June 26, 1940 - December 17, 1980
George Ann Stevens Osborne
28 years ago my mom died after a several year battle with leukemia. As a high school senior looking for independence, I didn't appreciate her too much. Now I would love to have her input and have her comradery as I love and raise my children. She was a remarkable woman - loved by all who had the opportunity to get to know her.
Number two in a line of seven children, she was born to a hard working cabinet maker and devoted Southern Baptist wife. As a child she loved learning and music, and she wrote of becoming a missionary. Love swept her off her feet in high school, not deterring her from becoming Class of 1958 Valedictorian, but changing her mission from missionary to Stenographer. She became a faithful supporter of her husband who was making his way through college. In 1962 she earned the humorous Putting Husband Through degree from Florida State University Dames Club.
About the time my sister and I were well into elementary school she began to work on her college degree. After graduating, she became one of the most loved English high school teachers in my town teaching cool courses like Rock Poetry and Bible as Literature. Often I was stopped by students that told me how much they liked her or that they appreciated her work with the drama club. This is the announcement that was read over the PA system the morning of her death:
December
17, 1980
May I have your attention please
for a special and very sad announcement?
Early this
morning Mrs. George Anne Osborne, a member of our faculty passed away. Mrs. Osborne had been a teacher of English in
our school for six years. During that
time she earned a reputation as an outstanding teacher – one who genuinely
cared for her students and who literally could teach anything assigned to
her. She also served for several years
as our Drama Club Advisor.
It is
difficult to describe briefly what faculty and students thought of Mrs.
Osborne. A few descriptive words might
help – creative, intelligent, conscientious, perceptive, sensitive, personable,
dedicated, positive, a sense of humor, a superior teacher.
She was
herself an outstanding student – a magna cum laude graduate from Southern
Connecticut State College.
Although
with us for a relatively short time as careers are measured, she will remain in
the hearts and minds of many of us for years to come. We have lost a superior teacher, a truly
professional colleague and a dear friend to all of us at Trumbull High School. We extend our sincere sympathy to the members
of her family, particularly to her daughters, Lesley, a student at Madison Junior High School,
and to Suzanne, a student at Trumbull High School.
Would
everyone please join me now in a moment of silence in honor of her memory.
Thank You.
This past Thanksgiving, I was able to take a run by our high school and see the plaque given in her memory that still remains in the gardens in the courtyard. Often my mind runs by the many influences she had in my life - She faithfully brought me to church where I heard the gospel preached and began to develop a relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. She read aloud books like Strawberry Girl and The Moffats instilling in me a love of literature and giving me a tradition I would carry on with my children. She dragged me to musicals and Shakespearean dramas on Broadway and concerts of classical music which (she would smile) have become part of what all (or at least my children) should experience to have a full life. She inspired in me an eye for beauty and desire to create. And she saw my strengths and did everything she could to give me opportunity to develop them.
Life for her was short, but what an impact she had. I miss her and often think what fun she'd have creativily sewing a Civil War costume for an ever greatful grandson or reading aloud to whichever grandchild would crawl onto her lap or watching her grandkids perform in her favorite musicals like Fiddler on the Roof. In these things I see her, and her impact lives on.
I'm chronicling her writing and stories. If you have one to add, please write. Thank you!
