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Margarette S. Berrisford
Those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Margarette S. Berrisford fondly recall her genuine care for everyone. Whether they were old friends or new acquaintances, Berrisford never met a stranger; she remembered names, dates and details about each person she encountered. That familiar thoughtfulness and compassion were illustrated again when Berrisford named Pensacola State College a one-fifth beneficiary of her estate, establishing the Margarette S. Berrisford Endowed Scholarship for Women.
Berrisford was born on a farm in Kentucky on May 22, 1918 to Hess and Mame Stephens. While she was in high school, her love of learning reached new heights, and she graduated as salutatorian in 1936. After a brief enrollment at Murray State Teaching College in Kentucky, she went on to complete her graduate studies in English at the University of Florida; there she met the love of her life, Bert Berrisford, and they married in 1956.
Berrisford’s teaching career began in River Junction, Florida, where she taught music for four years before moving to Pensacola in 1944. Blount Junior High School became her teaching home for nine years. During that time, Berrisford volunteered at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola. She served in various capacities, including the Baptist Training Union, church choir, and prayer groups.
Berrisford was a highly proficient educator by the time she was offered a summer job at the new Pensacola Junior College in 1953. She remained at the College for 40 years until her retirement in 1980.
Mike Wiggins, former Pensacola Mayor, PJC alumnus and PSC Foundation Governor said that Berrisford “was the dean who was really there for all [students]. She took [students] right out of high school and shepherded [them] through PJC,” himself included.
During her last ten years at PJC, Berrisford was the Foreign Student Advisor and had the unique experience of serving as a mentor to students from countries like Cuba, Vietnam and Iran; she was happy to combine her passion for learning about other cultures across the globe with her love for educating students. She was an avid traveler, visiting many countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
In her free hours, Berrisford volunteered for over 20 years at Sacred Heart Hospital Mother Seton Guild and at Haven of Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home. The home doubled as her own abode from 2001 until the time of her death; while she resided there, Berrisford delivered mail and flowers to residents’ rooms, helped clean up after holiday celebrations, played the piano during services, and assisted prospective residents and their families with the application process.
Berrisford lived a long and beautiful life of service to others. She died on December 28, 2023 at 105 years old. Her final wish was to help cover the cost of education for female students at PSC, the school she loved so dearly. Her legacy and positive impact on others will continue through the newly established Margarette S. Berrisford Endowed Scholarship for Women.
Contributions to the scholarship can be made online by selecting “Margarette S. Berrisford Endowed Scholarship for Women” from the drop-down menu at https://foundation.pensacolastate.edu/opportunities-to-support-psc/scholarships/
Gifts also can be made by check payable to “The Pensacola State College Foundation.” Checks can be mailed to or dropped off at: Pensacola State College Foundation 1000 College Blvd., Building 17 Pensacola, FL 32504.
Interested in establishing a scholarship to honor someone special in your life? Contact Mikenzie Francis-Opperman, Director of Foundation Scholarships at (850) 484-1788 or mfrancis-opperman@pensacolastate.edu for more information.