Remembering Laura McCarty
ATLANTA—It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of our friend and former president, Laura McCarty.
Laura was a humanities person through and through—passionate about poetry, music, and local history, deeply curious about people, and gifted with a remarkable ability to connect. She could befriend a new acquaintance in seconds flat and find a “humanities moment”—an opportunity to learn, grow, and better understand one another—in any situation.
Laura retired in 2024 after 30 years of service to Georgia Humanities, and her career touched nearly every aspect of our work. She began as a program assistant for grants, nurturing projects into award-winning initiatives, and contributed articles to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. As state coordinator of National History Day Georgia, Laura guided hundreds of students and teachers, staying in touch with many as their careers grew. Later, as executive vice president and eventually president in 2018, she led with kindness and compassion, championing projects that celebrated Georgia’s story and uplifting organizations across the state.
Laura’s love for the humanities and the people behind them left a lasting mark. As our board chair, Cameron Bean, put it: “Laura served Georgia Humanities for the better part of her life, and we are a better organization because of her.”
Our thoughts are with Laura’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We invite you to share your stories and memories of Laura as we reflect on her life and the impact she had on so many.