The Bradley-Darby Legacy

From Student to Supporter

The Botanic Garden’s story intertwines beautifully with that of Clifford “Mr. Cliff” Bradley, whose determination to pursue education at Georgia Southern exemplifies the transformative power of learning that continues to inspire the Garden’s educational mission today. This remarkable legacy spans three generations and continues to change students’ lives through the Bradley-Darby family’s ongoing commitment to education.

Walking Thirteen Miles for Education

In 1915, sixteen-year-old Clifford “Mr. Cliff” Bradley faced a seemingly impossible challenge. In 1915, sixteen-year-old Clifford “Mr. Cliff” Bradley faced a seemingly impossible challenge. Orphaned at age nine and with no money for tuition, he was nevertheless determined to attend the First District Agricultural School (now Georgia Southern University). His solution was remarkable: he walked thirteen miles from Leefield to campus to ask President F.N. Rowan for work in exchange for education.

“I told Mr. Rowan I didn’t have much education and I didn’t have much money. I need some work; I want to go to school,” Bradley later recalled.

Subsequently, through persistence and hard work—carrying coal, sweeping classrooms, and managing pantry inventory—Bradley earned his way through school during 1915-1916. After graduation, furthermore, he remained deeply connected to his community, establishing Bradley and Cone Seed and Feed Company and becoming a familiar figure in downtown Statesboro, where he could be found each weekday morning reading the newspaper in front of his store.

A Legacy Takes Root

Naturally, Mr. Cliff’s dedication to education and agriculture profoundly influenced his daughter, Sara Alice Bradley Darby, who became an accomplished gardener and inherited her father’s belief that growth extends beyond plants to include developing human potential.

Today, through the vision of Mr. F. Leonard Darby, Trustee of the Sara Alice Bradley Darby Charitable Trust, this family’s century-long commitment to education continues through the A.C. Bradley and Wildred Donaldson Bradley Scholarship and the Sara Alice Bradley Darby Internship.

Transforming Lives Today

Each year, these programs transform student lives just as education transformed young Cliff Bradley’s future. Previous scholarship recipient Michaella Valkenaar captures this life-changing impact:

“As a student worker I have learned more here than in any of my university classes… Before I came to the botanic garden, I did not believe I was capable of doing anything worthwhile… My time at the garden is more than a career steppingstone.”

From a young man walking thirteen miles for the chance to learn to today’s students conducting botanical research and developing horticultural expertise, the Bradley-Darby legacy demonstrates how education, persistence, and community support create lasting positive change across generations.

The Darby family’s generosity ensures that the Garden’s educational mission continues to transform lives, proving that the best investments grow not just plants, but people.

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Inspired by the Bradley-Darby legacy? Create your own lasting impact and help cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards. Learn more about educational programs at the Botanic Garden.

Last updated: 6/6/2025