Top of page
Calendar28 Request Info
Home »  News »  News Archive

Davis Urges Students to Shed Fear at Baccalaureate

Posted by Rachael Wilbur
Susannah Davis (’93) was the speaker at the 2019 Baccalaureate Ceremony. Her speech revolved around Mark 5:36 and the story of Jesus’ teachings on ridding yourself from fear and trusting in faith.

Speaking before a crowded Chapel hall, President Schrum said, “The Baccalaureate is a chance to reflect together and in private on your years here at Emory & Henry. It is a chance to thank the divine presence that brought us all here together.” The ceremony began with prayer and hymnals from the E&H Chamber Choir and an introduction from Rev. Sharon Wright, College Chaplain, to the 2019 Baccalaureate speaker Susannah Davis, ’92. “Susannah was one of the leaders here on campus. She always had her arms open wide with an attitude of welcome to all!”

Susannah Davis grew up in Warrenton, Ga., and graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1992 and attended the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. After graduating from Candler, she was ordained in the United Methodist Church and served churches and agencies in the North Georgia Conference for the following 11 years before receiving a call to start a new church with the Church of Christ in 2006. She now serves on the E&H Alumni Board.

“This is the rhythm of life. Moving and shaking and dancing all to the tune of trying to figure this life out,” Susannah said of her time here at the College. “If we just try and move forward, everything is gonna work out! Until it doesn’t.” Davis talked during her speech about how many things in life are out of our control and how it can be hard to believe that everything is going to work out. The lesson revolved around Mark 5:36 in the Bible. “Do not fear, only believe. That is what Jesus told us. We can decide to be terrified or we can decide to believe that everything will be okay.”

“We are not alone, no matter where we’re going or where we have been,” Davis said in resolution. “You will feel out of control and you will be out of control, but you will not be alone.” Davis’ speech ended with an acoustic set of The Wood Song by the Indigo Girls, performed with current students Ashelyn Walters and Ron Miller and professor of Chemistry Jamie Ferguson. 

  • Rev. Susannah M. Davis, ’92, speaks during the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
    Rev. Susannah M. Davis, ’92, speaks during the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
We are not alone, no matter where we’re going or where we have been.
-Susannah Davis (’93)

Save & Share:

