University of Mississippi professor emeritus Jerilou Moore was surprised by her husband, Walt, on their recent golden wedding anniversary: He established a scholarship endowment in her name for School of Education students.
The Dr. Jerilou J. Moore School of Education Scholarship Endowment was created with a gift of more than $53,000 to provide support for deserving education majors.
“I did this to honor my wife on our 50th wedding anniversary,” said Walt Moore of Oakland, Mississippi, a recently retired cotton farmer. “I know how much Ole Miss, the School of Education and her students meant to her.”
“It was a great surprise,” Jerilou Moore said. “How he kept that a secret was amazing! He gave me the scholarship Memorandum of Agreement, and I was so moved — I cried. I just wish more people would think about doing things like that.”
On the gift benefiting future teachers, she said, “The way we are going to change the world is through children. And, the world’s a better place if you have an education. By helping other people, they will hopefully, in turn, give back.”
The Moores were high school sweethearts. Walt graduated from Mississippi State University, and Jerilou earned an undergraduate and master’s degree at the Mississippi University for Women. She later pursued a specialist degree in elementary education from the UM School of Education, where she also received a doctorate.
For 13 years, Jerilou Moore dedicated her life to teaching children in the K-12 setting. She started her teaching career in the Coffeeville School District and later taught at Kirk Academy in Grenada, MS. Following her years in the classroom, she became an administrator with Oxford University School. Prior to joining the School of Education, she worked for the Barksdale Reading Institute. Moore became a professor of Teacher Education, retiring in 2020.
“All my experiences at Ole Miss were wonderful. I loved every second of my career, every student and all my colleagues,” she said. “I still stay in touch with my students; that’s what keeps me joyful. To hear about their first jobs and teaching experiences, marriages and babies, those things make me feel like I continue to be a real part of their lives.”
School of Education Dean David Rock said a scholarship endowment in Moore’s name is a testament to her passion for teaching.
“Jerilou was totally engaged with her students and fellow faculty members,” he said. “She was an excellent teacher who impacted many lives, and now her legacy will be further expanded as this scholarship impacts even more students. We are grateful to Walt for his generous anniversary gift.”
Sam Gilbert — a clinical assistant professor in the School of Education who was just named among Oxford’s “Top 20 Under 40” — is one of Moore’s former students. She credits the professor for encouraging her to earn a doctorate.
“I never had any doubts about pursuing a degree in education. It was not a matter of choosing a career path but rather following my passion,” she said.
“However, what I did not expect was to continue my education and obtain a Ph.D. in elementary education. This was a possibility I had not considered until I met Dr. Jerilou Moore, with whom I worked as a graduate assistant during my master’s program. She planted the seed of pursuing a doctoral degree,” Gilbert said.
“Dr. Moore introduced me to the academic world and the opportunities that education could provide. She illustrated how rewarding it was to conduct research, build relationships with students and contribute to the knowledge base of the field.”
The Moores previously funded the Dr. Jerilou Moore Education Support Fund to assist with various projects and initiatives in the School of Education.
To make a gift to the Dr. Jerilou J. Moore School of Education Scholarship Endowment, mail a check to the University of Mississippi Foundation, with the fund’s name written in the memo line, to 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; or online here.
To learn how to support the School of Education, contact Kelly Smith Marion, director of development, at ksmith13@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2007.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development