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A Georgia Groundbreaker

Through her courage and determination, Mary Frances Early has made an indelible mark on UGA, and we are pleased to honor her legacy and lifetime accomplishments as a music educator and civil rights icon.

Painting of Mary Frances Early by Broderick Flanigan

Mary Frances Early portrait by Broderick Flanigan

Making History

Mary Frances Early (M.M.Ed. '62, Ed.S. '67) played an integral role in the campaign for racial equality that helped open the doors for generations of students at the University of Georgia. Her triumph as the first African American graduate of UGA made her a central figure in the struggle to desegregate the University and serves as an example to all.

Trailblazing Timeline

Naming the College of Education for Mary Frances Early honors her long career as an educator and advocate. Born in Atlanta in 1936, she graduated as the valedictorian of Turner High School in Atlanta in 1953. Here are some select accomplishments from throughout her life.

1961

January 11

As a master's student at the University of Michigan, Early is inspired by the violence surrounding Charlayne Hunter's and Hamilton Holmes' integration of the University of Georgia. She begins the process to transfer to UGA.

1962

August 16

Early graduates from the University of Georgia with a master's in music education and becomes the first African American graduate of UGA.

1967

June 3

Early graduates from UGA with her educational specialist degree.

2013

May 10

During Spring Commencement, Early receives an honorary doctorate of law degree from UGA President Michael Adams.

2018

January 22

Early receives the UGA President's Medal from President Jere Morehead and her portrait is unveiled in the Administration Building.

September 18

Documentary about Early's life, "The Quiet Trailblazer," premieres on Georgia Public Broadcasting; the film was produced by Maurice Daniels and includes interviews with U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Lonnie King, Michael Thurmond and others.

2020

February 25

The University of Georgia celebrates the naming of the College of Education in honor of Mary Frances Early.

2021

September 15

The College and UGA Libraries publishes Mary Frances Early's autobiography, "The Quiet Trailblazer"—the same year UGA celebrated its 60th anniversary of desegregation.

2025

January 23

Georgia's U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock reads Ms. Early's accomplishments and the impact of her work at UGA and beyond into the Congressional Record.

February 25

UGA celebrates the fifth anniversary of the College of Education's naming in honor of Mary Frances Early.

September 27

Early receives the Luminary Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History at the association's 110th annual conference in Atlanta.

2026

August

Early was inducted into the Athens Music Walk of Fame in honor of her lasting impact on music education and the Athens community.

Rainbow Connection

The sound wave forming the basis of the timeline on the ground floor of Aderhold Hall depicts a quote from Mary Frances Early’s 2007 commencement speech at the University of Georgia. Play the audio file below to hear an excerpt.

“Wherever your path leads, never lose sight of the humanity of others; never be guilty of ostracism or alienation because education is not simply about achieving academically as you have done. Education also embraces the understanding and the acceptance of, and respect for all people. Those qualities represent the conduit to peace in our world. That, after all, is the rainbow connection!”

Actions that Resonate

In the News

Mary Frances Early remains a tireless advocate for racial equality and music education. In 2022, she celebrated the 60th anniversary of her graduation from UGA.

Thank You, Donors!

The names below represent donors who supported the five-year anniversary of the Mary Frances Early naming campaign by making a gift to the Mary Frances Early Endowment from July 2024 to the present day. Names bolded in red represent donors who also contributed during the original campaign period.

