Journalist and author Howell Raines ’64 was inducted into the 2023 Alabama Writers Hall of Fame, at a March 10 ceremony in the University of Alabama's Bryant Conference Center. Read more about Raines on the BSC Blog. Raines, former executive editor of the New York Times, received BSC’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.

Denson N. "D." Franklin, III ’85 was named on the list of Birmingham Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Nonprofits for 2023. Franklin is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Vulcan Materials Company.

Haley Rasmussen Roberts ’19 matched to a residency at Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine – Urban Track on Match Day 2023. Roberts graduated from BSC cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and Distinction in Leadership Studies, and received a medical degree from UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

Andrew Triplett ’19 was sworn into the Tennessee State Bar before Judge Andra Hedrick at the Davidson County Courthouse on March 2. Andrew is currently working Clark, May, Price, Lawley, Duncan, & Paul, LLC, in Birmingham.

Judy Beth Swindall Dercole ’01 on March 26 in Aliceville. She was a lifelong resident of Birmingham and a retired administrative assistant. She was known for her love of animals and the joy they brought to her.

Karl R. Seitz ’70, on March 18 in Birmingham. Seitz joined the U.S. Navy in 1961, serving primarily on the USS Caliente, a fleet oiler, until 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Birmingham-Southern, then took a position on the copy desk of the Birmingham Post-Herald in 1967. He spent 38 years working at the paper, most of it as the editorial page editor, mentoring numerous young journalists over the years. Seitz also served on the board of the charitable Goodfellow Fund Inc.; was a member of the 1986 Leadership Birmingham class; participated in BSC’s Executives in Residence program; and appeared as a semi-regular guest on Alabama Public Television’s For the Record news program. He retired when the newspaper was shut down in 2005. Seitz is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia Floyd Seitz ’71.

Joseph Lee Knott ’53 on March 18 in Birmingham. Knott attended Vanderbilt University Divinity School, then Sewanee School of Theology, where he received his M.Div. In 1965, he became pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ensley. In 1973, Knott became head of pastoral counseling at Bryce Hospital and interim minister at St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church. In the early 1980s, he was called to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Montevallo, where he served while pursuing a master’s degree in counseling. He and his wife Marcia returned to Birmingham in the late 1980s, where Knott worked as a counselor at Eastside Mental Health Center until he retired. After Marcia passed away in He and his second wife Virginia Volker chaired the Crestwood South neighborhood association, supported the Civitan Club, and marched for social and racial equality. Knott was also a musician and experienced woodworker. He built much of his family’s furniture in addition to several musical instruments, including a harpsichord. His first public musical performances included playing the trumpet with the Salvation Army Band. He played piano for high school dances and performed with a dance band, often appearing at Cascade Plunge and The Club. As well as the piano, he mastered the folk guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar, recorder, autoharp, banjo, and hammered dulcimer.

Marjorie “Margie” Hunter Cantley ’59 on March 18 in Birmingham. Cantley attended Maryville College in Tennessee. before graduating from BSC. While teaching in Birmingham, she met her husband of 54 years, Paul Cantley, Jr. He later established a farm supply business in Holly Hill, S.C. Not long after, Cantley began a teaching career that would span more than 25 years at Wade Hampton Academy, Willington Academy, and Orangeburg Preparatory Schools, Inc. Her dedication and skill as a teacher carried over to church, where she taught Bible studies, sang in the choir, served as a translator for multiple short-term mission trips to Peru, and held a variety of leadership positions at First Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg. At home, she shared her love of music and horses with her husband and children. After Paul’s death in 2015, Cantley moved into Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem. There she was a member of the Salemtowne Choir and the church choir at First Presbyterian Church, and tutored Spanish-speaking students in the community.

Dr. Jack D. Real ’53 on March 2 in Dothan. The renowned Birmingham-Southern ginkgo trees were planted in honor of his late wife, Frances Sensabaugh Real ’55. At BSC, Dr. Real served on the Honor Council and was president of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He received his medical degree from the University of Alabama and his training as a urologist at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. After 13 years of service in the Navy, he joined Urological Associates of Dothan, but continued to serve in the Naval Reserve, ultimately retiring with the rank of Captain. Following his official retirement, he served as the on-site doctor for the wound-care clinic of Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Dr. Real loved to play tennis and was known for his story-telling talent. He also loved fine automobiles, jazz music, and German Shepherds. Dr. Real was preceded in death by his sister, Jimmie Nell Real Powell ’50; his first wife, Frances Sensabaugh Real ’55; and his daughter, Kathleen Real Carter ’84. Survivors include two more BSC graduates: daughters Frances Real Howard ’78 and Greer Real Tirrill ’79.

