Endowment Giving for Agricultural Education in South Carolina: Georgia LeRoy Seabrook’s Lasting Impact on the Governor’s School for Agriculture
- Abigail Cannon
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Her story reminds us: when you plant your legacy, others grow.
In the rolling hills of McCormick County, South Carolina, Georgia LeRoy Seabrook stands as a living example of what generosity and leadership can accomplish.
As Chair of the Board for the John de la Howe Foundation, Georgia embodies the heart of stewardship that sustains the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture.
Her story, rooted in family legacy, faith, and a deep love for the land, shows how one person’s “yes” can plant seeds that grow far beyond a lifetime.
A Heritage That Runs Deep
Georgia’s story begins in McCormick County, just four miles from the Governor’s School campus, where her family’s roots run deep. Her paternal great-grandparents first established the family farm with cattle, crops, and hard work that shaped generations to come.
Her grandfather later expanded those operations, laying the groundwork for what would become a thriving tree farm, one that has now been cared for by five generations of the Seabrook and LeRoy family line.
Her maternal grandmother, Floride Alice McClevie Hester, served as a cottage parent at the original John de la Howe School, offering warmth and stability to children who needed it most.
“I used to tell people I had about fifteen little first cousins,” Georgia laughs. “It wasn’t until later I learned they were orphans, but they felt like family.”
That small memory captures the enduring heart of John de la Howe: giving young people purpose, belonging, and education through their connection to the land that sustains us all. Like her ancestors, Georgia continues to plant with purpose, proving that when one generation tends the soil, others will flourish.
When a devastating fire once destroyed much of the original John de la Howe campus, the surrounding community, including Georgia’s family, took in the children, tended the gardens, and helped rebuild. That spirit of shared stewardship has never left McCormick County.
Georgia’s connection to the school doesn’t end there. On both sides of her family, generations have been intertwined with John de la Howe’s mission, from her maternal relatives who served and worked on campus to her mother’s family, who partnered with the institution through agriculture, forestry, and community leadership. Her great-uncle, Senator Lawrence Lamar Hester, was among the strongest advocates for the school when it faced potential closure, ensuring its legacy would endure. His daughter-in-law, Emily Hester of Lincolnton, continues to reflect that same commitment today.
For the LeRoy, Hester, and Seabrook families, John de la Howe isn’t just a neighbor, it’s part of their shared legacy, woven into the very soil of McCormick County.
A Legacy of Leadership
Georgia’s connection to the school came full circle more than a decade ago, when she attended a South Carolina Forestry Commission meeting where Dr. Tim Keown, President of the Governor’s School, shared his vision for agricultural education in the state.
Moved by that vision, Georgia toured the campus soon after, and what began as curiosity became a calling. Within months, she joined the John de la Howe Foundation Board. Today, as Board Chair, she helps ensure that donor gifts are stewarded wisely and that every dollar continues to strengthen the school’s mission.
“We came home to serve,” she says. “And we’ve been rewarded ten times over.”
Georgia’s leadership reaches far beyond the boardroom. She’s immersed herself in the life of the Foundation, offering time, wisdom, and steady support to strengthen every branch of its work. By staying engaged and believing deeply in the school’s mission, she’s helping ensure that what began in 1797 continues to flourish for generations.
Her story reminds us that every act of generosity plants something lasting. Whether through volunteering, giving, or spreading awareness, anyone can begin planting their own legacy.
After the storm, Georgia worked shoulder-to-shoulder with students and staff to restore the grounds she loves. Her willingness to serve physically, not just financially, reflects her conviction that true stewardship involves both hands and heart. Her leadership reminds us that growth often begins with simple, faithful work—planting, tending, and trusting the harvest to come.
Rooted in Stewardship: Planting Seeds for the Future
Georgia’s dedication to conservation is more than a belief, it’s a way of life. A lifelong resident of Troy, South Carolina, she was named District 4 Tree Farmer of the Year by the South Carolina Tree Farm Committee, continuing a legacy begun by her late father, John LeRoy, who earned the same honor in 2010.
Though trained as a gerontological nurse specialist with graduate and doctoral coursework, Georgia chose to invest her energy in family and forestry. “We were dedicated to family and forestry,” she writes. “It’s been challenging and rewarding.”
The Seabrook family’s fifth-generation tree farm, once a cattle and crop operation, has become a model of sustainable forestry, a reflection of Georgia’s belief that caring for the land means thinking beyond one lifetime. “Start with a prayer, seek wise counsel, and stay committed,” she says.
That same ethic shapes her philanthropy. Through her leadership and endowment giving for agricultural education in South Carolina, she supports scholarships and sustainability programs that prepare students for success in animal and plant systems, horticulture, ag mechanics, technology, and environmental resources.
“Giving is not just about making a donation,” she says. “It’s about making a difference.”
Her ongoing investment through the Foundation’s Endowment Fund ensures that this mission of growth and stewardship will continue far beyond her lifetime, just as past generations made it possible for her own family to serve.
How Endowment Giving for Agricultural Education in South Carolina Creates Lasting Impact
Endowment gifts are like seeds planted in good soil, they grow quietly, multiplying their impact year after year. These gifts ensure that the mission Dr. John de la Howe began in the 1790s, educating twelve boys and twelve girls, continues in perpetuity. They provide stability, allowing the Foundation to meet emerging needs while safeguarding its long-term goals.
“You can trust a school that’s honored a donor’s wishes since the 1700s,” Georgia says. “We’ve done that for Dr. de la Howe, and we’ll do it for you.”
To learn more about endowment giving for agricultural education in South Carolina, visit the John de la Howe Foundation Endowment Page.
The Power of Community
Georgia’s influence reaches far beyond her own giving. As Board Chair, she helps foster partnerships with local businesses, alumni, and community leaders, creating a strong network of advocates who believe in the power of endowment giving for agricultural education in South Carolina.
Her story invites others to take part. Whether through an annual gift, a planned gift, or volunteering time at an event, Georgia’s example shows that everyone has a role to play.
“When we come together as a community,” she says, “we can achieve incredible things.”
Learn how you can get involved: Ways to Give and Serve.
Join the Movement
As we celebrate Georgia LeRoy Seabrook’s extraordinary commitment, we invite you to follow her lead. You don’t need to chair a board or make a large donation to make a difference, you simply need to begin.
Every contribution, every introduction, and every shared story adds to the living legacy Georgia is helping to grow.
“The Endowment exists so that generosity like Georgia’s can take root and grow in perpetuity, sustaining scholarships, innovation, and opportunity for generations to come.”
Her story reminds us: when you plant your legacy, others grow.
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