Oseola McCarty

2posts

"I Want Someone to Have a Chance I Never Had" — The Washerwoman Who Gave $150,000 to Send Strangers to College: Oseola McCarty's Story

In 1995, Oseola McCarty, an 87-year-old washerwoman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, donated $150,000 of her life savings to the University of Southern Mississippi for scholarships. A woman who never finished elementary school changed hundreds of lives and reminded America what true generosity looks like.

Jul 6, 2026

"Send Them to School for Me" — Oseola McCarty, the Washerwoman Who Gave Her Life Savings to Send Strangers to College

Oseola McCarty spent 75 years washing other people's clothes by hand in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, saving every penny she could. In 1995, at age 87, she donated $150,000 of her life savings to fund scholarships at the University of Southern Mississippi, stunning the nation and igniting a movement of generosity.

Apr 20, 2026