MARGARET GRIZZELL LOVING
Margaret Grizzell Loving of Bristol, Tennessee, died in 1995 and established this trust with the Holston Foundation as a
permanent fund to support scholarships for deserving students in the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church. The
Foundation’s Grant Committee oversees the stewardship and distribution of funds from the Loving Trust. Scholarship funds
from the Loving Trust are divided annually between Emory & Henry College and Tennessee Wesleyan University for
deserving students based on qualifications, abilities, and financial need. The Foundation will make these awards each year
based upon the amount of funds available and the individuals selected as scholarship recipients. Priority should be given
to students affiliated with a United Methodist Church in the Holston Annual Conference. Mrs. Loving’s generosity and
concern for students has set a marvelous example of Christian philanthropy, which will benefit others in perpetuity. Students
selected to receive Loving Scholarships from the Holston Conference are encouraged to write a note of appreciation to the
Foundation’s Board of Directors.
VERNA BRADLEY MCLAIN SCHOLARSHIP
Verna McLain is an active member of Church Street United Methodist Church, Knoxville, Tennessee. She was the last of eight
children
born to her parents in Elizabethton, Tennessee. There she was active as a youth singing in the choir at First Methodist Church
and assisted the Director of Christian Education.
Verna knew she wanted to attend college. In an act of grace and generosity, a member of the Men’s Bible Class at the church
offered her a small scholarship with the condition that she attend a Holston Conference College. She attended Hiwassee College.
After Hiwassee, she received another scholarship to attend Emory & Henry College. She thrived there, as well, as editor of the
newspaper, assisted with the yearbook, and was active in many activities. After graduation she went to Brazil for three
years, where she taught school under the auspices of the Board of Global Ministries. When she returned home to the United
States, she earned her MSW in Social Work at the University of Tennessee.
When Verna's first husband died in 2000, she realized that due to hard work they had accumulated sufficient assets to allow her to
consider helping young people in need to achieve their live goals. The small Bible class in Elizabethton was there for her, and it is
her prayer that this fund will make a lasting impact by inspiring and assisting young people to attend Emory & Henry College.
• This scholarship will be awarded to students attending Emory & Henry College.
• Priority will be given to students affiliated with a United Methodist College within the bounds of Holston Conference.
The Holston Conference Grants Committee will make final selection and notify recipient. Scholarship will be mailed directly to
Financial Aid Department of the college by early September.
EDITH LEMING SKINROOD SCHOLARSHIP
Edith loved culture, art, poetry, and many of the finer things in life, but she never forgot her roots and upbringing in Tennessee.
She graduated from Hiwassee College in 1933. She taught school for a few years before taking a position as the assistant
to Program Director at the Knoxville YMCA. As World War II began, she worked with the YMCA’s USO and Red
Cross program providing social programs and activities for service men and women on leave near their bases. In her will she
created scholarships at Whittenburg College, West Point, and one in the Holston Foundation that will benefit:
United Methodist Church students from East Tennessee attending Emory & Henry College or Tennessee
Wesleyan University who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The student must be a legal
United States Citizen and
may receive subsequent support as long as they maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Edith continued like the Energizer bunny through an active lifestyle with family and friends before her own passing in 2007.
She was ‘til the end a lady! Although Edith never had children of her own, she is survived by numerous nieces, nephews,
cousins, stepchildren, and step grandchildren who she loved and who loved her. Nieces, Carolyn Chrisman and Karen Graves,
served as co-executors of her estate and helped to follow through on her final wishes to help young people receive an education
as part of her lasting legacy.