Heidi Wright smiled wide and beamed with pride as Auburn University celebrated the life of her late mother, Josetta Brittain Matthews, at a special residence hall naming ceremony on Wednesday.
Wright, who teaches special education at Auburn, stood before Josetta Brittain Matthews Hall in the Village area of campus and spoke fondly of her mother—the university’s first African American graduate and faculty member—on the windy and sunny afternoon.
kAm“x <?@H D96 H@F=5 36 56=:89E65 2?5 ECF=J 9F>3=65 3J E9:D @G6CH96=>:?8 24<?@H=6586>6?E @7 2== D96 244@>A=:D965[” D2:5 (C:89E[ H9@ 62C?65 2 5@4E@C2= 568C66 :? DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 7C@> pF3FC? =2DE J62C] “%96 qC:EE2:? |2EE96HD =6824J :D DFC6=J AC@>@E65 3J 92G:?8 E9:D C6D:56?46 92== ?2>65 7@C >J >@E96C[ 7@?5=J <?@H? 3J >6 2D ‘>@>>J]’ pF3FC? 92D 2=H2JD 96=5 DF49 2 DA64:2= A=246 @7 9@?@C H:E9 @FC 72>:=J[ 2?5 >J >@E96C H2D 565:42E65 E@ =:G:?8 @FE E96 :562=D @7 E96 pF3FC? rC665]k^Am
kAm“$@>6E:>6D[ 9:DE@CJ 42? 36 7@C8@EE6?[ @C 72C H@CD6[ 6C2D65] (:E9 E96D6 C646?E ?2>:?8D[ pF3FC? :D E2<:?8 2 3:8 DE6A :? E96 @E96C 5:C64E:@?[ 24<?@H=658:?8 E96 244@>A=:D9>6?ED @7 :ED q=24< 2=F>?: 2?5 >@C6 7F==J E6==:?8 E96 DE@CJ @7 :ED A2DE 2?5 8:G:?8 9@A6 2?5 6?4@FC286>6?E E@ 2== DEF56?ED :? E96:C AFCDF:E 7@C 2 3C:89E6C 7FEFC6]”k^Am
kAm|2EE96HD 8C25F2E65 7C@> {23@C2E@CJ w:89 $49@@= @? E96 42>AFD @7 p=232>2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 C646:G65 96C 32496=@C’D 568C66 :? uC6?49 2?5 A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 7C@> x?5:2?2 &?:G6CD:EJ q=@@>:?8E@? :? `hed] %96 7@==@H:?8 J62C[ EH@ J62CD 27E6C w2C@=5 uC2?<=:? :?E68C2E65 pF3FC? :? `hec[ |2EE96HD 6?C@==65 2E pF3FC?]k^Am
kAm$96 H@F=5 8@ @? E@ 364@>6 E96 D49@@=’D 7:CDE p7C:42? p>6C:42? 8C25F2E6 3J 62C?:?8 2 >2DE6C’D 568C66 :? 65F42E:@? :? `hee] |2EE96HD 3642>6 pF3FC?’D 7:CDE q=24< 724F=EJ >6>36C :? `hfa 3J ;@:?:?8 E96 r@==686 @7 {:36C2= pCED 2D 2 uC6?49 2?5 9:DE@CJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 62C?65 96C 5@4E@C2E6 2E pF3FC? :? `hfd]k^Am
kAm(C:89E :5@=:K65 96C >@E96C 2?5 56G6=@A65 2 D:>:=2C =@G6 @7 65F42E:@? E92E 2=D@ =65 96C E@ pF3FC?]k^Am
