Lee C. and Martha Tootle Cain Science Education Scholarship

Established in 2005, this scholarship honors the works of Drs. Lee and Martha Cain. Dr. Lee Cain was born in Coffee County, Alabama in 1925 and graduated from Elba High School in 1943. After graduation, he attended the Merchant Marine Academy and attended Medic Corpsman-Purser’s School in New York. During World War II, he worked for Lykes Line in New Orleans transporting oil for the United States. Following V-J Day, he continued to transport materials to the Philippines and helped fellow troops return home to the United States. Following the war, Dr. Lee Cain attended Troy State University and received his undergraduate degree from Samford University. Following graduated, he taught public school in Opp, Alabama. During the Korean War, he earned his master’s degree at Peabody and he volunteered into the Air Force. Following his service, he taught in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and earned his Doctor of Education at the University of Alabama. In 1962, Dr. Lee Cain arrived at Georgia Southern College where he served as a professor and supervised fellow faculty. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1987. Dr. Lee Cain was heavily involved with Statesboro Baptist Church where he taught adult Sunday School classes, participated on the Administrative Board, served as Lay Leader, served on the Missions Commission, and served as delegate to the Annual Conference. Among his community involvement, he also attended the Historical Societies of the South Georgia Conference, the Southeastern Jurisdiction, and the World Methodist Conferences. Dr. Lee Cain passed in 2005. Dr. Martha Cain was born in 1928 in Reidsville, Georgia and went on to graduate from Georgia Teacher’s College with a bachelors degree in Science Education. Dr. Martha Cain later attended the University of Colorado and earned her MA in Biochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. Later, she earned her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Connecticut. She then returned to Statesboro to serve as professor at Georgia Southern. She was an active member of Statesboro First United Methodist Church and often welcomed Slovakian tourists into her home to welcome them into America and the Methodist faith. Dr. Martha Cain served on the Tattnall County Heritage Book Committee and was named Biology Alumnus of the Year (1981) and Alumna of the Year for the College of Education (2013). She passed in 2016. This scholarship is available to students planning on teaching secondary science education. It is renewable.