THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508180002
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Take a moment, if you already haven't, to contemplate the marvel that is Oseola McCarty of Hattiesburg, Miss. Ms. McCarty, 87, a washerwoman for most of her life, recently bestowed $150,000 upon the University of Mississippi. Earnings from her gift will pay for scholarships for poor black students from southern Mississippi who attend the university.
Ms. McCarty's generosity inspires awe and humility. Her $150,000 is essentially her life's savings. Never married and childless, she has worked, worked, worked, lived simply and traveled not at all.
Her schooling stopped at sixth grade. Recognizing that she has not many more years on Earth, she determined to help black students from low-income families to get a college education. She says the $150,000 is far more money than she wants or will ever need.
Takes your breath away, doesn't it? Ms. McCarty's somewhat famous now. Press, radio and television descended on her modest home. One day she was Oseola McCarty, who had been supporting herself by washing and ironing for clothes for as long as anyone could remember. Then, suddenly, she was a center of attention because of the remarkable selflessness she had revealed by establishing the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Fund.
Many of the millions of people who have now heard about Ms. McCarty's gift just may be moved to pay tribute to her. And if their tributes were to take the form of a flood of contributions large and small to the Oseola McCarty Scholarship Fund at the University of Southern Mississippi, Ms. McCarty doubtless would as as gratified as she would be surprised. And what better way to honor Ms. McCarty's extraordinarily graceful act? by CNB