‘One Last Writing Lesson’: Late UA Instructor Keeps Teaching, Inspiring

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Sylvia Brent Elliott described herself as “unafraid, unthreatened and unstoppable.” More than a year after her death, that description seems to still ring true, as her writing lives on in a textbook dedicated to her and her work.

Elliott, a former UA faculty and staff member as well as a student, died in July 2005 after a short battle with cancer.

As a flight attendant and one of the first African-American high fashion models, Elliott traveled the world. Her Master of Fine Arts thesis was a memoir of stories about the 26 addresses she had before moving to Tuscaloosa.

A selection of her works were gathered and edited by her daughter, Samantha Elliott Briggs, and were included in a special memorial edition of the writing textbook “The World Is a Text” by Jonathan Silverman and Dean Rader. Elliott’s son-in-law, Calvin Briggs, and daughter, Samantha, designed the front and back covers, respectively.

Samantha Elliott Briggs, a UA doctoral student and part time faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences, also wrote an introduction to her mother. The introduction to the memorial textbook was written by Dr. Karen Gardiner, associate director of the writing program at UA.

Gardiner and Elliott became friends when Elliott taught introductory English courses. Elliott had used a previous edition of “The World Is a Text” and had planned to use it during the 2005 fall semester. She developed a friendship with the Prentice-Hall representative, Brooks Souders. (Elliott was known for making friends with everyone.) Gardiner knew this, and she decided to let him know of her passing.

“Later, he visited me in my office and suggested that we might be interested in creating a custom edition of her favorite text in Sylvia’s memory to help the (Sylvia Brent Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund),” Gardiner said. “I presented the idea to Sam, and she and her brothers liked the idea. So, the memorial text idea was born.”

Gardiner also created a writing lesson using Elliott’s work featured in the book. “It was a fitting memorial – using her writing in this way – letting her teach one last writing lesson, so to speak.”

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the memorial textbook will go to support the Sylvia Brent Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund for non-traditional students. A reading and book signing by Samantha Elliott Briggs will be Thursday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 8:15 p.m. in the Ferguson Center’s Anderson Society room.

Some of Elliott’s friends including UA professor Cornelius Carter, Gardiner, Norman Golar, a doctoral student in English, and Dr. Hank Lazer, associate provost for academic affairs, will share their memories and poetry dedicated to Elliott. Commemorative posters of the book cover will also be on sale.