Bessie Willingham Tift was born in 1860 in South Carolina. Her family later moved to Albany, GA. In 1878, she graduated from Monroe Female College in Forsyth. After graduating, Bessie married Henry Harding Tift, a wealthy businessman from Tifton, GA. a town he founded.

In 1905, while attending a GA Baptist Convention, the Tifts learned Monroe Female College was in dire need of money to stay open. Bessie and her husband gave the college the $37,000 needed. Monroe Female College was renamed Bessie Tift College in her honor in 1907.

Bessie loved her alma mater and devoted her life and resources to the women in the school. She often funded a poorer girl’s education. She was a religious leader and established clubs and Bible groups all over the state. She was very generous wherever she served.

Bessie was so respected by the students at Tift, that when she entered a room, all the students stood at attention in respect for her. She was a blessing to all who knew her and her legacy lives on today.Bessie died in 1936. In 2024, she was inducted as a  Georgia Women of Achievement.

https://www.georgiawomen.org/elizabeth-willingham-tift

Video is courtesy of Craig Whitley.