In Memory of "Wit"

Mildred "Wit" Bynum - October 1944

The above photograph appeared in the October 10, 1944 edition of The Cadet which was the official publication of the Pearl River College in Poplarville, Mississippi.

Below the photograph, the following was printed:

Transcription:

Mildred Bynum, another attractive and outstanding Sophomore, known as "Wit," comes from Prentiss and is a graduate of Clem High School.  Now majoring in commerce, Mildred plans to continue her schooling after leaving P. R. C., but she has not decided where.

"Wit's" chief likes are the Marines, eating and Brookie [her best friend]; her dislikes are stingy boys, silly people, asparagus, and getting up early; her ambition is to marry a rich man and to own a dog farm; her greatest desire is to travel.  Mildred's hobby is collecting pennies.

Mildred is assistant circulation manager of The Cadet and secretary to President R. D. McLendon. She takes part in all campus activities.

Following her 1945 graduation from Pearl River College in Business Education, "Wit" decided to attend Mississippi Southern where she earned a teaching degree.  She taught in several Mississippi high schools before accepting a position in a small rural community in Louisiana.

"Wit" did not marry a marine or a rich man.

She married a local boy from a small rural community who had just returned from serving in the United States Army.

"Wit" did not own a dog farm.

But 'She Always had a Dog.'

"Wit" never had the opportunity to fulfill her greatest desire to travel.

Raising five children while working outside the home for many years did not allow for much travel.

"Wit" continued to like eating.

Coconut pie was one of her favorites.

"Wit" lost contact with her best friend, Brookie, over the years.

But she kept many mementos from their college days.

"Wit" never overcame her dislike of 'stingy' boys (or girls, for that matter) and 'silly people.'

She did, however, overcome her dislike of asparagus and 'getting up early.'

"Wit" continued her hobby of collecting pennies.

She added dimes to her collection and would often roll her coins before depositing them in her bank account.

Wit's last collection of pennies

"Wit" was born on July 22, 1926.

She passed from this life on January 25, 2012.

She would have been eighty-nine years old today.

I never knew the "Wit" mentioned in the 1944 article, though I caught glimpses of her from time to time.

I knew her as 'Mama.'