Mary Ellen Truitt Bequest

Mary Truitt was born Mary Ellen Taylor in 1905 at the historic Pemberton Hall, a grant plantation in Wicomico County, land that is now on the west side of Salisbury, Maryland. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to a Victorian farmhouse on the plantation, one which had plumbing facilities and other modern conveniences.

Although farming was the family occupation, Mrs. Truitt and her two brothers obtained higher education. Her brothers pursued legal careers, with Rex Taylor becoming a judge for the state of Maryland and Seth Taylor an attorney in Salisbury.

In 1928 Mrs. Truitt earned a degree in home economics from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following graduation, she was employed by Philadelphia Gas & Electric in the public relations department for approximately 10 years. As part of her responsibilities, she was a demonstrator of "modern" stoves and kitchen equipment. Later on, she pursued the same line of work for an appliance store in Salisbury. It was during this time that she met her future husband, LeRoy Truitt.

As a resident of Bridgeville, Delaware, Mrs. Truitt was active in the Democratic Party on the local and county levels, a member of the Bridgeville Historical Society, and Union United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Truitt died in 1991 at the age of 85. Her bequest to Delaware Tech has benefited Owens Campus students and helped them to achieve their educational goals.