Boothe Scholarship
CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUNG LIVES
The Boothe Family Scholarship will support
students who are the first in their families
to enroll in college. It was initiated by
Darvin Boothe, a 1967 graduate from North Florida
Junior College, and his wife Christine Boothe, to
encourage and assist young people to take the first
step toward a brighter future.
The scholarship is established in memoriam
of Darvin’s parents Alvin and Lois Boothe, of
Greenville, Florida. Both were born and raised
in south Alabama and were second generation
sharecroppers. Alvin and Lois had limited
opportunities to attend school; Alvin completed
the sixth grade, and Lois the second grade. Alvin
was drafted into the US Army Infantry during
World War II and served on the front lines of the
Italian Campaign for eighteen months. Upon
his honorable discharge in 1946 he married Lois,
ceased sharecropping, and migrated to Greenville,
Florida. There he established the W.A. Boothe
Fish & Grocery Store. The original store was lost
in a fire, but he rebuilt and continued operations
in Greenville for
48 years. The store
is still in business
with different
owners.
The Boothe’s
eldest son, Darvin,
became the first
in the family to
graduate from
high school
(Greenville High
School, class of
Darvin Boothe
1965). He received
a scholarship from North Florida Junior College
where he earned an Associate of Arts degree.
Darvin subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in education from Florida State University,
then a Master of Science degree in educational
administration and supervision from Rollins
College in Winter Park, Florida. He enjoyed a
45-year career in education in Seminole County,
20 NORTH FLORIDA COLLEGE