An update on cousin Sarah Simpson Grandin is way overdue! Since her wedding on 21 Aug 2009 to Olivier Pecquenard in Jaru, France, there have been many exciting events in her life. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar studying in Paris. Fortunately for us, Sarah is a talented writer who can transport her readers to the “City of Lights” to share in her life. Treat yourself with a regular visit to her blog, A Peasant in Paris. But... we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here is her recent news, most forwarded on to us by her father, Mike Grandin. (Sarah is a 3x-great-granddaughter of Orson Thomas Johnson, brother of Philip Paddleford Johnson. For more about her family connection, see the end of this post.)

From Michael Grandin
“Sarah Grandin Graduates”
21 June 2011

Sarah Simpson Grandin graduated June 12, 2011 from Stanford University with honors and distinction. She double-majored in Comparative Literature and Art History and wrote her honors thesis on the art of Chardin. She received a 2011 Golden Medal, which are awarded to the finest theses in the humanities and creative arts, and the 2011 Kennedy Medal for best thesis in the humanities. She also won the Comparative Literature Best Essay in the Major award and the Hester-Franklin Prize for best original paper in French by an undergraduate. During her junior and senior years Sarah worked for AmeriCorps teaching gardening, cooking, and nutrition to children in East Palo Alto. While at Stanford Sarah sang a cappella and regularly performed in student theatrical productions. Sarah will spend the next academic year in Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship researching the history of the French food guide.

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We are proud to announce that on Thursday, 26 May 2011, Clifford Kostmayer graduated from Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, MS. Clifford is the son of Tana Lynn Rountree and Louis Kostmayer, grandson of Josephine Pierson “Josie” O’Brien Rountree and great-grandson of Joseph Nathaniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O’Brien (Uncle "Joe" and Aunt "Dot"). Tana shared several nice photos of the family at the happy event. See those photos.

Congratulations, Clifford! Best of luck for the future! Family members can send their love and congratulations for Clifford to mother Tana at

Ms. Tana Rountree
237 Saratoga
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Or to her email address at tlr1462(at)yahoo(dot)com

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We are happy to hear from cousin Richard Brown that his grandson Dallas Clayton Cox will graduate from the University of Georgia on 13 May 2011.  He will graduate Cum Laude from the School of Public and International Affairs.  

Dallas is the son of Patricia Lynn ("Patti") Brown Cox, grandson of Richard William and Shirley Ruth Bryan Brown, great-grandson of Fred Emerson ("Zeke") and Monora Katherine ("Nonnie") Conley Brown and  great-great-grandson of Judge Thomas Drayton and Manora Othello Carmichael Conley (Auntie and Uncle Judge). Othello is Neva Kate Carmichael (Mrs Seth) Johnson's sister.

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We are please to announce that on 20 May 2010, Shannon Carmichael Murphy was pinned as a Registered Nurse from the Palomar College School of Nursing in San Marcos, CA. The pinning ceremony took place at the Howard Brubeck Theatre in San Marcos. Shannon is the daughter of Thomas Alan Murphy and granddaughter of John Gribbon and May Nora Johnson Murphy (Uncle Johnny and Aunt Katie).


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On Tuesday evening, 25 May 2010, Jaden Ashley Rountree will graduate from Ocean Springs High School. Commencement exercises will be held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS. Jaden is the daughter of Jeffrey Scott Rountree and June Henderson Edmiston, granddaughter of Josephine Pierson “Josie” Rountree and great granddaughter of Joseph Daniel and Dorothy Dixson Johnson O’Brien (Uncle Joe and Aunt Dot)

Congratulations, Jaden! Family members can send love and congratulations to Jaden to her home address:

Jaden Ashley Rountree
702 Ridgewood Circle
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
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On Tuesday evening, 25 May 2010, Laura Dianne Berkstresser will graduate from Holtville High School in Deatsville, AL. The commencement exercises will be held at Boykin Field. Laura is the daughter of Richard Kyle and Leigh Ann Lewis Berkstresser, granddaughter of Laura Emily Albritton Berkstresser and great granddaughter of Walter Matthew and Caroline Johnson Albritton (Uncle Walter and Aunt Caroline).

Congratulations, Laura! Family members can send love and congratulations to Laura to her home address:

Laura Dianne Berkstresser
316 Lewis Road
Deatsville, AL 36022

UPDATE!

