ATHOL — Chilly temperatures and a stiff breeze buffeted those people who attended Saturday’s Spelman College’s Founders Day wreath-laying ceremony at Silver Lake Cemetery. However, warm hearts provided all the comfort needed for a low-key but joyous celebration of the lives of Harriet Giles and Sophia Packard, the two New Salem women who made the education of Black women and girls — freed from slavery in the wake of the Civil War — their life’s work.
About two dozen alumnae of the historically black college were joined by about 50 Athol-area residents to take part in the event, which was sponsored by the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College (NNASC), NAASC Northeast Region, and NAASC Boston and New England Chapters. Attendees were welcomed to the event by Orange resident Priscilla Stevens Gaignard, who arranged for the ceremony to take place at the memorial erected at Silver Lake Cemetery to honor Packard and Giles.
“This has been a mission of love for me,” said a teary-eyed Gaignard. “I put my heart and soul into this, and I haven’t finished. I’m just happy that everyone came. It warms my heart.”
Gathered alumnae then recited the Alumnae Prayer, written by Virginia Turner Dowell, Class of ’47.
“We want to welcome you here, to this auspicious occasion,” said NAASC National President Keva Wright Berry, “as we celebrate Spelman College’s 141st Founders Day.”
She then took a moment to recognize those alumnae who traveled to Athol for the event. Alumnae were present from the Westchester, New York Chapter, the New England Chapter, the Boston Area Chapter, the Southern Maryland Chapter, and the Hampton Roads (Virginia) Chapter.
“We are so pleased to be able to commemorate this event at the site of the final resting place of our founders, Sophia B. Packard and Harriet E. Giles,” said Berry. “These two women had a vision for education that has resulted in Spelman being ranked the number one HBCU (historically Black college and university) for over 15 consecutive years.
“The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman Seminary, and now, Spelman College is the premiere institution for the education of women of the African Diaspora, and we rejoice that we have been the beneficiaries of Miss Packard’s and Miss Giles’ profound vision.
“Today,” Berry continued, “is the first of what we hope will be an annual event. NAASC across the country will be celebrating Founders Day this weekend and next, culminating on April 11, the actual founding date of Spelman. These celebrations are solemn, as well as joyous. We are pleased to add this particular event to our long roster of celebrations.
“Therefore, we are here today to honor and celebrate the women who called Spelman into existence. Without their determination, Spelman College might not exist. We appreciate your sharing this celebratory experience with us; and ‘thank you,’ Miss Packard and Miss Giles.
Following a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” sung by Candi Fetzer, representatives of the First Baptist Church of Medford spoke to the gathering. The Rev. Matthew Rasure and Dr. Kimbery Frasure read from an account, written in 1920 by the Rev. J.T. Abbott, detailing the church’s role in providing the funds Packard and Giles needed to begin their work of founding the all-girls school in Atlanta. The women sought contributions there after being turned down by their own church in Athol.
Berry and Terry Jackson Wright, NAASC Northeast Region Coordinator, then presented Gaignard with a plaque.
“On behalf of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College,” said Berry, “we would like to present to you, with our sincere appreciation, in recognition of your dedicated service, labor of love, continued contributions to the Spelman College founders gravesite here in Athol, Mass., we’d like to present to you this plaque of our affection and love.”
Rounding out the event was a brief history of Giles’ and Packard’s lives before and after the founding of Spelman, as well as an overview of the college itself and the contributions it has made to the nation.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.