Major Works
- Toward the Stars (anthology)
- Contributed to many journals: Lyric, The Green World, Writer’s Notes and Quotes, The Mississippi Poetry Journal
Biography of Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw
Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw was born August 2, 1889, in Mississippi. Her parents were William Gleason and Laura Adeline Mason Leet. Prenshaw lived at various times in the cities of Leland, Jackson, and Clinton. She went to school at St. Rose of Lima’s Academy. After marrying Eric Richard Prenshaw, she worked in his construction business. According to her papers, she was a descendant of William Leet, who was the first Colonial Governor of Connecticut. She was also a distant cousin of W.A. Percy, and a descendant of Revolutionary War hero Captain Nathan Mason. She was a member of the Magna Carta Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served the latter organization as Regent of the Belvedere Chapter.
She was president of the Mississippi Poetry Society for four years and was name honorary president after her term. She edited the Mississippi Poetry Journal for many years and helped to establish the Mississippi Poetry Festival. She wrote poetry under the name Leet.
Prenshaw was the first Poet Laureate of Mississippi, named in 1963 by Governor Ross Barnett. Prenshaw died in 1971.
Bibliography