Chattanooga Times Free Press
Alice Pressly
Atlanta — Alice McCallie Pressly, 95, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
She belonged to two families who have long been involved in the history of independent education in the South, the McCallies in Tennessee and the Presslys in South Carolina. She herself played a seminal role in the founding of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1951. She will be remembered by generations of Westminster graduates for her enthusiastic support and gracious hospitality, for her sparkling intelligence and wit, and for her commitment to the highest standards of excellence. Along with her husband, Dr. William L. Pressly, she played an important role in a chapter of the history of independent education in the South.
Born Aug. 23, 1914, Alice McCallie Pressly was the daughter of the late Spencer Jarnagan McCallie and Alice Fletcher McCallie of Chattanooga, part of a family that played a role in shaping Chattanooga from the early years of the nineteenth century. In 1905, her father, together with his brother, founded the McCallie School, which soon became a leading day-boarding school that set a standard for college preparatory education in the South. She took pride in the fact that her own brother and his son, her nephew, successively headed the school until the first years of the twenty-first century. After graduating from the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, founded by her great aunt, she earned her B.A. from Agnes Scott College, where she received the Hopkins Jewel awarded to the senior who best lives up to the College's ideals.
While teaching at the Girls Preparatory School, she married William Laurens Pressly, faculty member at the McCallie School and the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Presbyterian ministers who had been intimately involved with the creation and development of Erskine College in Due West, S.C. Their commitment to the Presbyterian faith and deep devotion to each other and their family led to 59 years of a marriage filled with love and mutual support until her husband's death in 2001.
In 1951, her husband left his position as co-headmaster of McCallie to become the founding President of the Westminster Schools, an independent, non-denominational preparatory school in Atlanta. In that first summer of putting together a school from the ground up, the two worked to raise money, recruit young people, and even drove buses and served food. Their energy and dedication led to the fulfillment of their vision to establish one of the premier schools of this nation. Her sense of humor, graciousness as a hostess, and her commitment to working with the children, families and faculty of Westminster made her indispensable to its success during these formative years. Her calm presence, kindness, and faith set a tone for the fledgling institution. In 1994, the Board of Trustees recognized her devotion by dedicating the plaza in front of Pressly Hall to her: "Alice McCallie Pressly Plaza: Dedicated in honor of her loving and selfless service to Westminster."
She also shared with her husband a passion for history. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century History Club and the Atlanta History Center. Her research into her own family's history led to her joining the Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The family wishes to thank the Westminster Schools for its extraordinary support of her since her husband's death. She thoroughly enjoyed such traditions as meeting the captains of the football team each fall and having the school chorus perform on her birthdays. She was as well a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, and the family extends special thanks to the Reverend George Wirth for his devotion to her over so many years and for the encouragement and support he gave her and her family.
She is survived by her two sons, both of whom are educators, and their families, Paul Moffatt Pressly (Jane), of Savannah and William Laurens Pressly (Nancy), of Washington, D.C.; a grandson, David (Megan), of Atlanta; and two great-grandchildren, William Laurens Pressly and Caitlin Elizabeth Pressly; a brother, David McCallie (Madden), of Chattanooga; sister, Ellen McCallie Cochrane, of Winchester, Va.; and sister-in-law, Queenie McCallie, of Chattanooga, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and related family.
A memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church, Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.
Family will receive friends following the srevice.
Remembrances may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools, Atlanta
Alice Pressly
Atlanta — Alice McCallie Pressly, 95, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
She belonged to two families who have long been involved in the history of independent education in the South, the McCallies in Tennessee and the Presslys in South Carolina. She herself played a seminal role in the founding of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1951. She will be remembered by generations of Westminster graduates for her enthusiastic support and gracious hospitality, for her sparkling intelligence and wit, and for her commitment to the highest standards of excellence. Along with her husband, Dr. William L. Pressly, she played an important role in a chapter of the history of independent education in the South.
Born Aug. 23, 1914, Alice McCallie Pressly was the daughter of the late Spencer Jarnagan McCallie and Alice Fletcher McCallie of Chattanooga, part of a family that played a role in shaping Chattanooga from the early years of the nineteenth century. In 1905, her father, together with his brother, founded the McCallie School, which soon became a leading day-boarding school that set a standard for college preparatory education in the South. She took pride in the fact that her own brother and his son, her nephew, successively headed the school until the first years of the twenty-first century. After graduating from the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, founded by her great aunt, she earned her B.A. from Agnes Scott College, where she received the Hopkins Jewel awarded to the senior who best lives up to the College's ideals.
