Letitia Pate Whitehead Evans (1870-1953)

Born In Thaxton, Bedford County, Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans played a major role In the early distribution of bottled Coca-Cola. She was one of the first women members of the board of directors of a major American corporation, serving on the board of The Coca-Cola Company for nearly 20 years. Becoming a very wealthy woman, she was remarkably generous in contributing to worthy causes, principally in Georgia and Virginia. She and foundations in her name have given substantial grants to many educational charitable, public, and religious institutions. She bought the nearby classically-inspired Malvern Hall in 1917 as a retreat and home of later years.