Samford Legacy League 2023-24 Spring Newsletter

LEGACY LEAGUE

Happenings | Spring 2024

IN THIS ISSUE: SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON SELLS OUT � JUNIOR BOARD MOMENTUM BUILDS

Powerhouse Performance by Male Voices of Cantus Will

by Sadie Goodman

Cap Scholarship Celebration

There is nothing as powerful as hearing a legendary group of men sing. I have said this many times to musical colleagues of mine. When I was in high school, I was privileged to hear the recently formed American ensemble Cantus perform in Tampa as part of a choral festival, and I was mesmerized as they performed “Dúlamán” from their 2001 debut album Let Your Voice Be Heard. This Celtic folk song is a speeding steam engine of isorhythms clanging toward an unknown destination, and you don’t want to get off the train.

The low-voice ensemble, featuring only the voice parts of tenor, baritone and bass, possesses an earthy sound like mystic monks in an underground basilica, combined with Pentatonix-style modernism in some of its arrangements. Begun in 1995 as a student-led ensemble from the voices of the famed St. Olaf College Choir (after which our own A Cappella Choir is lovingly modeled), Cantus grew

SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

Thursday, April 18

Covenant Presbyterian Church

5:30 p.m. Sponsor Reception

6:30 p.m. Seated Dinner

8 p.m. Concert

$125 per person ($50 tax deductible) Tables of 8 are also available.

For reservations and more information, go to samford.edu/legacyleague.

and formed into an all-professional touring men’s chorus and non-profit organization in 1999. Since then they have recorded 17 albums and performed in prestigious halls and festivals across the United States and beyond.

this eight-voiced group’s synchronization and seeming telepathy.

Cantus is one of only two full-time, salaried professional vocal ensembles in the U.S. When a member retires, they hold a tough audition process in cities all over the country to keep the quality and training of the singers in their ensemble at its highest level. If you like Pentatonix, VOCES8 or other acclaimed chamber choral ensembles, Cantus provides a similar sound, but in some ways more arresting as it stars only male voices. The Washington Post proclaims that Cantus’ sound has “exalting fi nesse” and “impressive power.” They perform without a conductor to unify their tempos and styles – a talent that speaks highly of

It may be only several times per decade that that a vocal ensemble with the prowess and prestige of Cantus graces any Birmingham venue. Their performance at the upcoming Scholarship Celebration will be the crowning jewel after a sponsor reception and an elegant, seated dinner. This event culminates each academic year and celebrates the Legacy League’s mission to support Samford students. Jan Cobb is chairing this year’s Scholarship Celebration. Proceeds will help provide scholarships for students with significant fi nancial need and challenging circumstances. 

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Reception & Dinner presented by Concert presented by

Cantus

Scholarship Celebration Committee

Front: Cheryl Landreth, Jan Cobb (chair), Julie Taylor, Rhonda Cantelow, Karon Bowdre, Karen Carlisle; back: Nancy Golden, Shea Williams, Belinda Stroud, Sharon Smith, Amy Fenton Lee, Tricia Naro; not pictured: Cindy Bembry, Lindsey Reed Curl, Kasey Fiscus, Maureen Hallman

Christmas Home Tour Generates Highest Ever Ticket Revenue

by Kathryn Woodruff

Is it possible for an event that operates like a “well-oiled machine” to be improved? How about if that event is in its “lucky 13th” year?

The Christmas Home Tour was once again an overwhelming success, perhaps helped by a couple of new processes. The fi rst was a brief Zoom training for all home hosts. The second was replacing paper tickets with writstbands. No more tickets left in cars! No more checking off homes on tickets!

What was it about the 2023 home tour that attracted 1,000 guests and raised over $33,000 in ticket revenue (our highest ever!)? Was it the fascination of a new home that didn’t look new, and that the home’s entrance hall included three “secret” doors? Or was it the beauty of five Christmas trees, one decorated with grandchildren in mind,

as well as a handmade chest over 100 years old? Maybe a spacious home whose fi rst floor resembled an art gallery, and whose gorgeous back yard included a pool that everyone longed to visit in warm weather? Or perhaps a renovated Cape Cod farmhouse that featured front porch dining, paintings by Mississippi artists and a nativity scene from Zambia? Could it be the main draw was a chance to hear live Christmas music, browse pop-up shoppes and enjoy a delicious variety of holiday goodies, in addition to touring three levels of a four-story home?

