The Mart B. and Nelwyn Parker Thurman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 by Sharon and Erin Thurman Ivey.

Nelwyn Parker Thurman and Mart B. (M.B.) Thurman were the parents of Sharon Thurman Ivey and grandparents of Erin Thurman Ivey. Nelwyn married M.B. in 1947. They were married for 28 years and had two children.

Nelwyn graduated from Beckville High School and later earned an Associate degree from South Texas Community College. She worked as a legal secretary until her marriage. Shortly thereafter, she became a homemaker who valued education for her children, Marty and Sharon. One of her favorite sayings was, “education gives you choices in life.”

M.B. graduated from Carthage High School before going on to attend and graduate from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. When M.B. graduated from Southwestern, America was at war with the axis powers. M.B. answered his nation’s call and served in the US Navy as a Lt. J.G. in the Pacific theater.  After the war he came back and worked for Panola County in the early 1950s. In 1953 M.B. began a career with Gulf Oil that lasted 22 years. M.B. emphasized education as the key to a successful life and would be very proud of his daughter and granddaughter who are both educators.

The Mart B. and Nelwyn Parker Thurman Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student who is starting their sophomore year at Panola College. The selection of the recipients will be made in the spring each year.