Re: 1948 Graduate of Pickens County High School Establishes Scholarship

Contact: Donna Golden ph. 706-253-1700

Samuel Roy Whitfield, a 1948 Graduate of P.C.H.S. and the University of Georgia (1952) has given to Pickens High School a gift of 2,000 Shares of Sun Trust Bank stock which will produce an annual income of $5,000.00 to finance a “SAM WHITFIELD LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP” for a deserving graduating senior from Pickens High School each year. The selection will be made from the top 25% senior student body and the first annual award given in May 2008 will be a male student and the 2009 student a female. The award will alternate each year thereafter.

Mr. Whitfield served in the Korean War and came out of Service as a Captain. He was one of twelve men who in 1964 organized and founded Security National Bank in Cobb County. This Bank became Trust Company Bank of Cobb County and later was changed to SUN TRUST BANKS; INC. Whitfield retired as a Director from Sun Trust banks in 2000.

Whitfield was married to Grace Garren of Morganton, a teacher now deceased. They had a son Bryan Jay, a graduate from university of Georgia; Yale University; Indiana University and received his P.H. D. from Emory University. He is a professor at Mercer University in Macon. His daughter, Sally is a teacher in Whitfield County School. She is a graduate of Kennesaw College and West Georgia University.

Mr. Whitfield has been active in the community. He is a Deacon of First Baptist Church in Smyrna where he has been a member for over 50 years. He has been a Rotarian for 45 years and was President in 1966. He is the current chairman of the Rotary Foundation Committee. He was elected to serve twelve years on the Cobb County Board of Education. He served fifteen years as a member of the Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services. Mr. Whitfield is also an active Mason for over 50 years. He served as Worthy Grand Patron, Order of the Eastern Star for State of Georgia in 1971-72. He served as Grand Treasurer of Grand Lodge of Georgia for fourteen years and has been awarded the 33◦. He is listed in Who’s Who and the Outstanding Georgia Masons.

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