Gifts in Honor and Memory

By Karina Antenucci

Making a gift in honor or memory of a spouse or loved one to Agnes Scott College is one of the many meaningful ways to celebrate their lives and pay tribute to them. Scotties are known for how passionately they feel about their alma mater, and gifts made in their honor or memory become a lasting symbol of their connection to Agnes Scott and the impact their treasured time at the college had on them. The gift also provides generous support to Agnes Scott, helping it remain a great institution for Scotties of today and tomorrow.

Supporting Future Scotties — Joel F. “Jack” Reeves and Jean Salter Reeves ’59

Photo courtesy of Joel F. “Jack” Reeves

In many ways, the college experience that Jean Salter Reeves ’59 had at Agnes Scott College formed the core of her values, friendships and her lifelong interest in learning, says her husband Jack Reeves, a former real estate banker and U.S. Army veteran. “As a Photo courtesy of Joel F. “Jack” Reeves couple, we find contributing to causes that have significant importance in our lives especially rewarding. To Jean, Agnes Scott was always a top contender!” he explains.

A Phi Beta Kappa history and political science major, Jean went on to be a lower-school and kindergarten teacher and has remained active as an alumna of Agnes Scott. She participated in the Atlanta Alumnae Club, was the president of the Alumnae Association from 1982 to 1984 and was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1982 to 1986. “Through the years, we have attended numerous lectures and events on campus together, and Jean continues to actively participate in alumnae offerings,” Jack says.

Jean’s commitment to her college and her continuing interest in education were apparent to Jack, which is why he chose to establish the Jean Salter Reeves ’59 Scholarship in honor of his wife. The scholarship is meant to benefit another young student who, like Jean, works hard in her studies.

The couple, who live in Atlanta, were introduced by one of Jean’s Agnes Scott classmates and married in 1969.

“I used to laugh and say that when I answered the phone and heard a woman use her three names to ask for ‘Jean Salter Reeves,’ I knew the person calling had a black ring! Naming a scholarship in her honor has brought me enormous satisfaction, and I believe with this gift, I also brought a unique joy to Jean.”

An Anniversary Gift to Remember — Jim M. Jarboe and Mary K. Owen Jarboe ’68

Photo courtesy of Jim M. Jarboe

Mary K. Owen Jarboe ’68 is not your typical alumna. She retired as registrar emerita from Agnes Scott College in 2002 after 28 years of loyal service in admissions initially and the last 20 years as registrar. “Agnes Scott College means pretty much everything to Mary K. and to me. She saw the movie ‘A Man Called Peter’ when she was 8 years old and went home and proclaimed to her mother that she would attend college at Agnes Scott. Eight years old!” says her husband, Jim M. Jarboe, a self-employed Realtor.

Elaborating on his wife’s connection to the college, Jim says, “Mary K. has heeded the call on several occasions since her retirement and returned to handle some special tasks for the college, and she currently serves as president of her class, the class of 1968.”

The couple lives in Decatur and was introduced at the wedding of one of Mary K.’s Agnes Scott roommates to Jim’s next-door neighbor. They dated just a month before he proposed, and they were married in 1969. Additionally, the Jarboes’ daughter, Megan Jarboe, is an alumna from the class of 2002. So when Jim was trying to think of something special for Mary K. to commemorate their 50th anniversary, he thought of Agnes Scott, which had already been part of their annual giving plan for many years. It was about the time the capital campaign for Rebekah Scott Hall kicked off — a perfect fit. “She lived in Rebekah her junior and senior years, so what better way than to surprise her with a room named in her honor?” Jim says.

He adds, “Mary K. and I each believe strongly in the value of a liberal arts education and the critical thinking skills it provides. We like to think that [our donations], at least in a small way, are helping deserving students who might not otherwise be able to experience all that Agnes Scott has to offer.”

Valuing History and Tradition — Jack H. “Ted” Tedards and Rosalind Todd Tedards ’67

Photo courtesy of Jack H. “Ted” Tedards

Jack H. “Ted” Tedards met his wife, Rosalind Todd Tedards ’67, in Greenville, South Carolina, where they both grew up and lived most of their lives. “We were in high school together, but we did not know each other well with 360 people in our class. We had a couple of classes together and would say hi,” Ted recalls. The two got to know one another the summer after they graduated and bonded over being big Dodgers baseball fans. They began dating in college, with Rosalind attending Agnes Scott College studying political science and Ted studying math at Georgia Tech, and the two were married in 1969.

