On Friday afternoon, June 1, 1923, seven of the former graduates of the Toccoa Falls Institute, met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest, to organize an Alumni Association.

Mr. Forrest acted as chairman, Pro Tem, and called the meeting to order, stating the purpose for which we were gathered.

Those present were Rev. and Mrs. R. A. Forrest, Mr. John Brock, Mr. Kelly Barnes, Miss Alice Larson, Mr. William Warren, Miss Sue Ralls, Miss Bonnie Patton, and Miss Mary N. Spooner.

There was some discussion of the proposed Association, and then it was unanimously decided to organize it, with the following members:

1915
Miss Lillian Eustace
Mrs. Charles Hill (Esther Key)
Miss Mary N. Spooner
Miss Annie E. Thomas

1917
Mr. John Brock
Mrs. John Brock (Emma Kimmel)
Mr. John Turner
Miss Grace Weston

1918
Mr. John Tosh

1919
Miss Ora Frost
Mr. Frank Morey

1920
Miss Ollie M. Givens
Miss Alice Larson
Miss Sue Ralls
Miss Carrie Warner

1921
Mr. Cecil Hall
Mr. Arnold Thompson
Mr. J. Ivy Tucker
Mr. William Warren
Mr. William Watson

1922
Mr. Kelly Barnes
Miss Bonnie Patton
Mr. Hoyt Tucker
Mr. Stanley Webster

It was decided that the Officers of this Association should be a President, a first and second Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

The following were elected for these offices:

For President: Mr. Cecil Hall
For 1st Vice-Pres.:Mr. John Brock
For 2nd Vice-Pres.: Mr. William Warren
For Secretary: Miss Mary N. Spooner
For Treasurer: Miss Sue Ralls

An Executive Committee composed of the Officers of the Association and Miss Bonnie Patton and Miss Ora Frost was then elected for the purpose of attending to any business that might come up during the intervals between the yearly meetings.

It was decided to officially receive the members of the Class of 1923, on Wednesday night, June 6, after Class Day exercises, the Alumni Association to serve them a light supper at that time.

Those Who Lost Their Lives

For more information and photographs of the 1977 flood, please click here.

Dr. R.A. Forrest

During World War Two, more than five hundred former Toccoa Falls College students enlisted or were drafted into some branch of military service. As the end of the war came, so also came the problem of taking care of many of these boys. Most had married and now had families. Yet, their greatest desire was to return to the college and complete their education.

Dr. Forrest believed the need for living accommodations for married students provided just one more opportunity for the Lord to perform another miracle, and that is what happenedt. Fifteen comfortable and attractive cottages—each having five rooms—were built on the campus by the Federal Housing Authority. . . . The houses were supplied with beds, tables, chairs, cooking range, refrigerator, water heater, and much more.

Dr. Forrest later wrote, “Someone has said, ‘Expect great things from God; attempt great thing for God.’ This is what we are doing at Toccoa Falls College.” He went on to say, ‘This statement summarizes the attitude of those who are co-laborers at the college. Praise God—He never fails! He does exceeding abundantly above.’ To Him be glory!”

They were not lacking in wealth. It was a rich intellectual church. Paul appeals to them to follow the example of Jesus Christ, in this grace of giving (v. 9). John 3:16 says, “God so loved . . . that He gave. Paul asked the Corinthian Church for a “proof” of their love (v. 24). [It was a] manner of giving, which is pleasing to the Lord. “God loveth a cheerful giver” (v. 7-8).

(Taken from the class notes of Evelyn Forrest. These are the notes she used for her classes at TFC.)

Photo is a page from Evelyn Forrest’s book of class notes.

Richard and Evelyn Forrest in Florida

Richard and Evelyn Forrest

The Forrests in Texas

Richard and Evelyn Forrest outside their home

Evelyn and Richard Forrest

Evelyn and Richard Forrest (sometime in the 1920s)

Richard and Evelyn Forrest

Richard and Evelyn Forrest

Richard and Evelyn Forrest

Click here to learn more about the Forrest’s

Mrs. Forrest's Diary

Editor’s note: The diary that contained the Forrest’s trip to Africa in 1930 was recently discovered and we want to share it with you now. Dr. and Mrs. Forrest left Toccoa on February 3, 1930. The diary that you have been reading each week actually follows this one. During a recent search of the archives at Toccoa Falls College, the African diary was found in a folder tucked away in the back of a filing cabinet.

Over the next few months, you will be reading about the early part of their journey around the world. Then we’ll conclude with their trip to Canada and to the Christian and Missionary Council.

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Intro of Mrs. Forrest's First Diary

In the Spring of 1930, Evelyn and Richard Forrest embarked on a trip to the Holy Land and then on to Europe. The following is taken from her personal diary written while on this trip. Please check back each week for new entries as you step back in time and travel with Mrs. Forrest on her journey. Also, please note that some names of cities have changed with time due to political shifts in governments. She also moves from present tense to past tense and even uses some shorthand. We decided to leave the text “as is” with the hope that it would help the reader feel more a part of her story. More than likely, she was taking notes and writing while traveling.

One more thing . . . by this point in life, Richard was being called "Dad" by Mrs. Forrest, who had become known by some as Mother Forrest. Their family—the family of Toccoa Falls—was growing, and the Forrests cherished the idea of the students seeing them as being a part of their personal lives. Enjoy!

Click to view video of Dr. and Mrs. Forrest’s Trip to Palestine, part 1
Click to view video of Dr. and Mrs. Forrest’s Trip to Palestine, part 2
Click here to see a photo of the Forrests on Their First Missionary Tour to French West Africa and Palestine

To read a diary entry, click on a link below.