TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Librarians, the Benevolent Elks, the Pinochle Club and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Dr. Cornelius W. Grant was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and silhouette Velma (née Fudge) Grant, two brothers Arnold Grant, Jr. (Jack- sonville (FL) Alumni 1977), and Everett V. Grant, Jr., and two sisters Maude Alberta Grant-Conway and Hildrith Grant Smith. He is survived by three daugh- ters, Cheryl (Nathaniel) Lawson, Joi (Dwayne) Grady and Alice Gordon; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, close friends, colleagues and thousands of Albany State University “Ram Nation” alumni.
officer during the Korean War, Grant used the G.I. Bill to return to FAMU to earn B.A. and J.D. degrees in 1956 and 1959 respectively. Grant began his professional career in 1961 as an instructor and librarian at the law school of his alma mater . When Grant’s law school dean, Thomas M. Jenkins, became president of Albany (GA) State College (now University) in 1966, Grant accepted an administrative position at the college. Grant remem- bered, “When my wife and I arrived at Albany State, we thought we would be here three or four years at the most.” Instead, he spent the next 35 years at Albany State helping to transform the institution from a small college in southwest Georgia into a univer- sity. Thirty years of his tenure at Albany State, Grant served as Vice President of Student Affairs where thousands of Albany State University students over three decades benefited from his counsel and mentorship. Grant was a highly motivated, seasoned executive with a solid track record in college/univer- sity administration, management, and operations in a collegiate environment. He was a renowned speaker, lecturer and consul- tant who traveled extensively and impressed audienc- es all over the country. One of his most well-known speeches was “If it is to be, it's up to me!” He con- ducted many workshops on “Student Affairs and the Law.” Dr. Grant authored many articles in numerous professional journals. In addition to his executive leadership position at the school, Grant was also influential and supportive of the Albany community. He was a long-time sup- porter of the Boys Clubs of Albany and named Lay- man of the Year (1985) by the Boys Clubs of the State of Georgia. He served on the Board of the Directors of the Boys Club of Albany, Inc. Grant also served as past president of the Board of Directors, Albany Civil Rights Institute at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church; member of the Board of Direc- tors American Red Cross. He was past chairman of the Doughtery County School Board. Grant was selected to chair Albany Tomorrow, Inc., a non-profit corporation founded by local community leaders designed to implement the Albany Downtown River- front Master Plan project. The project was a major civic revitalization initiative, combining private and public funding to transform and modernize the down- town Albany area into an economic, educational, and cultural center. Grant also held memberships in National Associa- tion of Studies Affairs Professionals (NASAP) where served as president, the American Association of Law
Grant with fellow Laurel Wreath Laureates 27 th Grand Polemarch Robert L. Harris, Esq. and 26 th Grand Polemarch Dr. Ullysses McBride.
Grant with mentee and Guy L. Grant Awardee Dominique W. Riggins.
THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2019 | 101
Publishing achievement for 105 years
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker