Jasper News to award annual Maud Havener journalism scholarship

Published 2:09 pm Wednesday, December 21, 2005

“She was just a precious person!” How better could a individual be remembered?

Life-long Jasper resident Margaret Tuten uttered those very words in describing the life and memory of Maud McCall Havener – Nov. 22, 1901-Mar. 6, 1983.



Miss Maud was a former writer for the Jasper News newspaper. The Jasper News awards a journalism scholarship in the name of Maud Havener, annually to a deserving Hamilton County High School graduating senior. The $400 cash scholarship award will be presented to the selectee during the annual awards Honors Night at the high school auditorium May 4, beginning 7 p.m.



Group Publisher for Live Oak Publications Myra Regan, announced that a representative of the Jasper News will make the selection of and presentation to, the deserving senior, according to a set of criteria established over the years relative the communication industry.

Maud Havener who was a resident of Jennings, died at the age of 81 and was an editorial contributor to the Jasper News up until the time of her death. Miss Maud and her husband Walter (who predeceased Maud) lived at the old Hickory Bottoms Farms on Rt. 6W just off CR 141 in Jennings. Walter died in an unfortunate two-car accident within sight of the Havener residence, February 1960.



Maud was known throughout Hamilton County as a sincere, civic-minded, active church (First United Methodist) member, who gave unselfishly of herself, resources, time, effort and energy to any and all without division. Whether coming from those who knew her well – Margaret Tuten, Jack Vinson, Lillian Norris, Anna Cameron, Judy Moore, Norma Cook – or anyone else remembering the former Jennings school teacher, the sentiment was the same, “we just loved her.”



A willing host, Miss Maud opened her home and heart for showers, teas, receptions and ‘pair parties’ for many a young lady’s marriage intent. “As long as she was able, she had it at her home,” recalls Moore.



Young Robert Tuten, a cadet at the Citadel in Charleston, SC at the time, cherished the Jasper News sent from home, and along with the other cadets had to “read what Miss Havener wrote” from Hamilton County when the paper came out every week. Hamilton County readers were enjoying Maud’s newspaper work as far back as the mid-fifties.



Maud was raised an orphan and lived with her aunt in Wildwood prior to moving to Jennings. She taught school in Clearwater, Lake Park and Statenville, as well as Jennings.

She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority for retired teachers, along with the Order of the Eastern Star. Maud served on the Council of Aging and was a member of the Hamilton Historical Society, Jasper Garden Club and president/district officer of United Methodist Women. Maud McCall Havener is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper.



Maud taught school allright. Sometimes barefooted – as the story goes. Having to tend the chickens, prior to rushing to the Jennings classroom one morning, Maud soiled her shoes. Thinking she had an extra pair in the car, naturally Maud left shoeless – she would don the extra pair when she arrived at the school. You can guess the rest! No extra pair in the car and subsequently no shoes worn in the classroom. Maud taught that whole day barefooted.



Maud’s good works are preserved in memory – Maud’s good works are preserved in the Jasper News – Maud’s good works will continue to flourish through the endeavors of an aspiring HCHS student journalist, helped along with a scholarship conceived in her memory