Like Mother-Like Daughter: The Commencement Story of Edith J. Moody and Gari “GiGi” Forehand

Romanda Noble-Watson, SID

4/27/2021 2:33:00 PM

It was 26 years in the making, but it finally happened for Edith J. Moody: a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Yet what makes receiving the degree more special is the opportunity to walk across the stage alongside her daughter Gari (GiGi) Forehand, a thrower on the Claflin University women's track and field team.

Moody and GiGi both received their degrees on Saturday, Apr. 24 during the 2021 Claflin University Spring Commencement Convocation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Mother Nature's untimely weather, this day almost did not happen, but thanks to some strategic planning by University officials, the momentous event came to fruition.

Moody completed her Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in 1995 and was all set to continue to pursue her four-year degree before some life-changing turn of events altered her plans. In the meantime, GiGi began her matriculation at Newberry College but transferred to Claflin after two years, setting the stage for this rare turn of events.

For Moody, life kept getting in the way. After working and raising her children, she started back with online classes, one class at a time, but then here comes life again, this time in the form of colorectal cancer. At the time, GiGi was in middle school and her son was matriculating at the Citadel, so Moody decided to concentrate on beating cancer and now she is nine years cancer-free. Once she was no longer under the care of her doctor, she decided to try it again, but by this time, it was GiGi's turn to begin matriculating.

"Once I was released from my doctor's care, I was recommitted to finishing school but making sure that GiGi was taken care of with her college needs came first," said Moody. "Once that was settled, I asked GiGi if she would mind if I attended Claflin, since I always wanted to go to an HBCU, and her only question was 'are you going to be on campus?' After assuring her that I was attending online, I registered, and the rest is history."

Although concerned about her mom staying on campus, GiGi was excited about sharing the commencement stage with her mom.

"Not many individuals make it through the journey of completing their degree but to complete my degree alongside my mom is something words cannot explain," GiGi shared. "I never thought I would see this day and to say not only myself, but my mother as well are now college graduates; is a huge honor."

GiGi, who obtained her degree in Sports Management (Cum Laude), is well-known on campus for her leadership roles among her peers. In her senior year she was the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, the lead intern in the Department of Athletics and she also served as the Epistoleus (historian and reporter) of the Theta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Although the years were passing slowly, the dream of finishing remained on the mind of Moody. "My mom calls me her 'professional student' because it seems like I have been in school my entire life," Moody jokingly offers. "I felt that I was too close to not finish and since I have always told my children to finish what you start, it was only right that I do so as well."

Seeing her mother finish what she started, has GiGi beaming with pride. "Without a doubt, my mother has always been my biggest supporter," GiGi said. "Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, she still made a way to make sure she was there for every school and/or sporting event. Having cancer slowed her down from continuing her education, but it never once stopped her passion to finish. Now it is my turn to return the support and pride, as she achieves this accomplishment at this stage in her life."

With all the anticipated excitement, there was still some uncertainty over whether it would still come off as hoped,

"I did not think that we would be graduating together because I never really knew how much time I had left and what credits would carry over," said Moody. "But as it got closer to her [GiGi] graduating, I realized that I was graduating as well."

Not to upstage her daughter's day, Moody said "I asked if it was all right if I walked when Claflin decided to do in-person graduation, and she [GiGi] said yes. It is an honor and a privilege to graduate alongside one of my heartbeats."

So, what is next for the mother-daughter duo?

Moody has already been working in the Criminal Justice field for the past 16 years, first at Beaufort County Sheriff's Office (13 years) and now at the Bluffton Police Department where she has been employed for three years.

As for GiGi, she will enter the Claflin MBA program this Fall.

Print Friendly Version