She worked at the school cafeteria and as a domestic on weekends to cover her living expenses.

Fox News reports.

Nevada mourns loss of 1st black woman to earn college degree

RENO, Nev. – Nevada’s two major universities are mourning the loss of the first black woman to earn a college degree in the state at a time when most of the nation was still segregated.

A memorial service was scheduled for Friday evening in Las Vegas for Stella Mason Parson, who died July 29 due to complications from renal disease.

Parson graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in June 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She later returned to school at UNLV, where she earned a masters’ degree in marriage and family counseling in 1988.