The Deans have honored their connection to Centenary throughout their lives as loyal donors who funded scholarships, endowments, and grants across campus.

Centenary College has been the catalyst for many relationships over the past three centuries. James F. Dean ‘41 and Georgia Till Dean ‘42 are one of many couples who found love on campus. The Deans married in 1942, and their lives became, according to Georgia’s 2019 obituary, “a whirlwind of adventure” which carried them to Venezuela, Argentina, England, Europe, Connecticut, and Florida. The Deans honored their connection to Centenary throughout their lives as loyal donors who funded scholarships, endowments, and grants across campus. An estate gift from Georgia is sustaining their support and love for Centenary in perpetuity.

No matter where the Deans traveled, Centenary was never far from their hearts and minds. In December 1981, James and Georgia flew to Shreveport from their home in Greenwich, Connecticut, for their first visit to campus in 40 years. James spoke on “The Changing Picture of Energy” on December 5th during that year’s Homecoming. "It’s good to be back again,” James stated during his speech. “I’m one graduate who enjoys a Homecoming with a Centenary alumna every day of his life. Georgia and I are both delighted to be here.”

In the Summer 1988 issue of Centenary Today, James reminisced about meeting Georgia. “Georgia and I met in the basement chemistry lab in old Jackson Hall in 1939, when she was a freshman and I was one of Dr. Entriken’s laboratory instructors. So, we have a substantial attachment to that old pile of bricks...” This attachment to Jackson Hall inspired the Deans to fund an endowment for classrooms in the building.
The Deans’ support for Centenary was constant through the years. In February 1991, they founded the James F. and Georgia T. Dean Endowed Scholarship to provide financial assistance to natural science students with outstanding leadership potential. Since the scholarship's inception, over 84 students have received awards totaling over $1,222,265. Georgia ensured that the James F. and Georgia T. Dean Endowed Scholarship will continue supporting Centenary students through the years with a planned gift in her estate.

James F. Dean passed away in March 2010, followed by Georgia in November 2019. They are survived by their three daughters and a grandson. Daughter Hope reflects, "Mom and Dad always spoke very highly of Centenary and would tell stories of their time there together. Meeting in Chem Lab has passed into family legend! They truly believed that an excellent education was so essential to having a productive and satisfying life, and they wanted to pass that gift onto future generations of Centenary students.”

The Deans’ legacy of philanthropy at Centenary College continues because of the planned estate gift that supports their endowed scholarship. Decades of future Ladies and Gents have received and will continue to receive a top tier Centenary liberal arts education and make an impact on our communities and the world because of the Deans’ love for Centenary College.

If you would like more information on how to establish a planned gift or endowed scholarship, please contact Vice President for Development Fred Landry at flandry@centenary.edu.