Gwyned Bius
Smoke Rise Member since 1984
About halfway between Albany and Moultrie sits the small town of Doerun, Ga. It is said that small towns produce big hearts and that is just what you find in Gwyned Bius. The first thing you notice about Gwyned is her warm smile and southern hospitality. When growing up in a small town, there is little to do except play basketball and go to church, she recalls. Her parents were active members at the local church and her family was there “every time the doors were open.” Perhaps it was here that Gwyned developed her strong sense of character and passion for showing loving kindness to her neighbor.
In 1969, Gwyned was invited to play on the University of Georgia’s first female basketball team. It wasn’t easy. Funding was tight and the girls had to buy their own uniforms, but they persevered and established a strong foundation for the colligate teams that followed. After graduating from UGA, Gwyned took a job at Chamblee High School as a physical education instructor and girls basketball coach. One of her star athletes was a young woman named Deedy Taylor, who went on to play for the Lady Dogs in Athens. “It was a full circle moment,” Gwyned recollected, “meeting Andy Landers (head women’s basketball coach at UGA) and sharing a common link with Deedy.”
Basketball is not her only passion. Gwyned is also an NCAA nationally ranked judge for women’s gymnastics. She started coaching early in her teaching career and before long she was judging at the state and local levels. For over 30 years, Gwyned has been evaluating and encouraging young gymnasts, crossing paths with phenoms like Bridget Sloan and Maggie Nichols.
However, it is Gwyned’s charm and easy manner more than her rich athletic history that makes one feel most at home when visiting. From rooster motifs that adorn her home to her enchanting garden, there is a sense of peace. She adorers her cats, Alli and Archie, she loves to read and is an avid Braves fan; but her neighbors and family are her greatest joy. Gwyned lives on a street where the neighbors not only know each other, but care for each other. They often host barbecues in the cul-de-sac and gather for monthly book clubs. The highlight of her year comes at Christmas when Gwyned opens her home for friends to drop in and share holiday greetings. The Apostle Paul wrote, “encourage one another and build each other up” (1Thes 5:11). To visit with Gwyned, one quickly learns that encouraging others and offering a helping hand is the essence of her character.
– Mitzi Ethridge-Cantrell, Pastoral Care Associate