kAm“pD 2 G6CJ J@F?8 49:=5[ x 2=H2JD C6>6>36C 4@>:?8 9@>6 2?5 D66:?8 >J >@E96C D:EE:?8 2E E96 E23=6[” (C:89E D2:5] “$96 H@F=5 2=H2JD 92G6 2 3@@< @A6?[ 2 A6?4:= @C A6? 2?5 2 HC:E:?8 A25 @C :?56I 42C5D] x H2?E65 E@ 36 =:<6 >J >@>[ D@ H96? x 925 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 6>F=2E6 96C[ x 5:5]k^Am
kAm“x C6>6>36C >J 7:CDE 52J 2E pF3FC? 2D 2 8C25F2E6 DEF56?E] x 8@E @FE @7 >J 42C 2?5 H2D H2=<:?8 E@H2C5 E96 3FD DE2E:@? E@ 8@ E@ w2=6J r6?E6C[ 2?5 :E H2D 2 >28:42= >@>6?E 7@C >6] x ;FDE E@@< :? 2== @7 E96 42>AFD :? :ED 8=@CJ[ 2?5 :E E@@< >6 324< E@ E9@D6 52JD @7 4@>:?8 96C6 H:E9 >J >@E96C]”k^Am
kAm|2EE96HD 2=D@ H@C<65 E:C6=6DD=J 2D 2 AC@76DD@C 2E %FD<6866 &?:G6CD:EJ] (9:=6 E96C6[ D96 D6CG65 2D 2 56A2CE>6?E 492:C[ 9625 @7 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !@=:E:42= $4:6?46 2?5 D64FC65 ?F>6C@FD 8C2?ED E9C@F89@FE 96C 42C66C] |2EE96HD—2 ?2E:G6 @7 u@CE q6??:?8[ v6@C8:2[ H9@ H2D 2 C6D:56?E @7 |@?E8@>6CJ F?E:= 96C A2DD:?8 @? s64] `d[ a_`h—H2D 2H2C565 2? 9@?@C2CJ 5@4E@C2E6 3J E96 pF3FC? q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D :? a__d]k^Am
kAm“x 766= 9@?@C65 E@ 36 96C6 E@52J[” pF3FC? !C6D:56?E y2J v@8F6 D2:5] “sC] |2EE96HD H2D 2 C62= EC2:=3=2K6C H9@ 42C65 566A=J 23@FE 65F42E:@? 2?5 42C65 566A=J 23@FE pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ] $96 H2D 2 G6CJ DA64:2= A6CD@?[ 2?5 H6 2C6 9@?@C65 E@ 36 23=6 E@ ?2>6 E9:D 724:=:EJ 27E6C 96C 2?5 6?DFC6 96C =6824J H:== =:G6 @? 7@C6G6C 96C6 2E pF3FC?]”k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= @7 |2EE96HD’ 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J >6>36CD[ :?4=F5:?8 96C 8C2?5D@?[ y677C6J (C:89E[ 2EE6?565 E96 27E6C?@@? 46C6>@?J 2=@?8D:56 >6>36CD @7 E96 pF3FC? q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D 2?5 F?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 DEF56?E =6256CD] |2EE96HD’ 36DE 7C:6?5[ yF586 v2>>:6= !@:?56IE6C[ E96 7:CDE p7C:42? p>6C:42? H@>2? 6=64E65 2D 2 r@>>@?H62=E9 pEE@C?6J 7@C E96 r@F?EJ @7 $FCCJ[ ':C8:?:2[ 2=D@ DA@<6 2E E96 46=63C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H E@ 6IAC6DD E@ J@F 9@H x 76=E H96? x H2=<65 FA 96C6 E@ E96D6 DE6AD[ =@@<65 FA 2?5 D2H y@D6EE2’D ?2>6 HC:EE6? @? E9:D 3F:=5:?8] xE H2D 2? 6IA6C:6?46[” D2:5 !@:?56IE6C[ H9@ >6E |2EE96HD 2D 2? F?56C8C25 2E x?5:2?2 &?:G6CD:EJ] “x D2J E@ E9@D6 H9@ >256 E96 564:D:@? E@ ?2>6 2 5@C>:E@CJ @? 