Miss Hannah lighting the council fire.
Some 90 plus years ago, Dr. Joseph R. Sevier dreamed of creating a very special girls’ camp. As minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Sevier developed a passion for the the needs and potential of youth. He started a summer camp program in Augusta and as that program developed he decided to do a remarkable thing… start a summer camp for girls. At the time, there were many boy camps but very few camps for girls. For years, he explored the Blue Ridge Mountains until the perfect setting was found on the shores of Lake Summit in North Carolina. During the height of the “roaring twenties” he established the perfect camp for girls, planning every detail even down to planting the trees that now tower over the grounds.
Dr. and Mrs. Sevier began the tradition and spirit of Greystone that grew to such renown that Life Magazine produced a feature story on the camp in 1941.
Libby and Jim Miller with their children at Camp Greystone.
In 1945, Dr. Sevier passed away, and his daughter, Virginia, became director and continued the quality Christian tradition with the loving support of her husband Joe Hanna (a South Carolina businessman). She carefully guided Greystone through the ’50’s and ’60s and in 1968, Virginia passed the Greystone mantle on to her own daughter, Libby Hanna Miller. Libby and Jim brought Greystone into the 21st century with extensive renovations and program modifications, adapting camp to the changing needs and interests of girls today.
Today, Greystone is run by Jim (Jimboy) Miller, 4th generation of Dr. Sevier’s family, and his wife Margaret. Jimboy’s sister Katie is the Director of the Junior Camp and his mother, Libby, still lives at camp and is very active in camp life (Jim passed away in January 2010). Libby loves teaching Bible classes and enjoying mealtime with the campers.
The current directors, Jimboy and Margaret Miller with their children.
Jimboy, who has a Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Seminary and bachelors degree from UNC has perfected everything associated with camp operations: from Cook to Program Director, and now lives and thrives in his role as director. His wife Dr. Margaret, a Pediatrician, is the camp’s Health Director and full time mother.
Katie directs the Junior Camp session. A graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and lifetime Greystone camper and counselor, Katie is thrilled to introduce so many new campers to the Greystone experience. Katie lives in Chattanooga TN with her husband Greg and five children.
Jimboy, Margaret, and Katie are committed to keeping Greystone on the cutting edge of summer camps while preserving the traditions that set it apart.
A word from parents to parents