Orientation - The Rosebud McCormick Foundation

NOTE:  The following was taken from a report written by Past State President Margaret Johnson about Rosebud McCormick for whom our state foundation is named.

Rosebud McCormick was BPW/GA President 1955-1957 and served as chairman of the steering committee to organize the Cordele Organization in 1937. She was elected as their first President.

After the WWII began in 1941, the club became inactive and the charter was recalled. The group was then reorganized with 41 members in 1947 and Rosebud was elected as 2^nd Vice President. She continued at various capacities within the organization through to 1957.

Rosebud was a woman of large status, gray/white hair.  She had a loud booming voice and spoke with authority, despite physical handicaps. She was an avid baseball fan and would travel long distances to see games. While returning home from a game in North Carolina one evening, she and a friend were involved in a car accident, which left her crippled.  She was able to walk with a cane until her last few years and, ultimately, used a wheelchair.

After finishing high school, she attended Georgia/Alabama Business College in Macon. Shortly thereafter, she landed a job in a law office. At every opportunity, she would attend court sessions.  As World War I progressed, the shortage of men made it possible for Rosebud to work for the Clerk of Superior Court and the Ordinary of Bleckley County, as well as for lawyers in Hawkinsville and Macon. After her marriage, she moved to Cordele. 

Rosebud was employed for temporary work in the law office of W. H. Dorris after she moved to Cordele.  Mr. Dorris insisted she take the bar exam.  At that time it wasn’t necessary to go to college or even graduate to practice law. Rosebud took night classes in order to pass the bar.  In 1932 she passed the bar at age 32. When the oath of office was administered to her by Judge McDonald, all 10 members of the Cordele Bar were present.

As Mr. Dorris welcomed her to the bar, Mr. Dorris surprised her by her a partnership in his law practice. While with Mr. Dorris, the local tax commissioner defaulted, and Rosebud was appointed to serve in this office for a few months.  At the death of Mr. Dorris and the election of a new judge, she was appointed official court reporter. She held this office for 16 years before joining as a partner in another law office. She continued there and after her two partners death she practiced alone.

Someone once asked Rosebud what was the most important case she’d ever tried. She replied that she felt that no one case was more important than another, irrespective of the charge or amount of money involved. She handled many estate cases. It was her policy to bring the parties together in a settlement, whenever possible, tending to advise that it is best to give a little and take a little, instead of litigation.  She said she found that made friends rather than enemies.

Rosebud was the first woman when she was sworn in and until she retired, to practice law in the Cordele Circuit. She said she enjoyed her work to “the utmost.”  She could be a woman of few words too.

In addition to her service to BPW and her professional life she was active in civic and church affairs.  She was one of few women elected to the Administrative Board of the Cordele First United Methodist Church. She served as president of the Wesleyan Service Guild and chaired the Christian Social Concerns of the Americus District. She held numerous memberships and services in her community and was twice chosen as Cordele’s Woman of Achievement.

When Rosebud served on the Executive Committee of BPW/GA, it was a goal of the Federation to establish a foundation to “aid the business and professional women in times of dire need as well as to train them in their education.” In 1955 this dream came to fruition. The Foundation was incorporated in 1956. Since Rosebud was a lawyer, she handled all the paper work to register it. She even contributed $1000 to start it.

Rosebud and her committee used all their energy along with the Federation membership to make the foundation a reality, freely making large contributions. Their vision came to pass.  According to Anise Troth, a Past State President and Treasurer of the foundation for many years, the founders held a contest to name the newly formed foundation. She couldn’t remember what the prize was, but she did remember the winner was from Rome who suggested that it be named for Rosebud who have served as President and who had worked tirelessly for it.