We are grateful to Jan Service and her committee, as well as the 150 volunteers who helped with hosting, publicity and holiday treats. We owe much of our success to Presenting Sponsor ARC Realty and all our other sponsors! And what would we do without homes to show off ? Many thanks to our homeowners: Deidre and George Robert Booker, Liz and Doug Guest, Sharon and Billy Harvill, Julie and Beck Taylor, and Kathy and Tommy Thomson.

From 13 years of this event alone, the Legacy League has raised over $424,000 to fund scholarships for our growing cohort of scholarship recipients. Now that’s something to cheer about! 

Please thank and support our sponsors:

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PREMIUM SPONSORS

MTN BROOK PLAZA 280

SPONSORS

Brandino Brass Co.

Shutter Bug Window Coverings

Issis & Sons Furniture & Flooring

Mayer Lighting Showroom

Mook Mills Cheese Straws RD Designs

Ruby Ansley Interiors Inc.

The Fresh Market

Hanna’s Garden Shop

Luckie’s Pinestraw

Robert F. Henry Tile Company

Rousso Adams Facial Plastic Surgery

FRIENDS

Brian’s Flooring & Design

Brookdale University Park Senior Living Holt AV/Video

Royal Cup Coffee & Tea

Thompson’s Frame Factory

2023 Christmas Home Tour Committee

Front: Lindsey Reed Curl, Sheila Smith, Claire Gwaltney, Jan Service (chair), Julie Taylor, Becky Neuberger, Karen Carlisle, JoAnn Smith, Danna Duncan; back: Mary Margaret Yeilding, Pam Wood, Molly Bee Bloetscher, Cathy Cook, Christy McKiernan, Sharon Smith, Tereasa Rima, Shea Williams., Amy Duffey; not pictured: Cindy Bembry, P.A. Carmichael, Julie Davis

Volunteers pre-package holiday treats to serve at the Samford President's Home.

The lead hostesses are excited to prepare for their home tour duties.

Trudy Cathy White Encourages Intentional Values for a Lasting Legacy at Scholarship Luncheon

by Laura Promer

Samford

alumna Trudy Cathy White ’79, daughter of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, spoke to a sold-out crowd on Valentine’s Day. Her inspirational theme of living out your values resonated with the 350 attendees at the annual Scholarship Luncheon at Vestavia Country Club.

Dr. Beck A. Taylor, Samford president, welcomed Trudy home, gratefully remarking that she has made our university proud through her God-honoring life. He shared how she’d opened Birmingham’s second Chick-fil-A at age 19, making her one of the youngest operators in company history. Describing it as a good and strategic move, Dr. Taylor explained that she hired her future husband, John White, also a Samford student. Having now been married 46 years, they have four children and 17 grandchildren. He praised the Whites for serving as missionaries for 20 years, including 10 years in Brazil.

Trudy listed her family’s values as faith, family, integrity, generosity and gratitude. She challenged the audience to see that “values are important because when you understand your values you can get more intentional with your life.” She emphasized that “the legacy we leave is the life we live

PREMIUM SPONSORS

Dianne Booth

Karen Carlisle

Cook & Chris Cole

Judd Fleming, Peritus Wealth Management

SPONSORS

Hoar Construction

Sherri Foyt

Kimeran Stevens

Pat Spain Blanton & Jim Blanton

Julie Collier

Ginny Scott

SILENT AUCTION CONTRIBUTORS

Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Alan and Co. Fine Jewelers

B. Bayer & Co. Monogramming and Gifts

Baker Lamps and Linens

Birmingham Bulls Hockey Bistro V

Molly Bee Bloetscher

Bloom & Petal

The Blue Willow

The Cajun Cleaver Diamonds Direct Fleming’s Steakhouse Friends of the Legacy League

Humphrey’s Dog Resort

Issis & Sons

Jim ‘N Nick’s Community BBQ

Kendra Scott at The Summit Tracey Kerbler

Levy’s Fine Jewelry Margarita Grill

Melinda Storey Pottery

MomenTaker Photography

Monograms Plus

Nothing Bundt Cakes

O’Carr’s Restaurant

The Pampered Pet Resort

Pastry Art Bake Shoppe

Salon U

Samford Athletics

Samford Wright Center Seasons 52

Shalla Wista Studio

Shelby County Arts Council

Town & Country Clothes

Village Tavern

The White House Interiors

Wild Things Flowers and Curiosities

Pam Wood

now,” and that living out your values is how you share your legacy with the next generation. Trudy encouraged the audience to write down and display their values, quoting from Ephesians 5:15-16, “So be careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely.” She recognized members Chizuru Elliott and Anna Kathryn Hardin for their impactful “behind the scenes” service and faithful support.

