David and Lisa Lathem of Maysville announce the engagement of their daughter Sara Emily Lathem to Charles Grady Walls, son of Chuck and Debbie Walls of Gainesville. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Robert and Abbie Lathem and Jack and Kathryn Hogsed, all of Gainesville.

She is a 2002 graduate of Gainesville High School in Gainesville. She graduated in 2006 from the University of Georgia in Athens with a bachelor's degree in biology. She is pursuing a doctorate in medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah.

The groom-elect is the grandson of Grady and Evelyn Walls and Robert and Willa Patten, all of Gainesville.

He is a 2001 graduate of Gainesville High School. He graduated in 2006 from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., with a bachelor's degree in construction science and management. He is employed as an assistant project manager with BE&K Building Group LLC in Augusta.

The couple plan to wed Dec. 19, 2009, at Chateau Elan in Braselton.