Tennie Owen Wiatt began life in 1910 in Columbus, Mississippi,
and went to school at the Mississippi State College for Women. Later, she attended Auburn
University where she met her future husband, J. Streeter Wiatt. Both majored in
architecture. In her second year of university studies, Tennie took a double load of
coursework, adding English to her study of architecture.
Tennie did very well at Auburn in her grades as well as winning a number of medals in
architecture. Since Auburn did not have Phi Beta Kappa at the time, she joined Pi Kappa
Phi. Street Wiatt also did well at Auburn, and both graduated in 1934. They were married
soon afterward. Streeter served in World War II. During that time, he was assigned to the
Quartermaster Corps in Washington, D.C. for three years and then to Cape Cod for another
year.
The couple enjoyed the time spent on Cape Cod. They went sailing on Buzzard's Bay and
ice-skating on the Cranberry Bog. Upon their return to Montgomery, the talented pair set
up office together under the name of J. Streeter Wiatt, Architect.
After 55 years of marriage and working together, tragedy struck. Streeter died in 1994.
He had not made any plans for death and left no instructions about finances. Tennie and
her son, Streeter, Jr., made the decision to finance scholarships to the Auburn University
Foundation in honor of Streeter's parents. His father, who died in 1918, had been head of
the Foreign Language Department at Auburn and had taught German there.
After Streeter died, Tennie continued to live at home for awhile, then moved to a
studio apartment. Later, she came to Wesley Gardens, where she has lived for nearly two
years. Tennie is a delightful resident with a warm personality and winning smile. She
enjoys participating in many of the planned activities including worship services in the
Chapel. Her many friends sometimes ask, "Could a person of such small stature really
have been an architect?"