Skip to main content

Verdie Powell Dillon


Verdie Powell Dillon


1885-1980

Verdie Powell Dillon, a woman of purpose and great strength, was affectionately known to our family as "Aunt T". She was by far a great influence on my life and the lives of many people in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. As many of you know O.W. Dillon was a pioneer in the field education in the State of Louisiana. He led the Tangipahoa Parish Training school for many years. The school later became O.W Dillon High School and O.W.
Dillon Elementary. Well, Verdie Powell Dillon was his better half.

Born to Hilery and Laura Powell, October, 15, 1885 in Mound Bayou, Miss. she was proud of her upbringing and the independence and ingenuity of blacks in Mound Bayou during her childhood. She married Mr. Oliver Wendell Dillon. Together they built a legacy of public service in education in Louisiana and surrounding areas.

Aunt T was a member of St. James United Methodist Church in Magnolia, Mississippi where she was active in the choir, United Methodist Womens organization and a Sunday School Teacher. She was also active in several civic and educational organizations including, Lillie Mae Bryant Federated Club and the Local, State and National Retired Teacher's Association.

Although she had no biological children, she raised many including my grandfather, Melbourne Gerard Dillon. Quite honestly, she was the only mother he knew as his biological mother, Ethel Williams Dillon died during his birth. I was fortunate to be born into her household in Magnolia, MS and lived there until the age of 5 years old. One of my favorite memories was washing her feet. To the average person this may not seem exciting, but my sisters and I looked forward to it earning a whopping $0.25 each. We loved it. She would sit us on her lap and play "Boogie to Grandma's house", so much fun. I remember when, my sister's pony attempted an escape and we watched from the yard as my Mom and 93 year old Aunt T ran all the way down Dillon Street to bring him back. I had never seen Aunt T move so fast. The only physical things I have to treasure her memory are an old worn jewelry box and several hand written letters. But there is such a legacy to remember and so many wonderful memories of a great woman.



Below are excerpts from a letter written shortly after her death by the late educator, Fochia Wilson, in memory of Verdie Powell Dillon:

I would like to place a heap of flowers at your grave today. I would want to start with the lily, which is so pure and white or perhaps the daffodil. These I thought would be just right to express to you, in this season, what you meant to us at the dear ole Tangipahoa Parish Training School.

It seems like only yesterday, you asked the children to come and help you spade the beds for goodness sake, for flowers, we dared not break. How many days did you and Mr. Dillon toil with us at t he Tangipahoa Parish Training School? Flowers, will soon fade away, your influence is here to stay.

So you see , M rs . Dillon, in your memory, this is my way of saying- "Thank you, for all the little things you taught me".



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  The Mina Slaves of Pointe Coupee: A revolt subdued; a culture defined Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana has always been known as the cradle of creole culture, with a rich heritage Rev. Albert Nelson rooted in diversity from its earliest settlers, French, with Spanish, Caribbean, and Indian influences . However, many of us have long forgotten the fabric of our origin rooted in a rich West African past . During the 18 th century, the Mina tribe who originated in present day Benin found themselves scattered amongst various plantations in Pointe Coupee Parish . The original settlers had established plantations that harvested corn, indigo, tobacco, cotton and sugarcane on land surrounded by the Mississippi River on one side and False River on the other . This fertile land was cultivated by victims of the transatlantic slave trade that originated on the coast of West Africa and began arriving in Louisiana under the French but continued under Spanish and US rule .  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dillon Family: Education in the Rural South

O. W. Dillon As we culminate Black History Month, I’d like to take a moment to salute the contributions of a few great men and women in my family. The 13 sons and daughters of my great great grandparents, Thomas J and Angeline Dillon of Pike County, Mississippi. Thomas J and Angeline raised a family of visionaries and leaders, equipped with a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of all those they came in contact with. In the early 1900’s they began to venture out on a quest to obtain a higher education at some of the most notable institutions available to them at the time. Alcorn State University, Tuskegee Institute, Hampton Institute, Southern University, Dillard University and Grambling State University to name a few. Returning one by one, determined to extend the opportunity of an education to the rural south. Under the leadership of their oldest brother, Professor Oliver Wendell Dillon, they were sent out into the rural areas of Louisiana and Mississip...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Colosuss of A Man- Henry Austine Dillon

Below is an article printed in the Southern University Alumni Magazine  highlighting the work of my Great Grandfather, H. A Dillon Sr. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ALUMNI PROFILE To Seneca is attributed the statement, “A dwarf is small, even if he stands on a mountain; a colossus keeps his height, even if he stands in a well.”   Perhaps no case that could be cited better illustrates the strivings of a quiet, thrifty and conservative person  as HENRY AUSTINE Dillon, SR. Among Southernites and other alike, H. A.Dillon, SR., is a gigantic statue. At an early age he began his elementary education under his s isters  and from there took his education work under his brother, O.W. Dillon who  was at that time the principal of the Training School at Kentwood,Louisiana.   The school was later named O.W. Dillon High School. DILLON was greatly influenced by his brother while working under the older Dillon. O.W. Dillon instilled in him to become a leader or a he...
Post a Comment
Read more