Making History

On February 25, 2020, the University of Georgia College of Education was officially named in honor of Mary Frances Early. In celebration of this historic event, the University held a naming ceremony and plaque unveiling in conjunction with the 20th annual Mary Frances Early Lecture. Additionally, the College of Education hosted a gala dinner to honor Ms. Early for her groundbreaking civil rights leadership and influence on music education. These photo galleries highlight the events leading up to and during the official naming ceremony.

Aderhold Hall Unveiling

February 24, 2020

University of Georgia

To commemorate the naming of the College of Education in honor of Ms. Mary Frances Early, Aderhold Hall received several exterior and interior updates earlier this year.

Visitors to the College will notice new installations on both the ground and first floors of the building. Most notably, an interactive timeline of Ms. Early’s life was installed next to the display case outside of the Dean’s Office. These cases have also been updated with photos, select honors and awards, and some personal belongings of Early’s to highlight her long career as a music educator and her momentous role in desegregating the University of Georgia.

Additionally, the elevator bays on the ground and first floors received a visual facelift, featuring photos of Early during her time as a graduate student at UGA, as well as campus scenes and inspirational quotes (from Early herself!) to complement each design.

The exterior lettering on Aderhold Hall received an update to reflect the naming of the College.

Photo of UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Dean Denise A. Spangler, and Mary Frances Early

UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Dean Denise A. Spangler, and Ms. Mary Frances Early view the updated exterior lettering on Aderhold Hall for the first time.

Morehead, Spangler, and Early read a commemorative plaque highlighting Early’s civil rights activism and achievements in music education.

Morehead, Spangler, and Early view the first floor's photo of Early playing the piano.

Early kneels down to get a closer look at an interactive timeline of her life.

Morehead, Spangler, and Early laugh next to the new display cases outside of the Dean’s Office.

The display case highlighting Early’s civil rights activism features memorabilia from her time at UGA, including a pennant, her graduation cap, and diploma.

A detail shot of the display case highlighting Early's distinguished career in music education.

Mary Frances Early College of Education Gala

February 24, 2020

University of Georgia Center for
Continuing Education & Hotel

The UGA College of Education hosted a gala dinner honoring Mary Frances Early for her groundbreaking civil rights leadership and her influence on music education.

Early’s family and friends, as well as donors, students, and alumni of the College attended the event where Dominique Holloman (B.S. ’01, A.B. ’01, M.Ed. ’04, J.D. ’04) served as master of ceremonies, and speakers included UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Dean Denise A. Spangler, Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County Michael L. Thurmond, and many others.

Early smiles while Michael Thurmond, chief executive officer of Dekalb County, delivers the event’s keynote address.

Early exchanges greetings with family and friends.

Early poses with family and friends, including veteran television journalist and broadcaster Monica Kaufman Pearson.

Photo of Steve Jones and Mary Frances Early

U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones speaks with Early in the Magnolia Ballroom before dinner.

Photo of Andy Horne and Mary Frances Early

College of Education dean emeritus and UGA Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Andy Horne shakes Early’s hand.

Dean emeritus and professor emeritus of UGA’s School of Social Work Maurice Daniels smiles at Early, who he “reintroduced” back into UGA’s history.

Alumna Dominique Holloman, chief of staff of the office of State Rep. William K. Boddie, welcomes gala guests.

Early greets two children at a table during dinner.

Hamilton E. Holmes Jr., son of Hamilton Holmes—the first African American student to attend UGA along with Charlayne Hunter-Gault—speaks to gala guests.

Lance Jackson, a former student of Ms. Early's, speaks about her influence on his education. He is the director of music for Paradise Baptist Church and a staff organist at Hillside International Truth Center.

Ericka Davis, president of UGA's Black Alumni Leadership Council, addresses the crowd.

Ms. Early speaks with some of her young cousins during dinner.

Jordan L. Henley, a doctoral student in the science education program, shares what the naming of the College means to her.

J. Robert Adams, interim chair and coordinator of the Vocal Studies Department of Music at Clark Atlanta University, performs Ev’ry Mail Day (Chain Gang).

A guest listens to the reflections and stories of gala speakers.

Michael Thurmond, Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, delivers the event's keynote address.

Photo of Dominique Holloman and Monica Kaufman Pearson

Holloman and Kaufman Pearson hug after singing Stevie Wonder’s rendition of happy birthday to celebrate Holloman's birthday.

Early smiles during the gala's events.

One of Ms. Early's young cousins watches the ceremony.

Early poses with Hamilton E. Holmes Jr. (far left) and Marilyn Holmes (second from left), wife of Hamilton Holmes.

Early poses with family and friends, including her great niece Candace Haynes (far left).

UGA Naming Ceremony

February 25, 2020

University of Georgia Performing Arts Center

In conjunction with the naming of the College, Marion Ross Fedrick (B.S.Ed. ’94, M.P.A. ’02, Ed.D. ’22), president of Albany State University, delivered the 20th annual Mary Frances Early Lecture. Other speakers at the event included UGA President Jere W. Morehead, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Steve Wrigley, Dean Denise A. Spangler, and Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Strategic University Initiatives Michelle Cook. Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp were also in attendance.

Early also spoke about the importance of education, teaching, and courage.

“It warms my heart to hear people say thanks for paving the way. That’s the best thing anyone can say to me.”
– Mary Frances Early, 2020

Mary Frances Early addresses the audience during the UGA College of Education naming ceremony and her namesake lecture.

Early listens to Zoe Willingham, a fellow in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, play a violin solo.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead highlights Early's historic legacy at the University of Georgia during the naming ceremony.

Early acknowledges the audience during her namesake lecture and naming ceremony.

Albany State University President and UGA alumna Marion Ross Fedrick delivers the 20th annual Mary Frances Early Lecture.

Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Steve Wrigley addresses the crowd.

One of the ceremony’s highlights was a Bach violin solo by Zoe Willingham, a fellow in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, which Early helped found.

Dean Denise A. Spangler addresses the audience during the College’s naming ceremony for Mary Frances Early.

Morehead along with Georgia first lady Marty Kemp, Gov. Brian Kemp, and Spangler applaud Early as the College of Education is formally named in her honor.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents plaque honoring the naming was unveiled during the ceremony.

Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Michelle Cook discusses the importance of Early's legacy as the first African American student to graduate from UGA.

Early applauds with the crowd after speaking briefly about the importance of education, teaching, and courage.

Many of Ms. Early's family members joined her for the ceremony.

Photo of Mary Frances Early with family and friends

Early poses with family and friends after the ceremony to name the College of Education in her honor.

Intelligence plus character—
that is the goal of true education.
– Martin Luther King Jr.