UWG
News Item
Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
Thomas Memorial Scholarship established
March 24, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - The Alonzo Thomas, Sr. and Clarence Thomas Memorial Scholarship has been established at the University of West Georgia. Family members Mary Joann Thomas and Clyde Thomas established the endowment fund to honor the brothers and their wives, Bertha and Fannie.
The
Thomas brothers were African American farmers who lived and farmed in
the Bowdon Junction community. Clarence Thomas retired from UWG's Custodial
Services department.
According to Mary Joann Thomas and Verenda Thomas Pitts, daughters of Clarence and Fannie, and Charlie James (C.J.) Thomas, son of Alonzo and Bertha, they were educators in their own right, unique in parenting and setting examples along the way.
“They had goals and dreams — in other words, they prayed, planned and agreed and it worked,” they noted. “They were two very, very successful couples and we give all glory to God for placing these four extraordinary people in our lives and in the lives of others.”
The family refers to the scholarship fund as the Thomas Legacy: Passing It On and they said, “If the legacy is lost, who can tell the truth?”
The family established the memorial fund to enhance education at UWG. The Scholarship will be awarded annually to a full time student with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
For more information on this endowment or for information to how to establish such a fund, contact the West Georgia Foundation at 770-836-6582.
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