Hunter Huss High School
Class Of 1988
Classmate Spotlight
Classmate Spotlight
Look for monthly features on classmates and
what they are up to 20 years later. From their
careers, furthuring education and community
involvement, this is where you can learn more
about 1988 Hunter Huss graduates!
LAMAR BURRIS
Not ready to embark on college, Lamar Burris enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1990.
He wanted to do something challenging and would allow him to see the world God had
created. After bootcamp in January of 1990, he was off to Iraq by August and Desert
Storm. "I never thought I would be in a war zone so early in my carrer", said Lamar. He
has been stationed at Camp Lejeune, Chesapeake Virginia, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Okinawa
Japan and two combat tours. Lamar says his most rewarding moment was his
deployment to Afghanistan. "We deployed with a team of 18 men. Once we reached
Afghanistan, our team was broke down into three man teams. Each three man team
worked with about 30-40 Afghan soldiers", says Lamar, who was the senior of
his three man team at all times. " Not only did we succeed as a team, but my team
members returned healthy with all their limbs attached". This was a great accomplishment
considering encountering the enemy in the hottest part of the year with the enemy on
thier heels weekly if not more often. Lamar says, "Visiting other countries has really
enlightened me as to how truly blessed we are as Americans. My time spent in Africa
and Afghanistan has shown me how much I can live without and how they
are struggling as a societies".
Lamar who will be retiring in about 3 years hopes to return home to the Carolinas.
He has been married to his lovely wife Vanessa for 10 years now and they have
a son Ostin born in 2001. Lamar looks forward to sharing and learning more about
his Hunter Huss Classmates at the 20 year reunion in the fall.
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WAYNE HARRIS
With not enough money to afford college, Wayne's plan was to join the army for 3 years and
let them pay for it. They offerred him $35,000 for college for 3 years of service. On
July 14, 2008, He will have completed 20 years. "Believe it or not, I have survived
20 years in the Army. That's a lot different than 3 years, huh?", says Wayne. Wayne
who is in Iraq at this time has been stationed in Germany, N.Y., Kentucky, Korea and
Georgia. It was at his first location in Hanau, Germany that he met his beautiful
wife Marissa."My most rewarding moment was the day I married my wife.
She has litterally changed my life around." Wayne says she has been a Godsend.
Wayne takes his job very seriously and knows how much the country places their
trust in the military. He appreciates all the support from home. His least favorite
thing about his career is being deployed all the time. Wayne, who misses his
famliy a lot, has been away 3 out of the last 5 years. As you can imagine, it has
put a lot of stress on he and his family.
Wayne is currently with the 63rd Expedtionary Signal Battalion. They provide internet
and telephone services for other units in Iraq. "We provide secret communication
to all unit commanders in order for them to confer and plan operations", explains
Wayne. "I monitor the communications network that stretches throughout the
entire country of Iraq and make sure all the equipment is working correctly".
Wayne thinks it is a pretty cool job and it provides time for a lot of web surfing.
He has met some truly amazing people, including great soldiersand leaders
in the Army.
Wayne will be married to his beautiful wife Marissa 18 years in June. they
have a daughter Anne Machelle Gadia, who is married now and made
them grandparents in December of 2007 to little Alyssa Nicole. Enjoy
the quote that preceeds Wayne's e-mails. It reads:
"The Pessimist complains about the wind.
The Optimist expects the winds to change.
The Leader Adjusts the Sails." -unknown
REASA DAVIDSON
Reasa Davidson has had an interesting and rewarding journey
since High School Graduation in 1988. 20 years ago she was off
to Fayettville State to get her teaching degree. During her Under-
Graduate studies, she was captain of the FSU cheerleaders, a
member of the Education Club, and inducted into the Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority. She became extremely sick her senior year but made
it to graduation in 1993. At the time she was unaware of the damage
that was going on inside her kidneys. She was off to her first job
teaching at First Assembly School in Gastonia in 1994. She set up
her classroom and went to the emergency room. Her kidneys were
functioning at only 25%. Determined to teach, she listened to
her doctor's advice and began dialysis. She taught class sitting
on a special stool her students chipped in to buy her. She had a
kidney transplant in August of 1997, which enabled her to continue to
teach in the Gaston County Schools. Unfortunately, her transplanted
kidney had to be removed. She continues to be on kidney dialysis.
