Sally McDonnell Barksdale

Sally McDonnell Barksdale was a Mississippi philanthropist and education advocate. She was the wife of Internet pioneer and former Netscape CEO, James Love Barksdale. The Barksdales have three children, Susan Barksdale Howorth of Oxford, MS; Betsy Barksdale Pokorny of Winter Park, FL and John David Barksdale of New York City, NY.

She was the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Thomas F. McDonnell, and grew up in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where she graduated from Hazlehurst High in 1961. She later graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1965 with a bachelor of science in business. During her life, Sally M. Barksdale concentrated on community work. She and her husband, Jim, donated $100-million to create the Barksdale Reading Institute. Other gifts include a $5.4 million the University of Mississippi donation to create the Sally McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College and endowment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson for full medical scholarships for African-American students.

Sally Barksdale served as a board member of The University of Mississippi Foundation and Jackson State University. While living in Memphis, she served on the Playhouse on the Square board and Memphis in May council, and was president of the Episcopal Women in the Diocese of Tennessee. She also was active at Holy Communion Episcopal Church and St. Mary's School for Girls. In Seattle, WA, she provided leadership on the board of Lakeside Parents Club.