Knightly News

In 1986, dating looked considerably different from dating in 2023. In the time before cell phones, Cupid Couples, like 1991 graduates, John Haynes and Joanna Jackson Haynes passed paper notes to each other. Now all these years later, the two have two children and a bustling farm, brewery and restaurant.

Adventures in Dating

John and Joanna met at Episcopal when they were both in the sixth grade. They became friends, and by the seventh grade, the two were “going together.” Joanna recalls the moment that made them an official couple. “We would write on our tennis shoes,” she remembers, pointing out that on the bottom of her Tretorn sneakers, she had written, “I love JH.” During chapel services, students kneeled at the front of the chapel before getting Eucharist. When Joanna kneeled, her crush was revealed. “I was busted!” she exclaims. The situation suited John just fine. “I needed that kind of billboard!”  Once chapel was over, John took the shoe from Joanna’s foot and kept it. He eventually returned it on their wedding day.

The Haynes remember other Episcopal dating adventures, including a seventh grade retreat to Camp Hardtner. While there, John smeared shaving cream and eggs on Joanna’s face and hair. Joanna’s friends assured her that this was a sign that John liked her. After an eighth grade break up, the two DJ-ed a dance together in the Webster Refectory. Joanna declared that year that although they were no longer “going together,” she would marry John.

As John and Joanna entered high school, they remained best friends. When sophomore Homecoming approached and Joanna was named to the Court, she dreamed of asking John to escort her during the pep rally. She was devastated when she discovered he’d already been asked to walk with someone else. With the big dance approaching, John’s mom asked him a thought-provoking question. “Who do you have the most fun with?” Joanna was the obvious answer. As the two later danced together in the Webster Refectory, a lone balloon bounced around them. Joanna brought the balloon home, and the couple released it in her yard. The next morning, Joanna discovered the balloon trapped in a tree, and she rescued it and tied it to her bed. For years, no one was allowed to remove the balloon, even after it deflated. When their first son was born and the bed was given to him, that balloon was still attached!

From Going Together to Getting Married

John and Joanna continued “going together” all through high school; however, they parted ways for college in a twist befitting an ‘80s/’90s romance. The two reunited each summer and visited throughout the year, and then John moved to Los Angeles to work in the film industry. For her 21st birthday, Joanna planned to visit Pepperdine University with a friend, so she reached out to John. The two went out for dinner and have been together since.

“Friends met and got married before we got engaged,” says Joanna with a laugh. The road to marriage was lengthy, but the wait was worth it. After a magical engagement, complete with a song written by John, the two married in 2000. Their Episcopal friends were part of the engagement and the wedding.

For two decades, the Haynes have been best friends, business partners and entrepreneurs. Together they produced the film Ole War Skule which tells the history of LSU football. John is also an artist, and Joanna breeds golden retrievers and has homeschooled their boys. They operate a farm with Texas Longhorn cattle and opened Istrouma Brewery in the barn during the first months of the pandemic. Life is busy and full, and the Haynes thrive on the energy. “He keeps me on my toes,” says Joanna.

Life is also clearly full of love and laughter. It hasn’t always been homemade beer and cute farm animals, but the two have faced challenges together and prevailed. “It’s been a great adventure,” says John. “John has faith and beauty of a cup half full and the gift of encouragement,” says Joanna. “I think I’m going to keep him!”

Episcopal's Impact on this Cupid Couple

No doubt, Episcopal had a huge impact on the Haynes. They discovered lifelong love, lasting friendships and career inspiration. The Haynes say they were prepared for college thanks to the education they received at Episcopal. “SMU didn’t hit me like a ton of bricks,” says Joanna regarding her transition to college. Joanna always knew she wanted to go into business, so she pursued a marketing degree and finished in four years.

In college, John pursued creative endeavors and followed his passion for storytelling and art. He credits Episcopal’s Anne Weidig’s Literature and Film class with providing him a new perspective. “My life changed because of that class,” he says. “I don’t have an appetite for reading. I’m a movie guy. All of the sudden, education opened up for me.” The class helped set the course for his career. “The last 35 years, that epiphany in class has been a fire in my belly.”

Join us in wishing John, Joanna and all of our Cupid Couples a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Cupid Couple Listing

