Honoring Laura McCarty: A life of grace, leadership and dedication to Georgia’s cultural legacy

It was one of those phone calls we all dread. A call where time itself slows to such a bizarre pace. The lag allowed me to keep my composure and methodically measure each syllable being said to me in dire hopes that I would hear something else.  Alas, in those long seconds it was confirmed. One of the kindest souls to walk among us here in Georgia was gone.

Laura Thompson McCarty was a woman of extraordinary vision, dedication and grace. As the recently retired President of Georgia Humanities, her impact on our state’s cultural landscape was immeasurable.  Through her leadership, countless Georgia students, educators and communities were inspired, engaged and enriched by programs that celebrated our shared history and explored what it means to be human. Laura’s life and legacy reflect not just a career of achievement but a profound love for Georgia and our people.

At one time or another Laura’s work touched every program and function within the Georgia Humanities organization and network.  She was involved with publishing partnerships with UGA press and Mercer, she supported Georgia documentaries and was a key advocate for the New Georgia Encyclopedia — one of the most fun rabbit holes I could ever recommend to readers.

Laura also had a large impact nationally working with her peers from the other 49 states and jurisdictions, many of whom adored her. However, it was her work with National History Day that was particularly close to her heart. She poured her energy into this program for years helping students discover history’s relevance and giving them tools to understand the world — and themselves — more deeply.  For so many young people, National History Day became a launching pad for intellectual curiosity and academic success, thanks to Laura’s tireless advocacy and guidance.

Her commitment to service extended well beyond Georgia Humanities. As a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, Laura was elected to the board of directors where her leadership in such a large service organization reflected her deep belief in the power of community collaboration. She clearly understood that change begins locally, through relationships and shared purpose, and she lived that truth every day.

I had the privilege of witnessing Laura’s leadership firsthand at both Kiwanis and in her career.  As a board member of Georgia Humanities, I watched with great respect how she brought a combination of intellectual rigor, vast institutional knowledge and compassion to her work that is very rare in today’s world.  Now when I look at social media and see so many people memorialize her with comments like, “her mentorship has enriched my life exponentially” I realize how truly lucky I was to know her and to also be so enriched. 

Laura had a way of challenging me to think differently often by sending me a book that stretched my perspective. My coffee table is an ode to Laura McCarty with gorgeous and substantive books that always seemed to arrive with uncanny timing. My shelves are filled with her gifts covering a crazy range of subject matter from the courthouses of Georgia to tapestries and politics. One is titled “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli,” detailing the behind-the-scenes story of the making of “The Godfather.”  

 Her very last recommendation for me was a podcast titled Behind the Bastards.  It’s all about the complicated history of Eugene Talmadge, wherein the hosts summarize Dub Anderson’s book The Wild Man from Sugar Creek. I found this to be reflective of Laura’s constant willingness to grapple with the complexities of our past.

Here in our current era, Laura’s grace endured through challenging times. In the final years of her life, she faced great personal loss with quiet strength including the death of her beloved husband Phillip. Despite these hardships, she maintained her dignity and unwavering commitment to kindness.  Her ability to be humble and maintain patience in the face of adversity is a testament to her character and serves as inspiration to all who truly knew her.

Mixed in with her professional achievements, Laura was a woman of many passions. She loved history, culture and she reveled in meaningful conversations. She also had a lot of fun celebrating music and especially bands from Athens. Like most outstanding Georgians of our time she had a profound loyalty and enduring love for the Bulldogs. She was over the moon about our recent SEC championship and the future of our football program at our alma mater.

As we think about Laura’s legacy, I feel sure it will endure in the programs she championed, the lives she touched, and the countless ways she enriched Georgia’s cultural heritage. As we mourn her loss, we also celebrate her life — a life lived with purpose, benevolence and a deep commitment to the state she loved.

In honoring Laura, we celebrate not just her work but her spirit. She was a reminder of the power of leadership rooted in kindness and civility.  She proved the difference one person can make when they dedicate themselves fully to a cause.  Laura McCarty wasn’t just some character out of central casting. Her honesty and truthfulness were what gave central casting its character!

Georgia is better for Laura’s efforts, and those of us who knew her are better for having had her in our lives. May she rest in peace.