Celebrating the 2023 Legends, Leaders, and Life Well Lived Honorees

Bettye West Berksteiner: After teaching children for 33 years – of which 30 were in the Savannah Chatham Public Schools, Bettye West Berksteiner turned her attention to working in the community. Following retirement, she became more involved in the community by serving on the Savannah Park and Tree Commission, working with the King Tisdell Cottage and the Liberty City/Richfield/Southover Community Association, organizing voter registration drives, and volunteering in her church. She is a member of the Savannah Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Robert “Bob” Faircloth: Bob Faircloth is a retired international business executive who settled in Savannah with his late wife, Jean, 28 years ago. He was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, completed his college education in 1956, and embarked on a broad and successful management career that brought him to the United States and included 12 years of residence in Europe. He retired in 1995 as executive director of a major multinational engineering firm.  Mr. Faircloth has been a very active supporter of healthcare, education, and cultural arts endeavors in both the northeast and Savannah. He is active in supporting cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and an addition to the New London, NH hospital. In Savannah, he has provided meaningful financial support and leadership in organizations such as the Savannah Music Festival, Telfair Museum, Jazz Festival, and the Book Festival, as well as financial support for college students.

Wanda S. Lloyd: Wanda S. Lloyd is a retired journalist, having worked as an editor at seven daily newspapers, including The Washington Post and USA Today, and executive editor of the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama. She returned home to Savannah in 2013 to accept the position as associate professor/chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University. She is the author of the memoir "COMING FULL CIRCLE: From Jim Crow to Journalism” and is a member of the Savannah Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Savannah (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and the Savannah Yamacraw Branch of ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History). She has moderated several forums for the Coastal Georgia and the state League of Women Voters. Spelman College, her alma mater awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, and she has been inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.

Sponsors of the event included Sterling Seacrest Pritchard (Presented by Sponsor), Critz Autogroup, Queensborough National Bank & Trust Company, Mr. and Mrs. William Keightley, Kole Investment Group, Philip and Cathy Solomons (Life Well Lived Sponsors), Gulfstream, West Construction Company, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cortese, Cynthia Willett (Legend Sponsors), Aaron and Dayle Levy, Drs. Joe and Marilyn Buck, Collins Construction Services, Jackie and Stephen Rabinowitz, Georgia Power, Jacqueline and Ken Sirlin, Cynthia Heil (Leader Sponsors), and Savannah Morning News and Savannah Magazine (Media Sponsors).  

Nominate a Legend.

Know someone who embodies the spirit of a Life Well Lived award nominee? We’d love to hear about it. Nominations for the 2025 Legends, Leaders and Life Well Lived Award will open in January, 2025.