But when you talk to Reasa, she just wants to tell you about how
full her life has been and how much she has learned through it all.
"God wanted me to answer his call". says Reasa, who completed her
her coursework required for an Evangilist of The Greater Gaston
Baptist Associatin. She lives by the verse Timothy 4:5, "But watch thou
in all things, endure afflictions, do thy work of an Evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry."
Reasa believes in giving back to the community. From tutoring
neighborhood children, sponsoring boys and girls so they can
afford to go the to prom, and coaching area step teams, Reasa
has given of her time and heart. Her ministry is "teaching good
character", she says, "We need to give back to the community."
Her step teams, Gas House Steppers and the Highland
Tech Steppers have won numerous awards and changed many
youths lives. They perform all over the area in many competitions.
The project she has in the works is a summer camp for low
income kids ages 8-18 at the Erwin Center in Gastonia. She is
working on the proposal to submit to the city of Gastonia any day now.
When you talk with Reasa you can hear the passion in her voice
as she describes the need in the community she lives in.
Friends from the class of 88', Flan Jackson, Nichelle Smith, Tonya
Hoyle and Vanessa Jackson help promote and facilitate the Reasa
Davidson Kidney and Medical Fund. As you can expect, the medical
bills been immense. But through it all Reasa says, "I have no
complaints, for God has a plan, that I know!" Reasa makes you
stop and think about what you are giving back to the community
you live in. Let Reasa challenge you to look around the area
you live in, find a need, and "step" in those shoes of giving back.
Lori Chaney Reel
Lori Chaney describes life right after Hunter Huss as a blur. Like many of us
there was graduation, a senior trip to Myrtle Beach and for some graduates
marriage was the next step. Lori's husband Brian proposed Senior prom
night, so after the graduation "hoopla" Lori began planning her wedding.
On October 30, 1998 she said I do! "That night after the wedding, with our
car packed tight, we left Gastonia", said Lori.They were not off to Vegas, or
some tropical locale. Their honeymoon was driving most of the night to
Goldsboro, NC(Seymour Johnson AFB) where Brian was stationed and
"Whala", an airforce wife. "That was something different", says Lori, "But
I learned." Lori's plan/dream was to go to North Carolina School of the
Arts. Crazy in love she was, so she chose the life of a military wife. She
has never looked back.
After 20 years of marriage this fall, Lori wil tell you that the person that
inspires her the most is her husband Brian."He has such integrity, he
is a hard worker, and is honest and fair", she says. She will tell you of
many high points in her life, which include the birth of her three
children, Apollo, Ares and Athena, moving to Japan, exploring Hawaii, being
in the Wild West(New Mexico....which was her favorite place to live) and seeing
the Rio Grande. She has enjoyed touring castles and Anne Frank's home, trying
to drive in France(crazy), seeing Scotland and the White Cliffs of Dover. What
an adventure! The dissappointments on the flip side of the coin include not
being home when her Father passed away, being away from Brian for a year
while he was in Korea, being a single parent a lot, missing neices and nephews
growing up and leaving friends behind.
Wherever she has lived she has tired to be involved. She has started a
Christian weight loss support group called Temple Watchers in New Mexico. She
is a Miilitary Key Spouse(support for families during deployment),Running the
Airman's Attic(a thrift stop for lower ranking families that need things) and
Airman Food Pantry, and serving as President of the 48th CMS(a military spouse
group in England).
How is Lori the same you ask? She says she "is still loud and sarcastic and still
wants to have fun." How is she different today? "The biggest change is that I
am a Christian. I even put my tarot cards away", says Lori.
Lori and her family are in a small village called Lakenheath in the UK. "Think about
driving Crowders Mountain roads at night. It is curvy, dark and full of crazy Brit drivers."
And here is where I will quote exactly how Lori decribes life in the UK. Those that
know Lori can imagine her discription, and I quote...."The Brits love taxes, that has
not changed. They tax our cars, our roads, our televisions!! But they have wonderful
oak furniture that is top notch! Antiques that are amazing, Castles that are haunted(If
you believe in that sort of thing). They love thier dogs here more than people and love
horses more than that! Oh...they don't have rabies or poisonous spiders. Everything is
twice the price. Today I had a baguette with Bacon, lettuce and tomato and a side of
chips(that is what they call french fries) and it was sixteen dollars! And it took forever
to get. But...you adjust. I love the roundabouts, driving on the other side of the road
ROCKS! They have lots of greeting cards about farting. They love that stuff.
