She later credited her father, who had supported the women's suffrage movement, with being particularly supportive of her ambitions. She attended Hattiesburg High School, and in her senior year served as president of the debate club and edited the school yearbook and newspaper.
Her father, who was a strong supporter of the women's suffrage movement, later recognized his importance to her ambitions. She studied at Hattiesburg High School where she led the debate club in her senior year and managed the school yearbook and newspaper.