St. Joseph Academy - Waycross, Georgia

A Historical Review

Waycross Catholic School photo

The St. Joseph Catholic parish in Waycross, Georgia was originally part of the network of Spanish Franciscan missions extending along the Georgia coast in the 1500's. Father Pedro da Corpa founded a mission at Tolomato, near present day Darien, in 1587. Father Francisco de Verascola headed the mission at Asao on St Simons Island. Hundreds of years later the British arrived and St. Joseph parish was reorganized as a mission from Brunswick in 1871. Father Charles Prendergast of Albany celebrated the first mass in Waycross, Georgia in 1871. Diocesan priests were in charge until 1897 and since that time the Marist Fathers of Brunswick have been in charge.

Bishop Thomas A. Becker dedicated the first St. Joseph Catholic Church of Waycross in 1889. This building was destroyed by a hurricane October 3, 1896. The Catholics of Waycross, led by Marist Father P.J. Luckie built a new St Joseph's Catholic Church on Teabeau Street, which was blessed in October 1898. The Marist fathers from Brunswick visited Waycross once a month to say Mass in Waycross. During the 1920's, Mass began to be said each Sunday in Waycross. The mission was formally made a Catholic parish in June 1960.

St. Joseph Academy (SJA) teachers were provided by the Catholic Sisters of St. Francis. The Order of the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegany, founded in 1859 by Fr. Pamphilo, opened the Academy in Waycross in September 1948. SJA was officially dedicated on December 19, 1949. The school was designed by W.D. Tollerton, a Waycross, Georgia architect and built by Paul M. Kesling, a local contractor. The sisters staffed the school from 1948 until 1972. In 1969, a decision was made to add on to the school and it was completed in 1970. Although a Catholic school, the non-catholic enrollment exceeded the Catholic enrollment throughout much of the school's history. SJA Catholic school in Waycross closed in June 1976.

Waycross St. Joseph Academy graduation ring

An additional goal of this site is to serve as a repository for information regarding the alumni and faculty of St Joseph Academy Catholic school, Waycross, Georgia. Special thanks to Joe Ballentine of Waycross for his generous contribution of photographs. For further information or to participate in further development please e-mail: Contact Us.

If you have any additional information about St Joseph Academy Waycross, Georgia please contact us and contribute. The following are alumni students who have been identified to date with St Joseph Academy Waycross, Georgia.

Alumni Hall

Marty Karle Paul Coughlin Carla Scott Clinton Andersen Randall Boyle
James Culberson Susan Lennihan Buckner Patricia Leslie William Brewster Raymona Germano
Debra Paradise Osborn McDonald John White Leonard Music Mellany Blount
Raymond Raulerson Joseph Palmer Martha Monroe Andrea Flesch Madison Dougherty
William Coughlin Beckie White Tonya Tucker Catherine Smith Craig Scott
Jo Moore Daniel Karle Stephen Karle Mary Higginbotham Timothy Dixon
Walter Culberson Mary Coughlin Corbett Rodney Boyle Georgina White Julian Tonning
Matthew Rudisail William Reynolds Michael Pearce Kenneth McDonald Joseph Iniguez
Joy Blount Bradley Wihebrink Delon Tucker Elizabeth Tonning Mary Ellen Renn
Moi Monroe Douglas McClellan Joseph Martinez Lydia Hall Audrey Dixon
Daniel Coyle Barry Brown Barry Tonning Marta King Jerome Dowling
Rusty McDonald Stephen Nimmer Barbara Tonnning Miller Pamela Music Lia Aiken
Cynthia Bawkin McKinnon Betty Tonning Dixon Russell Tonning Joe Tonning Mary Karle
Melena Courson Jo Ann Fulford James Merk Helen Robinson Blake Mike Williams
Marka Pearce Samantha Smith Tim Thompson Mark Williams Mike Canon
Greg Coughlin Cecilia Coughlin Vianney Coughlin Melena Carpenter Courson Jo Ann Smith Fulford
Jimmy Henderson Mary Ellen Geick Renn Caroline Carter Katie Woods Michael Palmer
Michele Palmer Harris Wanda Corbett Peterson Marrion Corbett Phipps Ricky McDaniel Leslie Matich
Walter Matich Jr Ben Hackett Sally Monroe Bernadette Vaughan Patsy Moore Tuell
David Karle Linda Marie Taliani Carter Robby Robinson Charlotte King Beth Monroe
Bernadette Griffis Cecelia Ann Dobransky Teresa Grupposo Larry Kizer Nina Marie Lenihan
James David Kurtz Linda Kurtz George Cottave Virginia Nimmer Rosemary Nimmer
Robert Bobby Tonning Betty Boyle Jerry Hampton Shirley Higgs Bobby Fechtel
Choo Choo Germano Mary Alice Monroe Katie McMann Tony Dionne Tracy Fulford
Ann Thigpen King Beverly Walls Kyle Steedley Chris Karle Richard Vaughn
Buddy Walker Richard Carter Raymond Cornelius Robin Cornelius Ezekiel Toby
Chuckie Triana Neil Reed Rhonda Hart Karla Steedley Jacqueline Toby
Griff Wildes Matt Karle David Bernard Karle Dicky Johnson Susan Charland
Maryann Adams James Adams James Renn Terry Piazza Omer Charland
Bob Gill Ted Renn James Johnson Kathy Bassette Alan Karen Hubbard
Gary Hubbard Perry Hubbard Inza Hartwell Martha Higginbothum Annette Haralson
Debra Jean Lee Dana Welch Stanley Harris Scott Roberson Billy Smith
Wilmer Wheeler Stephen Walker Victor Rudisail Timothy Myles William Mackley
George Mardany Jr Chris Williams Jalona Rimes Pamela Roberts David Martnez
Jocelyn Wingard Ginger Williams Timmy Miles Lisa Everett Durrence Bo Lowry
Margaret Miles Joseph Johnson Hunt Kelly Anne Tonning Suzy Corrigan Thomas
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St Joseph Academy Waycross, Georgia Faculty Members

In Remembrance of St Joseph Academy Students

Cynthia Bawkin McKinnon horseback riding
In memory of Cynthia Bawkin McKinnon
Stephen Bawkin in Waycross
In memory of Stephen Bawkin
Carla Debraron Scott Frazier
In memory of Carla Debraron Scott Frazier
Marty Karle
In memory of August Marty Karle
Madison Dougherty
In memory of R. Madison Dougherty

In memory of Rick Blackburn

Dedication to Michael Palmer: "Lord, bless those who make their living upon the sea. And shine thy light, so that they may find their way home."

In memory of David Bernard Karle

photo of the cross