2 June 2010 - Laura’s father, Richard, Jr., has sent additional information about Laura. She is already quite an accomplished lady! As noted above, Laura graduated on 25 May, but you should also know that she graduated as the Valedictorian of Holtville High School Class of 2010 and is the recipient of many honors and scholarships. Click “Read more” to see the whole story on this Auburn-bound scholar....



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On Thursday evening, 20 May 2010, 7:00 P.M., Jacob Stephen “Jake” Albritton will graduate from Macon-East Montgomery Academy. The commencement exercises will be held at the First Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL. The baccalaureate service will precede graduation on Sunday afternoon, 16 May 2010 at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery. Readers may recall that Jake was recently honored as Alabama Independent Schools Association (AISA) Lineman of the Year for 2009. ...


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We will soon have another attorney in the family! Jennifer Lynn Collier will receive her Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Mississippi on Saturday, 8 May 2010. Commencement exercises will take place in Oxford at 11:00 A.M. in “The Grove” at the University of Mississippi. See the announcement. ...

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Wylie Pierson Johnson (Uncle Wylie) recently had an email correspondence with his cousin Frederick Orson “Fred” Johnson, II, and Fred’s son-in-law Mike Grandin regarding college plans for Mike’s son Harley Grandin. Harley has one more year of high school, so he’s visiting colleges and universities right now, several of them in the East, to see which one is best for him. These are lengthy trips as the Grandins reside in San Francisco. Grandpa Fred, who lives in Berkeley, took young Harley to visit Cornell this summer. ... Read More...

On Thursday, 21 May, Rebecca Anne Ryan graduated from Spain Park High School in Hoover, AL (a suburb of Birmingham). The graduation ceremony was held at Samford University. Rebecca, a very talented pianist and composer, will attend Samford University where she plans to major in music.... Read More...

Amanda Fay Lough, daughter of Brian and Neva Lough of Ball Ground, Georgia graduated from Kennasaw State College on May 15, 2009. She recieved her BS degree in Elementary Education and plans to teach Kindergarten. Amanda is the granddaughter of Margie A. and John (deceased) Flomer and the great-granddaughter of Walter and Caroline Albritton.... Read More...

Raven Lynn Flomer graduated from Wetumpka High School on May 21, 2009.  This is a third generation Wetumpka High graduate as her dad, Paul Richard Flomer graduated from WHS in 1989 and grandmother, Margie Albritton Flomer in 1954. ... Read More...

Rebecca Ann Ryan is graduating from high school. She is the great granddaughter of Wylie Pierson and Lurene Hall Johnson (Uncle Wylie and Aunt “Dolly”). More details coming soon!

On 22 May 2009, Jared Michael "Jake" Cross graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, AR. ...



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Margie Ann Lough, daughter of Brian Keith and Neva Lillian Flomer Lough, will graduate from Creekview High School on Friday, 29 May 2009 in Ball Ground, GA. Margie Ann is the granddaughter of John Robert and Margie Helen Albritton Flomer and ... Read More...

On Thursday, 28 May 2009, Mary Elizabeth Bush will graduate from Pensacola High School International Baccalaureate. In the Fall, Mary Elizabeth will attend Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA. She was awarded a full scholarship to the university. ... Read More...

On 17 May, 2008, Benjamin Seth Johnson was awarded the degree of Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, AL. He was on the Dean's List. Seth also earned a Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Management by Howard College of Samford University finishing with a 4.0 average. Seth is the son of Wylie Benjamin "Ben" and Jessica Ann Henry Johnson and grandson of Wylie Pierson and Lurene Hall Johnson (Uncle Wylie and Aunt "Dolly"). ...


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On 17 May, 2008, Caroline Haddox "Carrie" Johnson, graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She is the daughter of Wylie Benjamin "Ben" and Jessica Ann Henry Johnson and granddaughter of Wylie Pierson and Lurene Hall Johnson (Uncle Wylie and Aunt "Dolly"). Carrie received the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Language Arts. ...

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Gloria Alexandra Johnson, daughter of Seth James ("Jimmy") and Isadora ("Dora") Risquet Johnson, will graduate from The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, LA on 16 May, 2008. Gloria is the granddaughter of Orson Alexander and Iberia Louise Pierce Johnson (Uncle "Pete" and Aunt Louise). ...




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