CLEVELAND — When public safety officials from the City of Cleveland told Truett McConnell University officials that each road on the ever-developing campus needed its own name, that started officials thinking about what would be appropriate.
What officials came up with was announced during Tuesday’s chapel service.
Dr. Emir Caner, president of TMU, recognized those for whom roads on campus would be named: a charter student/graduate of Truett-McConnell Junior College; the coach who led the Truett-McConnell College women’s basketball team to a national championship; the owners of a Gainesville poultry processing facility who have endowed numerous projects at the university, including its planned book press and its student wellness center; and a woman who is in her 40th year of service and prayer on the Cleveland campus.
“The cabinet and I prayed about how can we honor those to whom honor is due,” Caner told those gathered. “How can we give honor to those who have invested in you?”
Caner told students they are not at the university by accident.
“Not only are you not here by accident, but you stand on the shoulders of giants, 70 years of saints and sinners who have through these doors to serve the Lord Jesus Christ,” Caner said. “They are your prayer warriors.”
Ethelene Dyer Jones
Born in 1930, Ethelene Dyer Jones grew up on a farm in the Choestoe District of Union County. She was saved at Choestoe Baptist Church and at age 9 and baptized in the Notla River.
Her pastor, the Rev. Claud C. Boynton, was instrumental in the Georgia Baptist Convention establishing Truett-McConnell Junior College, and he served on the original board of trustees.
On Dec. 23, 1949, Dyer married the Rev. Grover Jones, who she met as both were charter students and graduates of Truett-McConnell.
A charter student entering Truett-McConnell on Sept. 15, 1947, she was a member of the first graduating class on May 30, 1949. During her time on campus, she served as student manager of the college bookstore.
From Truett, she went on to get her bachelor’s degree from Mercer University in 1952, her master’s degree from Western Carolina University in 1965, and her specialist in education from the University of Georgia in 1971.
She taught in elementary, secondary and college settings until her retirement in 1990. She taught in Choestoe School, Bibb County, Epworth, and Blue Ridge, as well as in off-campus settings for Brenau College and on the Ellijay campus of Truett-McConnell.
Jones has published two books of poetry, The Singing in the Wood (1984), and Mother and Child Reunion (1995), as well as several books of history: Faith through Flood and Fire (1983), A History of Fannin County, Georgia (1989), 100 years of Heritage and Hope; A History of Morganton Baptist Association (1993), Cemeteries of Fannin County, Ga. (2003), and Facing Forward (2013).
She has received numerous honors, including Georgia Library Media Department Citation I 1982, Library/Media Specialist of the Year for the state of Georgia in 1986, Georgia Poetry Citation in 1992, Georgia House of Representatives Resolution 50EX1 commending her for her life achievements, Georgia Governor’s Award in the Humanities in 2011, Preservationist of the Year Award by the Union County Historical Society in 2017, among others.
Her husband died in 2011 after serving in ministry for more than 44 years, including 16 as director of missions for the Morganton / Mountain Town Association. Their son Keith died Nov. 16, 2017.
The couple’s daughter, Cynthia Denise, attended Tuesday’s ceremony with Jones on Tuesday.
Jones, for whom Jones Circle will be named, has seven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Coach Colby Tilley
Coach Colby Tilley was born in Raleigh, N.C., and grew up in Pittsboro, N.C., and has two children, Jason and Sarah, and three grandchildren.
He received a bachelor of science degree from Appalachian State University in 1972, a master’s in recreation administration in 1976, a master’s in educational administration from Auburn University in 1988, and an education specialist in educational administration from Auburn University in 1992.
Tilley taught history at Chatham Central High School, then in 1973-74 taught seventh grade at Horton Middle School and coached junior football at Northwood High School. He was a graduate assistant for physical education classes at Georgia Southern University in 1974-75.
From 1975-1985, he served as head women’s basketball coach, athletic director and physical education instructor at Truett McConnell, then served for the next decade as head women’s basketball coach at Auburn University.
From 1995-2012, Tilley served as head women’s basketball coach at Kennesaw State University.
He then served from 2012-14 as assistant women’s basketball coach at High Point University.