Rosalind passed away just last year. Wanting to pursue a donation to Agnes Scott, something the couple had previously spoken about, Ted contacted the school. “Agnes Scott was just so special and important to Rosalind. She was very proud of getting her degree from there because it was a tough school, and she had worked hard. She also made seven lifelong friends there — they met freshman year early on and remained friends all of their lives,” Ted says.

He adds, “The school means a lot to me since we dated while we were both attending college in Atlanta. Her friends are my friends too.”

Ted chose to donate in Rosalind’s honor to the Campaign for Main Hall because “Rosalind valued history and tradition very much, and she wanted Main Hall to remain the face of the college and to be maintained so that it connects the present students with the past.”

Several years ago, out of the blue, Rosalind mentioned to Ted that the only thing he had to remember about her future funeral service is that she wanted the Agnes Scott hymn, “God of the Marching Centuries,” played. “Because of the pandemic, we didn’t get to have a traditional service, but the minister officiating it learned the song and sang it at the outside burial,” Ted says.

Paying It Forward — Nolan “Kenneth” Snead and Sharon Eunice Hall Snead ’70

Photo courtesy of Nolan “Kenneth” Snead

Kenneth Snead decided to create the Sharon Eunice Hall Snead Scholarship Fund in 2017 in memory of his wife, Sharon Eunice Hall Snead ’70, because of Agnes Scott College’s great influence on her personal and professional lives. Sharon, who majored in chemistry and minored in art at the college, was a chemist withthe Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Protection Division until her death in 1990.

“The school provided Sharon with the chemistry education that gave her the opportunity to work in a field of environmental protection, which was of special importance to her. Additionally, the college was a great influence on Sharon personally, as it helped develop her love and appreciation of art of all kinds. Hence, it is of great importance to me to give something back from Sharon to Agnes Scott,” he says.

Kenneth, who attended Georgia Tech before working as a structural engineer, met Sharon on Agnes Scott’s campus upon arrival for a blind date with another Scottie. “Sharon was on ‘hostess’ duty at the time, and we talked for a few minutes while I waited on my date. We subsequently had several other chance meetings before we began dating on a regular basis. The college played a direct role in our getting together and eventual marriage,” he says. The couple was married in 1969 and lived in Decatur for a short time before moving to Marietta.

“I wished to give something everlasting to other young women who would receive the same experience provided to Sharon. Were she alive today, I am certain she would support the fund wholeheartedly,” Kenneth says.

A Loving Memorial in Main — Conrad M. Hall and Margaret “Peggy” Moore Hall ’68

Photo courtesy of Conrad M. Hall

If Conrad M. Hall and Margaret “Peggy” Moore Hall ’68 had had daughters, they would likely have sent them to Agnes Scott College, as Peggy had followed in her alumna mother’s footsteps.

“There was a family connection. Peggy was very fond of Agnes Scott and enjoyed her time there as a student very much. She made lifelong friends and treasured the experience,” Conrad says.

The couple met growing up in Norfolk, Virginia, and reconnected through mutual friends later on. Peggy, who studied philosophy at Agnes Scott, went on to work for a gas distribution company prior to getting married to Conrad on April 15, 1972. “She always said it was a terrible decision [to get married on that date] because I was always so grumpy over doing our taxes,” quips Conrad, who was in the media business and had a business based in Atlanta that started The Weather Channel.

After Peggy died in November 2019, Conrad wanted to honor her affection for her Agnes Scott experience by making a gift to the Campaign for Main. The gift will restore a space that was special to Peggy. She had lived with a roommate and close friend in one of the tower rooms of Agnes Scott “Main” Hall. Soon, that very room, along with the second-floor hallway, will bear her name.

“Peggy never wanted her name publicly displayed. We both don’t like a lot of attention, but I thought that we would go forward in a way to memorialize her enrollment. I think she would be pleased, upon reflection,” Conrad says.

To make a gift in honor or memory of an Agnes Scott graduate, contact Henry W. Taylor, senior director of development, at htaylor@agnesscott.edu. Opportunities are still available to name a room or area in Agnes Scott “Main” Hall, the college’s most historic building. View naming opportunities and floor plans on the Campaign for Main website at agnesscott.edu/givetomain.