John Alexander McBrayer ’73 on March 28 in Birmingham. After graduating from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn., he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. McBrayer earned a political science degree at BSC and worked as an auto mechanic and for the March of Dimes before enrolling at Birmingham School of Law. After opening his law office in 1981, McBrayer served as an Assistant District Attorney for Shelby County. In 1983, he was appointed Municipal Judge for the City of Calera, a position he held for more than 26 years. Later, he was also appointed Municipal Judge for the City of Pelham. He was president of the Shelby County Bar Association and member of the Alabama State Bar, Pelham Lions Club, Shelby County Chamber, Fairhope Yacht Club, BMW Car Club of America, and the Central Alabama Miata Society. He and his wife Susan and their family shared a love of the outdoors and spent many happy hours camping and hiking. For many years, McBrayer also volunteered as a soccer and baseball coach with the Shelby County YMCA.

Joyce Addington McLemore ’53, on March 16 in Trussville. McLemore entered BSC on a music scholarship, singing in the Concert Choir under the direction of Raymond Anderson. She was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Encouraged by voice teachers John and Martha Light, she pursued a career in music musical career, performing with Starlight Opera, the Birmingham Opera, and at the Alabama Theatre with Stanley Malotte on the organ. She was the soprano soloist for the Birmingham Symphony’s performance of Verdi’s Requiem. McLemore was a soprano soloist at St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church and at First Christian Church downtown, where she met her future husband. After earning her master’s and Ed.S. degrees at UAB, she taught music and history in the Tarrant City School System for more than 27 years, and later became a guidance counselor.

Milton Lawrence Culver ’65 on March 8 in Birmingham. Culver enjoyed a long career in the insurance industry beginning after his BSC graduation in 1965 when he joined Protective Life. He completed all of his Life Underwriter Training Council courses, earned his Chartered Life Underwriter degree, and became a Life Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. In 1975, Culver started Underwriting Services of Alabama, and over the next 12 years, he became recognized as a leader in the field of sub-standard life, underwriting insurance for those unable to obtain insurance due to medical reasons. He also helped found and served as the first national president of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies. In 1995 Larry founded Benefit Creations, LLC, a national benefits company dedicated to customizing benefits programs for both businesses and individuals. He also enjoyed a long working relationship with the Life Insurance Company of Alabama, overseeing the company’s brokerage division.

Theodore Howard Jones ’65 on March 4 in Athens, Ga. A 50-year resident of Carrollton, Ga., he was the husband of Lois Seales Jones ’65, the father of three children and grandfather of five, a dentist and leader in his profession, an active member of his church, an avid gardener, and a competitor in every sport he played. The first in his family to attend college. Jones graduated from dental school at the University of Alabama and became exceptionally dedicated to his profession. He eventually served as president of the Georgia Dental Association in the 90s, as president of the American Dental Association from 2002-2003, and then as a U.S. representative to an international dental group. Jones served for many years as a rotating teacher for his Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church. He was an active member of the Carrollton Rotary Club. He volunteered with other local dentists to bring care to Carrollton residents who could not otherwise afford it. His survivors include a son, Ted Jones ‘92, of Washington, D.C.

Dr. Roye E. Wates ’54 on March 10 in Brookline, Mass. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from BSC and a doctorate in music history from Yale University. At Boston University, she first taught in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Division of General Education from 1962-1975, and then was named a University Professor, Chairman of Religion and the Arts in the Division of Theological and Religious Studies, and Professor of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences until her retirement in 2015. She was named Boston University’s Teacher-Scholar of the Year in 2000. A founding member of the Mozart Society of America, where she served on the board of directors from 2009 until 2015, she was the author of “Mozart: An Introduction to the Music, the Man, and the Myths” (2010). She was the sister of the late Rev. Dr. Florence W. Pert ’51.

Terry Ellen Widener Wade ’67 on March 5 in Meridian, Miss. An honors graduate in chemistery from BSC, she was the original owner and operator of Arby’s restaurant in Meridian. Terry was a member of Central United Methodist Church. Survivors include two BSC graduates: her sons Stanley “Allen” Wade III ’92 and Dr. Brian Wade ’94, and daughter-in-law Ivey Johnson Wade ’95.

Donald Earl Melof on February 28 in Birmingham. After attending St. Bernard College in Cullman and BSC, he became a designer of women’s shoes and a connoisseur of fine wine and good food, and loved the music of Elvis Presley.

Deanie P. Young on March 1 in Birmingham. Young attended Howard College and retired from BSC after 23 years. She was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church and a former member of Huffman United Methodist and Green Valley Baptist Churches. She was a charter member of Eastern Women’s Co