Representatives of the Magnolia High School Alumni Association (MHSAA), the Thomas County-Thomasville Retired Teachers Association and Thomas University came together Tuesday, Feb. 28, on TU’s Magnolia Campus to rededicate a tree in honor of the late Gladys Chappelle, for whom Chappelle Elementary School was named. That school was located on what is now TU’s Magnolia Campus. 

Before the renovation of the Magnolia Campus, there had been a tree that was dedicated to Chappelle. The monument from that tree was housed in the Magnolia Conference Room inside the Student Life Center. Now it is in place beneath a newly-planted drake elm donated by NeSmith Nursery.