The Historic Preservation of Bessie Tift Chapel-Studio

The main project Donna Hatcher spent a majority of her time working on, for the past few years, up to just before her death, was the historic preservation of Bessie Tift Chapel that she intended to re-purpose as an art studio. The church was in disrepair when she purchased the circa 1893 structure, but with research, patience, blood, sweat and tears, and a lot of help from family members and friends, it began to take shape. View the documentation photos of the reconstruction below. The image of the steeple landing being placed onto the bell tower was one of the last things she and her father accomplished towards preserving the church. Hatcher left the church to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga.