Cornelia Rankin Groves (April 23, 1926 – October 31, 2021) was an American preservationist. She was one of the founders of Savannah Country Day School, in 1955, and was awarded the highest honor of the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Davenport Award, in 2008, for her efforts in support of the Isaiah Davenport House.
Groves was a tireless supporter of the Isaiah Davenport House in Savannah's Columbia Square
Cornelia Susan Rankin was born on April 23, 1926, in Savannah, Georgia, to William Scott Rankin and Hannay Ellis.[1] Her father died when she was five years old; her mother lived until the age of 98.
Rankin married Robert Walker Groves. He died in 2000, aged 82. They had two children: Robert III and Susan.[2]
A lifelong resident of Savannah, she fought in support of the Historic Savannah Foundation to get funding to assist in the restoration of the Isaiah Davenport House in the city's Columbia Square. She was also a member of the Colonial Dames of Georgia, along with her sister, Ruth,[3] and the Trustees' Garden Club.[1]
During World War II, Groves "rolled bandages and ran the canteen."[4][5]
In 1955, Groves was one of the parents involved in the founding of the Savannah Country Day School, which originated from the Pape School.[4]
In the 1990s, when the Davenport House was in need of funding, Groves and Clare Ellis established an endowment. They regularly met at Groves' home to formulate fundraising ideas, and their goal was $1 million.[4]
Groves founded the Friends of the Davenport House in 2003.[4]
Historic Savannah Foundation awarded Groves their highest honor, the Davenport Award, in 2008.[4]
Groves was used as a source for Polly Cooper and Laura Lawton's book Savannah's Preservation Story (2016).[4]
Death and legacyedit
Groves died on October 31, 2021, aged 95. She is interred in Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery, alongside her husband.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Savannah Morning News Obituaries in Savannah, GA | Savannah Morning News". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
^Averitt, Jack Nelson (2009). Families of Southeastern Georgia. p. 13. ISBN9780806350998.
^ abcdefgSickler, Linda. "Cornelia Rankin Groves witnessed Savannah's preservation movement come to life and was dedicated to bringing it forward". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
^"Foltz Photography Studio (Savannah, Ga.), photographs, 1899-1960 - Print, Photographic | Georgia Historical Society - Library". georgiahistory.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
cornelia, groves, cornelia, rankin, groves, april, 1926, october, 2021, american, preservationist, founders, savannah, country, school, 1955, awarded, highest, honor, historic, savannah, foundation, davenport, award, 2008, efforts, support, isaiah, davenport, . Cornelia Rankin Groves April 23 1926 October 31 2021 was an American preservationist She was one of the founders of Savannah Country Day School in 1955 and was awarded the highest honor of the Historic Savannah Foundation the Davenport Award in 2008 for her efforts in support of the Isaiah Davenport House Cornelia GrovesGroves pictured around 2015BornCornelia Susan RankinApril 23 1926Savannah Georgia U S DiedOctober 31 2021 2021 10 31 aged 95 Savannah Georgia U S Resting placeBonaventure Cemetery Savannah Georgia U S OccupationPreservationistLife and career edit nbsp Groves was a tireless supporter of the Isaiah Davenport House in Savannah s Columbia SquareCornelia Susan Rankin was born on April 23 1926 in Savannah Georgia to William Scott Rankin and Hannay Ellis 1 Her father died when she was five years old her mother lived until the age of 98 She was a graduate of Savannah s Pape School and Randolph Macon Women s College in Lynchburg Virginia Rankin married Robert Walker Groves He died in 2000 aged 82 They had two children Robert III and Susan 2 A lifelong resident of Savannah she fought in support of the Historic Savannah Foundation to get funding to assist in the restoration of the Isaiah Davenport House in the city s Columbia Square She was also a member of the Colonial Dames of Georgia along with her sister Ruth 3 and the Trustees Garden Club 1 During World War II Groves rolled bandages and ran the canteen 4 5 In 1955 Groves was one of the parents involved in the founding of the Savannah Country Day School which originated from the Pape School 4 Groves and her husband were also involved in the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games event 4 6 In the 1990s when the Davenport House was in need of funding Groves and Clare Ellis established an endowment They regularly met at Groves home to formulate fundraising ideas and their goal was 1 million 4 Groves founded the Friends of the Davenport House in 2003 4 Historic Savannah Foundation awarded Groves their highest honor the Davenport Award in 2008 4 Groves was used as a source for Polly Cooper and Laura Lawton s book Savannah s Preservation Story 2016 4 Death and legacy editGroves died on October 31 2021 aged 95 She is interred in Savannah s Bonaventure Cemetery alongside her husband 1 References edit a b c Savannah Morning News Obituaries in Savannah GA Savannah Morning News savannahnow com Retrieved 2022 04 19 Averitt Jack Nelson 2009 Families of Southeastern Georgia p 13 ISBN 9780806350998 Ruth Rankin Owen Obituary 1927 2018 Savannah Morning News Legacy com Retrieved 2022 04 19 a b c d e f g Sickler Linda Cornelia Rankin Groves witnessed Savannah s preservation movement come to life and was dedicated to bringing it forward Savannah Morning News Retrieved 2022 04 19 Foltz Photography Studio Savannah Ga photographs 1899 1960 Print Photographic Georgia Historical Society Library georgiahistory pastperfectonline com Retrieved 2022 04 19 Endowment Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Retrieved 2022 04 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cornelia Groves amp oldid 1178233209, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