Jana G. Abdulai

Garybenson Albert

Sarah A. Allen

Anna G. Anderson

Lynedra D. Anderson

Jecorrah H. Arnold

Michael M. Athey

Jill A. Atkinson

Mary E. Atkinson

Ashley M. Avery

Trudy Baggett

Julie Bailey

Haleigh A. Baker

Hunter S. Baker

Chirre' M. F. Barksdale Barron

Sandra J. Barton

Vivian J. Bankston

Kathi A. Baucom

Gloria L. Baumgartner

Elizabeth Belcher

Elizabeth J. Bell

Helen D. Benson

Jami R. Berry

Sapna Bhambani

Carol A. Biffle

Kelly A. Black

James P. Blackwell

Jessica Blanchard

Jacob P. Bloodworth

Mary A. Blossomgame

Donald J. Bolton

Jennifer L. Bonner

Esa M. Booker

Boslie B. Booth

Laura E. Borden

Emmett W. Bowers

Bladyn J. Bowman

Courtney R. Boyle

Evelyn J. Boynton

Margaret R. Bracey

Jodie H. Brantley

Kim M. Briley

Carl E. Britton

Lesley M. Broadwell

Brecklyn R. Brown

Karen Brown

Marie L. Brown

Reginald A. Brown

Frederick J. Bruce

Karleigh M. Buchan

Amy C. Buice

Stephen Burke

Herbert F. Burnsed

Daniel S. Burson

Vera N. Bussey

Sarah E. Butler

Christopher R. Byrd

Katherine G. Cartwright

Cameron A. Carr

Megan L. Cash

Julia M. Carter

Maia Y. Catibog

Cynthia A. Chambers

Sally S. Chastain

Sallie B. Chasteen

Cassidy E. Cheatwood

Joyce M. Cheek

Betty J. Childs

Caryn Chitty

Ashley Cintron

Kenya Y. Cistrunk

Brigitta Clark

Julia V. Clark

Raymon Clark

Gail C. Clayton

Chad G. Cleveland

Cory G. Cliatt

James E. Coda

Steven R. Cohen

Barbara A. Coleman

Mary E. Collier

Stacie Collier

Ethel Collins

Kristina H. Collins

Lisa D. Conley

Sarah Constantine

Sofia M. Constantino Jurado

Laura J. Conway

Lauren E. Cook

Catherine A. Cooney

Brooke H. Corlee

Raymond D. Craig

Pamela R. Crews

Becky Crockett

Joan C. Cronin

Kaitlyn A. Cross

Emma G. Crowe

Michael Crumpler

John W. Culbreath

Virginia M. Cummings

Albert C. Cunningham

Mark K. Cussans

Kaitlyn A. Dan

Lillian J. Darr

Katherine E. Davidson

Bonnie D. Davis

Jennifer A. Davis

Spivey K. Davis

Gaven J. Dawley

John D. DeCotis

Adelaide D. DeCosse

Jed DeLong

Kristen R. Demlein

Lindsey G. Derrick

Sandra G. Derrick

Freidia J. Dinkins

Alexa R. Dipalantino

Sarabeth L. Donaldson

Summer R. Doucet

Kimberly A. Dove

Donna M. Drake-Clark

Anne K. Duncan

Mary F. Early

Sara C. Eben

Larry L. Echols

Rebecca Edwards

Raymond C. Ellis

Michael X. Estes

Keri Etheredge

Charlie M. Farmer

Garrett A. Faust

Merissa G. Fedeli

Marion L. Fedrick

Amy G. Feste

Anna K. Finch

Brandon J. Fineout

Sheron M. Finnerty

Doris Firth

John R. Fleck

Doyle E. Fleming

James E. Fleming

Raphael D. Florestal-Kevelier

Gabrielle A. Floyd

Natalie K. Floyd

Emily G. Ford

Vera L. Forkner

Hayley G. Foster

Lisa Foy

Joshua C. Freed

Alice R. Fryce

Stanley L. Gabriel

Makenzie L. Gaddy

Isabella Gannon

Jacqueline A. Gholston

Natalie D. Gibbon

Lauren E. Giesler

Joedy W. Godwin

Nicole H. Golden

Michael J. Gouge

Imogene L. Gouveia

Barbara Green

Claire Gropman

Saira C. Gutierrez

Michael E. Hale

Ellie M. Halko

Melanie D. Hammond

Anna L. Hand

Gregory L. Harmelink

Deborah D. Harper

Shea M. Harris

Tracey H. Hatcher

Darryl Haynes

Martha R. Head

Crandall A. Heard

Aaysia A. Henley

Kay Hermeling

Helen A. Heuberger

Elizabeth M. Hewatt

Bryan K. Hicks

Christina Hines

Thawng T. Hmun

Michele Holmes

Marianne Holland

Henry Holliman

Patricia A. Holmes

Satchel T. Holmes-Williams

Joan J. Hopson

Chad C. Howell

Heather A. Hudson

Hayley J. Hughes

Kathryn Hughes

Barbara Hund

Claudia Hutchins

Dawn D. Idom

Sayano Ito

Evelyn D. Jackson

Maizi L. Jackson

Tia L. Jackson

Shelley G. Jakiel

Charmaine T. James

Ellen R. Jeffers

Rose Jewel

Arthur Johnson

Daniel F. Johnson

Kenneth L. Johnson

Kenric E. Johnson

Tara P. Johnson

Will Johnson

Juanita Johnson-Bailey

Celeste Johnston

Kela M. Jones

Marcie D. Jones

Thomas B. Jones

Michelle Juarez-Cerna

Carol S. Keller

Elizabeth Keller

Mary L. Kiker

Eui S. Kim

Jessica M. King

Douglas A. Kleiber

Hank Klibanoff

Ann P. Knepper

Savannah R. Knight

Sherrill A. Knighton

Susan Kondic

Marlene Kraich

Gary D. Kring

Richard M. Krise

Brian E. Kumm

Kenneth Y. Kwon

William S. Lamb

Susan A. Langley

Emanuel Larkin

Sharon Larkins

Margaret A. Laskey

Amelia A. Lawrence

Bobby W. Lawson

Faith D. Lee

Grace S. Lee

Janet L. Lee

Olivia M. Lee