While teaching at the Girls Preparatory School, she married William Laurens Pressly, faculty member at the McCallie School and the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Presbyterian ministers who had been intimately involved with the creation and development of Erskine College in Due West, S.C. Their commitment to the Presbyterian faith and deep devotion to each other and their family led to 59 years of a marriage filled with love and mutual support until her husband's death in 2001.
In 1951, her husband left his position as co-headmaster of McCallie to become the founding President of the Westminster Schools, an independent, non-denominational preparatory school in Atlanta. In that first summer of putting together a school from the ground up, the two worked to raise money, recruit young people, and even drove buses and served food. Their energy and dedication led to the fulfillment of their vision to establish one of the premier schools of this nation. Her sense of humor, graciousness as a hostess, and her commitment to working with the children, families and faculty of Westminster made her indispensable to its success during these formative years. Her calm presence, kindness, and faith set a tone for the fledgling institution. In 1994, the Board of Trustees recognized her devotion by dedicating the plaza in front of Pressly Hall to her: "Alice McCallie Pressly Plaza: Dedicated in honor of her loving and selfless service to Westminster."
She also shared with her husband a passion for history. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century History Club and the Atlanta History Center. Her research into her own family's history led to her joining the Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The family wishes to thank the Westminster Schools for its extraordinary support of her since her husband's death. She thoroughly enjoyed such traditions as meeting the captains of the football team each fall and having the school chorus perform on her birthdays. She was as well a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, and the family extends special thanks to the Reverend George Wirth for his devotion to her over so many years and for the encouragement and support he gave her and her family.
She is survived by her two sons, both of whom are educators, and their families, Paul Moffatt Pressly (Jane), of Savannah and William Laurens Pressly (Nancy), of Washington, D.C.; a grandson, David (Megan), of Atlanta; and two great-grandchildren, William Laurens Pressly and Caitlin Elizabeth Pressly; a brother, David McCallie (Madden), of Chattanooga; sister, Ellen McCallie Cochrane, of Winchester, Va.; and sister-in-law, Queenie McCallie, of Chattanooga, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and related family.
A memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church, Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.
Family will receive friends following the srevice.
Remembrances may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools, Atlanta
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Alice Pressly
Atlanta — Alice McCallie Pressly, 95, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
She belonged to two families who have long been involved in the history of independent education in the South, the McCallies in Tennessee and the Presslys in South Carolina. She herself played a seminal role in the founding of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1951. She will be remembered by generations of Westminster graduates for her enthusiastic support and gracious hospitality, for her sparkling intelligence and wit, and for her commitment to the highest standards of excellence. Along with her husband, Dr. William L. Pressly, she played an important role in a chapter of the history of independent education in the South.
Born Aug. 23, 1914, Alice McCallie Pressly was the daughter of the late Spencer Jarnagan McCallie and Alice Fletcher McCallie of Chattanooga, part of a family that played a role in shaping Chattanooga from the early years of the nineteenth century. In 1905, her father, together with his brother, founded the McCallie School, which soon became a leading day-boarding school that set a standard for college preparatory education in the South. She took pride in the fact that her own brother and his son, her nephew, successively headed the school until the first years of the twenty-first century. After graduating from the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, founded by her great aunt, she earned her B.A. from Agnes Scott College, where she received the Hopkins Jewel awarded to the senior who best lives up to the College's ideals.
While teaching at the Girls Preparatory School, she married William Laurens Pressly, faculty member at the McCallie School and the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Presbyterian ministers who had been intimately involved with the creation and development of Erskine College in Due West, S.C. Their commitment to the Presbyterian faith and deep devotion to each other and their family led to 59 years of a marriage filled with love and mutual support until her husband's death in 2001.
In 1951, her husband left his position as co-headmaster of McCallie to become the founding President of the Westminster Schools, an independent, non-denominational preparatory school in Atlanta. In that first summer of putting together a school from the ground up, the two worked to raise money, recruit young people, and even drove buses and served food. Their energy and dedication led to the fulfillment of their vision to establish one of the premier schools of this nation. Her sense of humor, graciousness as a hostess, and her commitment to working with the children, families and faculty of Westminster made her indispensable to its success during these formative years. Her calm presence, kindness, and faith set a tone for the fledgling institution. In 1994, the Board of Trustees recognized her devotion by dedicating the plaza in front of Pressly Hall to her: "Alice McCallie Pressly Plaza: Dedicated in honor of her loving and selfless service to Westminster."
