Jerry and Tolly Williamson Make IRA Gifts to Invest in Future Generations

Jerry Clift Williamson and Tolly Williamson

After reconnecting with Mercer later in life, Jerry Clift Williamson (NUR ’58, TIFT ’59) and Tolly Williamson (CLAS ’56) found meaningful ways to turn their lifelong passions into a lasting legacy.

Their connection to Mercer is both personal and profound. Jerry, a nurse educator and leader, graduated from Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and Tift College before both schools merged with Mercer. Tolly’s call to ministry led him to give up an Auburn football scholarship and transfer to Mercer.

Today their philanthropic giving reflects the journeys that defined them and shaped their careers. Through qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from their IRA, they consistently support Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Nursing while also making targeted gifts to meet immediate student needs—such as providing essential equipment for aspiring nurses.

For Jerry and Tolly, planned giving is both practical and purposeful. Giving from their required minimum distribution not only offers tax advantages but also ensures their philanthropy continues to invest in future generations. Though they may never see the full impact, they trust that their support will shape students’ lives and, in turn, the communities those students will serve.