Guyla Rebecca McGee Gould: 1941-2025

VICKSBURG, Miss. — Guyla Rebecca McGee Gould was born June 11, 1941, and died May 11, 2025.  She grew up in Kosciusko, MS, and was a 1959 graduate of Kosciusko High School.  She was valedictorian of her class, voted Most Intellectual, a member of the Big Red Band, and named a National Merit Scholarship finalist.

She attended and graduated with “straight A’s” from Blue Mountain College.  She earned a Master’s Degree and a Specialist Degree from Mississippi College and did post graduate work in Education Administration from Mississippi State University and Auburn.

Guyla married her high school sweetheart, Donald J. Gould, and they moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she taught first grade.  After Don’s service in the Air Force, they lived a short time in Magee, MS, where she taught first grade as well.  In 1967 they moved to Vicksburg, MS, beginning her career in Vicksburg at Bowmar Avenue Elementary.

She developed and implemented the Gifted Education Program for the Vicksburg Public Schools and served as teacher and department chair of the program.  In 1983 she was named the principal of Halls Ferry Elementary.  While under her direction, the school was honored with the National School Recognition Award for a Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education.

She was principal of Vicksburg Middle School for a short time and then was named to head the Magnet School at Bowmar Avenue Elementary.  She was named Star Teacher by a high school student earning the Star Student Award.  Guyla retired in 1992 with twenty-nine years of service.

In 2008 Guyla was named the 2008 Retired Education Personnel Retiree of the Year, chosen from among sixteen nominees.  She remained involved in education long after her official retirement and until her death.  Having no children of her own she was especially devoted to all the children she had taught and to her nephews and nieces.

Guyla was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church, serving as a member of the Handbell Choir and a Sunday School teacher of Adult Ladies right up until her death.  She loved needlework, reading (always with a book in her hand), playing dominoeswith the Four Amigos, and in her younger years traveling to places such as the Holy Land and Ireland.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, ASCD, MS Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and served as President of the Retired Education Personnel of Vicksburg and Warren County.  

Guyla was preceded in death by her parents, Guyton and Cora McGee.  She is survived by her husband, Donald J. Gould, her sister, Gayle McGee Knight (Robert Allen) her brother-in-law, James Gould (Katherine), her sister-in-law, Patricia Robins(Bob-deceased); nephews, Allen Knight (Emily), 

Rob Knight (Michelle), Dr. Jim Robbins (Denise), Allen Gould, and niece, Anne Cook (Ken), and several great nieces, nephews, and many friends.

The memorial service was held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Trinity Baptist Church in Vicksburg, MS, with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Baptist Children’s Village.

The Vicksburg Daily News publishes obituaries free of charge. Please submit obituaries to info@vicksburgnews.com.