On Mother’s Day, Tyler Junior College held a dedication ceremony for the new Elizabeth Sweet Peacock Marsh Garden, established by local benefactor Betsy Ellis in memory of her mother.
The event was attended by Mrs. Ellis, her friends and family, and members of TJC and TJC Foundation governing boards.
The English-style garden includes formal boxwood shrubs outlining beds of perennials, azaleas and columnar oak trees, as well as a fountain and multiple seating areas.
“We are grateful to Betsy Ellis for honoring her mother’s legacy with the new Elizabeth Sweet Peacock Marsh Garden,” TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia said. “This is a wonderful enhancement to our central campus, for our students, faculty and community visitors.”
TJC recently held a dedication ceremony for the new Elizabeth Sweet Peacock Marsh Garden, established by local benefactor Betsy Ellis in memory of her mother. The English-style garden includes formal boxwood shrubs outlining beds of perennials, azaleas and columnar oak trees, as well as a fountain and multiple seating areas.
The Marsh Garden joins privately funded TJC botanical garden sites inspired by a campus beautification master plan, including the Ina Brundrett Azalea Garden, the James and Virginia Gatewood Garden, the Billie and Bill Hartley Honor Plaza and the Elizabeth and Ben Sutton Cultural Arts Plaza. The plan was originally developed in the early 2000s and was generously underwritten through TJC contributors Virginia and James Gatewood.
Mitch Andrews, TJC vice president for institutional advancement, said, “We continue to benefit from generous contributors who invest in the beauty of TJC and believe that the College’s outdoor environment is a valuable resource for student engagement.”
About Elizabeth “Betty” Sweet Peacock Marsh
Long known as a “force of nature” and a woman ahead of her time, Elizabeth Sweet Peacock met her future husband, William H. Marsh II, while he was in flight training at Lambert Field in Saint Louis, Missouri, prior to World War II.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and applied marketing research skills through her own business, Southern Research Company, which contracted with top-ranking national research firms.
She was a firm believer that “the power of women in service to others is to be commended and enjoyed.”
As a resident of Tyler, she was a devoted member of the Tyler Service League, which later became the Junior League of Tyler. She was an advocate for less fortunate through her work with the Smith County Child Welfare Unit, the American Red Cross, the Tyler Mental Health Association, and many other nonprofits.
A strong supporter of the arts, she was a charter member of the Women’s Symphony League and a founding force behind the Tyler Museum of Art.
In 1983, she was recognized by Gov. Mark White with the “Texas Certificate of Appreciation” for exceptional and distinguished volunteer service.
One of her greatest loves was gardening, and she was a leader of Tyler’s Gertrude Windsor Garden Club; was awarded a Garden Club of America Medal of Merit; and served as chair of the Tyler Beautification Committee, which resulted the Governor’s Community Achievement Award.