>> BALDWIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Baldwin County School District honored the 2023 Distinguished Alumni at its inaugural Distinguished Alumni Gala on March 11 in Georgia College’s Magnolia Ballroom. In addition, each alumnus is being highlighted individually on the district’s news website, The Baldwin Beat.
The Distinguished Alumni Award honors Baldwin County School District graduates who have had considerable success in their professional careers and have significantly impacted the local community, state, and/or nation.
“They serve as role models for our current and future students, have had a lasting and profound effect on Baldwin High School, and are stewards of the continued enduring legacy of Baldwin County,” wrote Eric Jones, coordinator of school and community relations, in The Baldwin Beat newsletter.
The gala was arranged by the Distinguished Alumni Committee headed by Eric Jones and Baldwin County Superintendent Dr. Noris Price. This year, 10 alumni were honored at the gala including Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee, Baldwin Fire Chief Victor Young, former Milledgeville Mayor Floyd L. Griffin, former state championship-winning basketball coach James A. Lunsford, WNBA Star Tasha Butts, Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan, former sports editor for the Cincinnati Post and current contributor to Union-Recorder Rick Millians, teacher and women’s basketball coach at Paine College Keisha Lucette, writer and former State Teacher of the Year Sandra Worsham and Deputy Lieutenant and BHS Senior SRO Gail Hollis.
Bill Masse graduated from Baldwin High School in 1964 and attended Georgia Military College to receive his associate degree upon graduating. He would later earn a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia College in 1970 and would go on to work at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for the next five years. In 1988, Massee was elected as sheriff of Baldwin County where he is now serving his ninth term.
Victor Young graduated from Baldwin High School in 1988. He has served the Baldwin County Fire Department for over 30 years and, in 2019, became the first Black fire chief of Baldwin County Fire Rescue. Young continues to be involved with Baldwin High School through his work as State of Georgia District Representative and a member of Communities in Schools.
Floyd L. Griffin graduated from Baldwin (Boddie) High School in 1962. He earned his bachelor’s in building construction from Tuskegee University before going on to serve in the Army Corp of Engineers during the Vietnam War. He distinguished himself as a helicopter pilot, instructor pilot and aviation platoon leader. In addition, Griffin became Georgia’s first Black senator and Milledgeville’s first Black mayor.
James Lunsford graduated from Baldwin (Boddie) High School in 1962. He became the first Black Head Coach at Baldwin High School to win a state championship. In addition to his coaching achievements, Lunsford has been an advocate for education and personal growth, receiving a 2019 Dedication to Youth Award from Flagg Baptist Church where he is a member. For his accomplishments, the school’s gymnasium was named in his honor.
Tasha Butts graduated in 2000. She was a consensus high school All-American and was awarded the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year award. Following high school, Tasha went on to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where she was a member of four regular season SEC Championship Teams, three Final Fours and two National Championship games her junior and senior seasons. In August of 2004, the City of Milledgeville awarded her the Key to the City and proclaimed it “Tasha Butts Day”, and in 2022, Butts became a national advocate for equal access to quality health care. Today, Butts is making her mark as the associate head coach/defensive coordinator for the Georgia Tech women’s basketball team.
Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan graduated in 1985, where she was known for her academic excellence and active involvement in various extracurricular activities. Parham-Copelan has succeeded in multiple careers, ministry, real estate, and in business. She obtained her License in Ministry of the Gospel at the New Hope Baptist Church in 2004 and went on to become the CEO, proprietor and lead pastor of Word of Life Interdenominational Bible, Outreach Ministries. Presently, she serves as the mayor and a licensed bus driver for the district.
Rick Millians graduated in 1970. While at BHS, Millians played football and worked as the sports editor for the school’s student newspaper, Smoke Signals.
After graduation, he attended Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, where he received his bachelor’s degree and would go-on to work as the executive sports editor for the Cincinnati Post for 23 years. After retiring, Millians returned to Milledgeville and currently contributes pieces to the Union Recorder.
Keisha Lucete graduated from Baldwin High School in 2002. During her senior year, Lucete led her teams to state in three different sports. After graduating, she received more achievements in sports at Paine College, where she excelled both on the volleyball court and basketball court. After graduating from college, Lucette returned to her alma mater as the head volleyball coach, assistant women’s basketball coach, and senior women’s administrator. Lucete was promoted to head women’s basketball coach in 2022.
Sandra Worsham graduated in 1965 and has worked as a teacher in the district for 27 years. Worsham was named District Teacher of the Year twice, Georgia Teacher of the Year, and was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the Governor’s Award in Humanities in 2001. Today, she continues her work as a teacher and as the leader/creator of Baldwin High School’s literary magazine, Rain Dance Review.
Lieutenant Gail Hollis graduated in 1981 and has served as Baldwin High School’s senior resource officer for 27 years. In addition, for 31 and a half years, Hollis has served on the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners. Hollis continues to work at the Milledgeville Police Department, where she rose from a 911 Operator to a deputy lieutenant.
Each of these alumni has served the community and BCSD exponentially, setting an example for many generations to come. The Baldwin County School District is proud to see alumni flourishing and giving back and is happy to honor each of these individuals during the remainder of the month.