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Alumna Celebrates 100th Birthday


Mrs. Mae McCabe Dukes, from the Class of 1931, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Born on May 20, 1910, Dukes is considered to be the oldest living Wesley alumna. Friends and family recently gathered in the dining room of the Methodist Manor House in Seaford, Delaware for a birthday luncheon, where Dukes was showered with warm wishes, gifts and a large birthday cake.

Mrs. Susan Johnson, wife of Wesley President Bill Johnston, attended the celebration and brought birthday greetings, best wishes and presents to Dukes on behalf of the College and the state of Delaware. She presented her with special legislative tributes from the Office of Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn, a congratulatory letter from Senator Thomas Carper, and a special certificate from the College in recognition of her centennial birthday and the honor of being the oldest alumna of Wesley Collegiate Institute (WCI).

As a graduate of WCI, the preparatory school and junior college that is the predecessor of the Wesley College known today, Dukes was enrolled at the institution during its 57th year. It was a pivotal time in history, shortly after the infamous stock market crash, and the school was under the leadership of President Clarence Short. Just a year after Dukes graduated, the Depression took its toll on the institution and with only forty students in attendance, the Board of Trustees voted to suspend operation of Wesley Collegiate Institute for one year.

Dukes is originally from Sussex County, Delaware and the wife of the late Elisha Dukes, former Secretary of State for the state of Delaware from 1961-1969 and one of the driving forces behind the 1967 revision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which has prominently shaped the state’s economy and the governance of many publicly traded companies in the United States. Along with her husband, Dukes was very involved with the community and active in the Delaware political scene. Still as cheerful and animated as ever, this centenarian can still easily recall many memories from her days on the Wesley campus almost eighty years ago.