It's a Family Affair!
By Vicki (Slauson) Vincent - FF/S
On Thursday evening, Jan. 20, Atlanta-area alumni and friends will have the opportunity to gather for a very special event. The private Cofer Collection – Stable of Thoroughbreds will be open to the Darlington Community for viewing!
The Stable of Thoroughbreds, the collection of the late Gene Cofer (’48), is a living collection housing over 35 antique cars, one of which is the 1948 Tucker Model 49 Torpedo that was featured in the Atlanta High Museum of Art’s exhibit “The Allure of the Automobile.” Mr. Cofer, a life trustee, was a dedicated member of the Class of 1948 and served a number of years on Darlington’s Board of Trustees. His wife, Neta, has always enjoyed their special relationship to Darlington.
From an early age, Gene was an automobile enthusiast, and he was dedicated to Neta even as a student at Darlington. In the 1948 Jabberwokk, his Senior Prophecy was to be “president of Cofermobile Co.” The Senior Personalities page lists “his consuming passion: Neta; wishes he was: with Neta; guiding light: Neta!”
Two of Gene and Neta’s grandchildren, Jamey Wilson (’94) and Julie (Wilson) Lucas (’97) were both resident students here on campus, which continued the family legacy and deepened the Cofers’ relationship with Darlington. Their daughter, Jeanie, and her husband, Jim Wilson, were very active as resident parents during their children’s time by the Lakeside and have continued to support Darlington over the years. Julie (Wilson ’97) met her husband, former day student Sam Lucas (’97), while studying at Darlington, though the couple didn’t begin dating until well after college. Julie, who now works in Darlington’s Advancement Office, and Sam have a young future Tiger, their son Wilson Cofer Lucas, who will continue the family tradition and graduate 80 years after his great-grandfather in 2028!
Darlington has numerous legacy families like the Cofer’s with second-, third- and now even fourth-generation Darlington students. It truly is a family affair!
We would love to hear your Darlington story! And if you live in the Atlanta area, we hope you will be able to join us on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 6 to 8:00 p.m., in Tucker, Ga., at the Stable of Thoroughbreds as we celebrate all of our Atlanta alumni, families and friends! For more information regarding this event or to RSVP, please e-mail me.
