In Loving Memory of Marylou McDaniel

The Life of Marylou McDaniel
February 19, 1947 – March 13, 2009

Marylou McDaniel was born in Evansville, Indiana on February 19, 1947 to O.K. and Mildred Blue.  When Marylou was two years old, they moved to Russellville, Kentucky where she began making her first of many friends.  After graduating from Russellville High School, she attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville where she made many lifetime friends.  It was there that she met Dale in 1966 and they were married June 28, 1969.  They moved to Rosemark and gained many more precious friends.

Marylou began her long teaching career at Tipton-Rosemark Academy in 1970.  She loved her calling of teaching and of serving as elementary coordinator.  Over the years she taught Bible, art and the third grade.  She was also dedicated to teaching Sunday school at her church.  In recent years, Marylou also served as the Advisor to the TRA Alumni Association.

Marylou and Dale had three girls: Katie in 1974, Bebe in 1976, and Meg in 1979.  Marylou exemplified Christ’s love to them through her sacrificial love, her dedication to her calling, her emphasis on God’s word and prayer and her joy in the Lord.

Marylou is preceded in death by her father O.K. Blue.  She leaves her mother Mildred Blue, her husband Dale McDaniel, her “mother-in-love” Alvania McDaniel, her daughters and their husbands, Katie and Ryan Hughes, Bebe and Keith Wilder, Meg and Brian Ford, and seven grandchildren, Emma Kate Wilder, Porter Hughes, Anna Wilder, Will Hughes, Maley Ford, Daniel Wilder and Buck Ford.

Memorials may be sent to Richland ARP Church or Tipton-Rosemark Academy.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”     -     Proverbs 3:5-6

Dedication of Gail P. Davidson College and Career Center

 

The ribbon was cut to officially dedicate the Gail Davidson College and Career Center by Mrs. Davidson’s granddaughters, Allison and Emma Kate. Also pictured are her sons, Mark and Ingram with their wives Suzanne and Stacye.  Suzanne is holding the newest addition to the Davidson family, Victoria Gail.

On October 17, 2008, Tipton Rosemark Academy dedicated the new “Gail P. Davidson College and Career Center.” Mrs. Davidson taught English Literature, Speech, and served as a Cheerleading Coach and a Guidance Counselor as well as being instrumental in leading many student organizations for Tipton Rosemark for more than 32 years. The dedication was respectfully held on TRA’s “College Day.” With several family members, former students, fellow colleagues and community friends present, the ceremony was very touching with great admiration spoken for Mrs. Davidson’s dedication over the years as well as the friendships made along the way.

The new facility is technologically advanced and includes a center for our students and parents to research college and career choices. The center is beautifully furnished and frequented often by students making their college choices.

Mrs. Davidson would no doubt be very proud of this wonderful center named after her for her amazing contributions to Tipton Rosemark Academy.

 

 

TRA Dedication Ceremony

On Sunday, September 14th, Tipton-Rosemark Academy held a Dedication Ceremony for their new high school building and elementary expansion. The event was held at 3pm in Legacy Hall, which is the multi-purpose room named in honor of all of the grandparents who support TRA in their many ways. Speakers included: Cary Vaughn – Alumni, Past Board President, President of Millington Chamber; Blaire Parchman – Alumni, Current Board President; Marylou McDaniel – Lower School Principal; Jim Craig – Alumni, Past Board President; Mark Norris – State Senator District 32; and John Scott – TRA Head of Schools. Morgan Thompson, Senior Class President, lead the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance and the TRA Concert Choir lead by Mrs. Lalania Vaughn sang He’s Always Been Faithful.
When the indoor ceremony was over, the crowd of nearly 200 proceeded outside for comments by Millington City Mayor, Mr. Terry Jones and a prayer lead by Atoka City Mayor, Wayne Cole. The Tipton-Rosemark Academy current Board of Directors, Cary Henson from Henson Construction, Dale Littlefield and Jim Moore from Fisher and Arnold Inc., and both mayors stood with Head of Schools, John Scott while Board Chairperson, Blaire Wilson Parchman symbolically cut the ribbon to officially celebrate the new facilities.
A reception was held immediately following the ceremony and the school buildings were open for tours and pictures.

Football Homecoming Tailgate Party & Alumni Annual Meeting

Dedication of New TRA Facilities

TRA invites all alumni to attend the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of the new TRA facilities on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

Football Homecoming & Annual Meeting

TRA’s Football Homecoming and the TRA Alumni Association Annual Meeting are scheduled for Friday, September 26th. 

The alumni meeting will be held at 6:00pm on the softball bleachers.  All alumni (members and non-members) are invited to attend.  If you have not yet joined the alumni association, we would love for you to join that night.  Please remember that all Alumni Association Members will receive free admission to the homecoming game.

A school-wide tailgate party will begin at 5:30pm.  The Booster Club will have their famous hot dogs, hamburgers and other great concessions available for purchase.  Please bring your lawn chairs and blankets for the tailgate party. 

The homecoming game will begin at 7:00 pm with Homecoming Court presented at half-time.

Please make plans to attend.  We hope to see you there!

Tribune News – September 2008

From the TRA Alumni Association…

It is hard to believe that another school year has not only begun, but is now in full swing.  Just as TRA has many new and exciting things happening, the TRA Alumni Association has several new and exciting endeavors planned for this year. 

