Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

So very sorry for your loss. Sending much love to your family. Martha and RODDEY Player

Sending Sympathy and Love,
Dr. Tyson’s “Family” at MBU:
Becky and Jennifer Dick,
Wanda Thayer
Stephanie, Ryan and Reid Leach
Jillian, Chandler and Aria Moser
Jay (Jack) DiCicco, II
Debbie, Danny, James, Phillip Snyder and Family
Pam and Keith Swink and Family
Sue (Howdyshell) Stephenson and Family

I am sorry to learn of Dr. Tyson’s passing. I knew Dr. Tyson through my mother, Elaine Liles, who served as Director of Admissions during your mother’s tenure as president of Mary Baldwin. As I live in Monroe, I had the pleasure of visiting your mom in Charlotte on several occasions.
Regretfully, I have an out-of-town conflict on Tuesday. My sympathy to you and your family. What a truly lovely person was Dr. Tyson. She will be missed! (Ms.) Hayne White

I received my bachelor's degree from the hands of Ms. Tyson, and years later I worked for her at Mary Baldwin College. She was always gracious and supportive, and I know she will be greatly missed. My condolences to her family and friends.

My deepest sympathies to Dr. Tyson’s family and friends. As a 2001 graduate of Mary Baldwin College (now University), I was fortunate for my entire undergraduate career to be under Dr. Tyson’s leadership. She was always so warm and caring, respectful, and kind. She always had time for us, was generous with her bright smiles and an encouraging words, and she knew most of us by name. We truly looked up to her and loved seeing her walking (quickly) around our beautiful campus. Dr. Tyson never failed to remind us to both “work hard, and play hard,” and thanks to her we continue to do so. She will always be loved and will never be forgotten by her Squirrel Girls.

First, I send my deepest condolences to the family. Please know the impact your mother made on so many lives, especially mine.

As a young rising professional at Mary Baldwin, I always looked up to Dr. Tyson as a role model, but as I became more and more a part of the “fabric” of the institution, Dr. Tyson became a mentor. She was the first person to tell me I could do anything I wanted—even be a college president. As a result, my entire career has been devoted to higher education, and because of Dr. Tyson, I sought and earned my doctoral degree.

I often heard others describe Dr. Tyson as a true lady and scholar, and nothing could be more accurate. To me, she was like a mother, a mentor, a friend, a colleague, and a catalyst for excellence all rolled into one. When my mother passed away, Dr. Tyson made the effort to drive the 2.5 hours to attend the funeral and be there to support me. This moment always stayed with me—that no matter how busy she was running the College, people were the heart of the institution, and she always had time for us.

One of her most often quoted expressions (though I am not sure she knew we all said it), was generally part of her prospective student Open House speech. She would stand behind that podium with her small stature dominating the room and say “Here at Mary Baldwin College—we play hard, but we work harder.” [Insert her British accent, and you can imagine the impact just that one line had on families.]

When I think of Dr. Tyson, I can see her walking the track in her jean skirt, moving like the wind, and nodding and waving to those she passed (who were usually younger than her.) Even on the track, she exhibited grace and power.

So much of who I am today I tried to model after all the words of wisdom she shared with me over the years. I will miss her immensely—but, she will always be with me, as she has been most every day for the past 31 years.

She welcomed me 34 years ago to Mary Baldwin College and the warmth of her spirit, her resolve of will to do good and her ability to make me feel I was the most important person in the room determined my fate to remain. When she retired I wistfully let her go. I shall always think of her this way. She was my Cynthia, my Cynthia . . . but God's to keep!

In 1991, my 13 year old daughter attended a weekend overnight and scheduled an interview with the Program for Exceptionally Gifted at Mary Baldwin College. I dropped her off and spend my time visiting my sister with a plan to meet her for the Sunday breakfast scheduled. When I got there, she was not to be seen. Just when I was going to approach someone, she came rushing into the room. She told me heatedly that she was ready to leave right then. She had had an abysmal time. I suggested that we at least eat what appeared to be a lovely breakfast. Shortly after we started our meal. Dr. Cynthia Tyson rose to speak. I watched a change come over my daughter as she listened to Dr. Tyson's message.
Without all the details of the in-between time, I have a photo of both of them in the aftermath of a torrential downpour that interrupted 1996 graduation. Because of circumstances at the time, I did not get to see it in person, but Dr. Tyson, clearly as waterlogged as my daughter, gripped both her hands and exchanged sincere and loving congratulations to my daughter along with her diploma. This does not even touch on the impact she had in my own life.
Her actions were not unusual or special to just us. Dr. Tyson's ability to see and recognize and bring out the abilities in others was ingrained in her character. She has touched untold numbers of people throughout her life. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Cynthia and I taught together in the English department at Queens in the 1970's and became good friends there. We remained friends for many years. I admired her success in so many areas, and her contributions to the area in which she lived were significant.

I knew her as the wonderful President of Mary Baldwin, and a friend and a quintessential lady. She was remarkable as she always remembered anyone’s name after meeting them one time, even your children’s names and interests. Mary Baldwin was poorer when she left as is the whole Virginia community. She leaves a remarkable legacy. My condolences to her family.