Speakers and Honorees

Baccalaureate Speaker

The Rev. Carl Von Epps Jr. graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Morehouse College. He also completed a program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and received his license of pastoral ministry from the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 2001, Rev. Epps received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from John Marshall Law School.

He is currently assigned to Warren Temple United Methodist Church as Senior Pastor.

In December 2014, he retired from the Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives, District 128, after serving 22 years. During that time, along with serving on various boards and committees, the Rev. Epps served as chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus from 2000-2004. He also authored the charter education curriculum for the state of Georgia.

The Rev. Epps has membership affiliations with numerous boards and organizations in Troup and Meriwether counties, is a life member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and is the founding president of the 100 Black Men of West Georgia.

Currently, he serves on the Economic Development Authority of LaGrange. The Rev. Epps also is the chartered organization representative, chief operating officer of the 100 Prevention Clubhouse Program and co-chair of Trust Building Inc. whose mission is to bridge the racial divide in Troup County.

Commencement Speaker

Dr. Zachary Taylor works as the District 2 director of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

In his current role, he oversees the programs of 13 counties in Northeast Georgia. Dr. Taylor served in the position on an interim basis from September to November in 2020. Prior to that, he was the health director for the North Georgia Health District in Dalton, Georgia.

Before retiring with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Taylor served for 30 years as an Officer in the United States Public Health Service, including clinical practice with the Indian Health Service from 1983 to 1987 and public health practice with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other Health and Human Services agencies from 1989 to 2015.

Dr. Taylor graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from LaGrange College in 1977, a Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in 1982 and a Master of Science degree in preventive medicine from the University of Maryland in 1989.

He has authored articles for peer-reviewed publications, books and government publications about tuberculosis, epidemiology and other health conditions.

 At LaGrange College, Dr. Taylor received the Shackelford Alumni Achievement Award in 2015.

 He and his wife, Joanie, reside in Gainesville, Georgia. 

Distinguished Service Alumni Award

Greg Wright graduated from LaGrange College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

He is the senior director of community and economic development for Coweta-Fayette EMC, a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 75,000 members in eight counties southwest of Atlanta. Wright also serves as Coweta County’s representative on the Coweta, Fayette, Meriwether Joint Development Authority.

Before taking on his current role, he was president of the Coweta County Development Authority, where he assisted new and existing companies on economic development projects that resulted in over 3,400 new jobs and more than $800 million in new investment in the community. Wright also held the title of president for the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce.

Early in his career, Wright worked as legislative director for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, state director for former United States Senator Saxby Chambliss and regional project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

At LaGrange College, he served on the Board of Trustees and as president of the Leadership Council. Wright received the Shackelford Alumni Achievement Award in 2006. In addition, he is a member of the Quadrangle Society and Pillars Circle.

Wright’s community involvement includes serving as past chairman of both the Georgia Economic Developers Association and Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. He has also held board member positions with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Foreign Trade-Zone, Southern Economic Development Council, Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority, and Three Rivers Regional Commission.

Waights G. Henry, Jr., Leadership Award

A Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Accountancy double major, Lindsey Camille Green ’24 served as president of Campus Circles, an organization focused on connecting individuals with exceptional needs to the campus community. In her role, Lindsey oversaw organizing events for participants and their families. She also served as president of the Panhellenic Executive Council.

As lead orientation leader, she responded to the issues or concerns from students and parents. In addition, she worked as an intern in the Business Office, a peer consultant at the Writing Center and a student ambassador for Admissions.

Lindsey, a two-sport athlete in softball and cross country, is a Wilkinson Family Servant Scholar and a member of Delta Mu Delta, the International Honor Society in Business. 

She has received several accolades, including the Hines Undergraduate Research Award and the Educational Foundation of Georgia Society of CPAs Academic Excellence Award in 2023 and the Zachary Taylor Jr. Outstanding Business Student award in 2024. Lindsey also presented at various conferences throughout her time at the college.

After graduation, she will pursue a Certified Public Accountant license while working as an accountant at Joanie Lowe LLC in Bremen, Georgia.

Doctor of Laws

The late Rev. Dr. Willie Edmondson was a dedicated public servant who faithfully served the city of LaGrange for over two decades, first as a councilmember and then as mayor.

Up until his passing in February 2024, he worked diligently on launching initiatives to improve public safety and bring businesses to LaGrange.

A native of Antioch, north of LaGrange, Dr. Edmondson graduated from Troup High School and West Georgia Technical College before he entered into the healthcare profession as a nurse at City County Hospital (now Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center). Following his healthcare career, he was called to serve as a pastor, a role he held at Bethlehem Baptist Church in West Point, Georgia, for 40 years.

Dr. Edmondson was also a business owner who acquired Lakes-Dunson-Robertson Funeral Home in 2002 after several years working there, caring for families in their time of bereavement.

He pursued studies at Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta and Jehovah Jireh Seminary in Alexander City, Alabama, where he earned a doctorate in World Missions and Apologetics.

Dr. Edmondson began serving as LaGrange’s District 2 councilmember in 1998 and was elected as the city’s first African American mayor in 2023. During his tenure, he helped bring important economic and community development projects to LaGrange. Some notable initiatives include The Thread, Great Wolf Lodge, the Downtown Corridor and the redevelopment of the Griggs Recreational Center.

 He is survived by his wife, Glenda, their four adult children, Tony, Kim, Jay and Mercades, and 11 grandchildren.

Doctor of Medicine

Dr. Jim Bruce, of Tiger, Georgia, is a retired orthopedist who dedicated his time and energy to caring for LaGrange College student-athletes and Troup County residents for over 30 years.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University and his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Dr. Bruce founded Orthopedic Clinic of West Georgia in LaGrange in 1982 and then, along with Dr. Daniel Guy and Dr. Robert Comerford, established the Southern Center for Orthopedics in 1995. He joined Emory Healthcare in 2011 and continued to practice orthopedic surgery and sports medicine in LaGrange until his retirement in 2017.

At LaGrange College, he serves on the Board of Trustees and held the role of president of the Leadership Council from 2003-2004. He received the Honorary Alumni Award in 2013.

Dr. Bruce is senior vice chair for the board of Local Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides education and healthcare in the Highlands of Guatemala. He also serves as chair of the organization’s Healthcare Excellence Committee and its Local Hope Forever endowment campaign. Dr. Bruce also volunteers with Faith in Practice, a medical mission to Antigua, Guatemala.

He and his wife, Debbie, have two children.