HLSCC Receives Bequest From Late Veteran
The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College has received a bequest of nearly $36,000 from the estate of late United States Navy veteran Alfrieda Mae Johnston. Johnston, a former resident of Hodge's Creek who passed away in 2018, designated the college as a beneficiary to support educational opportunities for local students. The funds will be managed by the HLSCC Foundation to advance ongoing academic and workforce development programmes.
Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has received a generous bequest of $35,916.39 from the estate of late British Virgin Islands resident and United States Navy veteran Alfrieda Mae "Gale" Johnston. The posthumous gift will directly support educational opportunities and academic initiatives for future generations of Virgin Islands students.
Johnston, who previously resided in Hodge's Creek, was born on June 21, 1922, and passed away on November 17, 2018, at the age of 96. During the Second World War, she served in the U.S. Navy as a photographer and recruiter before receiving an honourable discharge in November 1945.
For her military service, she was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the American Area Campaign Medal. Prior to her passing, Johnston designated HLSCC as a beneficiary of an investment account held with LPL Financial. Following the final settlement of her estate and the completion of legal and administrative requirements, five financial holdings were liquidated, yielding the total sum transferred to the institution.
The funds have since been entrusted to the HLSCC Foundation to oversee and allocate toward strategic college priorities. Richard Georges commended Johnston's dedication to service, highlighting that she had no direct family connection to the college but consciously chose to invest in the future of the Territory.
He noted that the contribution serves as a powerful reminder of how a legacy of service can endure long after a person's lifetime. The bequest comes at a pivotal period as HLSCC continues expanding its academic offerings, workforce training programmes, and community access across the British Virgin Islands.
College officials are also encouraging members of the public who remember Johnston and her connection to Hodge's Creek to share their recollections to honour her lasting impact on the Territory.
Primary source: 284 Media