Archive for the ‘Tennessee’ Category

Brian D. Kellett (M.A. ’94)

Brian Delloyd Kellett, 51, of Memphis, was peacefully released from his broken body on Sunday, September 13, at home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Camden, N. J., the son of Carol and Dr. Gary Kellett. When Brian was four, the family moved to Memphis, which he would be forever proud to call home. Brian was a 1988 graduate of Christian Brothers High School, where he excelled in wrestling, winning 10 first places during his sophomore, junior and senior years, and going to state his senior year. He was also named to the Memphis All Metro Wrestling Team for 1987-88. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1993, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. In 1994, he earned a master’s degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston. During these years, he had the opportunity to gain experience in the hospitality industry in both London and Hawaii. After college, Brian worked in hotel sales in Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta, but he returned to Memphis in 1998 to accept a position with Flanagan Instruments, selling neurosurgical microscopes. It was an ideal opportunity to work side by side with his dad in the operating room. Medical sales proved to be a perfect fit for him for the rest of his career. In 2006, Brian fulfilled an entrepreneurial desire when he started Kellett Medical, LLC, where his positive attitude, ingenuity, and drive helped him establish a capital equipment distributorship that flourished for a decade. At the time of his death, he was employed by Smith & Nephew as Account Manager for Advanced Wound Care BioTissue. Brian was a member of First Baptist Church of Memphis, where he was a member of the Connect Four Sunday School Class and served as an endowment trustee. He also volunteered in the medical startup accelerator Zeroto510, where he served as a mentor to medical device innovators and entrepreneurs. Through this, he served as a consultant to Somavac, a Memphis-based company that developed a surgical drain pump capable of continuous suction to guard against infection. Brian had an abiding passion for cars -all kinds of cars -but especially Porsches. And while he enjoyed the hunt and purchase of a different car, the thing that most enhanced that interest was racing. He was a recreational racing enthusiast. After demonstrating his skills on the track, Porsche Club of America certified him as an Expert Driver. Throughout his life, he owned 37 cars. Never one to sit still or enjoy a lazy afternoon, Brian was an avid hiker, climber, camper and runner. And on many a summer day, he could be found boating on Pickwick Lake, which might include teaching a newbie how to water-ski. Most of these activities usually included one or more of his daughters, along with his many nieces and nephews, whom he also taught wrestling holds and moves. No one could ever claim to be bored when Brian was around. He was always eager to be everyone’s game or activity partner. He was presented with difficult experiences throughout his life, beginning as a child. He not only met those challenges, he conquered them, choosing not to use them as excuses but as inspiration to be a better man, an understanding and loving human. Ever since his latest challenge, metastatic melanoma, showed up four years ago in a blitz, Brian fought it courageously and mostly in private, never feeling sorry for himself and always searching for the next answer. Always living each day to the fullest and loving his family all so well. For Brian, family was everything. He and his siblings enjoyed an exceptional bond that grew from their common trials and commitment to one another. He was a husband who exceeded all of Jennifer’s dreams, inspiring her to dream even bigger with him. And above all else, he loved being a girl dad to Abby, Catherine and Elizabeth, the lights of his life. Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Carol Kellett and Dr. Gary Kellett; and his grandparents, Eve and Orville “Kel” Kellett, Ruby Clarke (Jess) and Pierce Ketchersid. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Cameron Kellett; and three daughters, Abigail, Catherine and Elizabeth; all of the home. He is also survived by his stepmother, Lisa Barber (Mike), of Jonesboro, Ark.; one brother, Gary Kellett, Jr. (Kellie), of Memphis; two sisters, Sidney McWilliams (Mike), of Ridgeland, Miss., and Dr. Jennifer Giles (Gary), of Dallas; a huge fan club of in-laws, extended family, close friends and colleagues; and 15 nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Gary Kellett, Jr., Ben Cameron, Mike McWilliams, Gary Giles, Richard Wright, David Breckenridge, Greg Davis, and Jonathan Pekar. Honorary pallbearers include Mike Barber, Mike Cameron, John Ford, Ken Cowin, Greer Richardson, David Richardson, Billy Schaffer, Byron Freeman, Perry McCall, John Christianson, Britt Shea, Chris McAfee, Flagg Flanagan, and Sage Hardy. Due to Covid-19, all services will be private, and there will be no visitation. The funeral service will be live-streamed and a link will be provided here: https://www.facebook.com/fbcmemphis For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to First Baptist Church of Memphis (fbcmemphis.org), Methodist Hospice (methodisthealthcare.org), or Melanoma Research Alliance (curemelanoma.org). The family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Martin of The West Clinic for his wonderful care of Brian, as well as Dr. John Brophy for his guidance.

