GREENEVILLE-Former Tusculum College colleagues, familymembers and friends gathered Saturday morning to pay tribute to the memory ofJean Hixon, a long-time staff member of the college, by dedicating a tree inher name on campus.

Hixon, who was a native of Parrottsville, served as astaff member in the college's academic program for working adults, now calledthe Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) program, from its inception in 1984until her death in 2007. She began working for the college as a divisionaccountant and was executive administrator and assistant registrar of theprogram at the time of her passing.

As a tribute to the impact that Hixon had in their livesboth professionally and personally, staff members of the GPS program inGreeneville coordinated an effort to plant the tree. The tree, an AutumnBrilliance Serviceberry, was placed in the flower garden outside from what wasHixon's office in Virginia Hall.

That impact was the focus of comments by those who spokein a brief ceremony to dedicate the tree. Jamie Hamer, assistant director ofenrollment and advising, Southeast, and coordinator of marketing for GPS,researched scriptures from the Bible to describe Hixon's wisdom and herunderstanding and compassion, including passages from Proverbs.  Whenasked how he and his fellow GPS staff members think of Hixon, Hamer said theirreply would be family.

Jeff Lokey, assistant professor management who workedwith Hixon in the adult program, spoke of her dedication and hard work that wasaccompanied by a concern and love for people. He recalled that when his son wassmall, his son would not leave his side when he brought him to work except togo visit Hixon. As the years went by, Lokey said that Hixon would ask oftenabout how his son was doing.

Lokey also recalled the period when the private companythat operated the program in its early days for the college was planning to endits relationship with Tusculum. He and Hixon were appointed to represent theirrespective parts of the staff in negotiations over compensation. As they headedto the negotiations, Lokey said he wondered how well the kind and gentle Hixonwould do as a negotiator. In the end, he recalled that she negotiated forbetter pay and benefits for her group than he did for his.

Dr. Donal Sexton, professor emeritus of history, saidthat Hixon always went out of her way to greet people, and she was the reasonthat he found it pleasant to stop by and see how things were going in the GPSprogram.

Mary Sheffield of Morristown, a 2007 graduate of the GPSprogram, said, "I am living my dream because of Jean Hixon."  Sheffieldread an acrostic poem she had written about Hixon and the impact she had in herlife.

When she began the process of returning to school afterbeginning her family, Sheffield said she discovered that credit from anAmerican history course she had previously taken was not transferring andcalled about it. She spoke to Hixon and found a person who was kind, wanted tohelp and listened to her describe her fears about returning to school.Sheffield kept in regular contact with Hixon and said the GPS staff member wasalways ready to listen and offer words of encouragement.

As the ceremony concluded, Hixon's sister andbrother-in-law, Ann and James Hall, untied a ribbon from the tree.