PRENTIS AND CARRIE MAE HEDGE

The following bio was taken from page 232 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

William Prentis Hedge and Carrie Mae Carruthers were married January 4, 1934. Carrie Mae, born in Galveston County to William Sale Carruthers and Bessie Spencer Carruthers, had come to Rusk County in the fall of 1931 to teach English at the Oak Hill School. She and several Oak Hill teachers boarded in the home of Cullie Hugh Hedge, father of her future husband, Prentis Hedge, born in Rusk County, was the son of Cullie Hugh Hedge and Mary Bennett Hedge.

After their marriage, Carrie Mae and Prentis lived in Henderson. He worked for Flanaigan-Chamberlain Chevrolet, and she continued her teaching career in the Henderson Schools, in 1936, they built the house at 501 Woodlawn, which was to be their home throughout their married life.

The Hedges’ first child, Carol Ann, was born in 1941. Ann Hedge later married Pat Warren Skinner, son of Evrett and Inez Skinner of Henderson. A second daughter, Lana Sharon, was born in 1943. Sharon Hedge married John Berry Blackwood, son of Dixie and J. C. Blackwood of Henderson.

Carrie Mae Hedge graduated from East Texas State Teachers College (now East Texas State University) with a degree in education. Teaching was the great enthusiasm of her life, and she was highly regarded as an educator. She suspended her career for eight years following the birth of her first child, then returned to the profession in 1951 when she was named principal of Central Elementary School, a position she held until her retirement in 1974. While enjoying the challenge and opportunities of her role as administrator, she often remarked that her heart was in the classroom.

Not surprisingly, in addition to her duties as principal, Carrie Mae continued to teach. Every year she drew from the student body those children who most needed help or enrichment, and the principal’s office became a classroom.

She was a member of the Classroom Teaches Association and the Texas School Administrators Association. She served as president of both the local and regional Texas State Teachers Association and was named as a Texas delegate to the National Education Association Convention in Los Angeles in 1955. She was also a life time member of the Parent-Teacher Association. The Carrie Mae Hedge Teaching Center was established in her name at her death.

Prentis Hedge grew up in the heyday of Rusk County’s farming era. He attended the rural Oak Hill Schools and worked at his father’s farm and cotton gin. In the 1940’s he owned and operated a Texaco Service Station on the southeast corner of South Main and East Ragley. He then worked at Smith Chevrolet Company and was a twenty-five-year member of Chevrolet Motor Company’s Legion of Leaders.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hedge were active in community affairs. They were founding members of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, where both served on the vestry. Prentis served various terms as Senior Warden, and Carrie Mae served as Church School Superintendent, choir director, and member of the Woman’s Guild.

Prentis Hedge is a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club. He served as president of the Rusk County Easter Seal Society, as a member of the board of the East Texas Treatment Center (building committee) and chairman of the Kiwanis Club Crippled Children Program.

Carrie Mae Hedge served as president of the local American Cancer Society and as president of the Henderson Woman’s Club. She was also a member of the American Association of University Woman.

Submitted by Sharon Hedge Blackwood