By Ralphine Major

ralphine3@yahoo.com

If the name sounds familiar—it should.  For years, the late Bill and Dora Staley were well known in the Gibbs Community.  Dora was cafeteria manager at Gibbs High School.  Thanks to the Staleys’ great-granddaughter, there is at least one “Staley” in Upper East Tennessee!

Staley Humphries is the daughter of Leslie (Spitzer) Humphries, a graduate of Gibbs High School and Carson-Newman College where she played softball (shortstop), and John Humphries.  She is the granddaughter of Wanda and Tom Callaham of Covington, Virginia, and Judy (Staley) Spitzer and Les Spitzer of Corryton, Tennessee.  Focus readers may recall from past columns that Judy was a Gibbs High School cheerleader and Les was a key player on Coach Bob Dagley’s outstanding 1965 basketball team at Gibbs.  Staley Humphries is carrying on her family’s great tradition in athletics.  She recently graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, and committed to play Division 1 volleyball at East Tennessee State University. Staley’s skills are not limited to volleyball as her academic career in high school was amazing as well.  She earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license through Dobyns-Bennett and is currently working on the memory care floor at a local assisted living facility in Kingsport.  Currently, Staley plans to pursue a degree in nursing or a health-related field.

I could hardly believe the pretty young girl bubbling with personality that I met in the summer of 2012 at the 70th Anniversary reception for the late Bill and Georgia Wright is already making her mark in the world.  With the pandemic upon us, Staley’s generation is facing unprecedented challenges.  With her dedication and heart for helping others, I have no doubt this talented young lady will continue to make outstanding contributions to society.  Congratulations, Staley!  Good luck in this next step of your life’s journey!

Words of Faith:  Staley’s favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NAS) from the chapter on love: “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”