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Dr. Margaret Jane Pepperdene had retired from Agnes Scott College after a 31-year career. The Paideia School called. They wanted her to teach junior and senior English.She harbored doubts, but gave it a shot.At Paideia, she didn't dumb down the curriculum.

Last week, someone called Russell Davis to extend gratitude.The caller had been sober five years. For that, a thank-you seemed appropriate.Relatives say the call is just one example of the impact Mr. Davis has had on people's lives. Its depth, they say, is unknown.

Henry Harsch was studying to become an engineer when he had an epiphany one day while riding a college elevator.He looked at the people on board and realized he was more interested in the mind, not machinery. He earned a master's degree in psychology from the University of Southern California.

Elizabeth Lane proved  the importance of family when she moved to Atlanta from Nashville.  The divorced, single mom wanted her two sons to be near their father.She rented an apartment in the Stone Mountain area. The boys saw their father on weekends.

Neale Bearden got framed for her 74th birthday.In 1993, her daughters took 13 of the amateur artist's paintings to the Heath Gallery. They removed the art on the gallery walls. They replaced them with their mother's oils and watercolors.Mrs. Bearden thought she was attending an artist's reception.

Jim Axel viewed his job as a TV newsman in clear-cut terms.Tell the story.  Report facts.  Let viewers make of it what they may.His career spanned the late 1950s into the mid-1990s. He acknowledged the bulk of his journalistic work took place in a different broadcasting era.

Mary Lunsford was set to return to Shorter College for her sophomore year. She was packed and ready to make the trip to Rome from Thomasville, her hometown.Unexpectedly, her father delivered grim news. He didn't have the money to cover that year's college costs.

Dr. William Vanderyt was good at just about everything to which he turned his hand -- orthopedic surgery, golf, tennis, landscaping, to name several of his passions. But maybe rowing best exemplifies his determination to succeed.He discovered rowing as a Cornell University student and became good enough to earn the position of "stroke," or pacesetter, for Cornell's championship eight-man crew.

Craig Golden knew baseball inside out.He knew the entire body had to be in sync to throw an accurate pitch.  And he knew that, among other things, proper stance, swing and eye level were vital to hitters.For years, Golden shared what he knew with youth.

When Dr. Julius Ehik immigrated to the United States in 1950, he had 5 cents in his pocket, one piece of luggage and the only English he knew was "How do you do?"Dr. Ehik never accepted the Communist way of life. In the late 1930s, while attending medical school in Budapest, Hungary, the then-teenager was drafted into the service while his town was being occupied by thousands of Russian soldiers.

Thomas Wassell used to tell his sons about his days as an FBI agent, years before they were born. He handled espionage cases.Initially, they didn't believe it."It sounded like something out of a James Bond movie or something," said son John Wassell of Tucker.

Whenever there was a wedding at her church,  Hayden Wells usually attended. She loved weddings."Happy times," she called them.Soon, Mrs. Wells started taking note of the wedding directors, the things they did, the layout of the ceremony and the care afforded wedding parties.

Mary Jones had been an assistant store manager at the Amos' Drug Store, a west end landmark for nearly 50 years at Hunter and Ashby streets.Dr. Charles Chisolm, an ophthalmologist, shopped there. He'd always admired the tall, slender woman's appearance, sense of decorum and style.

When her husband's company needed a temporary typist, Wilma Cheely didn't offer to fill in.Instead, she borrowed $1,000 from her husband and  founded a company.  She ran a classified ad aimed at wives, teachers and students.  She sent fliers advertising her service to businesses.

In 1953, Bertie Bond graduated from Agnes Scott College. Seven years later, she started work as an administrative assistant in the president's office.She retired 34 years later. By then, she had worked for four of the school's eight presidents: Wallace M.

Virginia Smyth was a pioneer in helping seniors live their remaining years both happy and healthy.As co-founder of the Center for Positive Aging in the early 1980s, Mrs. Smyth championed services that helped seniors keep a positive outlook, stay motivated and active; and find meaning from one day to the next.

Ronald St. Romain was looking for something to do when he learned about The Elaine Clark Center for Exceptional Children.The retiree contacted the special-needs center in Chamblee. He talked to Zena Deramus,  who oversees volunteers. She didn't know if Mr.

On past Halloween weekends,  Emory University's Miller-Ward Alumni House would turn into a fun fest for graduates, their families,  even folk outside the college circle.The annual event was called "Jake's Open House" for its host, Dr. Judson "Jake" Ward Jr.

The Garsons of Atlanta were gutsy liberals even during the days of  segregation.In 1926, Frank and Gussie Garson founded the Lovable Co., a maker of lingerie, notably bras. With Atlanta its base, the now-defunct firm employed nearly 3,000 workers across the globe.

Caroline Shullo was a wide-eyed 7-year-old when she stepped off the boat at Ellis Island on July 4, 1920.Her father, Antonio Porrazzo, was already in Ohio and waiting for his wife Carmela, daughter Caroline and six other children to come from Italy.Just off the boat, someone handed them a bunch of bananas, something they had never seen before.

In March, Stephen Wust decided to ditch his car for something less expensive to operate.A motorcycle. He bought a Honda Shadow.Mr. Wust rode the bike everywhere. To travel to the Newton campus of Georgia Perimeter College. To visit his parents, Carl and Sharon Wust of Conyers.

In March, Stephen Wust decided to ditch his car for something less expensive to operate.A motorcycle. He bought a Honda Shadow.Mr. Wust rode the bike everywhere. To travel to the Newton campus of Georgia Perimeter College. To visit his parents, Carl and Sharon Wust of Conyers.

Bob Woodland was short in stature and slight of build, but his sense of justice never wavered — even if it meant putting himself in harm’s way.During his daily jog near Piedmont Park in the summer of 1977, Mr. Woodland witnessed a two-car accident. Although just a fender-bender, one of the drivers got out and began choking the other driver.

Henry Troutman traveled the path pursued by most sons of his era when it came to careers.He followed daddy.The late Henry Battey Troutman Sr., founded  the Atlanta family law firm, Troutman-Sams, Schroder, Lockerman. Today, due to a 1972 merger, it's known as  Troutman-Sanders.

David Moffit covered practically every elite sporting event imaginable in a 50-plus year career as a sports writer and editor for United Press International.We're talking the Masters, Olympics, World Series,  Super Bowls, ACC and SEC showdowns. Name it.