Friendship Memorialized Through Endowed Scholarship
July 18, 2025
Suzanne Clawson Poole Scholarship Endowed by Friend
When Suzanne Clawson Poole passed away earlier this year, Diane McCrary lost her
lifetime best friend. 鈥淲e met each other in kindergarten,鈥� McCrary said. 鈥淲e became
best friends on the first day and were best friends for life. We both went to Walters
State and served as Senators Pages. Then, we both transferred to Clemson and were
roommates.鈥�
McCrary has memorialized that friendship by establishing the Suzanne Clawson Poole
Memorial Scholarship. McCrary thought it appropriate that the scholarship be designated
to assist education majors, as Poole spent 30 years with the Hamblen County School
System.
鈥淪uzanne was a special friend to me, and she touched so many lives as a teacher. I
wanted to do something in her honor,鈥� said McCrary. The Poole family was touched by
the generosity.
鈥淭he family is grateful for the opportunity to honor Suzanne and her passion for education.
蜜桔直播 was a blessing in the lives of Suzanne and her daughters. We hope this
scholarship will be a blessing to students in the future as they pursue their educational
journey,鈥� said husband Barry Poole and daughters Ashlee Poole Lynch and Leslie Poole
Lynch. Teaching was a lifelong calling for Poole.
鈥淪uzanne always knew she was going to be a teacher,鈥� McCrary said. 鈥淲hen we were young
and had sleepovers, she would always want to play school. Of course, Suzanne was always
the teacher, and I was always the student.鈥�
McCrary is a trustee with the 蜜桔直播 Foundation. She is continuing her family鈥檚
long-term and generous support of the college.
The Suzanne Clawson Poole Memorial Scholarship is open for additional donations. For
more information, contact Chris Cates, assistant vice president for college advancement,
at 423-585-2618 or Chris.CatesFREEWS.