Georgia Humanities Mourns Loss of Board Member Pat Bush
Atlanta–Georgia Humanities is sad to announce the death of Pat Bush, our friend and board member. Pat passed away on July 13, 2023, at the age of 78.
Pat Bush was a dedicated champion of Georgia Humanities’ mission to connect people and communities statewide. She had served on the Georgia Humanities Board of Directors since 2017, and her contributions were instrumental in increasing access to quality humanities programming in rural areas.
A respected community leader, Pat Bush held a number of board and leadership positions with organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Cook County, the Cook County Reading Council, the Cook County Council for the Arts, and the Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce—nurturing several of these organizations from the ground up.
“Pat Bush was a true friend and colleague,” said Tom Daniel, chair of Georgia Humanities’ Board of Directors. “She worked tirelessly to advance the causes she cared about, especially those that impacted her state and community, and she did so with a smile on her face. We will miss her dearly.”
Laura McCarty, president of Georgia Humanities, added: “Pat Bush was an educator, business owner, and a passionate advocate for the future of rural Georgia.”
Prior to her service with Georgia Humanities, Pat was an elementary educator for more than thirty years. After retiring from teaching, she and her husband opened Adel Outfitters, a family-operated sporting goods store with several locations around Adel. She was also a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Adel, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.
Pat Bush is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, William, her four children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Adel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pat Bush Memorial Scholarship, Cook County Educational Foundation.
This year was set to conclude Pat Bush’s term on the Georgia Humanities Board of Directors. She had been looking forward to her final board meeting of 2023, which was scheduled to take place in her beloved hometown of Adel, or as she always called it, “Adel, baby!” She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
About Georgia Humanities
Georgia Humanities is a nonprofit organization that connects people and communities to inspire conversation, education, and understanding. With programming that engages all ages and backgrounds, Georgia Humanities encourages Georgians to explore what shapes us as individuals and binds us as a society. Funding for Georgia Humanities is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Georgia General Assembly, and various foundations, donors, and partners.
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