Jada, a senior Legacy League scholarship recipient, courageously shared how receiving our scholarship enabled her to overcome many obstacles to attend Samford. Having felt called in the eighth grade to study law, she looks forward to attending Florida State University College of Law on a full tuition scholarship next year.

Executive Director Julie Taylor announced a new scholarship honoring the lives of Anna Belle and Emmett Johnson. Their daughter, Gay Johnson, was in attendance to accept the certificate of recognition. Read more of this moving story on page 8.

We are grateful for Scholarship Luncheon Chair Inga Clum and her committee, as well as more than 50 volunteers who addressed invitations, distributed publicity, decorated and provided hospitality at the luncheon. The generosity of our sponsors and silent auction contributors, along with record-breaking attendance, resulted in the highest amount ever raised through this event – over $30,000 for scholarships! 

Scholarship Luncheon Committee

Front: Julie Taylor, Karen Boatright, Sharon Fussell, Donna Jowers, Karen Carlisle; back: Sharon Smith, Carol Rutledge, Inga Clum (chair); not pictured: Molly Bee Bloetscher, Pam Wood, Eliza Hudson, Cindy Bembry, Lindsey Reed Curl, Shea Williams

Committee Chair Inga Clum and Executive Director Julie Taylor thank Trudy Cathy White for sharing inspiration and practical insights on this special day.

With gratitude, Jada shares her powerful story with an audience eager to hear from a current scholarship recipient.

Grace

Junior Board Fosters Community to Benefit Students

by Sarah Grace Featherston

Kicking off the season with a bang, Gretchen Norris and her committee planned our Fall Trivia Night. They brought together minds and laughter at Little Professor on September 19. Our enthusiastic teams showcased their knowledge, and the evening was fi lled with camaraderie and friendly competition. A special thanks to all who participated and helped make this event a success!

In November, junior members assembled overflowing goody bags for Legacy League scholarship recipients. The event took place at Slice, where we came together to spread some love to our exceptional students and their commitment to education. As a team we packed 24 bags of delicious treats and encouraging notes for for students to utilize during their end-of-semester exams.

Our Holiday Fundraiser took place in December, spreading joy and cheer. Supporters had the opportunity to purchase a variety of festive items including poinsettias, candles, cookies and ornaments. This expanded fundraiser yielded $2,600 for scholarships. We extend our deepest gratitude to those who supported this effort and look forward to announcing what Samfordrelated ornament Porter Rivers will be painting for next year’s Holiday Fundraiser.

been raised through our restaurant fundraisers. Proceeds from these events directly support our scholarship fund, emphasizing the power of community partnerships.

At press time, the Spring Fundraiser Committee was fi nalizing our spring event, “Tips & Tastes,” featuring the esteemed Jamie

Welcoming the new year with warmth and celebration, our student fiesta Fellowship Supper on January 17 was a night to remember. We gathered together over tacos and treats to enjoy each other’s company. The evening fostered connections and created lasting memories, strengthening the sense of community within our organization.

Our collaboration with local restaurants, including Taco Mama, Urban Cookhouse and Slice, brought the community together over delicious meals for a great cause. To date, over $8,000 has

Tarence of Family Savvy. We will gather at the Samford President’s Home for culinary delights and insightful tips. This provides an opportunity to bring our community together, to share our important mission and raise money for scholarships.

We are immensely grateful for the support and enthusiasm shown by our members and community. The junior board looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact and create meaningful memories.

Keep an eye out for more fun ahead in 2024!

Making an impact for our students, junior board members, family and friends enjoy our restaurant fundraiser at Taco Mama.

Alexandria Croom, Taylor Cole and Mary Beth Bush catch up before the friendly competition and games begin at Trivia Night.

Bryan Smith, Hollie Garner, Alexandria Croom, Sarah Grace Featherston and Gretchen Norris help Legacy League member Lisa Worley fill her vehicle with poinsettias from the Holiday Fundraiser.

Volunteer Spotlight

Julie Davis: Giving Back Joyfully

by Cynthia Walker Watts-Barrineau

JULIE DAVIS IS A SAMFORD ALUMNA and Birmingham native who exemplifies the vision and mission of the Legacy League. She graduated in 1980, majoring in mathematics and minoring in computer science and history. The only scholarship she received was a small one from her church. “Any amount was helpful and appreciated!,” Julie remembers.