His professional accomplishments at Truett McConnell include being named Regional Coach of the year in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, and 1985, and Atlanta Tip-Off Club Junior College Coach of the Year in 1985. At Auburn, he was District 27 Coach of the Year in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1994, and was named to the AUM Sports Hall of Fame.
At KSU, he was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 1997, Whack Hyder Georgia Division II Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1999, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Board College Coach of the Year Division II/III in 1997, and was elected into the Northeast Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Tilley’s coaching record at Truett McConnell speaks for itself at 234-46, including his team being named regional champions in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1985, state champions in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1985, and being named national champions in 1980.
At Auburn, his coaching record was 218-74, and his team was recognized as District 27 Tournament Champions in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1994, District 27 Season Champions in 1988, 1991 and 1992. His team also participated in the NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 in 1988 and 1993, Elite 8 in 1995, and Final Four in 1994.
At KSU, Tilley’s record was 290-208, including reaching the NCAA II Elite 8 in 1997 and 1998, and being Peach Belt Conference Champions in 1997 and 1998.
Tilley is a member of Summit Baptist Church.
The road serving the sports complex will be known as Tilley Drive.
Victory Processing
The 2017 Best Large Business in Hall County was recognized Tuesday for is contributions to Christian education at TMU with the naming of the road to the George Blaurock Student Wellness Center as Victory Lane.
Victory Processing, a company that processes more than five million pounds of chicken per week and has 1,750 employees, has donated to the university in the form of its general fund, the George Blaurock Student Wellness Center, endowing the new TMU Press, and the university’s first endowed Hispanic scholarship, named for Anabaptist martyr Eberli Bolt, who was put to death in May 1525.
Caner recognized Victory Processing owners Johnny Young, Todd Reese, Todd Robson and Phillip Jones.
“To me personally, they have simply been a Barnabas, an encouragement that every time we turn the corner they’re praying for us and they’re praying for you,” Caner told students.
The road leading to the George Blaurock Student Wellness Center will be named Victory Lane.
Gloria Sutton
But it was the recognition of a woman who has given much of her life to TMU that drew the largest response from the students in Tuesday’s chapel service.
Gloria Sutton, who is in her 40th year of employment at the school, currently serves as mailroom/copy center manager.
But it is her unofficial capacity that Caner said sets her apart.
“Actually, I think we should just make her director of all things prayer warrior, because that’s what she does,” Caner said. “And not only that, but if you know her you know a little bit about what she has done for our community here in Cleveland, Ga.”
Caner said Sutton has attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland her whole life so far, and she and her husband Phineas “Snap” Sutton, who have been married for 51 years, are the longest living members of the church.
Sutton has one son, Maurice; a stepdaughter, Shirley; two adopted daughters, Christine and Almah; 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
“We are just simply grateful that you walk our campus every day,” Caner told Sutton. “When I got here, she was one of the first to meet me at the door and simply said, ‘Whatever you’re doing, I’m praying for you.’”
For that reason, Caner said, a prominent drive on campus is being named for Sutton.
“What we’re going to do is — while it was informally named President’s Drive, that doesn’t do it business — is we’re going to name the road that comes through at my house Sutton Drive after Ms. Gloria Sutton.”
Before he could finish his remarks, Caner was interrupted by cheers and a lengthy standing ovation for Sutton.
“I’m deeply honored,” Sutton told AccessWDUN following the ceremony. “I’m just almost speechless, which is very uncommon for me. I love Truett with all my heart.”
During her time at Truett, starting when Jimmy Carter was president in August 1978, Sutton has served as assistant to the controller, business office clerk, switchboard operator, safety officer and her current position.
Sutton shared with AccessWDUN how her prayers for those on campus really began.
“What started me on that was when we used to have so many international kids,” Sutton said. “I never understood how a parent could let their children go so far away from home and not see them for two and three and four years. It not only expanded from them, but it expanded for the campus and for all the kids, because they’re so special. That’s when my prayer life began, truly began, here for Truett, and I thank God for that.”
For the past 17 years, Sutton also has been the Truett representative for the White County Kiwanis Club.
