Golden Memories of a Special Golden Girl

The alum who is perhaps MUW's first non-traditional student shares her memories of W days through the efforts of her local chapter of the MUW Alumnae Association.

By Jane Dearing Dennis

Mary Adalaide Johnson Hawkins Hall was born into an Oklahoma pioneer family in 1912. Through many twists and turns of a fascinating life, she arrived at Mississippi State College for Women in 1938 but was not a typical college girl for that day. She had already completed two years of college before arriving in Columbus and most notably was married and had two young children. Graduating in 1939, Mary Hall is believed to be the first married student to graduate from MSCW.

Now 96 and possessing an impeccable memory as well as extraordinary charm and manners to match her sweet Southern drawl, Mary is an active member of the Arkansas Chapter of the Mississippi University for Women Alumnae Association. Mary, who lives in Little Rock near her daughter, Barbie Hawkins James (’68), and shared memories of her life and experiences as a “W girl” through an oral history project sponsored by the Arkansas Chapter. Jane Dearing Dennis (’80) conducted the two-hour interview, which included sound and video recordings, thanks to the assistance of volunteer videographer Patrick Shownes. The completed oral history has been donated to MUW’s Southern Women’s Institute, which is compiling similar oral histories of the university’s “Golden Girls,” those who graduated 50 or more years ago.

“Mary has led a fascinating life, and we felt her story needed to be documented and shared by others, particularly those who love The W as much as she does,” Dennis said.

As a child Mary stayed in touch with her uncle who was marching across Europe during World War I. She witnessed the desperate times of the Great Depression, when her father lost his business and sent Mary to live with relatives in Arkansas so she could attend a local college. She married Ben Hawkins of Memphis, whose family gravel business expanded to Columbus. Ben and Mary, along with Ben’s mother and their two young children, moved to Columbus. Ben told Mary this was her opportunity to continue her studies toward a degree in elementary education, so she enrolled in MSCW.

The schoolgirls “were so sweet to me,” Mary said. They would often chat and enjoys snacks in the Goose or invite Mary to join them for the family-style meals that were served in Shattuck Dining Hall. Mary also recalls the gentle leadership of President Parkinson, the directness of Miss Kern and the vivacious personality of Emma Ody Pohl.

At her 1939 graduation, Mary was likely the only graduate whose friends and family included a husband, a mother-in-law, two children and a nanny.

The family later moved to Greenville, Miss., and Lake Village, Ark., and expanded to include four children. Mary was among the organizers of a MSCW Alumni Chapter in Lake Village in the 1940s. She took part in a travel excursion through Europe sponsored by the Alumnae Association in the 1960s. She has returned to Columbus for numerous homecoming celebrations, and was proud to be named a Golden Girl in 1989.

After Ben passed away, Mary married Ole Miss graduate Frank Hall. Through the years she was active in school and community activities, served on the state music teachers’ board, taught piano and played the piano for church services for 72 years.

“I love people,” Mary said, contemplating her long life. “And I feel so blessed to still be here. I don’t know why I am, but I think God has a plan and He just expects me to carry on as long as I can. So I am.”