Julie is now retired after 15 years with Alabama Power and 20 years as a dental office manager. She joined the Legacy League over seven years ago and has served on numerous committees including the Christmas Home Tour, Scholarship Celebration, Recruitment, Student Care and Member Care. She also served as VP for communication from 2019-21.

Q:

How did you first get involved with the Legacy League?

A: Kathryn Woodruff invited me to an Open House in 2016. I reconnected with other Samford alums, and their excitement about Legacy League and its mission immediately sparked my interest.

Q:

How have you been impacted by volunteering with the Legacy League?

A: I have been impacted by the dedication of our members as we work toward a common goal and inspired by the testimonies of our students and their appreciation for what they have received.

Q: What highlights can you share from your recent areas of involvement with the Legacy League?

A: A recent highlight was working with the Christmas Home Tour Committee on the logistics team. Our team worked closely with the committee to ensure certain aspects of the tour ran smoothly. It was truly rewarding to see members and guests from near and far come together to enjoy the Christmas Home Tour.

Julie currently volunteers by providing food for student events and participating in our member care ministry. Her favorite part of volunteering is “working alongside women who love the Lord and are joyful and enthusiastic about serving our students and the community.” 

Where Are They Now?

Joel Davis: Celebrating God’s Grace and Provision

by Jo Klepper

Dr. Joel Davis currently serves as professor (music theory and composition) and interim chair of the division of music in the School of the Arts at Samford University. He is an accomplished composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, multiinstrumentalist and church musician.

Joel planned to pursue a degree in English, but after taking an AP class in music theory at his high school, that plan changed. He received scholarship support from various avenues at Samford that made it possible for him to attend. During his fi nal years at Samford, he also received a Legacy League (then Samford Auxiliary) scholarship, which he says “served as an additional affi rmation and a powerful reminder of God’s grace, provision,

generosity and faithfulness.” His journey from 2005, when he earned his bachelor of music theory-composition degree, to now has been a very interesting one and too varied to cover in this short article. Look him up on the internet and you will be, as I am, proud to recognize him as a former Legacy League scholarship recipient.

Joel says his undergraduate time at Samford changed his life in foundational ways. It provided him the opportunity to meet his wife, Lauren Heerseen Davis ‘05, and to respond to God’s calling on his life, which has led to where he is today as an artist-scholar-teacher in Christ-centered higher education.

The advice Joel would like to give to current or future scholarship recipients is

to “trust, accept and celebrate the generosity of God’s provision in your life, as demonstrated through the largesse of such benefactors as the Samford Legacy League; then, follow the faithful example of Abraham, whom God blessed so that he, in turn, would be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).” 

Joel Davis and family

VOLUNTEERS in Action

Cheerful home hosts await guests at the Booker home.

Volunteers love and serve our students at the Fellowship Supper in October.

While hosting the December Fellowship Supper, Carey Albritton, Anna Kathryn Hardin, Ginny Scott, Eliza Hudson and Jan Cobb serve students a scrumptious meal and celebrate the season.

Grateful for the opportunity, volunteers gather on Samford’s campus to begin the afternoon Prayer Walk.

Virginia Vinson, Ginny Scott and Inga Clum help set up and decorate for the Membership Kickoff Luncheon.

Karen Carlisle, Julie Taylor, Kathryn Woodruff, Jan Service, Jan Cobb, Julie Cundiff, Sharon Smith and Kathy Clay meet for the annual bylaws review.

Junior members Sarah Grace Featherston, Hollie Garner, Caroline Carlisle, Bryan Smith, Mary Beth Bush, Alexandria Croom and Gretchen Norris serve at the Holiday Fundraiser.

While at Slice for a junior board restaurant fundraiser, volunteers pack goody bags for our students.

Karen Carlisle and Lori Sullivan check in tour guests at the Samford President’s Home.

Two Lindas (Cahill and Dunlap) eagerly anticipate the arrival of evening guests at the Samford President’s Home.

Legacy League members and friends enjoy meeting SAM the Bulldog at the Homecoming Tailgate.

While at the Thomson home, the volunteers are all smiles as they prepare to greet hundreds of guests.

Home tour chair Jan Service and her joyful team of volunteers serve at the Samford President’s Home.

The Bookers' home host team is ready for evening guests.

Excited volunteers come together to decorate for the Membership Kickoff Luncheon.

Faithful Legacy League members pray for our students, faculty and staff during the morning Prayer Walk.

New Scholarship Continues the Fulfillment of a Calling

by Sharon Smith

“Our life is for living; our life is for giving” was Anna Belle and Emmett Johnson’s motto during their 60 years of marriage. Their children, Gay and Galen, heard it often–but more importantly, saw it lived out in their parents’ commitment to serve their neighbors, fellow church members and community. That service continues through a Legacy League scholarship Anna Belle established a few months before she died.

The Johnsons shared a passion for excellent health care. They met at Baylor Hospital, where Anna Belle was a young nurse and Emmett a volunteer seeking to grasp the dynamics of hospital organization. A whirlwind three-month courtship followed. They moved to Chicago, where Emmett earned a master’s degree in hospital administration from Northwestern University, then lived in multiple states as

he gained responsibilities as a hospital administrator. Emmett retired from Baptist Health System in Birmingham in 1994 after 19 years as chief executive officer. Anna Belle, a dedicated wife, homemaker and mother, faithfully supported Emmett’s passion to offer patient care as service to God and community.

Anna Belle and Emmett were the first in their families to go to college. The education they received opened their worlds and changed the direction of their lives. Desiring to help others obtain a nursing education as she did, Anna Belle created a new scholarship for students with significant financial need. She knew nursing would, like it was for her, be life-altering and

Julie Taylor announces the new Emmett and Anna Belle Johnson Scholarship, recognizing their daughter, Gay, at the Scholarship Luncheon.

endow a passion for excellent patient care. Her generosity continues the fulfillment of the calling Emmett felt after reading Mark 2:2-11: “…four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat… lowering the man on his mat, in front of Jesus.” Thank you, Lord, for using the Johnson family to bring others to you! 

Generosity and Frugality Lead to Impactful Ministry

by Sharon Smith

Legacy League member Myra Courtney and her sister, Bernella Pemberton, grew up with parents who were completely devoted to serving the Lord. “The combination of our father’s generosity and our mother’s frugality accomplished much,” Myra laughed. Following their parents’ example and honoring their legacy of faithful service, the siblings created the Raymond and Bennie Sue Scroggins Legacy League Scholarship. This new memorial scholarship will perpetuate the Scrogginses’ ministry by changing the lives of students who have faced tremendous challenges.

Raymond and Bennie Sue married in 1935, both working (he waiting tables and she at a cotton mill) to enable him to graduate from Howard College with honors in 1939. While at Howard, Raymond pastored Springville Baptist Church and

participated in the Student Ministers Association. After attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Raymond pastored several Alabama churches, worked for the Howard College Extension Department, and served the Alabama Baptist State Convention as president of the State Board of Missions and vice president of the Convention. During his “semiretirement years,” he served at Good Hope Baptist and as interim pastor for several Elmore and Tallapoosa County churches.

Bennie Sue faithfully served alongside Raymond, teaching Bible classes, singing in the choir, organizing church libraries, participating in WMU and regularly visiting

their congregants. An organizer and consummate homemaker, she sewed all the girls’ clothes, as well as her own and even made a suit for Raymond.

Wanting to honor their parents in a meaningful, permanent way, the Scrogginses’ daughters used funds from their parents’ estate to purchase a paid-up life insurance policy–enabling them to give far more than they could have otherwise–to create a new LL scholarship and a second one in Samford’s Beeson Divinity School. Thank you, Myra and Bernella, for continuing your parents’ ministry! 

Bernella Pemberton and Myra Courtney

Bennie Sue and Raymond Scroggins

Anna Belle and Emmett Johnson

Lolla Wright Award Celebrates the “Devotion, Service and Leadership” of Kathy Clay

by Kristen Comer

Established in 2007, the Lolla Wurtele Wright Award honors the memory of Mrs. Wright, Samford’s first lady and executive director of the Legacy League (then Samford Auxiliary) for 25 years. It represents the highest honor a Legacy League member can receive, celebrating people who embody the attributes of outstanding service, devotion and leadership. During the 2023 Membership Kickoff Luncheon, Kathy Clay was honored with the award.

