43rd annual Pearl Stephens Memorial Scholarship Program continues to help local students

During the event, scholarships will be awarded to students currently enrolled at a university, community college or technical school. Students applied online through the scholarship’s website, and applications were accepted from Jan. 2 to Feb. 10. 

Pearl Stephens’ grandson and Vice Chairman of the foundation, Jerome Stephens, said a student will receive the scholarship as long as they are in school.

“We support you with whatever you want to do with it, as far as college, like buying books or whatever you’ve got to do with it. It’s your money; spend it pretty much like you want to. But we desire for you to spend it for your college education,” Jerome Stephens said.

Jerome Stephens and his cousin Maggie Cole, who is also the Chairman and CEO of the foundation, started the Pearl Stephens Memorial Service in 1981, a year after Pearl Stephens passed away at the age of 92. Jerome Stephens and Cole later established the Pearl Stephens Scholarship Foundation as a non-profit organization in 1988 in honor of Pearl Stephens. 

Jerome Stephens said Pearl Stephens established a school at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church when there were no schools for Black children in Warner Robins. Jerome Stephens said at the time, they could only receive an education at churches, attending either Macedonia, Oak Ridge, Sandy Run, Smithfield, or Springfield.

“They were learning in her house as well as the churches, but we will be celebrating that as well as giving scholarships out in her name,” said Jerome Stephens.

According to a video provided by Jerome Stephens, in 1949, Pearl Stephens went to the school board for permission to construct a new school building due to issues with the building at the time. Pearl offered to provide 1.57 acres of her land in exchange for a county-supported school, including a school building, desks, books, two teachers, and a principal.

In 2014, Pearl Stephens Elementary School moved to a new location, now at 420 Pearl Stephens Way. The school can now serve up to 750 children.

Jerome Stephens said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they last hosted the program four years ago but decided to celebrate in person this year. 

Jerome Stephens hopes the foundation and Pearl Stephen’s legacy will continue helping students in the community.

“The main thing is to for them to get an education and then come back to the community or any community and serve and be a catalyst for a productive system,” said Jerome Stephens. 

Jerome Stephens also encourages anyone to donate to the foundation at the event. People can send a check to P.O. Box 2394, Warner Robins, GA 31095. They can also contribute to their PayPal: paypal.me/PearlStephensFund or cash app: $PearlStephensFund. 

Students can apply for the next scholarship at https://pearlstephensscholarship.weebly.com/.