Tomlin Middle School honored two teachers who passed away recently from cancer by naming the halls outside of their former classrooms after them.
Principal Susan Sullivan led the sign ceremony for Bethanne Pearce and Marilyn Westfall.
“We want to remember the great things they did for Tomlin,” Sullivan said. “We are so grateful of the legacy they left here.”
It was physical education teacher Bert Gideons who came up with the idea to name the hallways after the teachers. Along with the PTSA and the city, he worked to get true street signs which were hung up by their former classrooms. This is the first time Tomlin has named hallways after teachers.
“We are honored to be a part of the legacy they left behind to not only the students but parents and faculty too,” PTSA member Yvonne Fry said.
Pearce passed away Nov. 22, 2012 at 56. Pearce began as an ESE teacher at Tomlin, teaching special-education students. After 10 years, she became the ESE specialist. Her husband Richard Pearce and step sons, Trevor and Greg Pearce, attended the ceremony.
Westfall, a sixth-grade language arts teacher, passed away April 21,2012 at 54. She was born July 15, 1957 in Richwood, WV, and moved to Zephyrhills 11 years ago from Summersville, WV. Westfall’s youngest brother Barry Chapman and niece Evonne Simmons attended the ceremony in place of her husband Michael Westfall who was in West Virginia.
“We’re greatly honored that the teachers came up with this and that the PTA followed through,” Simmons said.