In honor of Valentine’s Day 2024, we featured three alumni couples who found love through A.C.C./Barton College.
United by fate and sealed with love, Sheila Milne (’90) and Susan Myers (’87) prove that in the game of life, they are the perfect match.
Looking back on their story, the couple marvels at the serendipity that brought them together, bridging continents and backgrounds. Sheila arrived at Barton, then Atlantic Christian College, in the fall of 1986 as a talented international tennis recruit from England. Susan, a seasoned dual-athlete from Ahoskie, N.C., was making a name for herself on campus and on the women’s tennis team. Sheila and Susan soon developed a close friendship as they got to know each other on and off the courts. The two recall some of their best moments on campus together were spent riding on a friend’s borrowed scooter through campus, late-night shenanigans in Wenger Hall, driving lessons, and plenty of takeout Chinese food.
Within the first year of meeting, Sheila and Susan were inseparable. They say that their friendship set a solid foundation for their love story and allowed them to discover their true selves. Thirty-eight years later, their love is as strong as ever. “I think we’re really lucky. We are each other’s first love,” Sheila says. Susan quickly replies, “We’ve never had our hearts broken.”
Following graduation, Sheila and Susan decided to stay in Wilson and build their life together. “We had nearly 16 years together where it was just us two before we decided to have our daughter, Cameron,” Susan shares. The couple beams with pride sharing the joys of parenthood and say that Wilson has been overwhelmingly supportive of their family throughout the years. “When she was growing up, everyone would always tell her that she was a lucky girl to have two moms.”
Sheila and Susan make their home a few blocks away from the place where it all began. You may frequently catch Susan strolling with their dog, Maggie, along campus pathways, while Sheila can often be found on the first floor of Harper Hall, lending her expertise as Barton’s Registrar. Their mutual affection for tennis still lights up their lives, and they enjoy spending quality time together on the court, reliving the magic that brought them together.
Time and time again, Barton proves to be a common thread, woven into the lives of those that have the opportunity to experience it. Whether you’re a part of the Barton family or simply touched by Sheila and Susan’s story, we welcome you to make a gift in honor of the enduring spirit of love and community that defines Barton College. https://give.barton.edu/online-giving/