Published: September 17, 2009 09:26 pm      

Scholarship to honor Cheatham

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A group of residents have banded together to honor and memorialize the life of Laura Cheatham by creating a scholarship foundation in her honor.

“When Mrs. Cheatham passed away, it was impressed on many of the people how she had a lot of influence on others and we should memorialize her legacy,” foundation committee member Jeff Campbell said. “Joyce Moore came up with the idea to have a memorial scholarship fund to benefit area students who would earn a monetary scholarship based on achievement and merit to help them achieve their college dreams. We felt this was a fitting way to honor her legacy.”

Cheatham passed away in January, at the age of 95. She was a housekeeper and nurse’s aide to the John R. Mitchell family and later was a receptionist at the Mitchell Museum. In addition to her occupations, she worked throughout the community, and was the first African-American elected to the Mt. Vernon school board. She was a past worthy matron of the Jefferson County Branch National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a member of the African-American Heritage Committee, an active member in her church, Meals on Wheels and was one of the first inducted into the Senior Saints Hall of Fame.

“She dedicated her life to service,” Campbell, who served as her pastor at Pavey Chapel Church. “I remember when she had her accident, fell and broke her hip, she was concerned because she needed to deliver Meals on Wheels ‘to the old people.’ She was a person who was always willing to do something for the community. It was an honor to be her pastor and see someone her age willing to work and do so much.”

The Laura Cheatham Scholarship Foundation board is made up of Campbell, Madelene Stribling, Angie Campbell, Berniece McWilliams, Patrick Rice, David Wood, Bonnie Disroe, Irene Spells and Cheatham’s granddaughter, Meka Jones.

To get the scholarship fund started, a kickoff event will be held at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts at 5 p.m. on Sept. 26. A concert will feature Joyce Moore, formerly of Mt. Vernon, who will be backed up by a 100-voice choir from the local area; dance performances; a video highlighting Cheatham’s life; and a brief reception.

“It’s going to be free, but we will make an appeal to people to kick off the scholarship,” Campbell said. “Cedarhurst has been gracious enough to donate facilities for the event. They have been wonderful.”

Campbell said the scholarships will benefit all area youth, regardless of ethnic background, and be based on merit. The group hopes to raise enough money to begin awarding scholarships by next fall.