Two former MCSD leaders who served Columbus for nearly 80 years die
Two former Muscogee County School District leaders died last week.
Karl Roberts, who worked 37 years for MCSD and retired in 2005 as adult education director, died Aug. 12, according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. He was 71.
Betty Jean “B.J.” Thomas-McBride, who worked 41 years for MCSD and retired in 2012 as director of guidance services, social work and safe and drug-free schools, died Aug. 15, according to Progressive Funeral Home. She also was 71.
McBride died from COVID-19, according to her brother-in-law, Marlon Allen, who posted the news Sunday on Facebook.
The cause of Roberts’ death wasn’t announced, but Striffler-Hamby’s obituary said he died peacefully while surrounded by family.
Guy Sims, who was MCSD superintendent from 1997-2002, described McBride and Roberts as encouraging and positive people.
“Both of them made a tremendous contribution to the school district,” he told the Ledger-Enquirer in a phone interview Monday.
McBride was Shaw High School’s guidance director when Sims promoted her to the central office.
“I remember how good she was working with students,” he said. “Her whole focus was helping them become what they were capable of being.”
Although she was responsible for directing the guidance counselors, McBride continued to keep the students in mind, Sims said.
“She did not, like some people do, let the paperwork get in the way,” he said. ‘… She worked with the counselors in the schools to make sure that was not happening.”
Columbus Technical College now runs the local adult education program, but the constructive impact Roberts made remains a vital legacy to the community, Sims said.
“So many adults never were able to finish school, yet they could go back on their own time in that program, and he made that possible for them,” Sims said. “He made a connection with them. He wasn’t someone who just sat in his office.”
Roberts also worked as a volunteer for other educational initiatives in Columbus, such as preschool readiness and adult literacy, Sims said.
Sims marveled about the combined 78 years of service McBride and Roberts gave MCSD.
“They had deep roots here in Columbus,” he said. “Both could have left and gone anywhere, but they chose to be very active and supportive in this community.”
A private service will be conducted for Roberts, followed by a celebration of his life for family and friends at a later date.
The celebration of life for McBride will be open to the public, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m., with a graveside service at Green Acres Cemetery, 1485 Schatulga Road. The service will be live-streamed by Progressive Funeral Home.
The visitation at Progressive, 4235 St Marys Road, will be Aug. 21, with family time 2-4 p.m. Friends and family may participate in a drive-through visit with the family Aug. 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the parking lot of Nazareth Baptist Church, 526 Radcliff Ave.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 3:55 PM.
