Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-01-27
MRS. LURA BRACKET
LlcHTNER.

for December.)
Storer College is rich in the herit
age Of earnest, devoted workers. Few
institutions Of the land have had as
ISOLATED with them in continuous en-
deavor one who thus invaded fifty
five years. Fortunate are they i
such may have been the case. So hai
it been with Storer.
From the noble hills Of Maine
during the days when one of hel
lineage and ideals was not the mos
welcome visitor south of the Poto
mac, came Miss Lura Bracket. Here
was a mission of helpfulness. As was
the case with many another early
worker in the schools of the south es.
| tablished for the uplift Of the lately
| freedmen, she was misinterpreted
and was made to feel that in some
considerable measure she was of that
group, who taking advantage Of the
unsettled conditions obtaining in the
South. earned for themselves the dis
gust Of their friends and the oppro-
brious appelation of the people of
the states lately in rebellion. Gar
perbagger'. But Of such a group
she never by sentiment, feelings,
purposes, was a member. Hers was
a mission of merciful helpfulness,
and always during the frightening
years there was in her mind the
thought of somehow guideing and
inspiring those TO. whom she had CIV
en- the fruitful years of her life. Rad
ical changes came in the natural or
L. IL
partial fulfillment of some of her
girlish dreams. Doubtless some of
the more recent manifestations of
restlessness and unwillingness to con-
form to some of the older and more
securely established ideals, OCCASION
ed in her some concern for the flu
ture. But always was she a for
ward looking leader. She was one
who conformed her course of action
to changing conditions, though in
this she was not inclined to favor the
radical departures of the day.
Mrs. Lightner was a sympathetic
mother to the girls, who came to her
while she presided in Myrtle Hall
She knew and shared their struggles.
When they were discouraged. she
furnished the bright beam that lead
them onward When they came to
the end of their resources, in some
mysterious manner she was the in
strument whereby their days here
were heightened. Seldom was a
worthy girl allowed to leave Storer
College, or to be denied admittance
from narrow resources. How many,
who have gone forth to live and die.
could rise up and call her memory
blessed, were they to speak out of
the fullness of the hearts?
Through all those early years when
poverty and happiness were twins.
she believed in the coming of bet
ter time. And when later time
came and the grind of want had less
ened somewhat among those for
whom the school was established,
she still found ample reasons for
cheer and belief in better to-mor-
row.
How wise she was as in delibera-
tions of faculty! How inclined to.
ward mercy with the erring! For
her it was easier to forget and for
give than to merely mete out hard
Justice.
After her marriage with Mr.. S W
Lightner, she touched the community
/ life little more widely and became
/ one of the most prominent women ir
j the general life of the town. There
was not a worth while activity here
which found her interest wanting
and with quiet method, usually un,
known she helped not a few to fine
the brighter side of life. Those
needing help in preparing themselve.
for a better usefulness found in hel
one ready to aid.
As worker in and president of tht
local Womans Club, she had M
small part in making possible the
ownership of the present cosy clul
home. As vice president of the Banl
| of Harpers Ferry, her voice hac
weight in the deliberations of thai
body.
When the first of February last
she was unable to do her accustom
ed work and found the quiet of home
and rest the needful thing. the sole
itous thoughts of all her friend.
were with her And as the dav.
slipped forward and there seemed
little hope that she would ever be ar
active one in the midst. still as hel
mind frightened, there was the oc
casional cheerful word. But the
wearied frame had worn itself out
and when on that August day tht
end seemed near. the clouds above
US broke and as the flood of ricl
noon day sunshine made resplenden
all earthly things, her tired bod
/, quivered and was quiet and her sou
took its flight to a long eternity. Anc
now in very truth she belongs to tn,
ages.
None other can ever have the var
led experiences which fifty-fye year
brought to her here. None other viii
ever be able to do a work here com
paratable to that she did as teacher
councillor. friend The last year
Of her service for Storer Colleg
were spent as Treasurer. In thi
. work with a care and fidelity TO tn
trust imposed, she rendered a dis
tinct service to the college.
Of her, as of one of old, it may b
said, cher works do follow her..