Did I mention that it's pretty freaking loud??! That's the sound of our jets(F-15s)
That is the awesome sound of freedom baby! I love it! They call the yard a garden, and
the living room the lounge. Most sinks have two spigots, one hot and one cold. They
use to tax you for having your water mixed...and if it does come from the same spigot...
it's not warm...it's half cold, half hot". You can hear her laughing about it all.
My last question to Lori was what would you want people to know about you?
Lori says,"I want them to know, those that were my friends, that I never forgot.
I maybe didn't write, or call, or see them. But I shipped and toted and looked through
my old yearbooks and photo albums a million times. Each time I thought about who
I left behind and I wondered how they were or where they were. I wished them well.
I prayed for them to have all the best and I hope they do!"
After doing some research, the Crest of the Military Wife seemed very appropriate
to put under Lori's name. Below is what the crest stands for:
The "Crest of the Military Wife" recognizes the unique contributions of the Military Wife
to the strength and success of our Armed Forces. Throughout our long and glorious
history, the wifes of freedom's defenders have made sacrifices, bravely faced
daunting challenges, dealt with uncertainties, and endured hardships which have
forged them into a single, elite sorority, unique in strength, honor, integrity, and
patriotism. The time-honored tradition of selfless service by these
"behind-the-scenes" champions of liberty has too often gone unrecognized.
Lori Carver Simmons
Beep! Beep!
Lori's future began even before she graduated her senior year. Working at the Case
Tire Company in Gastonia would mean a chance meeting with her future husband
Bobby. "He came in to buy tires and came back again to ask for my number. He
got more than he bargained for that day," says Lori. She attended Wingate College
for two years and married the summer of her sophmore year in 1990. She then
commuted to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, starting off majoring in education but
graduating with honors with a degree in business. She had been offered a position
with an Indonesian firm in the US but found out she was expecting their first child.
They both knew that when they started a family they would want for Lori to be at
home."It was not my original plan, but God's timing and plan was different from
mine", says Lori. So Kristen was born in 1992, Dillion in 1994, Luke in 1997, Cassie
in 2000, Zach in 2003 and they are expecting a little girl in August of this year.
10 years ago Lori started her first year of home schooling. She met a friend Robin
and was curious but hesitant about whether this was something she could do. The
tragic death of her Grandfather showed her that God truly cared for her and "had
her engraved on the palm of his hand" as Psalms says. She has been involved in
home school groups first in Gaston County and now specifically in their church's
group at Parkwook Baptist. They are also involved in the county 4-H. Lori says
her children are outdoor kids, with interests in animals, archery, marksmanship, fishing
and camping to name a few. They live on lots of land for animals to roam and her
children to explore their interests. They enjoy traveling and went on a domestic missions
trip last summer to New Hampshire and facilitated VBS there. The Simmons family
is involved in may activities but Lori was quick to say, "We do try to guard how much
we are involved in outside activities during the week so that we have time to be a family."
Lori says that home schooling has kept her family closer and more in touch with each
other. Read Lori's actual description of how home schooling and family work together:
"God has used home schooling to bless and refine me and continues. It is an awesome
responsibility so I have to depend on someone other than myself. Bobby works moderately
long hours so he is limited in his day to day hands on help with actual schooling. He helps
in the behind the scenes things like groceries, support and breaks for me when needed. He
has been a gift since the day I met him. We have learned to laugh, love, support, listen and
forgive at times. I couldn't and wouldn't want to do it without him. Besides the Lord's work in
my life, my parents have made the biggest influence. They gave me an example to work
from...not a perfect one but two people who loved the Lord, each other, and family. True
success wasn't from material possessions or positions; it came from things with eternal
value. My Mom to this day helps me as I school by coming in my home to support me, do
a load of laundry, call out spelling words, listen to my concerns which all spells love. My Dad
has shown me what a true man of integrity is. It influenced me before I was married and has
helped life to flow smoother in so many ways. I am thankful for them, for my husband and
our children. I can say that I have not regrets; No...life has been perfect, for there have been
times filled with happiness, joy and excitement along with difficulties and some pain along
the way. But all in all, God has used it all for good. So would I change anything...No!
It has been quite a journey so far."
Learn more about Lori's journey since 1988 this fall...
