Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
GRACE M. ROOD
TRIBUTES
My Most Unforgettable Character
May 1, 1954
Grace M. Rood, nurse, in dining room with children. Series VII-52 Children & Classes. [elem_026.jpg]
GRACE M. ROOD TRIBUTES My Most Unforgettable Character
A clipping written by Lonnie McQueen in his Freshman English class and printed in his School paper The Lion (23) The tribute is a paper fragment] of May 1, 1954. The tribute captures the character of Pine Mountain Settlement School nurse Grace Rood as she worked within the local community. Written by McQueen as her tribute to her “Most Unforgettable Character”‘, the brief entry captures the essence of Miss Rood’s diligence. Asked to prepare the brief article as part of his school work, a study unit on newspapers, McQueen describes Miss Rood in glowing terms. McQueen hand-wrote on his clipping from the newsletter which he sent to Miss Rood: ” This is what my ….? … told you about, I got an extra copy so I thought you should have one.” And on the margins of the article, he adds: “I hope you don’t mind my writing this?”
MY MOST UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER
May 1, 1954
Yes, you guessed it; my favorite person is a nurse who will help you any time, place, or whenever you need her. She is always on the spot, a winner when you call for her. Grace is her name. If I may call her that; I’m sure she won’t mind. This is not just my thinking; It is the thoughts of everybody in or around where I live. My favorite character has spent very little time with her own affairs; she forgets her troubles because she is always helping other people.. This nurse is a person who goes around giving shots for whooping cough and mumps. Period, of course, some of the children won’t like her for this reason, but I’m sure one day. They will all think of her as much as I do today.
Yes, Miss Rood has been another mother to me. She has played a great role in my life, and I hope she goes right on. Once she bandaged my leg when I had gotten it burned. My sister had pushed me against the fireplace grate which was very hot. She put a very good, cool salve on it and made it feel so much better. Miss Rood came back to our house every other day until my leg was well. This is one among the other hundreds of things she has done for me.
Throughout life, she has given her all to help people, and I am sure she will go on with her work as long as God gives her strength.
Lonnie McQueen
1954
