Subers family bequest leaves lasting impact at GSW

Published 10:25 am Friday, December 8, 2017

From Staff Reports

AMERICUS — The late Jean and Joe Subers continued a family tradition of generosity and caring with their bequest to Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW).
The University has benefited greatly from the generosity of Jean’s sister Betty Pope and her late husband John over the years. The Doris B. Deriso Pool and the James G. Deriso Business Scholarship Fund bear Betty Pope’s family name, and the John & Betty Pope Fellowship program within GSW’s Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) offers substantial scholarships to more than a dozen students each year. That positive impact will only increase.
A bequest of $390,000 following the passing of Betty Pope’s sister and brother-in-law (Jean and Joe Subers) will be donated evenly to the James G. Deriso Business Scholarship and to the RCI. Additionally, the Subers left $195,000 to the Carter Center in Atlanta. The bequest was presented recently by the Subers family at a special ceremony prior to the 30th Annual RCI Gala.
“I’m very proud that my sister and brother-in-law thought so much of the things that were going on in Americus, Georgia, and at the Carter Center in Atlanta,” said Betty Pope. “They saw the value in caregiving, and they wanted to support it through the RCI in their passing. They also wanted to support the Carter Center and the Deriso Business Scholarship named for our father. I’m so proud that their sons chose to come here and make the gift presentations.”
On hand for the RCI Gala to present the gift were Pope, her sister Patsy Winter, Pope’s daughter Kerrie Post, and Jean and Joe Subers’ three sons and their spouses: Jim and Janice Subers, John and Margaret Subers, and Jay and Ginger Subers. President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, GSW President Neal Weaver, RCI Executive Director Leisa Easom and GSW School of Business Dean Liz Wilson were present to receive the gift.
“The Georgia Southwestern Community is honored to be a recipient of the Subers’ lasting generosity,” said Weaver. “These gifts will help the RCI carry on its mission to support and advocate for caregivers and will help the School of Business mold the next great business leaders. We are thankful for the kindness of the Subers family and for the desire of Betty Pope and her late husband John to support higher education.”
Pope is a life trustee for the GSW Foundation and a board member emerita for the RCI Board of Directors.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous gift from the Subers family,” said Easom. “This gift will have a far reaching impact supporting caregivers and increasing visibility and service for caregivers.”

“The gift given by the Subers family is extremely important to us in the School of Business,” said Wilson, echoing Easom’s remarks. “It will add scholarships that allow good students to be recognized for academic excellence and leadership. Beyond that, the Deriso scholarship, for which this gift is designated, has made the difference in so many students’ lives. It has enabled some to continue in school, some to purchase needed textbooks, others to graduate more quickly, and still others to graduate with less student debt. We are so thankful to the Subers family for thinking of our students and for their generosity.”