Savannah Morning News - Local News
Savannah natives making worldwide career strides
Several former Savannahians are making news around the globe but still have fond memories of the place they call home.
At least one of those who grew up here has moved closer to home. Peggy O'Neill Hewlett was named dean of the University of South Carolina College of Nursing. Prior to moving to Columbia, Peggy was professor of nursing, associate dean for research, and director of the doctorate program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing.
A graduate of Jenkins High School, Peggy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Medical College of Georgia and her doctorate in higher education and leadership from the University of Mississippi. She is the daughter of Camille Farrow.
Elmore Patterson III recently was named one of 30 leaders of the future by Ebony Magazine. Elmore is a graduate of Beach High School and Savannah State University. He received a master's from Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Elmore works for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Jackson, Miss., and is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, according to his mother, Rosemarie Pelote Bowers.
Rear Adm. David Anderson has been named deputy commander of the Navy's Second Fleet. He will be "pinned" with his second star in a few weeks. He served as a Blue Angel - the Navy's flight Demonstration Squadron - from 1984 to 1987, the year he was named lead solo. David also is a captain for Federal Express. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Anderson.
Another Savannahian making news in military circles is Navy Capt. Tom Parker, former commander of the USS Kitty Hawk. Tom now is stationed at the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is the son of Morrise Parker.
Becky Faulk and her husband Blair have served as Baptist missionaries in Nigeria for 15 years. Recently the chief of Kaltungo, the village where the Faulks live, made her a chief because of her contributions to the area.
In January 2002 a center for the deaf was opened in Kaltungo. "Now the deaf children in our village have a unified system of sign language," she said. "They are reading and learning and have a good life. I have never enjoyed anything as much as helping give hope to the hopeless."
Becky is the daughter of Mary Alice Newland.
Greg Odrezin was in town earlier this summer for the 35th reunion of Savannah High School's Class of 1970. Greg graduated from Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia and was a pediatric radiologist for many years before switching professions and became a teacher - third grade for two years and sixth grade for the last seven years.
"It has been a real trip," Greg said. "I probably work harder now than before. (Teaching) has its own stresses but I love it and the new ways that I now affect the lives of kids. Also, the difficult spots of the new career are not as life threatening and litigious as those from my medical days." Greg still keeps up his medical license and consults a bit with his wife who is a pediatrician. (They met in Augusta when their cadavers were next-door neighbors in the anatomy lab.)
Greg is the son of Eva Odrezin.
Polly Powers Stramm is a Savannahian who writes about people and places in the area. She can be reached at 352-8670 or pollparrot54@bellsouth.net.
Thanks again to Polly Powers and the Savannah Morning News for this excellent informative column!