As of 2.5.2024

Ryan Abbott '94 and Colleen Huston Abbott '95

John Anderson '78 and Rebecca Wray Anderson '79

Blaine Ayres '91 and Mary Ann Hinz Ayres '93

Ryan Blackledge '97 and Meghan Scobee Blackledge '01

Barret Blondeau '98 and Julie Clark Blondeau '95

Andrew Booth '87 and Jan LaNasa Booth '87

Carson Bourgeois '08 and Hanley Poché Bourgeois '11

David Cash '00 and Emily Bowsher '00

David Brantley '72 and Jan Jones Brantley '72

David Brauer '87 and Kari Sterling Brauer '87

John Brown '81 and Jennifer Plauché Brown '83

Bennett Bruns '17 and Caroline Bradford Bruns '15

William Burke IV '04 and Emma Frost Burke '04

Rennie Carter '89 and deSha Caldwell Carter '95

Richard Chauvin, Jr. '72 and Cindy Palmer Chauvin '79

James Cox '74 and Sue Kleinpeter Cox '74

David Dansky, Jr. '89 and Rachel Simoneaux Dansky '89

Tom D'Armond '85 and Teri Hackett D'Armond '85

Richard Dunham II '78 and Shannon Lavender Dunham '80

Nicholas Easterly'07 and Sabrina Wood-Easterly '07

Timothy Ehrlich '84 and Suzanne Wade Ehrlich '86

David Ellison III '77 and Ann Cocke Ellison '80

Steven Feigley '74 and Karen Holden Feigley '72

Gregg Fell, Jr. '01 and Fran Gremillion Fell '01

Madison Field '06 and Helen Butts Field '09

Bobby Finley '81 and Elizabeth Bankston Finley '83

Patrick Frischhertz '02 and Sarah Gay Frischhertz '02

Joey Gammill '74 and Margaret Bankston Gammill '74

Daymon Gardner '00 and Erin Maxwell Gardner '00

Jon Gardner '96 and Jessica Ross Gardner '01

Mark Garon '93 and Barbara Irwin Garon '95

Paul Garrett '89 and Rachel Spiller Garrett '89

Jack Graham III '85 and Barbin Caldwell Graham '85

Todd Graves '90 and Gwen Drain Graves '88

Ben Gremillion '07 and Morgan Melker Gremillion '08

Ryan Hackney '93 and Casey Dué Hackney '92

John Haynes '91 and Joanna Jackson Haynes '91

David Heroman '96 and Melissa Taranto Heroman '99

Darien Hill '98 and Brittany Hastings Hill '99

John Hill III '84 and Mollie Poché Hill '84

G. Michael Hollingsworth '78 and Gaye Richards Hollingsworth '78

John Jackson III '77 and Judie Snider Jackson '77

Polk Kellam ’14 and Madeline Sparks Kellam ’14

Craig Kinchen '11 and Danielle Maddox Kinchen '11

Eric Krutz '95 and Hope Chandler Krutz '95

Trey Kubricht III '88 and Amy Bradford Kubricht '88

Tommy Lambert '77 and Stephanie Hill Lambert '86

Marshall LaMoyne '08 and Lauren Knecht '08

Ransome Little '09 and Joanna Plattsmier Little '09

Steele McAndrew '75 and Terri Atkinson McAndrew '75

Briggs McKey ’05 and Victoria Willis McKey ‘05

Alex McLean ’04 and Charley Austin McClean ‘04

Sean Montgomery '88 and Angela Mills Montgomery '88

Bill Mote, Jr. '87 and Misty Fedric Mote '87

Bryan O'Leary '99 and Cara Hartman O'Leary '99

Drew Pace '04 and Meredith Patrick Pace '04

Graham Penniman III '79 and Maureen Meyers Penniman '79

Talbot Quinn ’08 and Olivia Carisella Quinn ’10

Michael Rabalais '97 and Amy Rabalais '97

Garner Reesby '09 and Ryann Roussel Reesby '09

Michael Rhodes '87 and Kellen Gallagher Rhodes '87

Gary Richards '74 and Nessie Smith Richards '74

Garrett Ross ’08 and Micaela Holland Ross ’08

Weldon Rotenberg ’14 and Elizabeth Howe Rotenberg ’14

Nick Russell '12 and McCraney Brown Russell '13

Carol Sabottke ’09 and Melinda Hudson Sabottke ’09

John Sample '83 and Alison Cohn Sample '85

Matthew Saurage '16 and Elizabeth Binning Saurage '16

Charlie Schudmak '95 and Daisy Obier Schudmak '96

Joseph Schwartzenburg ’17 and McCall D’Armond Schwartzenburg ’18

Matt Shoriak '97 and Katie Culotta Shoriak '97

Wyn Singer III '92 and Mary Margaret Johnson Singer '93

Field Smith '00 and Erin Hayden Smith '00

Holden Spaht, Jr. '92 and Claire Morris Spaht '90

Benjamin Stage '08 and Chelsea Pottschmidt Stage '06

Jamie Thomas '05 and Jessica Ferreyra Thomas '05

Joe Travis '80 and Cynthia Halley Travis '80

Earl Turner III '96 and Lindsay Lamont Turner '97

Guy Watkins IV '76 and Sharon Easterly Watkins '76

Bruce Weller '85 and Paige Hendry Weller '86

Adrian Wilcombe III '71 and Wendy Kahao Wilcombe '71

Addison Willett '00 and Margaret Coady Willett '03

For any edits, additions, or corrections please email [email protected]. 

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