Oseola McCarty was born in Wayne County, Mississippi, March 7,1908. At a young age she and her mother moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Her mother worked very hard to support the both of them. When Oseola was in the sixth grade her aunt became ill and Oseola had to leave school and care for her ailing aunt.

Miss Ola was never able to return to school. For 75 years she washed and ironed clothes, saving all of her earnings. She had worked for some families for three generations before she retired.

Miss Oseola never married, however her one regret was never getting an education. She had had a dream of becoming a nurse. All her life she was frugal. Saving her money, she really didn't realize how much she was saving. As her savings grew she had to make financial arrangements for her future.

When she found out how much she had saved over the years, she decided that she wanted to help young people get the education she never received. Miss Oseola had saved a fortune and decided to donate her life's savings to the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995. Her gift made all the headlines, this soft-spoken washerwoman was giving away her life's savings to help others.

Since donating her gift of love, she has traveled to the White House, Miss Oseola was honored by President Clinton for her generosity. She carried the Olympic torch, received an honorary doctorate from Harvard University and was interviewed on television by Barbara Walters. Her life changed so much because of a simple gift of love.

At the Essence Awards show she was serenaded by Patti LaBelle, it was just another one of the honors bestowed on her by the many people who she touched. On September 26, 1999 this wonderful women passed on. Miss Oseola will be remembered for her gift of love by many.