A legacy of dedication: Alice Wilson James to be inducted into MCC Hall of Fame
It started with a phone call.
In 1964, Alice Wilson James received an unexpected request from Dr. Bill Scaggs, then-president of what was known as Meridian Junior College. The school had an unexpected surge in enrollment, and they needed a math instructor. James agreed to step in, planning to teach just a few algebra classes.
That temporary task turned into a 30-year career, shaping the lives of thousands of students. Now, James is being honored for her impact as she is inducted into the MCC Hall of Fame.
James is one of four honorees who will be inducted into the MCC Foundation’s Hall of Fame, on March 5. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in the McCain Theater in Ivy-Scaggs Hall. Other Hall of Fame recipients include James Carter, Wanda Dixon (posthumously), and Marmion Loving Francis.
James, who grew up in Cleveland, graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi State College for Women (now Mississippi University for Women) with a double major in mathematics and business. She later earned a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed 33 additional post-graduate hours at Mississippi State University.
Her professional experience included accounting roles in both the private and public sectors, including serving as head of the accounting department for the State Insurance Agency. However, her greatest passion was teaching. She taught at two high schools before joining MCC, where she spent three decades as a mathematics and accounting instructor.
During her tenure, James impacted hundreds of students each semester, earning numerous accolades, including MCC Teacher of the Year, MCCer of the Month, and the T.J. Harris Award for outstanding service to the college and community. She was also selected as a Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE) instructor and was one of 30 educators chosen for the 1986 National Conference on Accounting Education. Her dedication was further recognized when she was inducted into MCC’s Talon Club for her 30 years of service.
“I don’t call it work, I have a calling,” James said.
She described her time at MCC as fulfilling. “I was so happy here. I felt free to approach whatever method I wanted to. I had total support. No question – this was the best place for 30 years,” she said.
Beyond the classroom, James was a leader among her peers, serving as chairman of the MCC Faculty Senate and president of the MCC Faculty Association. Her commitment to service extended into the community, where she held leadership roles in the Poplar Springs School PTA, the Meridian Junior Auxiliary, and Delta Kappa Gamma. A dedicated member of the Church of the Mediator, she served on the Vestry, taught Sunday School, and spent 30 years as the church’s treasurer.
Her impact reached beyond the classroom. One of her proudest achievements was being asked to review and make suggestions for an accounting textbook, which was later used by MCC and Mississippi State University. Yet, for James, success was never measured by personal recognition.
“For me, I never thought I would consider myself successful simply by achieving wealth or personal recognition,” she said. “What made me feel successful was when my involvement with another individual, usually a student, resulted in a favorable outcome for that person.”
Her dedication to students extended even after retirement. The Great Southern National Bank established the Austin and Alice James Accounting Scholarship in honor of both her service to MCC and her late husband’s retirement from the bank. James and her husband, Austin, were married for 60 years before his passing in 2010. They had two children, Steven and Karen Lindsey James, as well as two grandsons, three great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
When asked about those she most admired, James credited MCC’s faculty and staff but singled out Dr. Scaggs for his leadership. “The administration, faculty, and staff at MCC during my tenure were beyond exceptional,” she said. “But I think I most admired Dr. Bill Scaggs for his ability to envision what MCC could and did become.”
James’ legacy at MCC is undeniable. Her dedication to education, leadership, and community service makes her a deserving addition to the MCC Hall of Fame, ensuring that her contributions to the college will be remembered for generations to come.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/halloffame.