Eric L. Lenning

Joseph R. Leonard

Kathryn C. Lester

Annika E. Lewis

Ella G. Lockamy

Amy K. Lollis

Edward M. Long

Lane B. Long

Percy A. Mack

Carlyn Maloy

Elizabeth M. Mann

Shaceda A. Mansfield

Christine Marino

Charlie G. Marshall

Glennera E. Martin

Janice L. Martin

Kathryn N. Martin

Mercedes C. Martinez

Caroline G. Mason

McArthur Glen UK Ltd

Constance J. McBride

Warren C. McClendon

Steven D. McColskey

Vincent D. McCoy

Mary A. Mccue

Bryan A. McCullick

Denise W. McDaniel

Makayla G. Mcdaniel

Brenda M. McDonald

Patricia A. McDonald

Andrew C. Mcgee

Rita McGregor

Carol McLanahan

Haley L. McLendon

Amanda R. McRae-Williams

Allison J. Mehler

Macey C. Mellen

Norrisa Mellix

Isabella S. Mendes

Phyllis Menser

Rachel L. Mickle

Hudson Miller

Mary C. Miller

Shannon M. Miller

Alexis L. Millwood

Ksenia S. Miranda

Raymundo Moncayo

Patricia Moon

Takenya E. Moore

Angela B. Morris

Stephanie R. Morse

Lisa Morton

Jimmie L. Mountain

Kendall N. Murphy

Lori E. Murphy

Ashton E. Nalley

Grace C. Neri

Kaylen V. Newman

Nedra M. Newton-Jones

Joann Nicholson

Merry C. Norman

Patrick L. Nugent

Christine Oertle

Martha Oldham

Jessica Oliver

Joseph S. Oliver

Anthony Palmieri

Yiming Pan

Shubh S. Patel

Raymond Patricio

Gloria D. Payne

Isabella A. Pedretti

Erin L. Peltzman

Kaylah A. Percival

Avery C. Phillips

Caroline E. Phillips

Cedrea N. Phillips

Sharon Phillips

Quincey B. Phillips

Jennier D. Phinney

Kimberly S. Pierce

Abe Plummer

Timothy L. Poole

Santosh Kumar Pottumuthu

Amy H. Powell

Andrea V. Prieto

Braeden F. Puckett

Peggy R. Purcell

Angela K. Rainwater

Donald A. Randall

Emily M. Randall

Robert O. Ray

Robyn R. Rayford

Kenyae L. Reese

Grace C. Resetar

Zuleme R. Reuter

Carter W. Reynolds

Donna S. Rhein

Chloe A. Rice

Claire A. Rice

James R. Richburg

Jeremy W. Rimes

Gloria J. Roberts

Vanessa J. Roberts

Christopher A. Roell

Destiny Rogers

Brandi Roland

Peter C. Roth

Terri L. Rothfusz

Gracyn R. Rutledge

Katelyn R. Ruyter

Dialynn M. Sabin

Elaine B. Sanda

Johnny Sanders

Don Savatta

Cynthia Schmidt

Robert A. Seay

Calliway M. Selman

Jenna M. Seymour

Edward L. Shaw

Marlie Sherer

Sherrie J. Sherman

Caroline E. Shoffer

Clayton M. Shoffer

James E. Shope

Hadley G. Short

Cara J. Simmons

Max Skidmore

Amy L. Smith

Ashanti T. Smith

Chandler B. Smith

Dawn S. Smith

Deborah L. Smith

Jessica A. Smith

Katherine L. Smith

Katy L. Smith

Mary L. Smith

Monica L. Smith

Nancy W. Smith

Rachel L. Smith

Robert C. Smith

Demetrius T. Snell

Griffin L. Spalding

Denise A. Spangler

Suzanne F. Spivey

Sara M. Starr

Gavin W. Steiger

Bobby N. Stephens

Tiffany M. Strickland

Tyler Stoddard

Connor B. Stone

Ashlee M. Storey

Kay I. Strickland

Jessica Styles

Courtney L. Tamberino

Jacqueline M. Tate

Blake A. Taylor

Donna M. Taylor

Lisa K. Taylor

Bonnese Thomas

Joseph J. Thomas

Margaret R. Thomas

Beverly A. Thompson

Edward S. Tolley

Anna K. Tomlinson

Chasity D. Tompkins

Alejandra F. Toribio

Ricardo Torres

Grace C. Tortorella

Sarah K. Tranakos

Melanie K. Traylor

Mia N. Troyer

Barbara G. Tucker

Melissa C. Tufts

Kelsey L. Twohig

Trevin C. E. Tyndall

Kaitlyn M. Union

Devin M. VanDeWark

Mitzy A. Velazco

Sofia B. Vieira

Anthony J. Vincent

Vivona Charitable Fund

Asa Walker

Emilee M. Walker

Keith E. Waller

Kelley R. Walker

Michael J. Watkins

Lawrence E. Weatherford

Thomas L. Weatherly

Patricia Weaver

Jodi P. Weber

Marcus J. West

William D. Westberry

Sheila M. White

Adrianne E. Williams

Alexis N. Williams

Jen Williams

LaTresha M. Williams

Martha Williams

Miranda L. Williams

Emily E. Winship

James C. Womack

Elisha K. Youmans

Deidra G. Young

Ellie M. Young

JoAnn Young

Reid M. Young

George M. Zaharchak

Laurie Zielinski

Joan Zion

James A. Zoll

The names below represent donors who supported the Mary Frances Early naming campaign from April 2019 to February 2021. These individuals and organizations made gifts to the Mary Frances Early Endowment established in her honor or contributed to a fund of their choice across campus in tribute to Ms. Early.

Honor Mary Frances Early

The Mary Frances Early College of Education Endowment supports the College by addressing inclusion efforts and funding scholarships for students.