Notes for Sarah Elizabeth Ridgway

Notes for Sarah Elizabeth Ridgway

!OBITUARY - THE PROGRESS-ITEM, Ellisville, Mississippi newspaper, February 6, 1964, volumn 44, number 24, page 1 - FUNERAL SERVICES SAT. FOR MISS BETTIE RIDGEWAY:
Funeral services for Miss Bettie Ridgeway of Moselle, Route 1 who passed away in her sleep sometimes early this morning, are tentatively scheduled for two o'clock Saturday afternoon from Soule's Chapel, interment to follow in Crosby Cemetery.
Miss Ridgeway, a beloved teacher of many years who retired in 1956 from Jones County Junior College after thirty-one years with the Department of English, was the daughter of the late Reverend W.W. Ridgeway and Sarah Elizabeth Darwin Ridgeway. She was born in Copiah County and came with her family to Jones County when she was four years old.
The family home in Rainey Community where Miss Ridgeway was reared, along with five brothers and three sisters, was homesteaded by the father, Reverend W.W. Ridgeway and the family held close the deed bearing the signature of President Grover Cleveland. Soule's Chapel from which the late and beloved teacher will be buried was organized by her late father; a church she joined at the age of seven and from which she never withdrew her membership; a church she served as Sunday School teacher from the age of fourteen and as Sunday School Superintendent for more than a quarter century.
The deceased started school at the age of five and, until her retirement in 1956, spent every succeeding year in school--either as a student or a teacher.
After attending Jones County public schools, Miss Ridgeway attended Meridian Women's College, completing her high school at that institution and later graduating from the college department with a B.L. degree. She then taught in Jones County schools for six years and returned to the Meridian college as a teacher. There followed three years as teacher of English at Soo Chow University in Soo Chow, China. Returning to the United States she taught at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky for three years and then came to Ellisville to embark upon a teaching tour of one year. The one year became thirty-five fruitful years in which she placed a mark of excellence upon a record any teacher would hold with envy and pride. During the thirty-one years, she sponsored the "Radionian" for twenty-two years, giving to journalistic aspirants a knowledge and interest that inspired them to always "give a little more".
During her teaching years here she received both her B.S. and M.A. degrees from Peabody College.
Upon retiring the gentle, cultured and dedicated person whose death today culminated a long and worthwhile stay on Earth, went to live on the family place in Rainey Community. There she gave more to her fineness to those who lived about her and those whom she contacted in her infrequent trips away.
When interviewed in 1956 as she left behind her long years of teaching and counselling, Miss Ridgeway remarked "I have never applied for a position-- I was always invited. And-- I have never been fired."
Surviving are one brother, Robert Ridgeway and one sister, Mrs. S.C. Lowery, both of Route 1 and a wide circle of nieces and nephews.
Jones Funeral Home of Ellisville is in charge of arrangements.