Even after their passing, George and Barbara Brightwell continue to make a profound impact at Southwestern University and around the Georgetown community. Southwestern recently received a bequest gift from George and Barbara’s estate totaling just over $1 million.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Brightwells for their extraordinary generosity and lifelong dedication to our University,” Vice President for University Relations Marie Muhvic said. “Their remarkable estate commitment is not only a testament to their unwavering belief in our mission, but a legacy that will empower generations of students and scholars to come. Their impact will be felt forever, a true reflection of a life devoted to education, service, and lasting change.”

The Brightwells left an indelible mark on Southwestern after moving to Georgetown in 1977 to begin jobs at the University. Barbara served as the dean of student development and as an assistant professor of psychology until 1984 while George was the University registrar and an assistant professor of economics and business until his retirement in 1997.

After making Georgetown their home, George and Barbara became pillars in the community, dedicating their lives to service across Central Texas. Following her time at Southwestern, Barbara served as the Director of Community Relations at Georgetown Hospital, now St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, and helped establish the Georgetown Community Clinic, now Lone Star Circle of Care.

Throughout 40-plus years of sharing her expertise in education, counseling, and guidance, Barbara served on the board of directors for dozens of organizations, including the Georgetown Community Resource Center, Georgetown Health Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County, St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, and the St. David’s Community Health Foundation. She is a past recipient of “Citizen of the Year” awards from both the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Williamson County.

Upon retiring from Southwestern after 20 years of service, George dedicated his time to helping a variety of Georgetown-area non-profit organizations, joining the board of directors for the Getsemani Community Center, Georgetown Boys and Girls Club, LifeSteps Council on Alcohol and Drugs, Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK), and Wesleyan Homes. He also played a major role in founding the Georgetown YMCA.

Southwestern honored the Brightwells with the 2012 Martha Diaz Hurtado College Town Award, a recognition given to citizens, organizations, or businesses who go above and beyond to enhance Georgetown’s “college town” environment for students, faculty, and staff at Southwestern.

In 2017, the couple established the Barbara and George Brightwell Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Fund provides scholarships to students who meet Southwestern’s requirement for financial aid, with a preference to those with interest in or connection to African-American or Hispanic cultures, languages, or communities, through personal experience, coursework, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities, as well as first-generation students. Through their generosity, numerous students have been able to pursue a college education at Southwestern.

Beyond their scholarship fund at Southwestern, the Brightwell legacy lives on across Georgetown. The interfaith chapel at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital honors the couple, while the welcome plaza at ROCK and the roadway surrounding the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Center each bear the Brightwell name.

Shortly after their passing in 2023, the Central Texas Community Foundation posthumously honored the Brightwells with the Elizabeth Brenenstuhl Unsung Hero Award. The recognition celebrates those who display exceptional dedication to supporting local non-profits with their gifts and talents.

In addition to their generous bequest to Southwestern University, the Brightwells left estate gifts to the Chisholm Trail Community Foundation, Rice University, ROCK, Texas Methodist Foundation, and Wellspring Church.

Those interested in making an estate gift to Southwestern University can visit southwestern.planmylegacy.org or contact Director of Development for Planned Giving Nicole Bolinger via email at bolingern@southwestern.edu or by phone at 512.863.1485.