2015

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1974. Wood, with the assistance of former li– brarian Ann Burkes and her husband, the late Roger Burkes col– lected information' and photographs on past players and champi– onship teams. Wood was also called on to speak at various programs throughout her tenure at ECCC including the college'~ 75th anniversarv in 2003. She was aiso a featured speaker at the dedication of Burton Library and the Walter Arno Vincent Adminis– tration Building. She was a 2003 Mis– sissippi Women's Con– ference Power of One honoree and in 2004 was selected as an "Ageless Hero" state award winner in the Love of Learning cate– gory by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missis– sippi. She was also the recipient of the Delta Kappa Gamma Red Rose award and an honorary member of Theta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor so– ciety for the two-year college. But, perhaps Lucille Wood was best recog– nized for h er accom– plishments in and contributions to women's athletics in Mississippi's junior col– leges. After playing basket– ~ :: " t Loui.5ville High

ing (rhythmic jumping ~etween poles) and Jump rope exercises. Wood was also in– ~trumental in or ganiz– ing the first Alumni Memorial Awards, which were the begin– ning of the current .Awards Day program held each spring to rec– ognize outstanding stu– dents. She also instituted the singing of the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the program. In addition to her outstanding service as a faculty member, Wood also served twice as president of the Alumni Association, and during her second term was responsible for instituting the Alumnus of the Year Award. She spearheaded the effort to restore Sulli– van Park, an area adja– cent to Newsome Hall dormitory and named in honor of Mrs. Janie Huff Sullivan, one of Wood's teachers at then East Central Jun– ior College. She also created and organized the college's Memorabilia Room, which was completed in 2005. Located in Burton Library, the 'room houses various items of historical sig– nificance to East Cen– tral and its alumni. Wood, along with for– mer librarians Gloria John"'°n and Gail

Mrs. Lucille Wood

Longtime East Cen– tral Community Col– lege instructor Lucille Wood died early Mon– day morning, May 18th. in the Neshoba County Nursing Home in Philadelphia. She was 84. A celebration of her life was held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 21 . 2015, at Porter Fu– neral Home, with Rev. Chris Vowell officiat– ing. Interment was in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Noxapater, MS. Lu– cille was born January 10, 1931, in Winston . County. She was a ~ mem~er of Calvary Baptist Church. She is I survived by one brother. Jim Wood of Louisville; nephews, Jim (Deborah) Duncan, James (Renee) Wood, Jr., and .scot Wood; great meces and nephews, Brandi (Josh) Duncan Herrington, Greg Duncan, and Megan Wood; and one great great nephew, Parker Herrington. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edna Myres Wood and George Wood; three sis– ters, Lorene Wood, Zelma Earline Wood and Ester Wood Dun~ can; and one brother, Walter C. Wood. Pallbeearers included · James Wood, Jr, Bubba Hudspeth. ~1ark ~lc­ C-Ocl. - Hill. J h 1.i,H~~~--f~~·~ "When people think of East Central Com– munity College, many immediately think of Lucille Wood," said ECCC President Dr. ~Ltcb.e •.. Duncan.

our college and she will be greatly missed.'' Wood, who also served as chairman of the social science. busi– ness and education di– vision at ECCC, is recognized as a pioneer in Mississippi commu– nity college women's athletics, and until her retirement in 2011 was the longest-tenmed faculty member among the Mississippi commu– nity college ranks. She served three years as an activity and recreation instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Com– munity College in Wes– son, before being hired by then-East Central Community College president Arno Vincent in 1956. Wood was honored for her classroom teaching on various oc– casions, having been selected Outstanding Academic Instructor by the ECCC Alumni As– sociation; HEADWAE (Higher Education Ap– preciation Dav~ \Vork– in~ To~ani :\cad mic

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f the Year. an hiwJwecl conferred by the Mis– sissippi Legislature; and a Lamplighter honoree, which each year recognizes out– standing community college educato...,r,....s..___

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