The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-02
MRS. COMER GAVE
 NUCLEUS FOR. HOME
 FOR YOUNG WOMEN
Her $25,000 Donation Made Possible the Methodist Cooperative Institution
 Now Being Formed :.
By CAROLYN B. ELLIOTT

ny D.
 The Eva Conner Co-operat tive Home for Business Women-a name worthy the Methodist home that soon will shelter 1U0 young business women of this city. name chosen because of the love the late Mrs. B. B. Conner bore the young womanhood of Ala hama.
 Like the mother WHO sought to com fort her own son in the trenches, and who found herself ministering to the need of every other mothers son, so, the rhother-heart of this consecrated woman. warm with love for the daughters around her own fireside, was not barred in the wide sympathy that, during her life, was extended to all young women with whom she came Tn contact. Though Mrs. Conner has passed into the great beyond her sympathetic care her thoughtfulness of other mothers daughters. will live as a blessed heritage in everyday protection of hundreds of girls who, because of her gift of $25,000, will be enabled to find room in a Christian home.
 It was last summer when Mrs. Conner was spending the season with pr. and Mrs. George R. Stuart at Junaluska. N. C.. that. after talking with her own family. she expressed
 
 regard to special work she was con- templating for the young business and working women of Alabama. She had two or three objects under considera- tion, and at that time was trying to determine in what way her personal estate could best serve the young wo- manhood of Alabama.
 Because of the fact that her hus-, band and sons were interested in the welfare of the young women of the business and industrial world, Mrs. Conner stated to Dr. Stuart that it was Der desire that part of her estate should be directed to the interests of the young women of Birmingham who were employed in any line of business to earn their daily bread. After this expression of her desires and after the mothers voice was stilled her hus- band and children, in consultation with Dr. Stuart. decided that her wishes could be carried out best by providing for the business young wo- men of this city a comfortable home for the years to come. The $29,00O devoted to this as Mrs. Comer's per sonal contribution does not include the gifts of Senator Conner nor the mem- bers of his family |
 The conclusion to devote the money to the cooperative home was reached partly from the fact that the women of the Methodist Church. to which she was earnestly devoted. had announced a campaign to raise funds for this purpose When the decision was com municated to the committee in charge of the work. meeting of the City Mission Board was called. and when the announcement was made by Dr. Stuart it was received with deep ap- rreciation, voiced in the resolutions, unanimously adopted that the home should be named the Eva Conner Co., operative Home for Business Young Women. , Mrs Corners gift was the first con- tribution toward the fund of S75,000t for the purchase and maintenance of the home. which is to be located in the old William Walker property and apartments in the rear on Eighteenth street. The campaign that will be in progress another week for the collec- lion of this amount is meeting with hearty response and it is considered now that the doors of the home will be opened in few months. Mrs. Fields. trained worker along these lines from Biloxi. Miss. will be- ! sent to Birmingham by the Woman's Missionary Council of the Southern Methodist Church as superintendent in charge of the home. That the girls will be ready for her sympathetic care and counsel. and for the protection that the home will offer is best ex-r pressed by some of the business wo-, men themselves in the following let ters received by Dr. F. B. Wells after his sermon, which appeared in last Sundays Age Herald. in the interest of the co-operative home. One splen- did business girl. who is struggling 10 make her own way. says:
 ''I am a young woman, just starting out ito make my way since my fathers death in December. l started on salary of $ week and now make slo. My room is on the third floor of boarding house on -- avenue, and it costs me Sl5 month I have $25 month left to feed and clothe myself. I don't have any heat in my room, so won't be able to stay here next winter Please hurry with the home and help us very soon.'
 A second letter received by Dr. Wells last week runs as follows:
 'T have been reading with much pleas lure of your interest in behalf of home for business women. am particularly (Centinued on Page Nine)