Crystal Theodore
was born in Greenville, SC on July 27, 1917.
Her father, James, was a Greek immigrant who was a chocolatier, and her
mother, Florence Bell, was from an old South Carolina family. Crystal entered Winthrop College (now
University) as a member of the class of 1938.
She took art classes, but, she majored in English and Latin as job
prospects were thought to be better with this background. Ironically, after graduation Winthrop College
hired her to teach drawing and design, which she did for four years. She was a loyal alumnus and the University
awarded her professional achievement awards in 1986 and 1998. In the fall of 2008, Theodore was included
in an Alumni Art Exhibition at the University. She was the oldest contributor.[i] Oddly, the Director of University art
collection reports that the University does not have any of her work in its
collection.[ii]
Wanting to be engaged in the war effort,
Theodore left the University and joined the Tennessee Valley Authority as a
junior draft engineer in the topographical division. She much preferred to join the Marine Corps,
but was rejected as she was already “employed in a vital industry…[and]…she
was already contributing to the war effort.”[iii] She chose the Marine Corps because it was
considered the most challenging branch of the military services. In the spring of 1944, the TVA, during a
downsizing, released her.
