Marian Chesnut McCullers (BSHE ’46, Housing and Consumer Economics) can’t remember when FACS wasn’t a large part of her life.

“Growing up in Chamblee my sister-in-law Rebecca Smith taught home economics at the high school,” she recalls. “I admired her greatly and she persuaded me to attend UGA and major in the field that served me well for my entire career.”

The decades of home economics connections have been one of Marian’s largest networks.

“I cherish my interactions from the years of involvement I’ve had in the FACS Alumni Association,” she says. “Some of my dearest friends are from the FACS profession and more specifically, from my involvement with FACS alumni.”

At age 33, Wilton “Butch” McCullers’ mother thought he was a confirmed bachelor. But meeting Marian on a blind date when he was home from his military service changed this status. Butch and Marian recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. To honor her, Butch made the Marian Chestnut McCullers Scholarship a reality for the coming fall term. What a special anniversary gift!

The McCullers have been supportive of our College for years. In 1983, they created a pooled income fund designating FACS as the beneficiary upon their deaths. They earned income from this fund annually. Twenty-two years later they both realized that they would rather witness their gift at work during their lifetimes. With the help of the UGA Office of Development, they converted the pooled income fund into a current gift. Butch then added the necessary amount to fully endow a scholarship in his wife’s honor.

“We are both excited about meeting the first Marian Chesnut McCullers Scholarship recipient!” Marian says. “The timing was perfect for us to make this decision and this investment in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. We are proud to be a major donor in the Archway to Excellence campaign.”

The McCullers have listed the criteria of the scholarship to be for either a graduate or an undergraduate student in our College with a preference given to students in the Housing and Consumer Economics Department. They also want to help students with financial need.

“We recognize that the costs associated with education continue to rise and we want to reward those who are deserving of a college education but may be inhibited because of limited financial resources,” Marian explains.

Thank you Butch and Marian! We are so proud to be the stewards of your generosity!