Oseola McCarty and the University of South Mississippi have a permanent and special relationship which began when she was 8 years old. Their love ignores the years of segregation and bias University of South Mississippi was notorious for. Let us say their relationship is about forgiveness, love and the future. Our heroine came at the start of the twentieth century. And left at the end of the century she ushered in. Had to add that.https://usm.edu

We celebrate Oseola McCarty, because she gave up more than half of her life savings to the University of South Mississippi. The fund supports poor but promising students. She donated the funds years before she passed on, for the pleasure of seeing the benefits of her sacrifice. Unique right?

Awards:-

The school, University of South Mississippi, awarded McCarty an honourary degree in appreciation. The United Nations also gave her the Avicenna Award for her commitment to education.

The Sacrifice :-

At only eight years old, Oseola started working full time as a washer woman or should we say, “washer child”. Having grown up with her aunt and grandmother who were both washer-women, the job came naturally to her. Before then, Ola was an elementary school pupil. But when her beloved aunt became invalid, the little girl abandoned school to join the family business.

Now, here is the marvel. As tender as she was, she began saving by stuffing those pennies into her now famous doll, Buggy. And when Buggy got too full, this marvellous girl went to bank her money by herself. She went on to open savings accounts in other banks as her business expanded.

Oseola McCarty of the University of South Mississippi said she loved to work hard. According to her, “work is a blessing. As long as I’m living, I want to be working at something.” And she did just that, till arthritis arrested her six years before she departed the world.

So her mantra was hard work, savings and of course, God. Hear her, “I start each day on my knees saying the Lord’s Prayer and then I get busy about my work.” Here is more, “.. you have to accept God the best way you know how, and He’ll show Himself to you. And the more you serve Him, the more able you are to serve him.” (Really?)

Rewards:-

Finally, after working hard and living frugal for 79 years, amazing Oseola gave up more than half of those years for others. According to her, the fund is for those who desire university education but can not afford it. Sure as day, the student President of school was the first beneficiary and Ms McCarty was pleased.

In closing, we remember these words of hers, words which some of us may have heard before. “I think people who don’t like the way things are need to look at themselves first.”

“…. change their own ways…if everybody did that, we’d be alright.”

Who remembers something similar to Oseola’s words of wisdom? Please share in the comments section below. Encourage a sister or brother today.

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