The VirtualBoxwell Team is sad to announce the passing James “Jim” Lokey.  Jim started on the Stahlman staff in 1973 in the Kitchen.  He returned in 1974, but moved to Camp Craig as part of the first summer staff there.  He was a Program Aide, the Commissioner System’s version of the Activity Yard.  He graduated the following year from Oakland High in Murfreesboro and spent the next twenty years in the U. S. Air Force.  He remained connected to the Air Force and aviation for some time afterward, before settling down with Georgia Hardwoods.  He retired in 2020 and passed away from cancer on September 7, 2022. He is survived by his wife Georgia, his three children, and four grandchildren.

You may read his official obituary here: https://www.byrdandflanigan.com/obituaries/james-lokey-ii

Unfortunately, we have no photos of Jim and no staff photo for Stahlman in 1973 or Craig in 1974.  Here is the Craig Dining Hall in this period.

Craig Dining Hall and original waterfront from the air, July 14, 1978. Photo by Michael Seay

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to announce the passing of John Cooper.  John was only on staff one summer in 1991.  However, his impact continues to live.  John had a true love of boats and was responsible for building the Lancaster Pirate ship (floating!) that still sits at CubWorld today.  He also had several younger family members serve on the staff in this same period, including Clint Cooper and Jeremiah Cooper.  John was also a member of Executive Board and an Eagle Scout.  Born in 1946, John grew up in Gallatin, moved to Florida and was involved in the Apollo project. He returned to Gallatin and worked for the TVA, but his true passion was building barges, primarily working replicas of flatboats and keelboats from the 19th century. John passed on March 18 after returning home from open heart surgery. His funeral will be held on the family farm on Gibbs Lane in Gallatin on April 4.  He leaves behind his wife, Gloria, his son Jeremiah and his wife, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

John’s work on the replica boats can be found here: https://cooperflatboats.net

John’s obituary can be found here: https://obituaries.mainstreetmediatn.com/obituary/john-cooper-1093690822

Seen here is John’s Lancaster pirate ship under construction at Parnell Bay.  Photos of John are found at Cooper Flatboats.

Construction of the Lancaster Pirate Ship, 1995, at Camp Light waterfront

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to announce the passing of Ralph Walker.  Ralph was only on staff one summer in 1991.  However, the summer was a critical transition year for Stahlman as Ralph stepped in as program director not long after the passing of Ernie Ragsdale.  Ralph had spent most of his professional life as an officer in the US Army and, after retiring from the service, as a campus director of the Franklin campus of Columbia State Community College. He also served on Wood Badge staff and was a Silver Beaver recipient.  Ralph passed on June 28, 2020 at the age of 71. He was survived by his wife and two children, one of whom–Jason–was a staff member himself.

Ralph’s obituary can be found here: https://www.williamsonmemorial.com/obituaries/ralph-walker

Seen here is Ralph (left) with Tom Willhite in 1991 as they prepare to lead a reservation wide Mardi Gras parade.

Ralph Walker and Tom Willhite in the 1991 Mardi Gras parade

The VirtualBoxwell Team is saddened to announce the passing of John Reese.  John joined the Parnell staff in 1992 as a member of the Activity Yard.  He remained in the AY for his entire six year run, ending as Activity Yard Director at Parnell in 1996 and 1997.  He attended ETSU for his undergrad work, but suffered from pancreatic cancer.  An Eagle Scout, he spent several years in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as a outdoor guide before returning to Mount Juliet.  John passed unexpectedly on September 17, 2025.  He was 48 years old.

Here is the official obituary for John’s passing, marking also visitation and services in the next few days.  https://www.sellarsfh.com/obituaries/John-Paul-Reese?obId=45457819

Seen here is the 1997 Parnell Directors’ photo.  John is the tallest man in the photo, all way to the far right.

1997 Parnell Directors