Penny Wasson Dralle

Penelope "Penny" Wasson Dralle, PhD, was born May 31, 1942, in Kosciusko, MS, to David and Evelyn Wasson. She was the eldest born of four children, with siblings David George Wasson (deceased), Melissa Barrett, and Zachariah Wasson (deceased). At the age of 19, she married Walter Vance Davis III (deceased), and subsequently Werner Fred Dralle (deceased). In 1975, she married James Barth "Bart" Reilly. Bart is blessed to have spent the best fifty years of his life married to Penny. Penny and Bart have a son, Edmund Sean Reilly; one granddaughter, Lauren Mackenzie Reilly; and one grandson, Dominic James Reilly (deceased).Penny’s life of involvement and service started early. She was a member of her high school band as well as a band majorette; performed in the junior and senior plays, playing the lead in Dear Ruth as a senior; was honored as the junior maid on homecoming court; and attended Girls State. Penny served in the Beta Club, Academic Honor Society, and the Student Council, where she was secretary/treasurer her junior and senior years. She was also active in the chancel choir at her Methodist church, playing the piano and organ, and a member of the Methodist youth fellowship. Her high school annual, The Whippet, described her as “having a striking smile and Southern charm,” a description that remained accurate her entire life.

An avid learner, Penny earned her BA in Psychology from Jacksonville University and her MA and PhD in Psychology from Louisiana State University. She spent her first year of college at Millsaps, where she enthusiastically joined Phi Mu sorority.

In 1969, Dr. Dralle joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. She later became a tenured associate professor. Her teaching focused on medical ethics, group dynamics, and small group processes. Dr. Dralle was the Chief Psychologist on the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit for LSU Medical School at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She was also the Co-Program Director of the Assertive Outreach Program and the Partial Hospital Program, as well as the Director of the Mental Health Program for the Delta Region AIDS Education and Training Center for Healthcare Professionals.

In 2006, Penny became President of Penelope W. Dralle, PhD, Consulting Psychologist, LLC, where she specialized in the psychological testing and evaluation of police, fire, and EMT recruits. She received her advanced certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2012. Dr. Dralle was also a member of the American Psychological Association and served as President of the Louisiana Psychological Association. The highlight of her career was having the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, being honored to hear the life stories of so many diverse individuals and working with talented and caring faculty and staff members to address critical mental health issues in our society.

Penny was an involved member of St. George's Episcopal Church in New Orleans, where she served on the Vestry, the Endowment Committee, the Creation Care Committee, and the Racial Reconciliation Committee. She also sang in the church choir and served as a Eucharistic Minister, as well as serving on the Executive Board of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. She represented St. George's Church as the Board Secretary for St. George's Episcopal School and as a member of Together New Orleans. A member of her church family put it best when he said he wanted to call her a cornerstone of St. George’s but couldn’t because cornerstones are still; Penny never stayed still but instead worked tirelessly for causes that were important to her.

Penny continued to grow and learn from every new challenge and each person she met. She completed a course in contemplation and care for creation, spending time with nature, meditating and contemplative prayer. She enjoyed her spiritual reawakening and continued her mission to be caring, loving, and respectful of all the blessings of creation. Penny loved visiting family and friends, gardening, traveling, nature, and children, hosting a creation care retreat for teens as recently as this past spring. Never one to pass up a good time, Penny was a member of the Krewe of Iris for many years and reveled in reminding people, “Number one, sidewalk side.” She was also a member of the Uptown Bucktown Social Aid and Pleasure Club and was a former queen.

A visitation for Penny will be held on Friday, July 11, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. George's Episcopal Church, 4600 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans. A Requiem Eucharist will immediately follow at 1:00 PM. The service will be live-streamed on the St. George’s Episcopal Church New Orleans Facebook page. A graveside service will take place on Saturday, July 12, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Parkway Cemetery, 823 S. Huntington St., Kosciusko, MS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church or the Center for Deep Green Faith.