School district mourns death of trailblazing Athens educator
Released by the county school district:
It is with profound sadness that the Clarke County School District shares the passing of one of our most distinguished educators and trailblazers, Mrs. Bettye Henderson Holston, who passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026. Her life and legacy helped shape the history of public education in our community.
Mrs. Holston devoted more than two decades of service to the Clarke County School District and three decades of service to the teaching profession. A native of Social Circle, Georgia, Mrs. Holston developed a passion for teaching and education at an early age, inspired by her mother and aunt, both of whom taught Black children in rural communities.
After graduating from Fort Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, she taught for nine years in Walton, Barrow, and Newton public schools. In 1966, she moved to Athens with her husband, James Lewis Holston (1935-2017), who was also an educator and beloved coach. It was during this time, one of the most pivotal moments in our district’s history, that she became one of the first Black educators assigned to work in the formerly all white Alps Road Elementary. Mrs. Holston shared that the school superintendent at the time told her that he saw in her a strength and determination he knew would be needed for what lay ahead.
On the first day of school, she opened the front door of Alps Road with her head held high and was relegated to a gardener’s shed for use as her classroom. Despite the obstacles she faced, she did what she had been sent to do, becoming a beacon of hope and light for the children she taught. Mrs. Holston would later transfer to Chase Street Elementary, where she won Teacher of the Year in 1975, and she retired from a distinguished teaching career in Clarke County in 1989 at Timothy Road Elementary.
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions and courage, the district proudly renamed Alps Road Elementary to Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary School in 2023 - a lasting tribute to her life of courage and service. Her fearlessness, professionalism, and commitment to children of all races helped open doors for those who followed in her footsteps and forever changed the course of education in Athens.
Mrs. Holston was a past president of the Athens Area Retired Educators Association, was a local Girl Scout leader, and has been involved with and served on several community organizations and boards. She also held several leadership positions at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church since joining in 1963. In all of these roles, she remained dedicated to service and making a difference in the lives of others.
As we remember her legacy, we leave you with Mrs. Holston’s own words.
“Teachers are important because they change lives, inspire dreams, and they imbue students with the knowledge they will use throughout their lives. Teaching can be rewarding, and while I always wanted to do work which was rewarding, I found greater purpose in making history live for people who came after me, and in that way, being the change I wished to see in the world. A good teacher is like a candle – you light the way for others. I hope I have done just that.”
On behalf of the Clarke County School District, the Board of Education, and our entire school community, we extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Holston’s sons, Jonathan and Bernard, as well as to all who loved and admired her.
