Miss Oseola McCarty -- the humble washerwoman who became The University of Southern Mississippi's most famous benefactor -- passed away Sept. 26, 1999, after a bout with cancer. Southern Miss has appreciated hearing from persons around the nation who were inspired by The Gift offered by Miss McCarty. Send your thoughts to our mailbox and we'll publish them here in the future. Here's some thoughts we've already received. This Web site includes the following news releases related to the gift McCarty, of Hattiesburg, Miss., made to Southern Miss in July 1995:

Miss McCarty goes to Washington
Not willing to travel by air at the beginning of the activities surrounding her gift, Miss McCarty's early travel was by Amtrak train. This story is about her first trip to visit with President Clinton.

Miss McCarty's destinations and number of visits

Miss McCarty's major awards, appearances, and scholarship information

Oseola McCarty's gift keeps right on giving
This was originally prepared as a lead story for a newsletter titled The Gift. It is a one-year review of Miss McCarty's activities since the story first broke.

Children's book on McCarty draws rave reviews
Author Evelyn Coleman used her book, The Riches of Oseola McCarty, to help children learn about the value of hard work and a savings ethic.

Book shares McCarty's 'Simple Wisdom'

From the beginning, people were impressed by Oseola McCarty's simple, unaffected wisdom. Now, they can glean more of it from her book. "Simple Wisdom for Rich Living," released in late October 1996, is a collection of McCarty's views and sayings on work, faith, saving, relationships and good living.

Southern Miss to celebrate McCarty's life
This advance story announced her death and plans for her funeral.

Author recalls McCarty's `ragged Bible'
Rick Bragg, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his New York Times features, including one on McCarty, had planned a visit with her at the time of her death.

McCarty's life, death prompts e-mail tributes

This brief release tells of how people from across the nation responded to The University of Southern Mississippi's invitation on the Internet to tell how Osceola McCarty offered them inspiration.

Number of McCarty scholars grows to nine
Just days before her death, two more recipients of scholarships made possible by McCarty were announced, bringing the total of scholarships to nine.

For more information regarding Miss McCarty, contact:

Lisa Mader
The University of Southern Mississippi
Department of Marketing and Public Relations
Box 5016 Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406-5016
Phone: (601) 266-4491         Fax: (601) 266-5347