Guilford College - Quaker Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

Page 12 text:

THE Q.UA.]PC] R Mary Mendenhall Hobbs There is not in all literature a more beautiful tribute to an exemplary life and character than the half dozen words spoken of a woman for an act that has made her name a gracious memorial, She hath done what she could. ' And no words of less import than these could be used to set forth the character and work of the subject of this sketch — Mary Mendenhall Hobbs. Every community that is so fortunate as to claim for its own one of these rare souls who has the ability to perform a task and the heart to pursue it is indeed blessed above all neighbor- hoods. What New Garden community and Guilford College owe to Mrs. Hobbs cannot be told in words. Mary Mendenhall Hobbs, oldest daughter of Dr. Nereus Mendenhall and Orianna Wilson Mendenhall, was born at Jamestown, North Caro- lina, in 1852. Her father. Dr. Mendenhall, was one of Guilford County ' s great men and a distinguished citizen of the State: her mother a woman of excellent parts and rare culture. From them and from her early training under their immediate supervision Mrs. Hobbs received those traits of gentle firmness and broad sympathies so characteristic of her in all her work. Educated in the best schools of the time, she felt herself drawn to- ward the profession of teaching, and entered upon her duties at New Garden Boarding School in 1877 as instructor in Latin and History, where she continued for three years. In 1880 she was married to Lewis Lyndon Hobbs, who was at that time principal of the school. From that day she, with Dr. Hobbs, has devoted her life to the great task of education and service not only for the school, college, and community, but also for a widely extended field as the call from time to time has come to her. John Ruskin somewhere calls to our mind the ancient habit of strew- ing flowers before those whom we think most happy, in order to de- ceive them into the hope that hapiness is always to fall thus in showers at their feet. He continues by saying that the path of a good woman is indeed strewn with flowers, but that they rise behind her steps. This is as it should be, and thus it is with Mrs. Hobbs. Particularly in this regard is the work that she has done and the interest she has taken in the education of the young women of the State. In 1889 Mrs. Hobbs became actively interested in the provision of greater educational facil-

Page 11 text:

TO MARY MENDENHALL HOBBS THIS VOLUME OF THE QUAKER IS DEDICATED AS A TOKEN OF ESTEEM FOR HER LOYAL INTEREST IN GUILFORD

Page 13 text:

THE ( UAlbCER. ities for the young women of North CaroHna, and especially that suit- able arrangements be made at Guilford College for the accommodation of those who were unable to bear the expense of a college training. As a result the Girls Aid Committee of North Carolina Yearly Meeting was organized, and what later became known as the cottage system was established for the accommodation of these worthy girls. As chairman of this committee Mrs. Hobbs made possible the attendance at Guilford College of hundreds of young women from all sections of the State to whom, otherwise, the collage portals would have remained forever closed. As the success of this enterprise was established and the con- cern grew upon her and her associates in the work, the need of an ade- quate dormitory for these girls was laid before the Yearly Meeting and the friends of the college. As a result, through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Hobbs, after almost seemingly insurmountable difficulties had been overcome, the task was accomplished, and an excellent brick building, modern in every convenience, with kitchen and spacious dining hall and dormitory accommodations for fifty girls, was completed in 1907. By this method hundreds of girls, who otherwise must have endured intellec- tual starvation, have received a good education, and by it many other hundreds yet to come will be prepared for life and for service in the world. Verily behind the steps of Mary M. Hobbs will rise flowers that will bless her for having blessed them, and will love her for having loved them. Furthermore, Mrs. Hobbs was among the first to realize the neces- sity of establishing a State school where young women might have the same opportunities for education that the young men enjoy at the Agri- cultural College and the State University: and she petitioned the Legis- lature in the matter. Soon thereafter the State Normal and Industrial College was established at Greensboro. And Mrs. Hobbs was always regarded by Dr. Mclver, its first president, as one of its staunchest friends and most valued supporters. Although she taught no classes at Guilford College, her presence on the campus and the delightfully instructive and scholarly addresses given by her from time to time are remembered with great delight by every student of the institution. Her unanimous election as an honor- ary member of the Guilford Alumni Association is only a feeble token of the great love and esteem in which she is held by the members. Her gracious manner, with kindly words of encouragement and motherly in- terest have been a veritable balm to the soul of many who might other- wise have fallen by the wayside. The interest of Mrs. Hobbs in the establishment and maintenance of