She Takes Cake, Not Scrabble

Mary D. Mitchell Gets A Hug At Party Celebrating Her 95th Birthday

She Takes Cake, Not Scrabble

BY MARY JO FRANK

News Education Reporter

Mary D. Mitchell’s regular Tuesday afternoon Scrabble game was preempted this week.

By a birthday party.

The party, given by the Senior Citizens' Guild Tuesday Luncheon Club honored Mrs. Mitchell, who will be 95 on Feb. 3, and another club member, Gladys Ray, who admitted celebrating her birthday Jan. 8 but laughed off all inquiries regarding her age.

A smaller than usual group — smaller because of slick sidewalks and roads — gathered Tuesday for the Club's monthly birthday party.

The party featured the traditional chorus of "Happy Birthday” and iced cake. On the cake glowed an unknown number of candles, Mrs. Clarence Messner, president of the club, said, “There were just enough to make a heart shape.”

Mrs. Mitchell, for whom Mitchell Elementary School is named, will celebrate her birthday a second time this year at a family gathering Sunday. Thirty to 40 relatives are expected to attend. Mrs. Mitchell has five children, 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Mitchell, who was in the teaching profession a total of 30 years, began her career in her hometown community of Prattville in Hillsdale County after graduating from high school. She taught there two years before enrolling at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti where she received a teaching certificate. Mrs. Mitchell taught nine years in the Detorit Public Schools before moving to Ann Arbor with her family in 1920.

She started teaching in the east Ann Arbor area in 1930 in the Pittsfield District School No. 1. While in the Pittsfield District schools, she served as principal and, for a short time, as superintendent. Mrs. Mitchell retired in 1949. In November. 1957 voters in Ann Arbor School District and Pittsfield approved annexation of Pittsfield Elementary School and Mary D. Mitchell Elementary School to Ann Arbor.

Mrs. Mitchell, a Lurie Terrace resident, said she feels student learning is more diversified than when she was teaching third and fourth grades.

“There also is more participation by students in the school.

The former third and fourth grade teacher, who enjoys reading and keeps up with the news through television newscasts and The News, said although she knows her views of the world have changed in the last 10 to 15 years, it would be difficult to pinpoint the changes.

“You can’t help but change. You just can't stand still," Mrs. Mitchell said.

An optimist, Mrs. Mitchell said she doesn't believe the country is on the road to ruin.

“There are too many people who are interested in. their country to let something like that happen. Everybody has got to be busy to try to make things work out right," she added.

One positive sign she sees is an interest among young persons in the affairs of this country.

“There had been a tendency among younger people to let older people do things. They are beginning to realize they have, to do something too,” Mrs. Mitchell explained.