By Denise Hartzell | On Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, the faculty and staff of one of Gwinnett County’s newest schools, Jordan Middle School, hosted the ceremony which officially dedicated the new facility. Jordan Middle School is named for longtime Lawrenceville mayor and public servant, H. Rhodes Jordan.
Hartzell
Dr. Melissa Walker, its principal, welcomed the assemblage of Jordan family and friends, members of the Gwinnett County Board of Education, Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks, and approximately 150 members of the Gwinnett community. Additional guests included Gwinnett veterans, who aided in constructing the display of Mr. Jordan’s military memorabilia.
The dedication program opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr. Jordan’s great grandchildren, Jacob and James Franklin and Elizabeth and Kathryn Carter. Jordan Middle’s school chorus, under the direction of Susan Huff, followed the pledge with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.
Student participation in the ceremony was evident throughout the afternoon. Musical contributions by the student orchestra ensemble welcomed guests, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Graders Brooklyn Knight, Kelvin Lakpor and Yndia Bell presented the School Creed, and student hosts greeted and served guests before the ceremony and during the reception which followed.
Jordan Middle School’s theme, “Leading a Community of Excellence,” was referenced repeatedly, from the dedication prayer by Rev. Paige Fulgham, to the remarks made by Superintendent Wilbanks and the tribute to Mr. Jordan by his son, Hill Jordan.
Rhodes Jordan
In his remarks about his father, Hill Jordan noted that while his dad would not have sought out the attention that accompanies such a public tribute, Rhodes Jordan’s life of public service makes the school’s theme even more relevant.
“A man of his community, who saw ‘Right’ as part of life, he worked to make his world a better place. In the process, he left all of us with a greater sense of who we are and what we can become.”
Reminiscences of Mr. Jordan from Superintendent Wilbanks and Rev. Fulgham, both of whom knew him personally, added to the characterization of the man whose lifelong dedication to Lawrenceville helped guide its growth.
On permanent display in the school’s foyer is a timeline of Mr. Jordan’s life, including a number of photographs and personal items highlighting his long law career in Lawrenceville, his military service and many civic contributions. His portrait, by artist Katherine Schubert, serves as the centerpiece of the display.
Mr. Jordan’s daughter, current Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson, remarked after the ceremony that, “When I first saw the timeline, I was filled with pride because the timeline captured the essence of Daddy’s life. When I saw the portrait, I was overcome with emotion as it appeared that Daddy could just talk to you…”
Johnson added that “I will always remember two moments about the dedication day. The first…. will be the honor felt by his two sisters in having the school named after their brother. The second …. will be my brother’s tribute.”
Jordan Middle School, newest member of Central Gwinnett Cluster Schools, is located east of the city at 8 Village Way in Lawrenceville.
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