Rest in Peace Marie Akers Middlebrooks

Marie Akers Middlebrooks, age 71, of Valley Grande, AL, passed away April 25, 2011.  Marie was a 1961 graduate of Mississippi State College for Women and had just attended Homecoming as a member of the "Golden Girl" class. Surviving are her husband, Eugene Middlebrooks; children, Michelle (Jerry) Barnett of Madison, AL , Claire (Tony) Roberts of Crittenden, KY and Elizabeth (Tad) Somes of Level Green, PA; brother, Kenneth (Dianna) Akers of Loganville, GA and grandchildren, Lamar Barnett, III, Grace Barnett, Wil Roberts, Sarah Roberts, Trent Somes and Vivian Somes.  Daughters Michelle and Elizabeth are MUW alumnae.  

Funeral services will be Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Jerry Light officiating. Interment will be in Pineview Memory Gardens with Selma Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 6-8:00 p.m.

Mrs. Middlebrooks was a retired teacher who taught in the Selma Public Schools. She loved living in Valley Grande and served as a councilwoman for the Town of Valley Grande. She was a member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and worked with the Women on Missions. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, UDC, Book Study Club and Joy Group.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to be given to First Baptist Church Renovation Fund, P. O. Box 1186, Selma, AL 36702 or Mississippi University for Women, 1100 South 2nd Avenue, Columbus, MS 39701-5802.

Holiday Memories: Christmas Concerts

I never, ever missed the chorale Christmas program at the W!!! I was there on a Scholar's Day or other preview day my senior year of high school, and I went every year following. I would continue to go, if possible. They always did such a wonderful job, and the campus is so beautiful when decorated for Christmas!
Carrie Pate, 2007

I was in the Chorale and Madrigal Singers while at the W. The Christmas Concert was always the most awe-inspiring evening. Poindexter would be decked out with a poinsettia tree, garlands, lights and wreaths---it was so beautiful! Bruce Lesley was the director at that time and he loved to open the Christmas Concert with either the Madrigals or the Chorale singing a processional around the audience. The music would just envelop the entire hall of Poindexter and give you chills to hear. One year I remember singing "Masters in the Hall" and another year we sang "Nowell, Nowell" around the packed audience. As beautiful and glorious as the opening of the concert was and the wonderful pieces sung throughout the concert the highlight was always the end of the concert when the Chorale would lead the audience by candlelight over to Welty Hall singing "Silent Night" and then sing "Joy to the World" and maybe a couple more selections from the bottom floor of the atrium with the audience standing in the balconies---absolutely the most amazing and beautiful sounds. Refreshments would be served afterwards. Truly, one of the best ways to start the Christmas Season.
Anghaarad Teague Dees '95

I cannot remember the year (probably 1987), but one Christmas all the social clubs made ornaments and garland and strung popcorn and decorated a huge Christmas tree on the stage in Poindexter. Candles were lit all around the balcony area. There was a wonderful Christmas program with really nice music. I was in New Horizons and I remember singing from the balcony and I loved the way the sound floated around.....Poindexter never looked better! We sang a lot of the beautiful Christmas church music with the choir and Dr. Dorough. New Horizons sang the Carpenters "Merry Christmas, Darling," and it ended a capella - it was a beautiful blend of voices. Though I have sung many times since in a multitude of church programs and even I later sang in the Singing Christmas Tree outdoors at Belhaven, that Christmas memory at the W is the one I think of more than any other. It was magical!
Donna Ford Lyon, 1991


We had various club Christmas activities & even some dorm activities some years. But, the only things that stand out for me are out of the Music Department. Christmas Vespers, Dr. Graves' choirs, Dr. Swingle's choirs, like that. And, every year I loved whatever any group from the Music Department had to offer & continued to enjoy whatever that was after graduation whether I was living in Columbus or in Tupelo.

Also, the W had an Invitational Tournament, Basketball, and I enjoyed it every year, and attended after graduation as much as before, while living both in Columbus and in Tupelo.
Donna L. Bridges

One of my favorite memories of Christmas at MUW was the Glee Club, under the direction of Dr. Matson, presenting a Christmas program in Whitfield Auditorium. All of us in Glee Club walked down the two aisles together singing Hodie Chirstus Natus Est. Then we presented a whole concert of Christmas music. With all of us in white evening dresses and beauty of the music, it was really beautiful.
Francis Hairston, c/o 1961

I remember when the Glee Club had to be in the Columbus Christmas parade. We had to walk and sing--all the while nearly freezing to death! It was still fun though. I just remember doing this once. (Maybe Dr. Matson decided it was too cruel to make us do it again. On second thought, maybe HE didn't want to do it again!)
Carolyn Dick Spiers - 1965

Holiday Memories from the Dining Hall Era

Photo of Shattuck and Franklin compliments of Erin Goia

It seems that no matter what the era, when W students start remembering, mealtime memories are forefront.  "Back in the day", W students ate in the dining hall in Shattuck, where meals were served family style.  Francis Hairston, Class of 1961 tells us:  "Miss Ethel Summerour, the dietician, always planned something special for each holiday, and Christmas was certainly special. The cooks in the kitchen would come out and sing Christmas carols."  Francis also remembers "We exchanged gifts with each other on our wing. I can't remember if we drew names, but we probably did. The door to each room was decorated at our own discretion."

Myra and Mary Libby

Mary Libby Biggerstaff Payne, 1954, recalled "My sophomore year I lived on 3rd floor of Shattuck (before the fire took off the top two floors the next summer.)  All of the girls who sat at my table in the dining hall drew names to share Christmas gifts.  I do not remember whose name I drew nor what I gave.  However, I still have the lapel pin I received from my cherished friend, Myra Bishop.  It is a decorated pair of scissors. Because some girls less kind than my friends at that table were often heard to say 'I'd rather be a well rounded person than make straight A's,' I felt less than significant in my college environment.  Well, in order to prove I was not an 'egg-head,' that spring I rented a portable sewing machine and made my lavender organdy Easter dress.  Also, I taught 3 home ec majors how to darn socks so beautifully that one could hardly notice they had ever had holes.  I always associate my scissors pin and Myra's love with that next semester's project."

This post is the first in a series about the holiday memories of MUW alums.  If you'd like to share your memories, please complete the survey.