42>AFD 27E6C sC] |2EE96HD[ J@F 4@F=5 ?@E 92G6 A:4<65 2 36EE6C 49@:46] *@FC DEF56?ED 42? D=66A 2E ?:89E <?@H:?8 E92E E96:C 9@>6 2H2J 7C@> 9@>6 :D ?2>65 27E6C 2 AC@F5 2?5 3C2G6 p7C:42? p>6C:42? H@>2? H9@ >6E 9625 @? >2?J 492==6?86D :? =:76[ 7@F89E >2?J 32EE=6D A6CD@?2==J 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2==J 2?5 >@DE :>A@CE2?E[ DFCG:G65 2?5 E9C:G65]”k^Am
kAmpF3FC? q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D >6>36C t=:K236E9 wF?E=6J DA@<6 @7 AC@8C6DD 2?5 @AE:>:D> 367@C6 AC6D6?E:?8 (C:89E H:E9 2? @77:4:2= AC@4=2>2E:@? E@ 4@>>6>@C2E6 E96 @442D:@?]k^Am
kAm“(92E 2? 9@?@C :E :D E@ 36 96C6 E@52J 7@C J6E 2?@E96C 9:DE@C:4 ?2>:?8 :? 9@?@C @7 2 EC2:=3=2K6C H9@ 7@DE6C65 DF49 >62?:?87F= 492?86 :? E96 H2J @7 25G2?4:?8 5:G6CD:EJ 2?5 6BF2=:EJ 2E pF3FC?[” D2:5 wF?E=6J[ H9@ D6CG6D 2D 4@\492:C @7 E96 %CFDE66D %2D< u@C46 E92E :D C6G:6H:?8 3C@25 5:G6CD:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? :DDF6D] “x? 24<?@H=658:?8 E96 92C5 H@C< 2?5 25G2?46>6?ED E92E sC] |2EE96HD 244@>A=:D965 2?5 7FCE96C65[ pF3FC? :D 282:? 277:C>:?8 :ED 4@>>:E>6?E E@ E96 =@?8\E6C>[ 56=:36C2E:G6 H@C< ?66565 :? 25G2?4:?8 2 4F=EFC6 @7 :?4=FD:G:EJ E92E H:== D6CG6 E@ 7FCE96C F?:E6 @FC DEC@?8 pF3FC? u2>:=J]k^Am
kAm“~? 3692=7 @7 E96 pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D[ x 2> A=62D65 E@ D66 DF49 4@?E:?F65 >@G6>6?E E@H2C5 AC@8C6DD[ 2?5 :E :D @?=J 7:EE:?8 E92E H6 >66E 96C6 E@52J E@ ?2>6 E9:D DEF56?E C6D:56?46 92== :? sC] |2EE96HD’ 9@?@C[ <?@H:?8 96C =@?8\=2DE:?8 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ DEF56?ED H:== 36 7@C6G6C C6>6>36C65 2D E96J A2DD 3J E9:D 92==’D ?6H[ 6DE66>65 ?2>6]”k^Am
kAm|2EE96HD H2D <?@H? 2D 2 ECF6 9:DE@C:2?[ H:E9 2 E2=6?E 7@C 4@??64E:?8 2== E9:?8D H:E9 E96 A2DE 2?5 AFEE:?8 E96> :? E96:C AC@A6C 4@?E6IE H:E9 4FCC6?E 6G6?ED[ 5@:?8 D@ :? DF49 2 H2J 2D E@ >2<6 9:DE@CJ C6=2E23=6 2?5 F?56CDE2?523=6 E@ 2?J@?6] x? a_a_[ E96 pF3FC? p=F>?: pDD@4:2E:@? q@2C5 @7 s:C64E@CD 4C62E65 E96 “sC] y@D6EE2 qC:EE2:? |2EE96HD |6>@C:2= t?5@H65 $49@=2CD9:A” E@ DFAA@CE pF3FC?’D 8@2= @7 “AC@>@E:?8 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? 2>@?8 :ED DEF56?E 3@5J]” %96 D49@=2CD9:A H:== AC@G:56 DFAA@CE E@ F?56C8C25F2E6 DEF56?ED H9@D6 7:?2?4:2= ?665 >2<6D 2EE6?52?46 2E pF3FC? 4@DE AC@9:3:E:G6]k^Am
