April 25, 2024
Shorter University President Don Dowless honors long time associational missionary, the late Bob Bagley, and his widow, Evelyn, by putting their names on a residence hall.
By Dawn Tolbert
ROME, Ga. — Shorter University has honored longtime Georgia Baptist associational missionary, the late Bob Bagley and his wife Evelyn, by naming a female residence hall in their honor.
A dedication ceremony was held on Thursday at the newly named Bob and Evelyn Bagley Hall.
The university’s Board of Trustees voted to name Bagley Hall in recognition of the Bagleys’ dedicated service to Shorter University and the kingdom of Christ.
A 1968 graduate of Shorter, Bagley served for 32 years as associational missionary for the North Georgia and Murray County Baptist Associations. He was a member of Shorter University’s Board of Trustees from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019, and was elected to serve another five-year term beginning January 1, 2021.
Bagley passed away on January 19, 2021. At the ceremony, Mrs. Bagley was accompanied by her daughters, Susan Bagley and Tricia Jennings, and other family members.
“Dr. and Mrs. Bob Bagley are wonderful examples of servants of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Shorter University President Don Dowless. “Bob served churches in Mississippi and Georgia before his time as an associational missionary, and he and Evelyn are much loved throughout our region. They have given generously of their time, energy, resources, and gifts in serving the Lord, and they are wonderful friends and supporters of Shorter University.”
During his remarks, Dowless shared a note sent by Shorter Trustee Dr. Danny Cochran of Holly Creek Baptist Church in Chatsworth, who is the Bagleys’ pastor. It read in part, “Paul instructed the Christians in Rome to give honor to whom honor is due. That is being done today as Bob and Evelyn Bagley are recognized for their contributions to Christian education. Only the Lord knows the full impact of their support.”
The dedication program also included junior accounting major Maia Lee, who serves as a resident assistant in Bagley Hall; Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, who brought greetings on behalf of Georgia Baptists; and Shorter Trustee Chairman Jerry Emerson, who led the prayer of dedication for Bagley Hall.
Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review annually include Shorter on their lists of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, associate’s, and master’s programs. Learn more at www.shorter.edu.
