The West Virginia University Foundation has received $2.2 million from the estate of Mary Jackson of Jane Lew to provide scholarships for students from LewisCounty to attend the University.

Jackson, who died in April at the age of 98, lived most of her life in Jane Lew, where her family operated a general store. She taught junior high school in Jane Lew and Ohio and also worked in the Sate Education Office in Charleston. Following her retirement, she traveled, spending time in the Far East and Europe.

She attended MaryBaldwinCollege and received a bachelors degree in education from West VirginiaWesleyanCollege. She earned a masters degree in education from WVU in 1928.

She was also active in Chi Omega Sorority.

The Mary M. Jackson Scholarship Fund will benefit students who qualify for admission to WVU and meet national guidelines for need. First preference will be given to students who reside in Jane Lew.

“This fund will enable generations of LewisCounty students, many of whom would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend WVU ,”said F. Duke Perry, president of the WVU Foundation.”Scholarship funds, such as the one provided by Mary Jackson, enable the University to expand its capacity of assisting deserving studentsa cornerstone of WVU s land-grant mission.”

According to Jackson Anderson, a long-time family friend and her attorney, Jackson strongly believed in education and family. She also was very interested in the history of Jane Lew and her family. Jackson had one brother, the late George J. Jackson of Clarksburg.

The scholarship endowment was created through the WVU Foundation in conjunction with Building Greatness, Campaign: West VirginiaUniversity , a $250 million fundraising effort it is conducting on behalf of the University. The Foundation, a private non-profit organization, is the designated agency to receive and administer gifts from private individuals and organizations for the benefit of WVU and its affiliated organizations.