Willoughby, Mary A. Bingham

Mary A. Bingham Willoughby (Syracuse, 1874) was born on August 30, 1856, in Watertown, New York, and grew up in Rome, New York. Mary, known as Minnie, was the youngest of the four Founders and entered Syracuse University in the fall of 1873. She graduated with a fine arts degree in 1878, after which she traveled in Europe with her parents for a time.

Mary A. Bingham married Edward Willoughby and made her home with him in Utica, New York. She devoted her time to her children, Gamma Phi Beta, art, music and the church.  Mary sang in the choir and taught a Sunday school class at the First Presbyterian Church. She also greatly enjoyed entertaining friends and business associates of Edward with formal dinners, as well as holding informal evenings filled with music, dancing and friends.

Mary attended Gamma Phi Beta Conventions when they were held in Syracuse. She kept in contact with other members through personal correspondence and many submissions to The Crescent.

Although the youngest of the founders, Mary was the first to pass away. She died on January 14, 1916. After Mary’s death, Eunice Adeline Curtis (Syracuse, 1874) wrote this poem in tribute of her:

         I cannot say, and I will not say
         That she is dead. She is just away.
         With a cheery smile and a
         Wave of the hand
         She has wandered into an
         Unknown land.
         And left us dreaming how very fair
         It needs must be, since she lingers there.
         Think of her still as the same, I say.
         She is not dead…she is just away.