Pauline Lewis Hayworth '51
Who would have dreamed when Pauline Lewis walked across the
stage at Queens in 1951 to receive her BA in English and Greek, magna cum laude no less, that 50 years later she would plan a transformational gift to her alma mater. When Pauline died in the summer of 2005 Queens was notified that it would receive approximately $8 million from this loyal alumna’s estate.
Pauline had enjoyed a happy and meaningful life. After graduation from Queens she studied at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she received a master of arts in English literature. In 1958 she returned to North Carolina where she married the love of her life, Charles E Hayworth of High Point. Pauline and Charles were active members of the High Point community volunteering with and supporting many organizations including High Point University and High Point Regional Health System. They lived in a lovely home called Emery Hill Farm which was surrounded with acres of walnut trees, grown both for their nuts and also for the valuable timber. Charles Hayworth was president of a furniture manufacturing company called Alma Desk and was a very successful businessman.
Pauline always loved Queens and valued the education that she had received. She served on the Board of Trustees for several years in the 1970’s and at that time she and her husband gave a substantial gift of furniture to Queens. Then in 1994 she became involved again during the Aim High Alumni Campaign, serving on the steering committee of that campaign and again making a significant gift. After that she also made the decision to name Queens in her estate plans. She had become very impressed with the leadership and personal values of Dr. Billy Wireman, and again was asked to serve on the Board of Trustees. In 2000 Pauline was diagnosed with cancer and began a courageous fight which lasted for 5 years. For as long as she could, she attended trustee meetings and also award night ceremonies for her beloved Hayworth College, the adult degree program at Queens that was named in Pauline’s honor.
The Albright Society is made up of over 200 individuals and families who have chosen to leave a legacy at Queens. Most, including me, will never be able to leave a gift as large as Pauline’s, but all are equally important because each will leave this world and particularly this special university a better and stronger place for those who come after.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Albright Society please contact:
University Advancement
Adelaide Anderson Davis '61, Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations
704 337-2329
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John "Roger" Wilson '96
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Roger Wilson '96
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A decade has passed since John "Roger" Wilson graduated from Queens with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing but he still shows his dedication to the University every month by making his gift to The Queens Fund.
Roger gives back to Queens through The Queens Fund because other’s generosity enabled him to attend and he would like to do the same for someone else. Roger has always heard, "I’m not giving anything until my loans are paid" as a reason for not giving. His response, "People gave in the years prior to your time at Queens and there's no doubt that it influenced your experience in some way. Giving doesn't have to be thousands and tens of thousands of dollars. Every little bit counts. I give through monthly bank draft because it is an easy, painless process. A little each month is much less painful that a lot at once and is very manageable even with student loans," Roger said.
Roger became familiar with Queens through a friend’s brother who attended Queens. He visited him on several different occasions and was impressed with the beauty of the campus and the satisfaction of the students he met. He began inquiring more, liked what he saw, was awarded a scholarship, and before he knew it he was off to Queens.
When Roger came to Queens, he knew he would never sit behind a desk in a suit but he really didn’t know what career he wanted. However, after meeting and shadowing a nurse anesthetist he knew that was the career path for him. "I did a lot of research first, in case I never reached my goal, and I found that there are hundreds of different types of jobs an RN can have," Roger said. He changed his major to Nursing and stayed an extra year.
The University supplied him with the foundation to pursue his dreams. "I will never forget the encouragement and support I received from my advisor (and nursing professor), Ruth Stephenson, when I walked into her office and told her I wanted to change my major to nursing and why. Any discouragement or negativity could have easily turned me away," Roger said. Furthermore, the international experience program (known today as the John Belk International Program) gave him a taste for traveling and new things. After several years as a RN, Roger traveled as an ICU nurse and worked all over the United States and in the Virgin Islands.
Roger and his wife, Seng, reside in Charleston, South Carolina, where he started work at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in January 2007. After completing his board exam he is now proud to be a nurse anesthetist.
To make a gift to The Queens Fund visit www.queens.edu/give or contact:
The Office of Annual Giving
Stephanie Stenglein, Assistant Director
704 337-2285
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