Elizabeth Corbett Turns Her Life’s Work into Her Legacy
For more than 15 years, Elizabeth Corbett taught English as a Second Language at Lenoir City High School. She didn’t just teach—she worked tirelessly to support Spanish-speaking students, ensuring they had what they needed to succeed inside and outside the classroom. That commitment became her legacy.
“Elizabeth loved teaching. Even more, she loved her students,” her husband David Goforth shared. “She was always finding ways to help: buying supplies or clothes or ‘loaning’ money she never expected back. Supporting students wasn’t something she did—it was who she was.”
Elizabeth hoped to accomplish more in her lifetime, but life does not always give us time. Even facing cancer, Elizabeth remained focused on the future, committed to building something lasting.
Because Elizabeth and David did not have children, she decided that a portion of their resources would provide opportunity for future students at the school she loved. Through the East Tennessee Foundation, that vision took shape in the form of an endowed fund—the Elizabeth Corbett Memorial Foundation: Enriqueciendo Mi Comunidad—structured to provide lasting support for Spanish-speaking students and their families.
In true Elizabeth fashion, she invited others into that vision. Recognizing she might not have another birthday, she gathered friends and family early—turning the occasion into the launch of her fund and an invitation to invest in the future of her students. Friends and family gathered to honor her life and the work she cared about most, helping establish the foundation for what would follow. Since then, with continued support from those who believed in her vision, the fund has grown beyond what she initially imagined.
“Through the East Tennessee Foundation, her vision found a home,” David said. “Their guidance helped turn her vision—and the generosity of friends and family—into a legacy that will support students for generations.”
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