Kathy and her husband, Michael, are both Samford alums, as are their two children. She has been a member of the Legacy League since 2009. In that time, she has held numerous leadership roles, including vice president for membership, Scholarship Luncheon chair, Scholarship Celebration chair and she served as president during the pandemic. Executive Director Emeritus Dr. Jeanna Westmore-

land noted, “She provided unique devotion, service and leadership to the Legacy League. Leading the organization through the pandemic, as Legacy League president, she sought creative ways to stay in touch with members and students [like] creating video programs that were emailed to members during lockdown, preparing treat bags for students who were in isolation or quarantine and figuring out ways to host events while meeting the public health mandates that were in place.”

It is not merely the positions she has held nor the duration she has held them — it is the way Kathy serves. It is her easy smile, welcoming spirit, the way she cares. In presenting the award, Executive Director Julie Taylor described Kathy as “a prayer warrior, an encourager, a person who lives out her faith through service to others. She is a person that the Lord uses to care for our Legacy League community in abundant ways. And

Meet Our New Staff Member

by Anca Hanson

Maureen Hallman Director of Communication and Sponsorships

Welcome, Maureen Hallman! Originally from Montgomery, Maureen moved to Birmingham after 12 years in Dallas. She and her husband, Sam (a Beeson graduate), are raising daughters Gia and Anne Frances, along with Millie, their little chihuahua “sister.” Maureen’s deep faith and fond memories of her time as a Samford undergrad fuel her passion for helping students. She clings daily to Galatians 6:9. 

through her, He has changed countless lives.” Kathy is the epitome of the spirit of the Wright Award. 

Scholarship recipients show their excitement about the Christmas gifts and exam treats they received at the December Fellowship Supper.

Executive Director Julie Taylor presents the Wright Award to Kathy Clay at the Membership Kickoff Luncheon.

