In Loving Memory of Madge McCord Knott 1929-2017 Mount de Sales Librarian, 1973–1992 by Jane Claxton and Sandra Tate On a cold January morning, family, friends, parishioners, former colleagues, and alumni gathered at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to celebrate the life of Madge McCord Knott. With glistening eyes, the congregation sang “For All the Saints” as her family and clergy entered the sanctuary. Those who were present knew Madge well. All called her friend. With each other they shared fond memories of Madge and her positive, vivacious personality. Our most vivid memories of Madge recall her years as the highly respected director of the Mount de Sales Library. Rev. Bryan Hinson, a member of the Mount de Sales Class of 1985, conducted Madge’s memorial service. He opened his comments by quoting from the 1983 Mount de Sales Salesian: “The modern school library is a vital place and it requires the skills of an intelligent, well-read person…. In addition to marshalling her small army of library assistants [of whom Rev. Hinson was one], Mrs. Knott is always gracious with her time; ask her for one source, and she always manages to find two or three more!” Madge wanted the services provided by the library to be of the highest quality, and she wanted all MDS Cavaliers to make effective use of everything the library had to offer. She always was ready to assist the students with any The Mount de Sales Alumni Association extends sympathy to:
Patricia Whitten Poole (1953) of Macon on the death of her brother, Richard “Red” Whitten, on July 17, 2017. Theresa Brimer (1958) of Roswell, GA, and Trudy Perez-Poveda (1966) of Jacksonville, FL, on the death of their sister, Cecelia Smaha (1961), on December 16, 2017. Richard Cowan (1963) of Pendleton, SC, Don Cowan (1965) of Atlanta, Mary Crawford (1966) of Philpot, KY, and Michael Cowan (1967) of Sandersville, GA, on the death of their mother, Janet Cowan, on August 9, 2017. Michael Montgomery (1970) of Dacula, GA, Shawn Montgomery (1980) of Macon, and Clayton Montgomery (1996) of Valdosta, on the death of Wayne
project, whether large or small, and the amount of time required simply did not matter to her. She put her student assistants through a rigorous “boot camp” during which she made it clear that the MDS library was an institution that was to be operated with genuine professionalism. The dedicated work done by “Madge’s troops” was highlighted at the end of each school year when she recognized them in assembly and reported with pride the small number of books that the library had lost. Of course, the goal that Madge always sought was for that number to be zero. Madge’s expertise in the use of audiovisual equipment created feelings of inadequacy in some of her colleagues— feelings which, in fact, often were justified! As many faculty members from Madge’s era would be quick to attest, a symbolic piece of equipment forever associated with Madge from those days was the orange adapter. In that time predating tech installation in each academic gathering space, her strictest rules might have applied to the intricately scheduled trundling of expensive AV equipment from the library repository to classrooms around campus. Library assistants entrusted with this task had no doubt that their very best and most cautious behavior was expected.
efforts just as much as students. An inquisitive lover of knowledge, she was a “human internet” before the technological internet ever existed. Madge, a proactive researcher, routinely found new information that would enhance a teacher’s classroom presentation— always in time to meet the teacher’s deadline. Madge Knott made the Mount de Sales library a model for other schools to follow. Her daily presence there was an example of excellence for students, teachers, and support staff. Even more importantly, we were all the beneficiaries of her friendship.
When research was required, faculty were regular beneficiaries of Madge’s
Madge retired from Mount de Sales in 1992. In recognition of her tremendous impact, the MDS Board of Trustees named the library in her honor. Several years later, Madge’s family commissioned a portrait of her and presented it to Mount de Sales to be hung in “her library”—the Madge McCord Knott Library. Although that library today may be informally called “the ARC,” may have been efficiently reconfigured, and may (in addition to books) offer all the 21st-century tools of learning, anyone who sees that portrait can be sure that Madge Knott’s spirit approves and still watches over her beloved library.
Montgomery (1965), on November 11, 2017. Wayne was Shawn’s and Michael’s brother and Clayton’s father.
Mary Rooks McMahon (1977) of Macon, on the death of her father, Carl Rooks, on December 3, 2017.
Jane Conner Pinkham (1974) of Lexington, SC, and Jean Conner Dempsey (1977) of Mobile, AL, on the death of their mother, Elizabeth “Petie” Bishop Conner, on November 19, 2017.
Paul Smaha (1983), Kim Smaha (1984), Jason Smaha (1988), all of Macon, on the death of their father, Paul Smaha II, on November 12, 2017. Michael Bothe (1984) of Irmo, SC, and David Bothe (1986) of Athens, GA, on the death of their father, Jim Bothe, on July 15, 2017.
Steve Wach (1974) of North Augusta, SC, Mike Wach (1979) of Alpharetta, GA, Caroline Williams (1982) of Jackson, GA, and Deborah Pile (1984) of Frontenac, MO, on the death of their father, Ted Wach, on January 1, 2018.
In Memoriam (August 2017–December 2017)
Katherine Knott Manik (1976) of Sri Lanka and Steve Knott (1977), Margaret Knott (2009), and Lindsey Knott (2011), all of Macon, on the death of Katherine and Steve’s mother and Margaret and Lindsey’s grandmother, Madge Knott, on December 30, 2017.
Leah Tinsley (1948) Cecelia Smaha (1961) Wayne Montgomery (1965) Mary O’Lear McLaughlin (1973) Robert Lee Snider (1999)
The de Sales Sheet Spring 2018 Edition
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