She also shared with her husband a passion for history. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century History Club and the Atlanta History Center. Her research into her own family's history led to her joining the Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The family wishes to thank the Westminster Schools for its extraordinary support of her since her husband's death. She thoroughly enjoyed such traditions as meeting the captains of the football team each fall and having the school chorus perform on her birthdays. She was as well a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, and the family extends special thanks to the Reverend George Wirth for his devotion to her over so many years and for the encouragement and support he gave her and her family.
She is survived by her two sons, both of whom are educators, and their families, Paul Moffatt Pressly (Jane), of Savannah and William Laurens Pressly (Nancy), of Washington, D.C.; a grandson, David (Megan), of Atlanta; and two great-grandchildren, William Laurens Pressly and Caitlin Elizabeth Pressly; a brother, David McCallie (Madden), of Chattanooga; sister, Ellen McCallie Cochrane, of Winchester, Va.; and sister-in-law, Queenie McCallie, of Chattanooga, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and related family.
A memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church, Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.
Family will receive friends following the srevice.
Remembrances may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools, Atlanta
Alice Pressly
Atlanta — Alice McCallie Pressly, 95, passed away peacefully Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
She belonged to two families who have long been involved in the history of independent education in the South, the McCallies in Tennessee and the Presslys in South Carolina. She herself played a seminal role in the founding of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1951. She will be remembered by generations of Westminster graduates for her enthusiastic support and gracious hospitality, for her sparkling intelligence and wit, and for her commitment to the highest standards of excellence. Along with her husband, Dr. William L. Pressly, she played an important role in a chapter of the history of independent education in the South.
Born Aug. 23, 1914, Alice McCallie Pressly was the daughter of the late Spencer Jarnagan McCallie and Alice Fletcher McCallie of Chattanooga, part of a family that played a role in shaping Chattanooga from the early years of the nineteenth century. In 1905, her father, together with his brother, founded the McCallie School, which soon became a leading day-boarding school that set a standard for college preparatory education in the South. She took pride in the fact that her own brother and his son, her nephew, successively headed the school until the first years of the twenty-first century. After graduating from the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, founded by her great aunt, she earned her B.A. from Agnes Scott College, where she received the Hopkins Jewel awarded to the senior who best lives up to the College's ideals.
While teaching at the Girls Preparatory School, she married William Laurens Pressly, faculty member at the McCallie School and the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Presbyterian ministers who had been intimately involved with the creation and development of Erskine College in Due West, S.C. Their commitment to the Presbyterian faith and deep devotion to each other and their family led to 59 years of a marriage filled with love and mutual support until her husband's death in 2001.
In 1951, her husband left his position as co-headmaster of McCallie to become the founding President of the Westminster Schools, an independent, non-denominational preparatory school in Atlanta. In that first summer of putting together a school from the ground up, the two worked to raise money, recruit young people, and even drove buses and served food. Their energy and dedication led to the fulfillment of their vision to establish one of the premier schools of this nation. Her sense of humor, graciousness as a hostess, and her commitment to working with the children, families and faculty of Westminster made her indispensable to its success during these formative years. Her calm presence, kindness, and faith set a tone for the fledgling institution. In 1994, the Board of Trustees recognized her devotion by dedicating the plaza in front of Pressly Hall to her: "Alice McCallie Pressly Plaza: Dedicated in honor of her loving and selfless service to Westminster."
She also shared with her husband a passion for history. She was a member of the Nineteenth Century History Club and the Atlanta History Center. Her research into her own family's history led to her joining the Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The family wishes to thank the Westminster Schools for its extraordinary support of her since her husband's death. She thoroughly enjoyed such traditions as meeting the captains of the football team each fall and having the school chorus perform on her birthdays. She was as well a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, and the family extends special thanks to the Reverend George Wirth for his devotion to her over so many years and for the encouragement and support he gave her and her family.
She is survived by her two sons, both of whom are educators, and their families, Paul Moffatt Pressly (Jane), of Savannah and William Laurens Pressly (Nancy), of Washington, D.C.; a grandson, David (Megan), of Atlanta; and two great-grandchildren, William Laurens Pressly and Caitlin Elizabeth Pressly; a brother, David McCallie (Madden), of Chattanooga; sister, Ellen McCallie Cochrane, of Winchester, Va.; and sister-in-law, Queenie McCallie, of Chattanooga, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and related family.
A memorial service will be at First Presbyterian Church, Thursday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.
Family will receive friends following the srevice.
Remembrances may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and the Westminster Schools, Atlanta
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