More News

  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national" title="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry College campus view pictured here was ranked as one of the best liberal arts co..." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2133" data-max-h="3200"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national" title="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings">Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Emory & Henry College ranks among the best liberal arts colleges in the United States, according to the annual list of rankings released this week by <em>U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges</em>. <a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/349-oquinn-challenges-college-to-conquer-new-frontiers" title="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers" aria-label="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/300,0,2438,2136/3620_Israel_OQuinn.rev.1521739891.jpg" alt="Israel O'Quinn speaks at Founders Day 2018" class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/300,0,2438,2136/3620_Israel_OQuinn.rev.1521739891.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/300,0,2438,2136/3620_Israel_OQuinn.rev.1521739891.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2136"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/349-oquinn-challenges-college-to-conquer-new-frontiers" title="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers" aria-label="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers">O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> In the 181 years of existence, Emory & Henry College has had many opportunities to conquer new frontiers, according to Virginia House Delegate Israel O’Quinn (’02), the keynote speaker during the annual Founders Day celebration.</p><a href="/live/news/349-oquinn-challenges-college-to-conquer-new-frontiers" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers" aria-label="O’Quinn Challenges College to Conquer New Frontiers">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/717-emory-henry-college-holds-mid-appalachian" title="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit" aria-label="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/921,0,3059,2136/6043_Mid-Appalachian_Higher_Ed_Summit.rev.1551899402.jpg" alt="From left to right: Moderator Dr. Michael Puglisi of Emory & Henry College, Dr. Dean Sprinkle..." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/921,0,3059,2136/6043_Mid-Appalachian_Higher_Ed_Summit.rev.1551899402.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/921,0,3059,2136/6043_Mid-Appalachian_Higher_Ed_Summit.rev.1551899402.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2136"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/717-emory-henry-college-holds-mid-appalachian" title="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit" aria-label="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit">Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">For the first time in the Mid-Appalachian region, leaders of nine higher education institutions gathered to look at the state of higher education, demographic and economic trends, and workforce and career development needs in the region. <a href="/live/news/717-emory-henry-college-holds-mid-appalachian" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit" aria-label="Emory & Henry College holds Mid-Appalachian Higher Ed Summit">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/668-emory-henry-announces-new-rn-to-bsn-program" title="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program" aria-label="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/1011,0,3148,2136/5941_RN-BSN-54.rev.1549910260.jpg" alt="Students at the School of Health Sciences campus in Marion, Va. Applications are now being accept..." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/1011,0,3148,2136/5941_RN-BSN-54.rev.1549910260.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/1011,0,3148,2136/5941_RN-BSN-54.rev.1549910260.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2136"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/668-emory-henry-announces-new-rn-to-bsn-program" title="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program" aria-label="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program">Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Due to an ever-demanding increased need for nurses in the region, Emory & Henry College has established its first-ever RN to BSN program and is now enrolling students to start classes this fall. <a href="/live/news/668-emory-henry-announces-new-rn-to-bsn-program" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program" aria-label="Emory & Henry Announces New RN to BSN Program">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/665-professor-michael-lane-releases-groundbreaking" title="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work" aria-label="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/409,0,1411,1003/5918_Michael_Lane.rev.1549029248.jpg" alt="Michael Lane works with students in the chemistry lab." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/409,0,1411,1003/5918_Michael_Lane.rev.1549029248.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/409,0,1411,1003/5918_Michael_Lane.rev.1549029248.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1505" data-max-h="1003"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/665-professor-michael-lane-releases-groundbreaking" title="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work" aria-label="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work">Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Professor of Chemistry, Michael Lane, has released a collaborative work on the strength of composite materials. <a href="/live/news/665-professor-michael-lane-releases-groundbreaking" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work" aria-label="Professor Michael Lane Releases Groundbreaking Work">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/724-getting-to-the-heart-of-climate-change-with-aaron" title="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth" aria-label="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,717,848/6064_Barth_Beartooths.rev.1552653416.jpg" alt="Aaron Barth" class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,717,848/6064_Barth_Beartooths.rev.1552653416.jpg 2x" data-max-w="717" data-max-h="848"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/724-getting-to-the-heart-of-climate-change-with-aaron" title="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth" aria-label="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth">Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Aaron Barth, now in his second semester as an assistant professor of geography, has aided in the study of geophysics and tracking the progress of climate change. He did this by researching and presenting his data on the last major ice sheet in North America, the Laurentide Ice Sheet, and how its ice surface thinned out over the last 20,000 years. <a href="/live/news/724-getting-to-the-heart-of-climate-change-with-aaron" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth" aria-label="Getting to the Heart of Climate Change with Aaron Barth">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/280-emory-henry-college-opens-interfaith-prayer" title="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3171_InterfaithPrayerRoom16_2.rev.1518211260.jpg" alt="Student Safa Farhoumand helps dedicate the Interfaith Prayer Room." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3171_InterfaithPrayerRoom16_2.rev.1518211260.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3171_InterfaithPrayerRoom16_2.rev.1518211260.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/280-emory-henry-college-opens-interfaith-prayer" title="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room">Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Equipped with chairs, tables, prayer rugs and religious texts, a room in the lower-level of Memorial Chapel on the Emory & Henry College campus is now available for students of all faiths to have a quiet place to pray and meditate.</p><a href="/live/news/280-emory-henry-college-opens-interfaith-prayer" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room" aria-label="Emory & Henry College Opens Interfaith Prayer Room">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/735-koch-uncovers-the-inequalities-of-food" title="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food" aria-label="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food"><img src="/live/image/gid/38/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,492,2136,2630/6049_Shelley_Koch-2.rev.1552061534.jpg" alt="Shelley Koch" class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/38/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,492,2136,2630/6049_Shelley_Koch-2.rev.1552061534.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/38/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,492,2136,2630/6049_Shelley_Koch-2.rev.1552061534.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2136" data-max-h="3200"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/735-koch-uncovers-the-inequalities-of-food" title="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food" aria-label="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food">Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Dr. Shelley Koch has released her third book, <em>Gender and Food: A Critical Look at the Food System</em>. The book looks at different aspects of food and how it is affected by gender inequalities. <a href="/live/news/735-koch-uncovers-the-inequalities-of-food" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food" aria-label="Koch Uncovers the Inequalities of Food">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/276-deadline-extended-until-march-1-for-swva-lift" title="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift" aria-label="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,800/2658_Lift-SWVA.jpg.rev.1518186593.jpg" alt="A map shows the counties, cities and towns covered by the SWVA Lift program." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,800/2658_Lift-SWVA.jpg.rev.1518186593.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,800/2658_Lift-SWVA.jpg.rev.1518186593.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1200" data-max-h="800"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/276-deadline-extended-until-march-1-for-swva-lift" title="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift" aria-label="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift">Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry College, exit 26 off I-81 in Emory, Va., has extended the deadline for its SWVA Lift initiative until March 1. The program helps make a top liberal arts education affordable for need-based students across Southwest Virginia at Emory & Henry.</p><a href="/live/news/276-deadline-extended-until-march-1-for-swva-lift" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift" aria-label="Deadline Extended Until March 1 for SWVA Lift">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/279-eamph-has-new-face-on-the-web" title="E&H Has New Face on the Web" aria-label="E&H Has New Face on the Web"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2112,1194/2659_Front_Page_-_New_Website.rev.1518189261.png" alt="Image of the front page of the new Emory & Henry College website." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2112,1194/2659_Front_Page_-_New_Website.rev.1518189261.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2112,1194/2659_Front_Page_-_New_Website.rev.1518189261.png 3x" data-max-w="2112" data-max-h="1194"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/279-eamph-has-new-face-on-the-web" title="E&H Has New Face on the Web" aria-label="E&H Has New Face on the Web">E&H Has New Face on the Web</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">Emory & Henry College launched a new college website on Feb. 14, 2018. The Valentine-themed launch party was held in the Board of Visitors Lounge, where President Schrum flipped the switch from the old to the new symbolizing the site going live, while dozens of students, staff and faculty looked on. <a href="/live/news/279-eamph-has-new-face-on-the-web" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="E&H Has New Face on the Web" aria-label="E&H Has New Face on the Web">Keep reading</a></div></div>
  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/313-eamphs-wehc-launches-spring-fund-drive" title="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive" aria-label="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive"><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3409_Sam-Mungai-February-2018-IMG003.rev.1519990134.jpg" alt="Student Sam Mungai hosts a weekly call-in music request radio show on WEHC 90.7FM." class="lw_image" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3409_Sam-Mungai-February-2018-IMG003.rev.1519990134.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/3409_Sam-Mungai-February-2018-IMG003.rev.1519990134.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133"/></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/313-eamphs-wehc-launches-spring-fund-drive" title="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive" aria-label="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive">E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary">WEHC 90.7, Emory & Henry College’s “College and Community Station,” has launched it spring fund drive. Between now and March 9 the station is planning to raise a good share of its annual fundraising goal. <a href="/live/news/313-eamphs-wehc-launches-spring-fund-drive" class="link-with-arrow gold" title="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive" aria-label="E&H’s WEHC Launches Spring Fund Drive">Keep reading</a></div></div>

Contact Us

  • Wiley Hall 
    Map of Wiley Hall
    Find a list of our staff and contact information here