In 2000, Mary Frances Early returned to the University of Georgia’s campus to deliver a lecture hosted by the Graduate and Professional Scholars (GAPS). Those scholars then surprised Early by naming the lecture series in her honor.

On Feb. 4, Tracey D. Ford and Valerie D. White, who helped plan that very first lecture when they were leaders in GAPS, also returned for the annual event to celebrate the lecture’s 25th anniversary with a panel discussion led by Early.

“So many people helped us provide for that lecture, from the food, to flowers, to sound, to all the things we needed to pull this off. For us, it was a community effort,” said Ford. “One of the big takeaways that I had was that so much can happen when community comes together. We rallied around you, Ms. Early.”

Early came to the University of Georgia in 1961 as its first African American graduate student. She followed the footsteps of Charlayne Hunter-Gault and the late Hamilton Holmes, who integrated the university earlier that year as its first African American undergraduate students, and became the institution’s first African American graduate in 1962.

“What I wanted to do was to help in the struggle that was going on to desegregate to make our state stronger, to make it better,” Early said. “That’s why I came here.”

Maurice Daniels, dean emeritus and professor emeritus in the School of Social Work, uncovered that fact as part of his research. Both Ford and White worked with Daniels on various aspects of this research and became inspired by Early’s story.

“Tracey, Valerie and GAPS as a whole played a key role to illuminate Ms. Early’s magnificent achievements. We celebrate today the 25th anniversary of the Mary Frances Early Lecture in large measure because of the formative work of the Graduate and Professional Scholars,” Daniels said.

For Ford and White, that desire to know more turned into a desire to recognize Early. That’s when GAPS decided to host a lecture and invite her to speak. At first, Early said she was reluctant to accept the invitation but decided that supporting underrepresented graduate students was worth the effort.

Ford and White said they wanted to get that first lecture right. It was quite a bit of responsibility for a group of graduate students but helped them grow in numerous ways.

Since then, they’ve watched the lecture series develop into the event it is today. The Mary Frances Early Lecture has featured national leaders like Ambassador Andrew Young and the late Congressman John Lewis, and Early returns each year for the lecture and a dinner with GAPS the night before.

“To see the lecture evolve is really great because it shows the commitment of the institution,” Ford said.

Early said she hopes the event continues to inspire others.

“When we think about the remarkable accomplishments of Ms. Early, we here at UGA celebrate what she did and what she means to this institution,” said Alton Standifer, vice provost for inclusive excellence and chief of staff to the Provost.

The lecture series recognizes Early’s dedication to making UGA an institution of higher learning for all people. It also strives to demonstrate the progress that has been made in achieving her vision as well as to identify the work that remains to be done.

“Ms. Early, your legacy, along with Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, in desegregating the University of Georgia is an important part of this institution’s history because that collective effort has impacted generations of students who have followed in your footsteps,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We are forever grateful for your contributions to this university, to our state and to our nation.”