All for some drumsticks

By Phoebe Lusk-Hussong

Artwork by Abbie Ryan

It is time to pull out our mourning veils because once again, our beloved turkey is going to be murdered for our nation’s annual feasting day. Her obituary to honor her.

The turkey, a distinguished member of the fowl community, died Sunday November 18 for a Thanksgiving feast. She was 42 years old.

The turkey served the city of Memphis and the St. Mary’s Episcopal School community where she worked full-time as the mascot for much of her life before retiring in late November.


She will be remembered by family, friends, teachers, students, and alums as the dedicated mascot whose warbly, screechy gobble comforted students during times of stress and endued all teachers with a sense of their responsibility.

Her partner, HENry Gobbler, said she loved her job. “She could animate the crowds in any situation,” she said. “She just shook her tail feathers, wobbled her waddle, and let out her war cry. Her school spirit and pep heartened the weary players and fans and positively changed the outcome of many a game.”

The turkey was highly respected among high school mascots on the national scale. She was honored with an award from USA Today in 2013. She came in 1st place for the Best High School Mascot Contest in the state of Tennessee and 5th place in the entire nation.

The turkey worked for the St. Mary’s Athletic Department for 42 years. She came in like a storm and easily surpassed (in both charm and popularity) the former mascot, the Southern Belles, in the year 1976. “She loved the St. Mary’s School spirit,” her partner said.

The turkey’s headstone will read, “Lifelong Mascot — For Girls, For Life, For Generations.”

The turkey will be dearly missed but her triumphant gobbles will continue to ring out as a beacon of pep and cheer, in spite of the fall of Barth Gym.

Our beloved Turkey was sacrificed for a Thanksgiving meal. Her life was ended just so that her drumsticks could be beautifully arranged on an autumnal platter. In lieu of flowers, please donate money to the Save the Turkeys Foundation. This foundation works to end the cruel murder of millions of turkeys every Thanksgiving.