Legacy of education lives on in scholarships honoring parents who were teachers

 E xie and Lannie Gafford began their careers as teachers, so it came as no surprise that their only child was encouraged to read at an early age and eventually chose an academic career for herself.

Dr. Lanelle Gafford—a microbiologist who retired as professor of microbiology at the UM School of Medicine in Jackson—has paid tribute to her parents by endowing two Women’s Council scholarships in their honor.

Lannie E. Gafford, a native of Union County, received his degree from Mississippi Normal College (now the University of Southern Mississippi), where he was a four-year letterman in football and team captain. His teaching career began in Tippah County AHS, where he taught math and science and coached football and basketball. He later moved into administration, serving as a superintendent in Union County before joining  the Mississippi Industrial Training School in Columbia. Meanwhile, he had married Exie Guyton, also a Union County native and an elementary school teacher.

In 1936, the Gafford family moved to Gallaway, Tenn., and became proprietors of a general mercantile store. During World War II, Exie Gafford was appointed U.S. postmaster at Gallaway and served in that capacity for more than 30 years. Lannie Gafford was serving as vice mayor of the town at the time of his death.

“Although my father lived in Tennessee for many years, he was still a Mississippian at heart,” said his daughter. “He loved Mississippi politics and sports, especially USM and Ole Miss football. In later years, he rarely missed a USM Homecoming game, and one of his proudest moments came when he was inducted into the USM Sports Hall of Fame.”

If scholarships to Ole Miss had been available when her parents were young, Dr. Gafford said she believes both would have attended Ole Miss.

“I think they would be pleased that these new scholarships will help young people get a quality education and realize their full potential,” she said. “They both recognized the importance of a college education.”