the remarkable staff at Still Hopes Retirement Community who took such good care of John in his final years. 

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, a sanctuary for retired thoroughbreds (PO Box 122 Greenville, NY 12083; 518-755-1813). Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com

Nelson Dyer Abell III died peacefully at his home in Monroe, LA on Friday, October, 22, 2021, at the age of 73, with his family present.

Nelson was born in Monroe and was educated in the Monroe City Schools; Lexington, Lee Jr. High and Neville High School. He then went on to Davidson College and the University of Texas Law School (which cemented his love for Texas). A member of the Navy ROTC, he had hoped to fly. When his hopes were dashed due to poor eyesight, he was transferred to the Army, where he was a 1^st Lieutenant assigned to the Air Defense Artillery.

After graduating from U.T. Law and passing the bar, he returned to Monroe and started a business with his father. Poly Processing Company grew to be a national manufacturer and distributor of rotationally molded tanks. After serving as President at P.P.C., he moved on to start a distributorship under the name Poly Corr, Inc., specializing in corrosion resistant applications, which he operated until his retirement in 2015.

A lover of the outdoors, Nelson enjoyed hunting, fishing, and exploring the lands around him. He was a lifelong Presbyterian, first at First Presbyterian Church and then Covenant Church.

He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Stephanie Dawson Abell; children, Graham Nelson Abell, Claire Dawson Abell Fletcher, and her husband, Nate; and much loved grandchildren, Jack Hughes Fletcher and Georgia Nell Fletcher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nelson D. Abell, Jr. and Bennie Hughes Abell. He leaves behind brothers; Graham Hughes Abell and Dixon Warren Abell and their families.

Nelson was active in the community, serving on the boards of First Presbyterian Church Session, United Way, Association of Rotational Molders, Central Bank, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LABI, St. Patrick’s Hospital, Monroe Educational Foundation, and others.

Honoring Nelson as pallbearers are Markley Huey, Arthur Liles, Clyde White, Ronnie Myrick, Harry Goldman, Bo Shaw and Burton Wade. Honorary pallbearers will be Robins Brice, Rick Harrell, Bill Knolle, and David McClintock.

The family expresses appreciation to Debra J. Mitchell for her 40 year participation in and support of their family.

Memorials may be made to the Chennault Aviation Museum, 701 Kansas Lane, Monroe, LA 71201; Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1901 Milton, Monroe, LA 71201; or the charity of the donor’s choice.

A celebration of Nelson’s life will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Pastor John Mabray officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M. at the church.

Entombment will follow services at Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens Open Air Chapel Mausoleum, 8729 Cypress Street, West Monroe. Services are under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe.

Online condolence messages may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

The Senior High School Class of 1966, lost a special alumni recently, James “Jimmy” B. Milholland died Tuesday July 6, 2021, after a brief, fierce and courageous battle against cancer.

He is well remembered as a good friend and superb student through all the years in elementary school, junior high and high school. The impact of his death is lessened by recalling the good times we all had growing up together.

After graduation from Senior High School, Jim attended Davidson College, graduating in 1970, with honors with a B.S. in mathematics. He was also a member of the German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha, at Davidson. After graduation, he started his actuarial career.

James B. Milholland, FSA 1978, MAAA 1979, was an accountant, an actuary and a partner with Ernst & Young for over 28 years, when he retired in 2006. He started his actuarial career with Milliman and Robertson in Milwaukee before joining Ernst & Ernst in the Denver office and then on to Atlanta. In Jim’s last years with Ernst & Young, the firm seconded him to the London office to work on the evolving IFRS regulations at the time.

Throughout his career, he was prolific in the insurance financial reporting realm, having a PGAAP, or purchase price allocation approach, referred to as the Milholland Method named for him. (The Milholland Method was subsequently renamed to be the Actuarial Appraisal Value Method.) Even after retirement, Jim tirelessly served the actuarial profession with volunteer roles for the Society of Actuaries, the International Actuarial Association and a role as co-editor for the SOA’s IFRS Textbook.

According to co-workers, Jim was a crafty business partner as well as an enjoyable dinner companion. He was a delight to work with and a formidable figure across the table. He was a wonderful mentor, always patient and kind. From a work perspective, he seemed larger than life, brilliant and all-knowing. Many in the profession were lucky to know Jim for his guidance and tutelage, along with his friendship.

After wrapping up his volunteer role as co-editor for International Financial Reporting for Insurers, Jim assumed a leadership role for his life-long avocation at the Southeastern Antique Radio Society.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, John L. Millholland Jr.; and his mother, Janie Wilson Milholland of Statesville.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; his two sons, Brandon (Lauren) and Joey; one granddaughter, Penelope; sisters, Janie Neely of Asheville and Jean Milholland of Santa Fe, N.M; and brother, John Milholland of Raleigh.

Jim was held in high regard by all his classmates at SHS and his spirit will live on, thanks to all the fun memories of a good friend and classmate.

In lieu of flowers, Jim asked that donations be made to The Actuarial Foundation, www.actuarialfoundation.org.

Published by Statesville Record & Landmark on Aug. 11, 2021.