Remembering Our Moms
If you can’t remember meeting Jessie Mize, then you probably didn’t. “Jessie” as we felt comfortable calling her, was unforgettable. She was a FACS alumna who earned two bachelor’s degrees, one in physics and a second in home economics and a master’s in mathematics at UGA before enrolling in Cornell University and earning her Ph.D. in family economics and household management. Jessie spent more than 30 years working for UGA, including 22 years on our faculty.
Jessie accomplished much during her life, but then, she had a good role model. Her mother, Leila Ritchie Mize, earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1924 and—at the same time Jessie was earning her first bachelor’s degree—her mom was earning her master’s. The photograph shows Jessie, on the left, and her mom at the time of their 1930 graduations.
Leila Mize was a pioneer Extension leader in Georgia, having been appointed the first home demonstration agent in Jackson County in 1916. She was also one of the first four district home demonstration agents, a state home demonstration agent and a state Extension specialist. She was also a charter member of the Georgia Home Economics Association.
In her estate, Jessie demonstrated how much she loved and honored her mother by establishing two funds: the Leila Alberta Ritchie Mize endowment, which supports FACS faculty; and the Mize-Ritchie endowment, which supports the FACS Legislative Aide program, a program Jessie was instrumental in establishing.
Jessie chose to remember her mother in her estate, partly because she could make a larger gift through her estate than during her lifetime and partly because she wanted to ensure that her mother’s name would live on forever.
As the college’s development director, I’ve seen commitments like Jessie’s many times. Recently, a FACS alumna in her 90s created a new graduate support fund in honor of her mother. I’ve also worked with a faculty member who may include her mother’s name as well as her own on a new endowment. This spring, a non-FACS alumna gave a gift to our college following her mother’s death.
Even when our moms are gone they are with us, especially when their names are kept alive through the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Making a charitable gift in honor or in memory of your mother is a very significant “present” that can be given after you’ve had a chance to grow and reflect on her influence in your life.
Have you thought about honoring your mother or that special someone who guided you? Annual fund gifts, memorial gifts and major gifts can all honor that special someone. There is never a minimum amount.
As we begin the home stretch in our 100 FACS Legacies in the Making campaign, please consider making a gift through your estate in honor or in memory of another individual. We’d be honored if that gift was given to our college. Please contact me and I’ll help you through the process. It truly could be the best gift you ever give…not only to the named individual, but for future generations of deserving students and faculty who will benefit from your generosity.
| Katrina L. Bowers is Director of Development for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. For more information on how to give a current or deferred gift, please contact Katrina at (706) 542-4946, by email at kbowers@fcs.uga.edu, or write to her at FACS, 224 Dawson Hall, UGA, Athens, GA 30602. |  |
