The first lady of Judson College from 1970 to 1990 — Emma Lee “Kitty” Smalley McCrummen — died Feb. 23 in Mobile.
The 94-year-old was born in Ringling, Oklahoma, and reared on the V-8 Ranch, which was homesteaded by her paternal grandparents before Oklahoma was a state.
McCrummen, called “Kitty” by her family and friends, was valedictorian of her high school class and majored in music education in college. Her postgraduate study was in organ performance. She was a recitalist of both piano and organ.
For six decades she taught piano, organ, voice and Scripture; she directed choirs, plays and musicals. She resigned as a full-time organist at the age of 87. She was the past president of the Montgomery Music Club.
The love of her life was her husband of almost seven decades. They were opposites in personality but simpatico in everything else. For more than 60 years they were the closest of partners in the churches they served. During their years in Marion, when Norman Henry McCrummen II was president of Judson College, Kitty was the consummate hostess, a tireless worker on the campus grounds, a piano teacher and a role model for the young on how to live beautifully and fully and in service to God.
“Kitty McCrummen was a bright light in the life of Judson College,” Judson President David Potts said. “She deeply loved the students, faculty, staff, alumnae, trustees and all who were friends of Christian higher education for women. The beauty of her music, the warmth of her welcome, the boundless energy and her devotion to family were, and remain inspirational to, all of us. Her gifts of performance and teaching organ and piano readily blessed Judson College, Siloam Baptist Church and a host of children of faculty and residents of the community who were taught by her.
“Kitty McCrummen was tireless in her efforts to beautify the Judson campus with her flowers and shrubs. The flowering cherry trees and azaleas of this Spring will testify to her devotion,” Potts said. “Much like Paul in his letter to the Philippians, we thank our God for every remembrance of her! While we are deeply saddened by our earthly loss, we are keenly mindful and celebrate her homecoming. We grieve with the McCrummen family and express our love and support for them.”
McCrummen was preceded in death by her first husband, Captain Warren G. Collins, who was killed in service in 1943; and her husband of 67 years, Norman Henry McCrummen II; and her son, Warren G. McCrummen. She is survived by her son, Norman Henry McCrummen III (Nancy Rhodes); her daughter, Lynn McCrummen Johnson (C. Austin Johnson Sr.); six grandchildren; and her daughter-in-law, Catherine Martin McCrummen.
(Compiled from news reports in the Mobile Press-Register and at www.judson.edu)
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