Published: June 03, 2009 11:07 am      

I love Lora

Sometimes God sends you an angel and when I went to Mississippi State University in 1997, I got just that in the form of my academic advisor – Lora DeFore.

She took me under her wing and made sure that I was taking the right classes in the right order. As semesters passed, she became my teacher and my friend.

If I had a problem, personal or otherwise, she would listen and help.

She pushed me into getting an internship at MSU’s student newspaper, The Reflector, and it is because of all those newspaper clippings I am still in the business of journalism today.

Lora was always one to help and even if it wasn’t for one of her classes. She wanted all of us communication students to succeed.

We kept in touch over the years and the day I got her email saying she had cervical cancer, I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

Sitting at the computer with tears streaming down my face, all I could think was “How could this happen? Why Lora?”

Not her! She was determined to beat the cancer and she did in 2005.

In 2008, the cancer came back and currently, Lora is undergoing treatment.

Still spirited and lively as ever, she has continued to teach even this spring semester.

In a bold move, she wrote on the Facebook created group, I Love Lora, that in April she shaved her head and much to her surprise she didn’t miss her locks of hair.

On Friday night, I will be at Relay for Life at Hugh Ellard Park taking photos and talking to people. I do this because that’s what Lora taught me to do!



Leslie N. Dees is the news editor of The Star-Herald. Email her at editor@starherald.net or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lndees