Trammell scholarship established at Mercer University
Former Coweta County educator Menlia Trammell has established a scholarship at Mercer University in memory of her husband, Dr. Robert “Bob” Trammell.
Dr. Bob Trammell was a college professor and university administrator. In retirement, he moved back to his hometown of Luthersville where he served as mayor from 1999 until his death in 2016.
The Robert and Menlia Moss Trammell Endowed Scholarship will offer financial assistance to students majoring in English or communication studies and in good academic standing at Mercer. The university will determine the amount, term and recipients of the scholarship.
Mercer University, founded in 1833, is a private research university in Macon. Bob Trammell earned his bachelor of arts degree in English with honors from Mercer in 1960. He later received a master of arts degree from the University of Florida and an Ed.D from Auburn University.
Menlia Moss Trammell, originally from Marietta, earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications with honors from Mercer in 1967 and later obtained a masters of education in 1982 and an educational specialist degree in 1991, both from Mercer.
Bob Trammell began his teaching career at Truett-McConnell College where he met his future wife. He was on the faculty of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton before joining the English faculty at Macon College, now Middle Georgia State University, in 1969. During his time there, he became chair of humanities and academic dean before being appointed vice president for academic affairs, a position he held for 22 years.
Menlia Trammell has taught at almost every grade level in the Coweta, Telfair, Cobb, Crawford and Bibb county school systems. She was also a counselor during her time with the Coweta schools. In retirement, she has written and published seven books for children.
Mrs. Trammell said her son, Luthersville attorney Bob Trammell, encouraged her to consider establishing the scholarship. The two of them talked with Mrs. Trammell’s daughter, Dr. Carmen Skaggs, assistant vice provost for academic affairs and professor of English at Kennesaw State University. All three agreed the scholarship was an excellent idea.
“Education was very important to me and to Bob. I can’t think of anything that would make him happier,” Menlia Trammell said.
Mrs. Trammell reflected on the role of Mercer in her family’s lives. Carmen Skaggs followed her parents as a Mercer graduate.
Bob and Menlia Trammell both knew Dr. Helen Thornton during their time at Mercer. Thornton taught speech and was the faculty sponsor for debate, an activity at which Bob Trammell excelled.
She once suggested to Mrs. Trammell – then a single student – that she would do well to attract Bob Trammell’s attention. Thornton also helped Mrs. Trammell get her first teaching job in McRae.
While teaching McRae, Mrs. Trammell led a student choral group and escorted the first of several student groups on a tour of Europe. She had received the Georgia State Teachers Scholarship and had initially planned to teach just long enough to fulfill the scholarship requirements.
She loved teaching, however, and made it her career.
Setting up the scholarship has given Menlia Trammell and her children a great deal of satisfaction. They enjoyed working with Shawna Dooley, associate vice president for advancement at Mercer, who is a longtime friend of Carmen Skaggs.
The agreement setting up the scholarship was signed on July 11.
Dr. Penny L. Elkins, president of Mercer, wrote Mrs. Trammell on July 17, thanking her for her gift.
“Support like yours makes an immediate and lasting difference in the lives of our students,” Elkins wrote. “By reducing financial barriers, you are enabling them to devote more time and energy to their academic work, to the relationships and experiences that define the Mercer experience and to the important work of preparing for life after graduation.”
