Emma L. McCain

A celebration of the life of Emma L. McCain will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Magnolia cemetery with the Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mrs. McCain, 95, of Meridian, died Saturday, December 5, 2009 at Rush Foundation Hospital. She would have celebrated her 96th birthday on December 18. A native of Vicksburg, she called Meridian "home" for most her life. She attended Belhaven College and completed her bachelor's degree at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was associated with the American Red Cross and then spent 26 years as personnel manager with the East River Savings Bank in New York City.  Her love of music continued throughout her life. She played the violin with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra for many years and she established an endowment to bring guest musicians to perform with the MSO. She also createda fine arts endowment at Meridian Community College.  In 1992, she was named Philanthropist of the Year by The MCC Foundation, and, in 2001, the college theater was named The McCain Theater. She also served as Meridian's Art Patron of the Year in 2000 and was one of the charter members of Lifetime Quest at MCC, the first learning in retirement center among the state's community colleges.  One of the 2008 Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts was presented to her during a special ceremony in Jackson. That same year she was also recognized by Belhaven College with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.  Ms. McCain served many years as a member of both The MCC Foundation and the Meridian Symphony Boards. Her gifts of time also included leadership positions with the Pierian Literary Club, the Matinee Music Club and the Galaxy Club. She was an avid duplicate bridge player. Survivors include cousins Ree O'Connell, Willard Holcomb and Jane Cutlip, all of Waynesboro; Evelyn Roell of  Jackson; Camille Taylor of Dallas, Texas; and two devoted caregivers, Victoria McCarra of Quitman and Catherine Hampton of Meridian. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. McCain, and her brother, Joe McCain of Jacksonville, Fla. The family requests that Ms. McCain be remembered with gifts to The MCC Foundation, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, the Meridian Public Library or a favorite charity. Visitation will be held 30 minutes prior to the celebration program.