Page 60 - Southern Magazine-Winter/Spring 2013

Lucie “Marie” Ford Anderson
’42 of Atlanta on Nov. 17, 2012.
She studied under Raymond
Anderson (no relation) in the music
department at BSC, becoming his
assistant after graduating. Her
training at BSC stayed with her,
as Anderson served as choral
conductor, music director, and
accompanist for a number of
church and community groups
throughout her life. For 25 years
she was the director of music for
Christ the King Lutheran Church in
Florissant, Mo. Anderson taught
English in the St. Louis County
public schools for 20 years. After
retiring and relocating to Atlanta,
she continued to be active in music
as a supply organist for various
churches around the Atlanta area,
as well as a loyal member of the
Atlanta Chapter of the American
Guild of Organists.
Katherine MoriartyWhitten ‘43
of West Jefferson, N.C., on July 2,
2011. Before retirement, Whitten
worked as associate director of
student activities at the University
of Miami. She was among the
first four women inducted into Iron
Arrow, the highest honor society
at UM, which had been male-only
for over 50 years. The Whitten
University Center at UM is named
in memory of her husband, Chink.
Whitten was a member of Pi Beta
Phi sorority. She and her family
were generous supporters of BSC.
Paul Andrew Buchanan Jr. ’46
of Homewood on Nov. 27, 2012.
Serving in the U.S. Army during
World War II, Buchanan flew more
than 30 missions over enemy
territory and earned three bronze
stars. He attended BSC and later
joined his father in operating
P.A. Buchanan Construction
Co. Buchanan served on the
Homewood city council for eight
years and he served as council
president for four years. He was
a lifelong member of Dawson
Memorial Baptist Church.
Louis Edmond “Eddie” Dunlavy
’50 of Bessemer on March 6, 2012.
Dunlavy served in the U.S. Navy
during World War II. He owned
and operated Dunlavy Furniture Co.
in Bessemer until his retirement
in 1989. He was a member of
Pleasant Hill United Methodist
Church. Survivors include his wife,
Karel Bradley Dunlavy ’49.
Dr. Herman Higgins ’50 of Rome,
Ga., formerly of Blount Springs,
on Feb. 28, 2011. Higgins had
a long career at Berry College,
teaching history and photography
for 31 years until his retirement
as associate professor of history
emeritus in 1991. After his
retirement, he remained active
in the community and connected
to Berry College in a variety of
ways. Higgins earned a master’s in
history at Peabody College, which
is now part of Vanderbilt University.
He is survived by his wife, Betty
Williams Higgins ’52.
Jean Seymour Cleveland ’51 of
Houston, Texas, on Sept. 14, 2012.
Cleveland served as secretary to
the dean of BSC. Following her
marriage in 1954, Jean and her
husband resided in Schenectady,
N.Y. In 1962, the family relocated
to Houston. Cleveland’s service
to the Methodist Church was
exemplary; she served as secretary
to two Methodist bishops and
also in a support capacity to the
Texas United Methodist College
Association for 10 years. As a
member of First United Methodist
Church in Houston, Cleveland
also was among a group of
pilgrim members who united to
establish and build the First United
Methodist Church-Westchase.
Michael Joseph Keyes Sr. ’51 of
Birmingham on July 16, 2012. He
was a member of St. Francis Xavier
Catholic Church for 56 years and a
veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Robert “Bob” S. Richard ’51 of
Birmingham on June 11, 2012. He
had a law career at Capell Howard
Knabe & Cobbs.
CLASSNOTES
58 / ’southern
In Memoriam ’35
Eleanor Kidd , Birmingham
philanthropist, model, and the last
woman to wear the Hope Diamond,
passed away Sept. 25. She was 97.
Kidd majored in English at
Birmingham-Southern and earned
a graduate degree from Columbia
University before becoming a fashion
model in New York. She was a legend
in her day, both in Birmingham and
elsewhere in the country. She was
seen in advertisements for Lucky Strike
cigarettes and other products, and
jeweler Harry Winston asked her to wear the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond before he gave
it to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is exhibited today.
Kidd later returned to Birmingham to work in the family business, Sunnyland
Refining Company, which became one of the 10 largest margarine manufacturers in
the nation. She also became known for her entertaining and her philanthropy.
The rotunda of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham is named for her, and she was
active with UAB Hospital, the Alabama Ballet, and other organizations.
She was especially fond of the color pink, which she wore frequently; she even had
custom-cut pink rugs made to fit rooms for special use from time to time on occasions
of elegant gatherings and celebrations. Kidd spent a good deal of time in Arizona,
where she once owned a residence, and she made many trips to France and places
abroad, sometimes flying on the Concorde. She loved beautiful things and collected
many exquisite items.
Kidd was a strong supporter of BSC and often hosted galas for the college.
Survivors include her nephew, William Joseph Rowan ’02 of Huntsville.