The Pursuit of Knowledge

The impact of Pike County native Georgia Lee Branham Damron ’43, ’63 extends far beyond the knowledge she imparted.

At 98 years old, she remains a living embodiment of the values the University of Pikeville holds dear: the pursuit of knowledge and continued service to the community.

Damron grew up in a modest but nurturing home, where her desire to become a teacher began at an early age. After demonstrating her intelligence, she was double-promoted in two separate academic years, which meant she finished high school at age 16. Her grandfather, George F. Johnson, for whom the elementary school in Virgie, Ky., was named, encouraged her to attend college and offered to pay for her tuition on the condition that she room on campus with her cousin Ruby Johnson ’43.

The pair made Derriana Hall their home for the next two years, cheering for their beloved Bears at basketball games. Damron made the most of her time in college as a member of the yearbook staff, International Relations Club, Y.W.C.A., Dramatics Club, Future Teachers of Kentucky and Women’s Athletic Association.

After earning her teaching degree from Pikeville Junior College, she accepted a position at a one-room schoolhouse, educating children in the coal camps of Eastern Kentucky. As a young adult herself, Damronʼs compassion and commitment to her students went beyond the classroom. She saw her role as not just a teacher but as a guide and mentor.

Looking back, it was a little scary being so young, but I just loved teaching and I loved helping children,” said Damron. “I put my all into it. When I taught school, I knew everything about my students’ families and their parents.

She returned to “the hill” to earn her bachelor’s degree in early elementary education in 1963. Later, she earned her master’s degree and became a reading specialist for students struggling with written language.

“After I got my master’s degree, I was the special reading instructor for the last nine years I taught school,” said Damron. “I have a former student who still gets me a Christmas gift every year because she says she wouldn’t know how to read if it wasn’t for me.”

Her career in education spanned 30 years, during which she poured her heart and soul into providing a quality education for children who often had limited access to resources. In her teaching career, Damron played a pivotal role in shaping the future of countless students, instilling in them a love for learning and a belief in their own potential. Many of her former students, now adults, look back on their time in her classroom with gratitude and fond memories.

“I treated all my students the same, and that’s something they still remember about me when I see them. They remark on how every child was equal in class no matter their circumstance,” said Damron. “And now, I love seeing my students with families of their own, but they still remember me and tell me they love me and that I was always their favorite teacher.”

Recently celebrated as the oldest living member of Virgie Alliance Church, where she regularly attends, Damron’s life serves as a reminder that age is no barrier to the realization of oneʼs dreams and the ability to influence the lives of others. Her story continues to inspire new generations like her great-grandson, Tyler Robinson, who is now a sophomore studying business at UPIKE.

By Amy Charles, MBA '23