Five faculty members are retiring from William Byrd High School this year— Bev Allman, Karen Hicks, Gayle Majure, David Marcum, and Gina Williamson. Retirees were recognized by the Roanoke County School Board at the 2018 Retirement Banquet on May 23.

Beverly Allman has been teaching Family and Consumer Science at WBHS for two years.  She worked in Salem City Schools and in schools in West Virginia before coming to Byrd.

“My husband Bradie and I have a passion for missions, plan to travel, and to continue community volunteer work,” said Allman of her plans after she retires.

As for what she has enjoyed most about her career, “The most inspiring part of teaching is being able to witness a student recognizing that the rewards are greater when they give to others through conscience effort and then it becomes an innate occurrence,” Allman noted.

Karen Hicks is retiring from her position at William Byrd teaching Pre-AP Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology. She has taught at WBHS for 17 years. Before coming to Byrd, she taught for 17 years at Grundy High School in Buchanan County.

Hicks says that her plans for retirement are for traveling and spending more time with family and friends, including husband Dwayne Hicks, and her two children, Karah and Austin, both William Byrd graduates.

Hicks says that what she has enjoyed most about her job and about William Byrd is the “time spent with wonderful students and great co-workers.”

David Marcum is retiring from his position as a Special Educator at WBHS. He has taught at the school for four years and in Roanoke County for a total of 12 years— six as a Special Educator at William Byrd Middle School, and two as assistant principal at Herman L. Horn Elementary, in addition to his years at WBHS.

Marcum also served as principal at Cloverdale Elementary School in Botetourt County for 12 years and as the Supervisor of Technology for one year. He began his teaching career in Roanoke City Schools at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

He and his wife Cindy have been married for 37 years. Their two children, Ryan and Audra, both attended William Byrd High School where they were valedictorians– Audra in 2004 and Ryan in 2011.

“Our future plans include time with our children and hopes of travel,” said Marcum.

“The best part of being at WBHS has been the opportunity to establish rapport with the students and become not just their teacher, but their mentor,” said Marcum. “I have always believed that an important part of what I do is to demonstrate care and support to each student I encounter.”

Gayle Patterson Majure is retiring after nine years as school counselor at William Byrd. She has worked in Roanoke County schools for 16 years, including seven years at Roland E. Cook Alternative School.

She is known at WBHS as Ms. Patterson but was recently married. She and her husband “have three grown sons between us, Grey, David, and Bob.”

“We enjoy traveling, working around the house, and spending time on the lake with family and friends,” said Majure.

“Helping students and seeing their successes has been the highlight of my years as a school counselor,” Majure said.

Gina Williamson has retired from her position as Special Education teacher at William Byrd where she served for 10 years. She has been with Roanoke County schools for 13 years, with three spent at Clearbrook Elementary.

She and her husband just celebrated 32 years of marriage.

“I cherish the friendships I have made with my teacher ‘peeps’, and my students have taught me the important things in life,” said Williamson.