TSUNAA Nashville Chapter honors multigenerational TSU legacy at Holiday Brunch

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University alumni, supporters, and community members gathered on campus Dec. 13 for the Gwendolyn H. Vincent Holiday Brunch and Awards Ceremony. Hosted by the Tennessee State University National Alumni Association Nashville Chapter, the annual fundraising event supports student scholarships and recognizes service to the university.

Vincent, the brunch’s namesake, is a retired long-term educator, activist, and TSU supporter.

Cassandra Griggs

This year’s brunch introduced a new family legacy recognition, honoring the descendants of Henry Douglas and Daisy Jeffries Beard for their multigenerational commitment to Tennessee State University. All nine of the couple’s children and six grandchildren attended TSU, collectively establishing one of the university’s most enduring family legacies.

“The Beard family’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of TSU,” said Director of Fundraising, Cassandra Griggs. “By giving back their time and resources, the family is honoring their parents and grandparents while ensuring future generations of students have access to opportunity.”

During the ceremony, the Beard family received a commemorative plaque recognizing the Henry Douglas and Daisy Jeffries Beard Family Endowed Scholarship, established within the TSU Foundation. The endowment supports undergraduate and graduate students from West Tennessee.

Many members of the Beard family earned degrees in engineering and a range of other academic fields. Frederick Beard, a 1986 graduate with a mechanical engineering degree, retired from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2018 after a career in nuclear safety project management and crane rigging engineering. Jeffrey Beard earned an electrical engineering degree from TSU and was a certified electrician and U.S. Navy veteran officer.

Debbi Howard, Director of Alumni Relations, accepts an award in recognition of her contributions. L-r are Tina Fox, VP of the TSUNAA Nashville Chapter; Howard; and Dwight Beard, President of the TSUNAA Nashville Chapter. (Photo by Josiah Jones)

Other family members include Erik Beard, a computer science graduate who worked with organizations such as NASA and Boeing Hanford, and Patrice Beard-Grant, who holds a psychology degree and is a certified clinical trauma professional.

Dwight Beard, a member of the Beard family, serves as president of the TSUNAA Nashville Chapter and has played a key role in alumni engagement and scholarship support initiatives.

“He sets the standard for giving back through both leadership and action,” Griggs said. “From serving on the TSU Foundation Board to leading the Nashville chapter and mentoring students, his commitment reflects the values passed down through his family.”

Senior Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts, Gloria Sanders, said the scholarship reflects the family’s belief in education as a pathway to long-term success.

“This endowed scholarship provides meaningful financial support to students from West Tennessee who aspire to attend Tennessee State University,” Sanders said. “The Beard family views this endowment as a cornerstone of long-term educational and financial sustainability.”

In addition to the family recognition, the annual brunch honored alumni, faculty, staff, and community members who received Outstanding Support awards for their continued commitment to TSU. Proceeds from the ticketed event benefit the TSUNAA Nashville Chapter Scholarship Program.

To learn more about establishing a family legacy through giving, visit the TSU Estate Planning website at www.tennesseestateuniversityestateplanning.org/ or the TSU Foundation at www.tnstate.edu/foundation/.

Featured Photo: The descendants of Henry Douglas and Daisy Jeffries Beard of West Tennessee were recognized at this year’s Gwendolyn H. Vincent Holiday Brunch and Awards ceremony, for their multigenerational commitment to Tennessee State University. (Photo by Josiah Jones)