Chin-Ki Chung (Ph.D. ’86)

Mr. Chung was born on April 10, 1942 in the town of Chinkyo, Hadong in the province of South Gyeongsang, South Korea, to Bok Duck Chung (father) and Bong Ae Park. His father was the mayor of Chinkyo. He was a dutiful son and a loving brother to his eight siblings. After graduating at the top of his class from Sung Kyun Kwan University, he married his college sweetheart, Soomi Lee, in 1966, and soon after they moved to the United States for graduate studies. After receiving his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, he worked as an engineer for Brown and Root Industrial Services, while simultaneously receiving his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston. Mr. Chung and the family moved from Houston to Knoxville, TN in 1983, where he took a position at the Tennessee Valley Authority. He retired from a distinguished engineering career at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. Mr. Chung was a devoted husband, loving father and doting grandfather. No personal sacrifice was too great for his family’s well being. Known for his jovial personality and genuine smile, he had kind words for everyone he met, warming the hearts of friends and strangers alike. He loved to play chess and golf and spend time with his grandchildren. A nature lover, he enjoyed gardening and hiking, especially with his wife by his side. He was a man of genuine faith, who served as an elder at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Knoxville and could often be found in his den reading and studying the bible. Mr. Chung is survived by his wife of 53 years, Soomi; six sisters, Jung Hee, Doo Rae, Jung Ja, Jung Boon, Jung Oak, Jung Joo; his brother, Jong Ki; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Deborah Chung, and his two grandchildren, Jack and Kathryn, of Greenwich. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jung Sook. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund https://curealz.org/.

Pamela Church (’86)

Rhodes College Accounting Professor Pamela Church Honored for Outstanding Faculty Service

(Memphis, Tenn.)—Dr. Pamela Church, associate professor of accounting at Rhodes College, was presented the 2019 Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service at the college’s Opening Convocation Aug. 16.

The Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service honors a current faculty member who has established an outstanding record of service to the college. It is named in memory of Dr. Jameson M. Jones ’36, who served as the college’s chief academic officer for more than 15 years. Dr. Milton Moreland, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the award at the Opening Convocation.

Church joined the Rhodes College faculty in 1988 and has served as the chair of the Department of Business, as well as taught undergraduate and graduate accounting courses in the areas of financial, managerial, governmental accounting, and auditing.

As the director of the Master of Science in Accounting program, she has assisted students in preparing for careers in various areas of accounting and spent considerable time networking with accounting professionals and firms to promote the college’s thriving programs and its students. This includes her organization of the college’s annual “Meet the Firms” career and recruiting event with invited CPA firms and corporations. Church also works closely with Career Services to promote information about internships and permanent positions with firms and national corporations. Under Church’s leadership, the student professional placement rate in careers since the accounting program’s inception is a sterling 100 percent.

The many letters of nominations noted that Church is a skilled and gracious administrator and teacher who is known for her sense of patience and collegiality and willing to forego her own interests for the good of the whole community. One colleague wrote, “She cares about students no matter whether they are excellent performers or students who need a little more help. I know that she is always supportive and encouraging to students. She never gives up on anyone.”

In addition, Church has served on many of the college’s major committees, and she is the sole academic representative on the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which oversees the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) profession in Tennessee. Having been nominated by the governor for this position, she has a unique opportunity to have an impact on the accounting profession more broadly.

A native Memphian, Church is the parent of three Rhodes alumni. She holds a B.S.E. and an M.S. from The University of Memphis and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Houston. She also holds a CPA certificate in the state of Tennessee.

Ryan Fogg

Ryan Fogg was recently promoted to Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University (TN). He continues to maintain an active performing career, presenting recitals regularly throughout the Southeastern United States.

Farrah A. Usmani (J.D.’12)

UHLC alumna Farrah Usmani ’12 has joined the Loeb & Loeb Nashville office as an associate in the firm’s music industry practice.