More than seven years after her passing, the generosity of former Hodge's Creek resident and United States Navy veteran Alfrieda Mae “Gale” Johnston continues to make a difference. The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has received a bequest of $35,916.39 from Johnston's estate, a gift that will support educational opportunities for future generations of Virgin Islands students.

Born on 21 June 1922, Johnston passed away on 17 November 2018 at the age of 96. During the Second World War, she served in the United States Navy as a photographer and recruiter, earning an Honourable Discharge in November 1945. Her military service was recognised with the World War II Victory Medal and the American Area Campaign Medal.

Before her passing, Johnston named HLSCC as a beneficiary of an investment account held with LPL Financial. Following the completion of the estate settlement process and the necessary legal and administrative requirements, five holdings were sold and proceeds totalling $35,916.39 were transferred to the College in May 2026. The funds have since been entrusted to the HLSCC Foundation.

“This gift is a powerful reminder that a legacy of service can continue long after a person's lifetime,” said Dr Richard Georges, President of HLSCC. “We are deeply grateful to Ms. Johnston for remembering H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in her will. Hers is a remarkable act of generosity from someone who had no direct family connection to our institution, yet chose to invest in the future of our students and our Territory. Through this gift, her commitment to service lives on, and we will honour that generosity by creating opportunities for generations of learners to come.”