In Memoriam: Emily Eugenia Summer, 1923-2016

Eugenia Summer, an esteemed painter and sculptor, who taught for 38 years at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, died on April 23 at the age of 92.

A native of Newton, Mississippi, Summer graduated in 1945 from what was then the Mississippi State College for Women with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in art. She also served as student body president. Professor Summer went on to earn a master’s degree at Columbia University in New York City and did further study at the Art Institute of Chicago, the California College of Arts, and the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina.

She returned to Mississippi to join the faculty at what is now the Mississippi University for Women in 1949. She remained on the faculty there until her retirement in 1987. From 1982 to her retirement, Professor Summer served as chair of thee Division of Fine and Performing Arts at the university.