Speakers and Honorees

Baccalaureate Speaker

The Reverend Blair Tolbert ’06 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion: Church Leadership from LaGrange College and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University.

Since 2015, she has been an ordained elder within the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Tolbert’s previous ministry experience included Associate Minister at First United Methodist Church of Marietta; Pastor-in-Charge at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Carrollton, Georgia; Associate Pastor at Carrollton First United Methodist Church; Pastor at Bethel United Methodist Church in West Point, Georgia; and Pastor at Long Cane United Methodist Church in LaGrange, Georgia.

In addition, Rev. Tolbert served as Chaplain and Dean of the Chapel from 2015-2019 at Young Harris College and Director of Student Ministries from 2012-2014 at LaGrange College, where she is currently a member of the Leadership Council and supports an endowed scholarship named after her parents, Jerry and Vickie.

During her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Rev. Tolbert lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, Zach.

Commencement Speaker

Bishop Robin Dease is resident bishop of the Georgia Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, including the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences.

A native of New York, she received her bachelor’s degree at Clafin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in Stewardship at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. In addition, Bishop Dease taught courses as an adjunct professor and then chair of the religion and philosophy department at Clafin University.

She made history in 2023 as the first African American bishop to serve the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Previously, Bishop Dease served as pastor and district superintendent in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.

In 2024, she became bishop of the new Georgia Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church. A year later, she received the Silver Torch Award, a national recognition presented to recipients who have given faithful service to The United Methodist Church at the regional, national or international level.

At LaGrange College, Bishop Dease serves on the Board of Trustees.

Distinguished Service Alumni Award

Spencer King ’00 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from LaGrange College and has spent more than two decades since giving back to the college that shaped him.

At LaGrange College, King brings a steady and committed presence, serving as a current member of the Alumni Executive Council, past president of the Alumni Association, and an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees. As a student, he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the Student Government Association and Hilltoppers.

For twenty-five years, King has worked at the Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center in Atlanta, where he has built a career in Information Technology, rising to Senior Principal Team Leader in the Infrastructure and Network group. He exudes the same spirit of servant leadership at his work, championing a people-first culture, mentoring his team and delivering results with integrity.

King extends his service into the community of Smyrna, Georgia, where he and his wife, Meg, are raising their three children, Hattie, Philip and Sam. He volunteers as a little league baseball coach and serves as an Elder and children’s church teacher at Smyrna Presbyterian Church.

Waights G. Henry, Jr., Leadership Award

Makenzie Ruth Hornsby ’25 is graduating with a double major in Psychological Science and Sociology with a double minors in Servant Leadership and Religion & Philosophy.

She is the executive director of LaGrange College Miracle, a nonprofit organization that benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Previously, she served as the internal operations director, who was responsible for organizing the seven-hour Dance Marathon, one of the nonprofit’s largest fundraising events. In 2025, the student organization raised $31,887.41 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

As President of Campus Circles, Makenzie helped build relationships between individuals with exceptional needs and members of the campus community. She is also a Wilkinson Family Servant Scholar, a softball athlete, a Resident Assistant, vice president of Psi Chi Honors Society and a member of Phi Mu, SMILE LC and LC PRIDE.

Her service experience includes volunteering with Discovery Cottage, Miracle League and Our Daily Bread. Makenzie also joined forces with United Way of West Georgia for a book drive to stock the Little Free Libraries around LaGrange.

As an orientation leader, she helped manage teams and guided incoming first year students and their families.

After graduation, Makenzie will pursue a master’s degree in child life at Auburn University.

Doctor of Arts and Letters

H. Speer Burdette III, of LaGrange, Georgia, is a retired businessman whose visionary leadership helped put into motion initiatives for the advancement of education and the betterment of the community.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in math from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Alabama.

For 16 years, Burdette held the role of president at Fuller E. Callaway Foundation and Callaway Foundation, Inc. During his tenure, the Callaway Foundation was involved with projects that included Sweetland Amphitheatre, Wild Leap Brew Co., Del’avant Event Center, the AMC movie theater building, Courtyard by Marriott, downtown parking decks and Southbend Park.

After his retirement in 2018, he began Burdette Consulting LLC, where he serves as president.

With a background in accounting, he started out working as a senior auditor for Arthur Anderson & Co. in Atlanta from 1976-79 and then a partner at J.K. Boatwright & Co. in LaGrange from 1979-2002.

At LaGrange College, he was a consultant for the Board of Trustees from 1989-2000. He was named to the board in December 2000 and served on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Investment Subcommittee. He received the Honorary Alumni Award in 2012.

Burdette serves on the boards of the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority, Industrial Development Authority, LaGrange Personal Aid Association, Medical Park Foundation and Wellstar West Georgia Health.

Doctor of Humane Letters

The late Pastor James L. Harris, affectionately known as Brother Harris, was a devoted leader and teacher, firmly committed to education and to uplifting the next generation.

In his hometown of Manchester, Georgia, he pastored at A House of the Living God Church of Jesus Christ for 49 years, continuing to serve as a spiritual advisor until his passing in November 2024. Among his many achievements was the establishment of Christian Way Academy (1984–2014), a private school that instilled the values of integrity, perseverance and excellence.

Brother Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts from Paine College and a Master of Education from LaGrange College.

Beyond the pulpit, he was an educator for over 30 years in the public school systems of Meriwether, Harris, Talbot and Tift counties. He also shared his passion for teaching and mentorship as a professor at LaGrange College and an academic counselor for the Morehouse College Upward Bound program.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Carolyn J. Harris, their eight adult children—Naomi (Carey), Antipas, Norman (Alicia), Miriam, Alexander (Emily), Alonzo, David (Deborah) and Mia—and nine grandchildren.