Meet our team

Brenda Gathers
President

Karla Coaxum
Vice-President
Legacy Honoree 1905-2011
Patsy Deas Swinton – A Legacy of Strength and Education
Born in the early 1900s, Patsy was a woman of resilience, wisdom, and unwavering determination. Though she never had the opportunity to pursue formal education, she understood its power and made it her life's mission to ensure that her children and grandchildren had access to the learning she never received.
Growing up in a time of hardship, Patsy faced countless challenges, yet she remained steadfast in her belief that knowledge was the key to a better future. She worked tirelessly—whether in the home, the fields, or wherever she could—to provide for her family, always emphasizing the importance of schooling. She instilled in her children a deep respect for education, discipline, and hard work, encouraging them to dream beyond the limitations she had faced.
Through her sacrifices and determination, she raised generations of scholars, professionals, and leaders who continue to honor her legacy. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren walk through school halls and graduation ceremonies with the knowledge that their success is rooted in her love, perseverance, and vision.
Though Patsy may not have held a diploma in her hands, she was the greatest teacher her family could have ever known. Her life is a testament to the power of a mother’s love and the transformative strength of education. Her legacy lives on, not only in the achievements of her descendants but in the values, she instilled—perseverance, hope, and the belief that learning is the path to a brighter future.
