Editorial May 19, 1997 Issue

At peace with our lives

William E. Moody

"I am at peace with my life and my work. I don't think I have any enemies." These are simple, yet profound, words of wisdom on the subject of dealing with fear. They're the words of Oseola McCarty, as she approaches her ninetieth year. You've probably heard of her. She's the washerwoman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who has lived alone for the past three decades and in 1995 donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi for a scholarship fund. That money came entirely from the very modest income she earned taking in laundry over the years, carefully putting aside a few dollars into savings whenever she could.

Oseola McCarty has since received numerous humanitarian awards for her unselfishness. She holds an honorary degree from Harvard University, even though her formal schooling ended when she was only eight. No other African American has had his or her portrait hanging on the walls of the University of Southern Mississippi until now.

For Ms. McCarty, who has lived alone for so many of her years, life has taken a remarkable turn, but her simple approach to life, her humility and unselfishness, her deep faith in God, remain constant. One newspaper account notes that people "come to see her just because they want to be close to someone good." The report quotes an official at the University of Southern Mississippi: "When you're around her, you just feel better. You feel cleaner." The newspaper goes on to relate what another worker from the university believes is the reason that "so many people are drawn to McCarty. They share in what everyone wants but so few have." What is it? One word from the university worker sums it up: "'Peace.'"

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