2026 Legacy NAFC Royal Court

A message from Lisa Baylor (FC '76):

My brothers, Brad and Todd, and I have lived in Greenville since 1968. Family was everything to my parents. They bought 10 acres so we could all stay close, and today Brad, Todd, and I still live on that land with our kids and a few nieces and nephews. Our kids and their friends named it the Sherrell Compound. We get around by golf cart, Sundays are at Todd's pool, and if you need a cup of sugar, somebody's always right down the road.

I had a ball at Floyd Central. I was on the very first volleyball team, the very first basketball team, and the very first pom squad, which was an actual class back then. I played in the Turkey Bowl in helmets and pads. I guess I just had to be in everything! My English teacher, Dr. Kevin Bailey, had us write letters to ourselves and then mailed them to us five years later. I'll never forget opening mine. She loved her students, and you could feel it.

Doug and I sent our kids, Clay and Abbie, to Floyd Central, and now my grandsons, Bristol and Brock, are coming up through the same schools. My mother ran Liz Sherrell's Preschool for years, and I worked there with her. So many kids came through her doors. That's what this community is to me. Everywhere you go, somebody knows you.

Our family also spent years at Highlander Youth Recreation (HYR), building the ballpark, running the concession stand and serving on the board. I wanted to make sure the girls got the same opportunities as the boys. I was on some of the very first girls' teams at Floyd Central, so I know what it means when someone makes room for you to play.

When I was asked to join the Royal Court, I didn't say yes right away. I can't raise money for something I don't believe in, so I did my homework. I talked to a teacher I know who received a $750 Great Classroom Grant. I learned about Blessings in a Backpack, which sends food home with kids who need it. And the mental health grants matter to me a lot. I worry about kids today with all the technology and pressure they're under, and I know how much life can pile onto a young person.

Giving back runs in our family. For 17 years, we've hosted a golf scramble for the Epilepsy Foundation in memory of my sister-in-law, Peggy. I always say it's my one day to give back to her.

If I could make sure every student had one thing, it would be the chance to enjoy their high school days the way I did. Please join me in supporting the NAFC Education Foundation. Every gift goes straight to our students and teachers, and I'd be so grateful for your help.