kAm“t28=6 w2== :D 9@>6 E@ pF3FC?’D w@?@CD r@==686 DEF56?ED[ D@ 9@H 7:EE:?8 E@ ?2>6 E9:D A2CE:4F=2C C6D:56?46 92== :? 9@?@C @7 D@>6@?6 H9@ 56G@E65 96C =:76 E@ 65F42E:@?[ 2== E96 H9:=6 3=2K:?8 2 EC2:= 7@C E9@D6 H9@ H@F=5 7@==@H 96C[” D2:5 q@33J (@@52C5[ D6?:@C G:46 AC6D:56?E 7@C $EF56?E p772:CD] “%96 DEF56?ED H9@ =:G6 96C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 @FC 36DE 2?5 3C:89E6DE—6286C E@ =62C? 2?5 8C@H 2D E96J 4@>A=6E6 E96:C 568C66D 2E pF3FC?] |2?J @7 E96D6 DEF56?ED H:== 8@ @? E@ 36 =:76=@?8 65F42E@CD 2?5 =6256CD[ >F49 =:<6 E96 3F:=5:?8’D ?6H ?2>6D2<6[ sC] |2EE96HD]k^Am
kAm“%@52J[ H6 H:== @77:4:2==J ?2>6 E9:D 3F:=5:?8 y@D6EE2 qC:EE2:? |2EE96HD w2==[ 2?5 :E :D 2? 9@?@C E@ 36 96C6 H:E9 J@F 2== 2D H6 H:E?6DD :E E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAm%96 pF3FC? q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D G@E65 @? E96 ?2>:?8 :?:E:2E:G6 2E :ED u63] d >66E:?8[ 2?5 (65?6D52J’D |2EE96HD w2== 46C6>@?J H2D E96 D64@?5 46=63C2E:@? :? 2D >2?J H66<D] %:86C w2== H2D C6?2>65 :? 9@?@C @7 q6DD:6 |26 w@==@H2J[ pF3FC?’D 7:CDE q=24< q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D >6>36C[ :? 2 D:>:=2C 46=63C2E:@? @? pAC:= `e]k^Am
kAm%96 %CFDE66 %2D< u@C46 C64@>>6?565 =2DE J62C E92E E96 $EF56?E r6?E6C 36 C6?2>65 :? 9@?@C @7 w2C@=5 s] |6=E@?[ pF3FC?’D 7:CDE q=24< $EF56?E v@G6C?>6?E AC6D:56?E 2?5 49:67 ;FDE:46 @7 E96 v6@C8:2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE] %96 @77:4:2= ?2>6 492?86 :? }@G6>36C >256 E96 |6=E@? $EF56?E r6?E6C E96 7:CDE 3F:=5:?8 2E pF3FC? ?2>65 7@C 2? p7C:42? p>6C:42?]k^Am
kAmpF3FC?’D =2E6DE 677@CED E@ 6G2=F2E6 E96 9:DE@CJ 2?5 4@?E6IE @7 :ED ?2>65 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 DECF4EFC6D :D A2CE @7 2 =2C86C :?:E:2E:G6 3J pF3FC? E@ AC@>@E6 @AA@CEF?:EJ 2?5 6BF:EJ] %96 F?:G6CD:EJ :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 25G2?4:?8 :?4=FD:@? 2?5 5:G6CD:EJ 2D 4@C6 G2=F6D 2?5 :D 7@4FD65 @? D6G6C2= :?:E:2E:G6D :? E92E 6?562G@C[ E@ :?4=F56 255C6DD:?8 5:DA2C:E:6D :? C64CF:E>6?E 2?5 C6E6?E:@? @7 DEF56?ED[ 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277 7C@> F?56CC6AC6D6?E65 2C62D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 2 42>AFD\H:56 s:G6CD:EJ[ tBF:EJ 2?5 x?4=FD:@? t5F42E:@? 2?5 %C2:?:?8 AC@8C2>]k^Am