PICAYUNE — Jodi Marze

Lifestyles Editor

Mary Ellen Bright is this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior because of her high-energy, task oriented, community service which has spanned decades.

She and her husband, Dan, have two children, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and have been married for 52 years.

Her daughter, Sylvia Seal, describes her mother as “an energizer bunny,” and says, “I consider it an honor and a blessing to have such a strong woman as an example in my life.”

Bright was born in Electric Mills, Miss.

“The town got its name because it had a big electric mill to process the cut lumber. I believe it was the first in the state,” she says.

She went to Rush Memorial College of Nursing and received the Community Leader of America Award in 1969.

She came to Picayune in 1962 with her husband who worked at Crosby Memorial Hospital, now known as Highland Community Hospital. She began attending First Baptist Church with her husband Dan, and  is very active in church events.

“She really has a servant's heart.  Mary Ellen never wants to be in the spotlight, but she is one of those who will work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly,” says First Baptist pastor, the Reverend Keith Warden.

Bright became the county public health nurse and served in that capacity for 25 years. During that time she founded a chapter of the Nurses Association along with fellow nurses.

“I came from a place that had a Nurses Association Chapter and I was very active in it. When I came to Pearl River County, I found there was no chapter and after a couple of years I got some fellow nurses together and formed one. I was the first president.

“It was active for many years and I was the District 4 Nurse of the Year in 1969.”

Bright was also the Pearl River County Nurse of the Year in 1970 and Mississippi State Board of Health District 9 Nurse of the Year in 1987.

She received a Key to the City of Picayune from then mayor, Woody Spiers, upon her retirement and a proclamation that December 14,1990 was Mary Ellen Bright Day in Senate District 47 by Senator Margaret “Wootsie” Tate.

In Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 544, she received a commendation for outstanding service to her community and the state of Mississippi. The commendation addressed her years of service to the county which spanned five generations, involvement with Crosby Memorial Library, the Citizens Committee of Mississippi, State Department of Archives and History. It also addressed her multiple certificates of appreciation from various organizations and groups. It noted her ability to keep aware of changing medical needs of the community, taking classes to further her understanding of those issues and then addressing those needs with educational programs on topics such as the devastating effects of children having children through creating community awareness to name a few. 

In addition to the nurses association, Bright has been active in the Jaycees and Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune (CWC). She was one of the founders of the local SPCA and served as treasurer in the beginning years. As a Jaycee, she helped with the Christmas Parade and other projects while at the same time served the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune.

Bright’s good friend, Shirley Stough, says, “Mary Ellen is known for her loyalty and patriotism. She gives one hundred percent in any group to which she belongs. If you drive by her home on a national holiday, you will find her house because it's the one with the most American flags flying.”

Fellow club woman and past president, Darlene Adams, says, "What has impressed me the most about Mary Ellen is regardless of her age, she's not one to sit back and let others do the work. The Civic Woman's Club had a dedication award named after her, and rightly so. She continues to serve the community in many ways. When I was looking for people to serve on two of our senior center community committees, I knew I could count on her. "

Bright has held all positions in the CWC as well as chairing it’s most important events such as the Christmas Parade and Christmas Pilgrimage. She has also held positions District President, Chaplain and Treasurer.

In January, Bright received her pin for 50 years of CWC membership.

“That was such a surprise,” she says, “When they called me up there for that I was just so surprised.

“I love people and it has led me to have the career in public health that I had and has led me to be active in the community. I like projects that can be done to support and benefit the city. I love this city,” she says.

As for all of the awards on her wall, Bright says, “I’m not slowing down, I have run out of room on this wall and will just have to take on another wall to put future awards on.”

[Editor’s note: Is there someone you would like for us to consider for our Super Senior feature? Send us an email or fax with details, including your contact information to: jmarze@picayuneitem.com or fax 601-798-8602.]