Turning A Loss Into A Legacy
Before Alma Exley died of breast cancer in March 1995, she left her husband Woody a “honey-do” list of sorts. The 52-year-old former teacher worked in the Connecticut Department of Education to encourage more people of color to become teachers. She wanted a scholarship established to carry on her work.
Woody Exley turned to the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain for advice and support in making her wish a reality.
Two years later, the scholarship held its first award reception for the recipients. It has become an annual spring tradition. The reception provides an opportunity for friends and colleagues to gather and honor the new recipients – and for Alma’s husband to witness the positive impact of his wife’s legacy.
“What’s really special about it is that the previous recipients come back and honor the new Alma Exley scholar and update us on their careers,” says Exley.
“It’s like a family reunion,” confirms Desi Nesmith, a 2000 scholarship recipient. “No matter where you are, you make time for it because the program made time for you.” Nesmith has definitely felt the nurturing of Alma’s spirit. “It’s rare to find people as genuine as Woody and Alma,” he says. A fifth grade teacher at Franklin H. Mayberry School in East Hartford, Nesmith says the scholarship has meant much more than money. “I’m in touch with Woody all year.” Exley has even gone to East Hartford to watch Nesmith teach. “It’s really great to see him in action,” says Exley, like a proud grandfather.
“It really, really reaffirms what I’ve always wanted to do,” says Nesmith. “It gave me an extra push, knowing people believed enough in me to give me the scholarship.” “We never could have made the scholarship a reality without the Foundation,” says Exley, adding, “It has helped me in my grieving process because it was a way to keep Alma alive in a sense. Her spirit has been, and continues to be present in all our activities and deliberations.”
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