MEMBER UPDATE

July 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024

New Challenge

Laura Bright

Marlene Cox

Sheri Garrett

Nichole Huseby

Sarah Beth Magette

Dawn McCormack

Zhaleh McCullers

Christina Norman

Cecelia Walker

Lauren Weathers

Andrea Wells

Challenge Upgrade

Cathy Cook

Julie Edwards

Katharine Faucett

Kerry Gossett

Robin Greer

Evelyn Kennamer

Viveka Rosenberger

Kelley Rowan

Virginia Vinson

New Life

Mary Katherine Adams

Becky Bryant

Linda Cahill

Christy Colee

Amy Harris

Jane Houchins

Marianne Livingston

Patricia Netherton

Janis Nichol

Angela Wilson

Life Upgrade

Kathryn Boyd

Wendy Cook

Stacia Gaines

Hollie Garner

Patricia Hawk

Lilla Bea McMullan

Kathryn Pursell

Claude Rhea

Carol Rutledge

Laura Sink

Marilyn Waggoner

New Annual

April Allen

Rachel Ashford

Nathan Barham

Andrea Baxter

Margaret Boles

Phyllis Boone

Jennifer Brandon

Ben Bryant

Forrest Ann Cahoon

Beverly Carroway

Cyndi Cortes

Joyce Dixon

Kristen Evans

Melanie Ezell

Gina George

Betty Gibson

Nancy Golden

Maile Gowing

Amy Granger Kelly

Julie Gunter

Debby Haralson

Jackie Hissam

Allison Hodges

Paula Hudson

Lori Hunt

Gary Hutto

Margaret Mason

Brooke McGee

Kay McLean

Bre Mertz

Marcia Miller

Beth Patrick

Rita Penuel

Courtney Peters

Jane Puckett

Kim Rawson

Robbie Roberts

Anna Rogers

Amy Cate Smith

Bryan Smith

Debbie Smith

Mary Snyder

Morgan Elizabeth Stroud

Sydney Talley

Gina Terry

C.J. Underwood

Nancy Warden

DONORS

July 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024

Ann Keeney Layne Scholarship

Ann & Ron Layne

Ian Layne

Laurin & Bryan White

Anna Belle and Emmett Johnson Scholarship

Anonymous Donor

Galen** & Cynthia Johnson

Gay Lynn Johnson

Ann & Kenneth Sanders

Anne Williams Bishop Scholarship

Sarah Moseley

Big Oak Ranch Scholarship

Gail & Mike Hathorne

Julie & Mark Stewart

Brandon David Booker

Memorial Scholarship

Amelia & Taylor Beattie

Byron and Sarah Smith Scholarship

Jennifer Whitaker

Caitlin Creed Scholarship

Kathy & Brad Creed

Lynda Jentsch-Grooms & Bart Grooms

Cowley MK Endowed Scholarship

Patsy & Joe Arnold

Lauretta & Carlton Baker

Lisa & John Bryan

Charlotte & John Cramer

Melinda & Ralph Dressler

Allyson & David George

Suzanne & Joe Hopkins

Rita & Fred Lakeman

Marian Leftwich

Khiet Ngu

Sharon & Hartwell Smith

Connie & Lee Taylor

Nancy & Randy Tribble

Nancy & Phillip Whirley

Mary Wimberley

Education Centennial Scholarship

Gail & Mike Hathorne

Elliott Family Scholarship

Kathy & Michael Clay

Chizuru & Jeff Elliott

Marilyn & Reginal Hallman

Elouise Wilkins Williams Scholarship

Catherine & Lee Allen

Christy & Dustin Allen

Faye & Jere Allen

Brenda & Doral Atkins

Karen & John Bergquist

Mary Berryman

Katherine & William Bishop

Molly Bee & Tom Bloetscher

Nancy Brock

Amy Broeseker

Karen & Todd Carlisle

Jo Wayne & Chalmers Chism

Kathy & Michael Clay

Linda & Erick Cooper

Marla Corts

Myra Courtney

Enid & Bill Dean

Glenda & Joe Dickerson

Joyce Dixon

Patti Donaldson

Carolyn Drennen

Jessellan Dunn

Alta

Marilyn &

Judy &

Patricia &

Becky

Jan

Jenny Smith

Sharon

Pat

Lori

June Whitlow**

Mary Wimberley

Kathryn

Lisa Worley

Glenn and Frances Slye Scholarship

Glenn Slye

Herman and Ruth Haas Scholarship Fund

Leslie

Julie Taylor Scholarship

Sharon & Hartwell

Julie & Beck Taylor

The Hackney Foundation

Legacy League Adoption Scholarship

Jenny Smith

Legacy League Scholarship

Anonymous Donor*

Frances & Howard Abrams

Cheryl Acton

Kathy & Don Acton

Carey & James Albritton

April Allen

Christy & Dustin Allen

Joyce & James Altsman

Cindy & Jim Anderson

Mary Ellen & David Andrews

Sandra & Doug Arendall

Sherry Armstrong

Heather Averett

Lee

Tara

Lauretta

Lori

Marilyn

Andi

Barbara

Jackie

Angie

Eliza &

Paula

Jean

Carol

Lottie

Mary

Tami

Cynthia

Frances

Jenelle

Donna

Evelyn Kennamer

Tania

Terry Kieran

Patty Kirkley

Chris Lacek

Cheryl & Jim Landreth

Cheryl

Amy

Michelle &

Carolyn Markham

Catharine & Wriston Marshburn

Dawn McCormack

Courtney & Scott McCrory

Rhonda & Ted McGill

Ellen McLaughlin

Kay & Lewis McLean

Betty** & Malcolm Miller

Cindy & Ron Mims

Stacy & James Mintz

Kelly &

Frances Moon

Kelly & Arnold Mooney

Sarah Moseley

Cynthia Moss

Dana & Mike Mungenast

Patricia Baldone Naro & Philip Naro

Patricia & James Netherton

Becky & Peter Neuberger

Newk’s Vestavia

Janis & Vic Nichol

Frances Owens

Marilyn Palmer

Sherry Parker

Lynn Parrish Jennie Pate Mary Lou

Barbara Patton

Diane & Mike Payne

Joan & Wray Pearce

Daisy Perrigin

Laura & Scott Promer

Jane & Mike Puckett

Sheri & Josh Ransome

Lindsey Reed Curl & Kevin Curl

Karen & Alan Register

Connie Macon Rhea & Claude Rhea

Ann & William Rice

Sue & Michael Richards

Janice & Ray Roberson

Robbie & Ronald Roberts

Viveka & Parker Rosenberger

Brandi & Doug Russell

Carol Rutledge

Beverly & Dennis Sansom

Ginny Scott

Ashley & Alex Seligson

Jan & Bill Service

Karen Shallenberg

Slice Pizza LLC

