At 96, Mrs. Eula Mae Dyar is the first to admit she has lived a long life, filled with adventure and love.
She was born near Hot Coffee and attended schools close by before graduating and heading to college at what is now known as the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). However, Dyar stated that when she attended it was known as Mississippi Southern.
After two years at USM she transferred to the University of Alabama “because I wanted to see a good football game! At that time, Alabama was number one in the nation.” While there Dyar had the opportunity to also attend the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
She obtained a degree in home economics with an endorsement in biology. However, Dyar recalled, “My daddy wanted me to be a home demonstration agent in Covington County. I told him that’s not for me.” She spent her first year teaching in the Collins School District before moving on to Purvis, Miss., where she met her husband, Sam Dyar. They remained in Purvis a few years before moving to Tylertown, and then to Mendenhall. Dyar taught in six different school systems.
Once in Mendenhall Dyar began teaching in the Puckett school system. While she only taught biology for a few years she loved it, she said. In addition, she has fond memories of her home ec classes there. “Before I retired they arranged for boys to have home ec. You talk about somebody that loved the activities— they did! They learned to make the best cakes. They adored cooking.”
Dyar and her husband were very civic minded and spent much of their time involved in community activities. Eula Mae was heavily involved in the Mendenhall Business Women’s Club (MBWC), even spearheading the development of the Alice Davis Park. She gives extensive credit to Bobby Booth, city manager at the time, for getting the park and gazebo built, saying he was most cooperative.
To raise money for the building of the park, the MBWC sold bricks at $100 each, with the name of the purchaser engraved upon it. The group still decorates the park for seasons like fall and holidays such as Christmas. Events are held throughout the year including weddings. While the city maintains the grounds, the MBWC handles everything else.
The mural that is part of the park landscape was repainted last year. When it was originally painted those participating paid to have their business or location featured.
Dyar taught an adult ladies Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Mendenhall for many years. She said, “From the time I started teaching Sunday School until the time I retired, I had taught 79 years.” She has many favorite Bible stories but “the birth of Jesus is the crux of it all. His life and influence; people admired and adored Him. He accepted their attention but He never forgot what His mission was.”
The Dyars enjoyed traveling as well. “My husband and I traveled quite a bit over the world. We’ve been to eight countries in Europe; been to Mexico. Been to England but didn’t get to Ireland. One day while in London we got to see some of them (royalty), not all of them; it was interesting. I loved it all.”
Sam died in 2008 and Eula Mae now lives in an assisted living facility. But she added cheerfully with a smile, “Life’s been nice; I’ve had a lot of fun!”
