Russell and Judith McBride, originally from Virginia and Pennsylvania, were looking for a retirement community where they could count on continuing care as they aged. When they moved to the Spires at Berry College, they found that and much more - a vibrant community of extended Berry friends and family, including students, who inspired them to give a life-changing gift.
"After caring for our mothers, we realized we needed a plan for where we would spend our final years and what would happen to our assets upon our deaths," Judith explained.
The McBrides, who do not have children, were intrigued by the idea of a university-based retirement community and began researching facilities after they retired to Florida. As their search expanded, they discovered a facility so new it hadn't even been built yet. Tucked into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Rome, Ga. - far from hurricane threats - The Spires presented a tempting option.
"We really liked Rome," Russell said, "and we felt The Spires would be a good fit for us, but we wondered, would we be a good fit for it?"
The couple didn't have to wonder long. Soon after settling into their new home, they became friends with fellow residents and Berry alumni Sam (76C, 78G) and Nancy Duval (77C) Ratcliffe who invited them to help with outreach to Berry students. Over the next months, they began to meet and mentor Berry students, helped provide snacks for fall and spring finals, and shared career insights. They met students for one-on-one classroom assignments, enjoyed s'mores night at the Spires and more.
"We had read "Miracle in the Mountains" (the story of how
Martha Berry built the Berry schools by Harnett T. Kane), and we appreciated
the philosophy of the college as well as how Martha Berry put head, heart, and
hands into action," Judith said, "but the biggest bonus for us was meeting the
students. We were so impressed by their caliber. Interaction with young people
hadn't been an option in our lives before moving to The Spires."
As the McBrides adjusted to retirement community life, they were faced with another reality - deciding how to distribute their estate.
"Judith's best friend had not made a plan," Russell shared. "When her husband became ill near the end of his life, she was worried and stressed. It was a reminder to us that it's wise to get your plans in place, so you don't have to deal with it when you're in crisis mode."
Having come from humble beginnings and knowing the benefit of a college education - Judith, a nurse, nurse educator, and therapeutic massage therapist and Russell, owner of a real estate and auction company - the McBrides wanted to help students in need. They reached out to Helen Lansing, Berry's senior planned giving officer, for advice.
"Helen was a spectacular resource," Judith said. "She presented individualized options for us to choose from, and she was so patient and kind. She provided personal guidance."
Ultimately, the McBrides left funds in their will to Berry with the instructions to endow a Griswell Scholarship for students with financial need who have experienced significant adversity in their lives and found a way to rise above it.
"It's very gratifying to help people who need it." Russell said. "And it's reassuring to know that our wishes are clearly expressed, so there's no question about what will happen to our assets after we're gone."
Judith added, "When you haven't planned, it's much harder on those you love. It is uncomfortable to discuss what will happen to your assets after your gone, but it's the wise thing to do, and knowing your specific wishes is a gift for the loved ones you leave behind."
