OXFORD, Miss. – James and Sandra Mayo of Louisville have
been honored by their five children with a scholarship
endowment in their name at the University of Mississippi.
Lee Ann Mayo of Jackson, Cal Mayo of Oxford, John Mayo of
Birmingham, Peter Mayo of Oxford and Jane Mayo of
Louisville have given $25,000 to seed the James C. and
Sandra J. Mayo Scholarship Endowment.
The fund, which recognizes the couple’s longtime commitment
to public education and their passion for Ole Miss, will
provide scholarships for Louisville High School graduates
who pursue degrees at the university.
“The children have always known how we feel about education
and about Ole Miss, which both hold special places in our
hearts,” said Sandra Mayo. “We certainly shared tears and
hugs over this surprise.”
Cal Mayo, an attorney who also serves on the UM Foundation
Board, said he and his siblings wanted to create a
scholarship to pay tribute to their parents’ “firm belief”
in education.
“Our parents have always told us that there is nothing more
important than education,” Cal Mayo said. “They made a
definite choice to support public education when we were
growing up. Because of the way they stood up for their
community, such as its schools, we have all benefited and
have pursued an array of educational opportunities.”
James and Sandra Mayo began their relationship with Ole
Miss as students on the Oxford campus, which led to a juris
doctorate for him and bachelor’s degree in education for
Sandra, a native of Brandon. After graduating, they
returned to James’ hometown of Louisville to build a law
practice, Fair & Mayo, and a life for their family.
“With five children, we were associated with the Louisville
public school system a long time – from 1967 to 1998,”
Sandra Mayo said. “We wanted to teach our children to be
broad-minded people who could work and live alongside all
other people. We were very pleased with the education they
received.”
James Mayo said, “Our five children enjoyed 61 years of
public education along with numerous years of college,
post-graduate and law school in institutions of higher
learning, for which we are truly grateful.”
Cal Mayo, an Ole Miss graduate, began developing the idea
of a scholarship with Sandra Guest, vice president of the
UM Foundation. “It was a privilege to work with these
siblings who are obviously devoted to honoring their
parents and passing on their values – in this case, the
value of education,” Guest said. “This scholarship is a
celebration of the Mayo family and its commitment to
helping vitalize society through education. We are grateful
for this scholarship gift and for the inspiration it will
provide to other families.”
Lee Ann Mayo, a graduate of Ole Miss and a lobbyist, said
she was surprised to learn there was a way for her and her
siblings to create the scholarship.
“I’ve said all my life that I would like to start a
scholarship someday. I had no idea there was such a
feasible way to do it now. The UM Foundation helped set up
everything, including the scholarship criteria,” she said.
“What makes this so great is that we can not only honor our
parents for taking an unpopular stand and supporting public
education in Louisville, but also help students today who
pursue a college education at Ole Miss.”
The Mayo Scholarship is to be awarded on the basis of
academic achievement, financial need, leadership abilities
and personal character. In the event there is no eligible
applicant from Louisville High School, the scholarship is
to be awarded to a graduate of Nanih Waiya or Noxapater
high schools. A UM scholarship committee is to make the
selections.
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