HAHIRA — A group dedication to honor and memorialize persons at Valwood School was held Thursday.
The James B. Sineath Instrumental Music Room, the Mr. and Mrs. Lou Blanton Heritage Hall, the William J. Pearlman Conference Room, the Justin Taylor Hobdy All Purpose Room and the Marie DeMersseman Lower School Commons can now be found on the Valwood campus.
The James B. Sineath Instrumental Music Room was named after a man who dedicated his talents to those around him, said Susanna Dover, director of development and alumni relations.
“For those of you that knew Jim (Sineath), what a treat, what a smile, what a love of all things family,” Dover said.
Head of School John Davis spoke of Lou Blanton, a founding trustee of Valwood.
“Both Mr. and Mrs. Blanton worked tirelessly to support Valwood for many years with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren being part of the Valwood family,” Davis said.
William Pearlman was also a founding trustee and Pearlman a generation legacy family at Valwood, said Susanna Dover, director of development and alumni relations. She said she was sure Pearlman would be proud of Valwood’s progress.
“Mr. Pearlman, as a founding trustee as well as a member of the board for several other times, was inspired to do something different for the children of this community,” Dover said.
Athletic Director Brett Martin spoke of Hobdy, who passed away in 2005. He spoke of Hobdy’s success in athletics.
“Justin graduated from Valwood in 2002 (and) played on the Valwood football, baseball and track teams during his high school career,” Martin said. “He and his brother, John, were starters on the ’99 state championship football team.”
In 2006, the strength and conditioning facility was dedicated to Hobdy; the space that was once the weight room was now a multipurpose room.
“Today serves as a rededication of that space as the Justin Taylor Hobdy All Purpose Room,” Martin said. “As good as Justin was at football, he was an even better person, and as much as he loved to play the game, he loved his family and friends and Valwood more. He will never be forgotten.”
The Marie DeMersseman Lower School Commons was named after a former Valwood teacher who is credited with naming the school mascot the Valiants. Paul DeMersseman explained how Marie DeMersseman, his mother, was “a champion of all students.”
“Her passion for the students reflected in her teaching and left a lasting impact,” he said. “She saw teaching as more than imparting information and knowledge; she felt blessed to have the opportunity to help shape the character of the young people she taught and built their confidence to help them discover their gifts and talents.”
Kimberly Cannon is a Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.
Pictures from the event
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