First, we would like to invite all TRA alumni and parents of TRA alumni to become members of the TRA Alumni Association.  We have re-vamped our levels of membership so that those who wish to make an additional donation to the Scholarship Fund will now be rewarded for their generosity.  Please visit the Alumni pages on TRA’s website to see details and download a copy of the membership form.  Or you may request a copy via email to traalumni@bellsouth.net.  Membership forms and dues will be collected through the month of September.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

We would also like to announce that we are kicking-off a new “Young Alumni Circle” this year and have exciting plans for this new group.  The YAC will target alumni who have graduated within the last ten years and will offer both social and service activities.  The dues for this group are much lower (starting at $10.00!) to encourage the young alumni to join.  A membership form for the Young Alumni Circle may also be found on the Alumni pages of TRA’s website.

The TRA Alumni Association Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, September 26th, 2008, at 6:00pm on the Softball Field Bleachers.  A tailgate party for both alumni and TRA families will begin at 5:30pm and will continue until the Football Homecoming game begins at 7:00pm.  The Booster Club will be selling hot burgers and dogs off of the grill, so bring your chairs and join us for the party.  All alumni families are invited to attend. Remember, if you are a member of the TRA Alumni Association you will receive free admission to the homecoming game.  Please mark your calendar and join us! 

We are currently working hard to remodel the Alumni pages on TRA’s website.  We hope that the changes to come will be well worth the wait.  Please visit the site soon to see what updates we have made.  

There are a limited number of 11”x17” prints of the old Rosemark School Building available for purchase for $25.00 each or notecards, 10 for $10.00. 

As always, if you would like to contact the TRA Alumni Association, please email traalumni@bellsouth.net or call 901-553-3199. 

 

Best wishes for the new school year,

Leslie (Kelley) Roane (c/o 1994)

2007-2009 Alumni Association President

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Tribune News – June 2008

We are pleased to announce that the TRA Alumni Association awarded $4,600 in scholarships during the 2007-2008 school year.  Of that amount, $4,000 in scholarships was awarded to graduating seniors on Friday – May 16, 2008.  The recipients of these scholarships are as follows: 

Gail Davidson Memorial Scholarship  ($1,000) – Trey Rice

TRA Alumni Association Scholarship  ($1,000) – Payson McDaniel

TRA Alumni Association Scholarship  ($1,000) – Erin McGill

Kozy Whaley Memorial Scholarship  ($500) – Anna Whitley

Jason Shelton Memorial Scholarship  ($500) – Taylor Fox

 

The criteria for the Gail Davidson Memorial Scholarship requires the students to write an essay to include with their application.  While all of the essays were heartfelt and captured fond memories of the students days spent with “Ms. D”, there was one outstanding quote that we would like to share with you.  “Great wit often comes from a great mind, & one had only to spend a few minutes in her classroom to recognize her genius.”  This truly describes Ms. Davidson.  She has left a lasting impression on us as alumni and we give this scholarship in her memory & will continue to do so in the future because of her love & commitment to TRA.

 

The remaining $600 was awarded throughout the year in the form of “mini-scholarships”.  The mini-scholarships are selected by random drawings and the scholarships may be credited toward the account of any TRA student that the recipient chooses.  The recipients of these scholarships are as follows:

      Alumni Assoc. Member Scholarship  ($100) – Denise McDow                   

      Spaghetti Supper Scholarships  ($100 each) – Kendall Lyles & June Roane

      Grandparent’s Day Scholarship  ($200) – Doris Tillman

 

The Alumni Association sponsored Community Service Program was proud to report that 88 students participated in the program earning 568 hours of service.  Way to go kids!  We are very proud of each and every child that dedicated their time to serve their community.   These children received certificates of service during their Honor’s Day Programs.  We hope that this program will continue to provide an incentive to the children to be community minded individuals.  Thanks for your participation!

 

We would also like to thank everyone for supporting the Alumni Association Spaghetti Supper and Basketball Games.  We were very pleased to have an excellent turn-out; we served over 250 spaghetti plates.   The kids commented on how much fun they had at the basketball games, some even asked if we could do it again very soon.  It was wonderful to revive the old TRA tradition!

 

The TRA Alumni Association annual membership drive will begin in August.  Please send any address updates in care of TRA-Alumni Association, 8696 Rosemark Road, Millington, TN 38053; or email them to traalumni@bellsouth.net so that the updates will be included in the August mail-out.  We still have a large list of “lost” alumni that we do not have current addresses and information for.  If you have information on any of your classmates, friends or relatives please send us their information as well.  With over 1,200 alumni, we depend on you to keep us informed.

 

The Alumni Association’s Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday – September 26, 2008.  This is the date of TRA’s Varsity Football Homecoming.  We hope to incorporate the meeting into an Alumni event that will take place before the homecoming game.  All TRA Alumni (Association Members & Non-Members alike) are invited to attend.  We are also encouraging any classes that are planning reunions to consider this weekend for your event.  It would be great to show our alumni support on Homecoming weekend.  Mark your calendars… we would love to have you attend!

 

TRA Alumni Association President,

Leslie Kelley Roane (c/o 1994)

Photo of Alumni Children & Alumni Faculty

Photo of Alumni Children & Faculty - May 2008