George Fawcett was born in Savannah on March 25, 1926, the son of Alexander Robert Fawcett and Georgia Foster Fawcett. Martha Katherine Norman was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 1, 1929, the daughter of Newton Jones Norman, Jr., and Katherine Austin Norman. George and Martha married on June 26, 1946, and they had three children: Alexander Robert, George, Jr., and McDonald Austin.

George graduated from Georgia Tech in 1946 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Tech he served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946, during World War II, in the V-12 College Program. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. Martha attended Armstrong Junior College, Palm Beach Junior College, and Florida Atlantic University.

Mr. Fawcett began his career with Savannah Foods & Industries in March 1947 as an engineer at the Savannah Sugar Refinery. He worked in laboratory, engineering, maintenance, packaging and process operations. In the 1950s, he improved the automated sugar boiler and was a member of the team that developed the first integrated automatic sugar refinery system.

In 1964, Mr. Fawcett was named resident manager of the company’s Everglades Sugar Refinery in Clewiston, Florida. He returned to the Savannah Sugar Refinery in August 1970 as Assistant Plant Manager. In 1973, he became General Superintendent for both the Savannah and Everglades operations and in 1975 was named vice president of operations. In 1980, he joined Savannah Foods’ Board of Directors and was promoted to senior vice president and director of plan operations in 1987. He held that title until his retirement in 1991.

Mrs. Fawcett worked as a real estate agent with Esther Wynn Realty and David Byck Realty. She was active in the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, serving as associate state registrar for fifteen years. She has also been a member of the Trustees Garden Club and served as regional president of the American Hemerocallis Society. The Fawcetts are actively involved in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Savannah.

During his career, Mr. Fawcett was an active member of his profession, serving in a number of professional associations. He has also served on the boards of the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Davenport House and as Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Georgia.

The Fawcetts have been longtime members and supporters of the Georgia Historical Society, with Mr. Fawcett serving as chairman of the Society’s Endowment Trust and as ex-officio member of the GHS Board of Curators from 1996 to 2002.

The Fawcetts established the George and Martha N. Fawcett Fund at the Georgia Historical Society in 2001, ensuring that their commitment to Savannah and Georgia history will continue in perpetuity.