One of her proudest achievements was helping to organize the Outdoor Education Program. Students enjoyed outdoors experiences at places such as Camp Seagull, Camp Broadstone, camping near Flat Rock, NC and another in Gatlinburg, TN. These were a highlight of the Middle School program and among her special memories. In 2002 she received the Brooks Sabbatical award to go to Germany on a family genealogy exploration with her sister. I asked Marilyn what she and Morgan, her husband of 46 years, have been doing since her retirement and her emphatic one-word answer was “Travel!” Her second one-word answer was “Fly-fishing!” They have fished the Watauga River, the Mitchell River, the North Platte and the Snake in Wyoming, and rivers in Montana. She loves both the challenge and the peacefulness of standing in waders in flowing cold water with a rod in her hand and tackle strapped to her waist. For the last five years during the first week of August, she and Morgan have cooked and washed dishes as volunteers for 160 young people at an evangelical camp for a local Air Force base, ranchers, and Native American kids. They love every minute of it. Every Monday night she tutors one-on- one at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church. Currently she is working with a young Hispanic boy on reading, writing, and math. She also mentors and teaches with Val Vickers, former MS Science teacher, at the Washington Montessori School. The old saying, “Once a teacher, always a teacher” goes double for Marilyn. Two years ago, she and Morgan went with Kay Zimmerman, former Middle School Latin teacher, and her husband Charlie out west to tour National Monuments – the Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Mt. Rushmore. Next year she is hoping to make a trip to Ireland and Wales with her sister and six cousins to continue her work on family genealogy. Marilyn loves remembering the great, wonderful teaching experiences she had with colleagues and students under the special guidance of Ed Dickinson, former Middle School director. She had taught for 10 years in the public school system but says that the positive atmosphere and collegiality of the Day School were truly unique. She loves to socialize and looks forward to the monthly retired Middle School faculty lunches. They call themselves the “FREEDOM Group,” THE CHARLES McLENDON Founders Society For more information about planning a gift to Greensboro Day School, visit www.greensboroday.org/ plannedgiving, or contact Tommy Webb, Associate Head of Advancement and Personnel (336) 288-8590, ext. 204. The Charles McLendon Founders Society recognizes those individuals who have made provisions for GDS in their estate plans. Such provisions may take the form of a bequest, the designation of GDS as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the establishment of a charitable trust with GDS as the beneficiary, the assignment of a title to a primary residence or other planned gift arrangement. Gifts are designated or restricted according to the donor’s wishes. Most often, donors choose to direct planned estate gifts to the School’s permanent endowment, or to provide their own named endowment fund for a specific purpose. Membership in the McLendon Society is a special distinction, signaling the donor’s understanding that the future of the Day School is a priority now in planning for the ultimate gift upon their death. It is a lifelong commitment to the School’s future welfare. Because of the great variety of gift vehicles and giving opportunities available, donors can make a very personal statement about their care and concern for the children who attend the school. which stands for “Friendly Retired Educators Enjoying Dining Out Monthly”! That hot summer day in August 1978 when Marilyn Jones stepped onto a very different campus from the one GDS occupies now was one of our school’s luckiest. Once a Bengal, Always a Bengal! GDS Magazine | 49