By Russell Duke
AZUSA, California--Verna Parish, former chair of the Ambassador University English Department, donated $30,000 to fund scholarships for WCG youths at Azusa Pacific University who major in English, foreign languages or history.
Dr. Parish previously donated $9,000 to create the Verna Parish Humanities Scholarship Fund. Interest earned on the fund will be awarded by the Ambassador Center on an annual basis.
I truly respect Dr. Parish for her enduring commitment to education. I am deeply moved by her gracious gift.
I have many lasting memories of Dr. Parish. In 1984 I transferred to teach at Ambassador in Big Sandy. We moved on to faculty row, where several faculty members lived. Verna lived a few houses away.
One Thanksgiving morning our dog, Dusty, got loose and was found in Verna's garage. And no wonder, for Verna had set her cooked turkey in the garage while she waited for her ride to share Thanksgiving.
Well, Dusty would have eaten the whole turkey, but Verna caught him in the act. Embarrassed? I was mortified. Verna? She came to his rescue. "He was very polite and only ate a little bit around the edges. We'll be just fine." What a relief!
Another lasting memory for us was when Verna came over for dinner one evening. My two junior-high-aged children were not looking forward to spending the evening with old folks. To their surprise, they were held spellbound as this senior citizen transported them to times of old on the Kansas plains.
Dr. Parish first taught at Mississippi State College for Women during World War II, taking the position vacated by a professor-turned-soldier. When he returned from the war, Verna moved on to Hayes State College in Hayes, Kansas, where she remained until her retirement.
Verna came out of retirement to accept a position as chair of the English Department at Ambassador in 1976. When the campus closed in 1977, she retired to Rogers, Arkansas. Then, when Ambassador reopened as a two-year school in 1981, Verna once again put away her rocker and hit the books, to the great benefit of Ambassador. In 1989 Verna retired from academic life for the third and final time. She moved to Marshall, Texas, where she lives with her sister Reba.
Verna inspired hundreds of students with her quick wit and keen insight into the human condition. Her large family includes the many students and colleagues she has touched through the years.
Verna's generosity demonstrates her lasting commitment to the education of our church youths. Even in retirement, she continues to inspire and teach all of us who visit. Thank you, Verna, for your gift in life, in love, in service. We love you.
Dec. 23, 1997, WN, page 9
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