April 2008

Service rewarded

Two Woman's College alumnae have joined a distinguished group.

Dr. Sally Beaver Buckner '53 of Cary and Sue Sigmon Williams '58 of Atlanta are the 2008 Alumni Distinguished Service Award winners.

Buckner, a published poet, taught literature and writing at Peace College for 28 years before her retirement in 1998. “Never one to seek the limelight or to jockey for power,” wrote one nominator, “Sally has worked on, year after year, as a teacher, writer and community advocate for various humane causes.”

A Statesville native, Buckner earned her PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill. She taught at every level, from kindergarten through graduate school. She published fiction and poetry in a number of journals and anthologies and authored a poetry collection, “Strawberry Harvest.” Buckner also edited two anthologies, “Our Words, Our Ways” and “Words and Witness: 100 Years of North Carolina Poetry.”

Williams, a writer and singer who holds a master's in vocal performance from Georgia State University, has spent a decade on the board of the Atlanta Symphony. One nominator wrote that “Sue Williams is still learning, still sharing her extraordinary gifts for language and music, still doing everything she can to make Atlanta a culturally rich community.”

A Charlotte native, Williams majored in English and taught history to high school and college students after graduation. In 2004, she endowed one of the largest faculty awards at UNCG, the Friedlaender. The award — named for Williams' former English professor, the late Dr. Marc Friedlaender — goes to an assistant or associate English professor for research and pre-publication expenses.

The UNCG Alumni Association will honor Buckner and Williams May 3 during the Grand Reunion Luncheon. The event begins at noon in Cone Ballroom, Elliott University Center. Tickets are required.