Pearlean Y. McReynolds, a lifelong resident of Louisville, MS, transitioned away peacefully on Monday, May 3rd, 2021—after fighting a tenacious battle against Multiple Myeloma.
McReynolds’ career spanned over 40 years as a Home Economics teacher at Louisville High School and Vocational Technology Center. Pearlean received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Alcorn State University in 1969. She received a Master of Education degree in Home Economics Education in 1978 from Mississippi University for Women.
Pearlean was a devoted mentor, educator, sponsor, and advocate. She volunteered her time to various organizations throughout the community including Nu Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Union Chapel M.B. Church where she served as a musician, Sunday School teacher, choir directress, and member of the finance committee; Mt. Olive Bethel Harmony District; New Education State Congress where she served as statistician and historian; and the Winston County Self-Help Cooperative (WCSHC).
McReynolds was a bona-fide leader in her own right. She was the founder of the Ebonette Club’s Scholarship Pageant, which yielded over $100,000 in college scholarships to African American women graduating high school between 1973-2013. Pearlean also served as a baker for the Community Volunteer Dinner; council board member of Mississippi Action for Progress; chairperson of the Winston County Complex Head Start Health Advisory Committee; Vice President of the Winston County Retired Teachers Association, and a former sponsor for the Family, Careers and County Leaders of America, Inc., (FCCLA).
In addition, Pearlean was a strong advocate and supporter of Alcorn State University and a financial supporter of the ASU Foundation and Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band. She was President of the Alcorn State University Louisville-Winston Alumni Chapter and was a member of the ASU National Alumni Association – as well as a national recruiter for the University.
McReynolds has awards and commendations for her tireless work in professional and community service including the Vernon Dahmer Award from the Winston County Branch of the NAACP (2012); Winston County Career and Technology Center Teacher of the Year; Alcorn State Hall of Honors Inductee (2010); National Frank Dobbins Alcorn Chapter President of the Year Award (2016); Alcorn Golden Class Graduate (2019) and Alcorn State Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree (2019).
During her career, she carried students to various local, state, and national competitions. She credits one of her many accomplishments as teaching and mentoring student Dylanda Miller-Hall how to sew and pursue fashion design. Dylanda later designed a dress that was worn by former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Pearlean Y. McReynolds is survived by her husband Columbus McReynolds. They have one daughter, Dr. Melanie McReynolds—a nationally acclaimed Biochemist/Scientist—HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow and Burroughs Wellcome Fund PDEP awardee at Princeton University, who recently accepted an Assistant Professor position at the Pennsylvania State University as the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Llyod Huck Early Career Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, starting January 2022.
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