Gillian, Girl Scout Brownie in Troop 2107, was inspired to become a Girl Scout because of her great-grandmother’s involvement and recently wrote to Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee about their shared involvement. In addition to Girl Scouts, Gillian also plays the violin, enjoys swimming, hip-hop dance, and playing with Legos.
Gillian’s great-grandmother, Sarah Cobb Wilder, was born in Carbon Hill, Alabama, in 1915. She was drawn to Girl Scouts because it empowered young women. Always active and a lover of nature, Sarah particularly loved camping and the survival skills she learned through scouting. In her troop, she was known for being the bugler and latrine digger. Sarah was a dedicated Girl Scout and earned the Golden Eaglet. She went on to graduate from Athens College in Alabama with a degree in physical education and a minor in math. During World War II, she attended Vanderbilt University, where she received a master’s degree in industrial engineering. After the war, she married, had a daughter, and moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she taught high school drafting and physical education before moving into school administration. Each year, as a testament to the impact Sarah had on her students, many of them (now in their 70’s) gather together to celebrate her birthday, and this year they had a star named after her. To celebrate the Girl Scout Centennial, Sarah donated her Eaglet to the Alabama Girl Scout archives.
When asked what advice she would give to young women today she said, “Get a good education, always be honest and fair, and trust in God to take care of you.”
Thank you, Sarah, for the legacy you have created through Girl Scouts, and thank you to Gillian for sharing their incredible story!