Smith-Carver family endows PRCC scholarship

POPLARVILLE – The Pearl River Community College Development Foundation recently accepted a $25,000 endowment from the Smith-Carver family of Poplarville.

The gift will open the Harold P. And Bertha S. Carver Endowment and fund the Smith-Carver Family Criminal Justice Scholarship. 

The donation was presented Sunday, Dec. 4, during a brief ceremony at Poplarville First United Methodist Church. Retired Picayune Police Chief Brenda Smith, niece of Pete and Bertha Carver, spoke for the family.

“I am more than aware of the challenges of educating men and women for law enforcement,” she said. “We need to educate our law enforcement officers. They need to be aware of the law. They need to be aware of what the profession is about. They need to understand the Constitution.”

PRCC alumnus Harold P. “Pete” Carver served 34 years in law enforcement, including 12 as Poplarville’s police chief. He and his son, Joel Carver of Atlanta, made the official presentation to Ernie Lovell, director of the PRCC Development Foundation.

“We’re so appreciative of this scholarship and endowment that will not only benefit a student this year but for years to come,” Lovell said. “There’s nothing more inspiring than to see someone invest in a young life.”

Criminal justice courses are included in PRCC’s curriculum leading to an associate in arts degree.

In addition to Pete Carver and Brenda Smith, other family members who were or are in law enforcement include B.F. Fore, Aaron Smith, Jim Carver, John Carver, Brenda Varnado and Lisa Odom.

Ernie Lovell, executive director of the Pearl River Community College Development Foundation, accepts the Harold P. and Bertha S. Carver Endowment and the Smith-Carver Family Criminal Justice Scholarship from Joel Carver and his father, retired Poplarville Police Chief Pete Carver.
Ernie Lovell, executive director of the Pearl River Community College Development Foundation, accepts the Harold P. and Bertha S. Carver Endowment and the Smith-Carver Family Criminal Justice Scholarship from Joel Carver and his father, retired Poplarville Police Chief Pete Carver.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.