Overcome, v. to surmount, prevail over; to be victorious
Presently she is reaching for her 97th birthday, a life filled with challenges that she has had to overcome which she did many times and successfully. Now she is facing another hurdle; she is resting in a nursing facility fighting to overcome the devastating effects of a cerebrovascular accident. While serious, she is an experienced fighter who has throughout her life had to meet any number of challenges and has always done it with resolute Scottish determination.
She was born in a farm family in a time when hard work was the norm. Although the parents were land owners; still times were not easy tilling the stubborn land. To survive, everyone had to do his or her part even girls. She knew about demanding life on a turn of the century farm; it was difficult and even more so for a rather frail girl who was expected in some instances to do a man’s chores. Being a girl in a man’s world did present tests to master which she passed admirably.
During the time when she grew up, it was unusual for girls to receive much education. Perhaps a grade school education was sufficient for their life’s work, but she grew up in a home environment where education was a priority. Her parents realized the value of schooling, and one of her fondest memories was when her father would take her in his lap and read stories to her. She developed a taste for the printed word, and it became a lifelong friend. She not only finished high school, back then a major achievement for anyone especially a girl, but she entered college and received her degree, another somewhat rare achievement. She overcame the odds.
Most women back then had few job opportunities. The principal ones were to become a teacher or to enter the medical field usually as a nurse or in a similar capacity and mostly in her home community. She instead moved to an out of state town and began her career in a field foreign to her. She began training to work in a hospital X-ray (radiology) department when she met her husband. Most technicians in that field were men yet she was not intimidated and soon was certified, rare for a woman. But she thought outside the box. Confidently she overcame.
She was happily married but then tragedy struck. While expecting her first child, her husband died leaving her with single parent responsibilities. Now she was alone but blessed with a child. But she met the adversity enemy and won. She was then faced with another life changing decision. She found it nexcessary to move back to the family farm and began working in the radiology department at the local hospital. Over time she became a department head and at one time was the president of the radiology association in the state. (The association has a named scholarship in her honor.) She broke long held barriers. Overcoming became a common occurrence.
A lifelong Presbyterian she also made local church history when she became the first woman to be elected by the congregation as an officer in her church. Since 1871, no woman had ever held such a position there. Because of her obvious leadership skills, she again proved she had what it took to be recognized by her peers. She was a pioneer who overcame.
Always active in every area of her church on a regional, state and national level, she was honored as one of the first of her gender locally to be elected as a Commissioner to represent her Presbytery at its highest level, the General Assembly. In addition to holding nearly every office available to a member, she was also selected as a delegate to attend an international church conference in China as a regional representative. As a lay leader, she also served as a speaker and advocate for church issues. She was never satisfied being a spectator. She had a message and spoke about it boldly. She overcame.
Now she is facing her latest challenge. She finds herself somewhat inconvenienced with mobility limitations. But those who know her are absolutely sure that she is not going to give up without a fight. One word that might be used to characterize her is determination which she abundantly has in reserve.
Don’t count her out.
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Bill Lee,
P.O. Box 128
Hamer, SC 29547