Jenny Smith

Julie Smith

Larry & JoAnn Smith

Sally & Douglas Smith

Sharon & Hartwell Smith

Sheila & Rowan Smith

Pat Spain

Kathy &

Lynn &

Belinda

Beth &

Lori &

Barbra &

Taco Mama

Harriett &

Joyce &

Pam &

Jennifer

Rebecca

Kayla

Virginia Vinson

Marilyn & Jabo Waggoner

Brenda Walker

Jeanna & Andy Westmoreland

Gay & Rick

Jane Whitney

Martha Whitson

Kathy & Harold Williamson

LaVonne Williamson

Anita & Doug Wilson

Pam & Gary Wood

Kathryn & Byron Woodruff

Lisa Worley

Naomi Worthington

Mary Margaret & John Yeilding

Legacy League School of Nursing Centennial Scholarship

Alabama Power Foundation

Amy Broeseker

Kathy & Michael Clay

Lizzie Campbell Brown

Teacher Education Scholarship

Carolyn & Steve Bryant

Debbie Smith

Mothers' Fund Scholarship

Becky & John Bowdre

Karon & Birch Bowdre

Ruhama Baptist Church Scholarship

Jane Cobia

Greater Emmanuel Temple

Holiness Church, Inc.

Diane & Hunter Hinkle

Samford's 175th Anniversary Scholarship

Brenda & Doral Atkins

Vangie Thames Scholarship

Vangie Thames**

*represents multiple donors **deceased

Legacy League

Samford University

800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35229

Cold Water for Weary Souls

by Julie Taylor

It is a delight to send this spring 2024 edition of Happenings to you. I hope that as you read through these pages, your love for each other and the mission of Legacy League is nurtured by sweet remembrances of moments together. I also hope that all our hearts are stirred by memories of devoted prayers, vibrant fellowship, dedicated volunteerism and generous fi nancial contributions for the benefit of students, as well as our prayer and care for each other. We have a wonderful opportunity to join together in gratitude and to celebrate the Lord’s goodness through Legacy League on the evening of April 18 at our annual Scholarship Celebration.

Considering that our Lord’s fi rst miracle was performed at a wedding feast, I love that our Scholarship Celebration, with fi ne dining and entertainment, feels like a party! As I take notice of the growing number of lives being changed by Legacy League scholarships, I am reminded that Jesus fed thousands with fi ve loaves of bread and two fi sh. Like the provision of loaves and fi sh, I pray that God would continue to provide sufficient time on your calendar and the means to cover the cost to attend. At the Celebration, we will hear a lot of good news. We will hear the good news in the testimony of a scholarship recipient, and we will hear the good news of life-changing dollars raised for scholarships this year.

According to Proverbs 25:25, “Like cold

water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” Personally, in this world that is full of the sad consequences of human depravity and the suffering of many, I seek and prioritize opportunities to be splashed with the cold water of good news. Having completed 10 marathons in my 40s, I deeply connect with the apostle Paul’s metaphor of the Christian life as a race that we run alongside others, bolstered by the cheers of the saints and the cloud of witnesses, with Jesus as our destination.

Typically, hydration stations are at each mile along a marathon route. Runners agree that the real race begins at mile 20 when legs are fatigued, strength and energy wane, and 6.2 miles are still ahead. For the fi rst 20 hydration stations along a marathon route, runners commonly make attempts to drink down a cup of cold water or electrolyte beverage as they continue running. However, in hot races and defi nitely during the fi nal 6.2 miles when the race becomes the toughest, racers begin grabbing two cups, the fi rst one to drink and the second one to pour over their heads.

Like a marathon, the longer, hotter and tougher the road of life becomes, the more desperate we all are for the refreshment of the cold living water— the good news of Jesus. In the Gospel of John 4:13-14, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a

spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Like the hydration station volunteers along a marathon route, Legacy League members offer cups of cold water to our scholarship students at important mile markers in their educational journey. For them, the road of life has already been long, hot and tough. By God’s grace they have persevered. Throughout their Samford education, students are offered cups of cold water, the good news of Jesus. I hope to see you on April 18 to celebrate this good news together! 

©2024 Samford University

Katie Hughes, Editor

Contributors: Kristen Comer, Sarah Grace Featherston, Sydney Foshee, Sadie Goodman, Maureen Hallman, Anca Hanson, Lori Hill, Jo Klepper, Laura Promer, Sharon Smith, Julie Taylor, Cynthia Walker Watts-Barrineau, Shea

Williams, Kathryn Woodru

Creative Services: Laura Hannah, Sarah Waller

Photography: Claire Gwaltney, Maureen Hallman, Deidre Lackey, Christy McKiernan, Sharon Smith, Sheila Smith, Chloe Taylor, Julie Taylor, Julia Vasquez, Shea Williams