Dear friends from Stephens,

I am trying to locate members of the classes of '83 and '84, looking for people who remember Ellen Matthews. She died of leukemia in 1984, during my senior year. As I write this, I am surprised at the things I remember, and especially at the things I have forgotten. We both lived at Wood Hall and worked at the front desk. I think she began as a member of the class of '84, but may have chosen the 3-year plan which would have made her part of '83. She told me that she had been invited to join Searcy as a freshman, but chose to live elsewhere (Tower?), thinking she would experience more in a traditional dorm. She may have been a fashion major. Her fiancee's name was Dan. I think she was from Pittsburgh, but I have been unable to locate Ellen's parents.

I remember so clearly her sense of style and fun; her generosity of spirit and devotion to her friends. I remember her joyful smile. These things I remember, even though the concrete facts are fading. Nora Enphante was the one who told me that Ellen had passed away. She assumed I had already heard. I still have the program for Ellen's memorial service in the Chapel. I hope that members of the Stephens community will support me. Please send me the land and/or email addresses of Stephens women from the mid 80s. If anyone reading this would like to help, you can make a donation at:

http://www.active.com/donate/lewist/ltnKClaren
Thank you everyone,
Kathy kathy.clarendon@verizon.net

To all my friends from Stephens,

Thank you all so much for your amazing response to my Light the Night team. On October 2nd, 28 people came together in Providence, forming team Remembering Ellen, to walk in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. Ellen Matthews was a dear friend from Stephens who died of leukemia in 1984. On the 20th anniversary of her death, I decided to honor her memory in a way that would benefit others suffering from the same disease that killed her. My goal was to raise $1,000. So far the team has raised more than $3,000, and donations are still coming in. In answer to my request for help, another friend from Stephens, Karen Peterson Weston, '84, formed her own Light the Night team to walk in Columbia.

Thank you everyone who sent donations, and thank you also to everyone who shared their memories of Ellen. Her life was short, but she is still remembered by so many people. The picture above was taken almost a year before her death. Ellen is the beautiful woman in the center. I am on the left, and Joanna McKee Christopher, '83, is on the right. The picture was taken in Wood Hall.

Kathy