It shouldn’t take you very long to figure out who this year’s Hometown Hero is. She has been involved with CARE for many years now, being one of its founding members and serving as president.
And while most of you Charlestonians have gained knowledge from her tutelage, even us transplants are well acquainted with her and respect her.
She grew up in Taylor, Mississippi, and graduated from Taylor Vocational High School as the valedictorian of her class. She is a graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in social studies. She also completed additional graduate level course studies at Jackson State and the University of Mississippi.
She worked for more than 38 years as an English teacher at Allen-Carver Vocational School and then at Charleston High School.
She was selected “Star Teacher” at least twice in her career and was known to have high academic standards and expected the students she taught to excel. She is highly respected in this community for the number of students she has mentored and taught. She was an active member of her professional organization, the Mississippi Association of Educators.
She has been a member of New Town Baptist Church for over 50 years and a former member of the North Hopewell Baptist church in Taylor. She has served in several leadership positions such as the Pastor’s Aid President, President of the Adult Choir, Youth Director, Senior Choir Director, Sunday school teacher, Baptist Training Union teacher, etc.
She is no stranger to involvement in this community. She chaired a myriad of programs and outreach initiatives. Not only was she one of the founding members of CARE, she was instrumental in the running of the former CARE Closet, which not only allowed low income families to purchase quality donated clothing for pennies, but provided necessary items for those who had lost their homes in tragic fires.
She has donated hundreds of hours of her time over the years to causes, including the American Cancer Society, and serving on the Faith Food Pantry committee, which provides food to those in need.
She has been a member of the local community choir, the United Voices of Hope, and was a member of the quartet, Echoes of Faith.
She is also extremely gifted in her own right, being well-versed in classical literature, writing short stories, songs and plays. She loves gardening and is a pet enthusiast.
One song that she composed, “Just Look Where We’ve Come From,” is performed at her church and in the community.
These days she spends time in service to her church, working in her flower beds, gardening, doing yoga and physical fitness.
She has been married to her husband, James, for over 59 years. They are parents to Ricky, the late Andrea, Craig and Ericka. They are grandparents to Maia, Bryson, GiaVanni and Vincent.
The 2023 Hometown Hero is Mary Micou.
Editor's note: This tribute to Mary Micou was read aloud during the Oct. 14 Gateway to the Delta Festival in Charleston by Dana Clolinger, executive director of the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort. The text has been edited.
