Halifax Woman's Club Will Celebrate 75th Anniversary
May 10, 2004
The Halifax Woman's Club of the Alice Kyle District was organized by Mrs. James Stone Easley on May 7, 1929 with 43 charter members.The first president of the club was Mrs. Tucker Watkins who served a two-year term from 1929-1931. Three of our past presidents served as president of the Alice Kyle District. They are Mrs. Tucker C. Watkins, 1931-1932; Mrs. William H. Lacy, 1935- 1938; and Mrs. M.E. Henderson, 1978-1980. Today the club has 76 members. The present officers for 2004-2006 are: Mrs. Sam Lewis, president; Mrs. David Forlines, vice president; Mrs. Jerry Hudson, recording secretary; Mrs. Conway Goodman, corresponding secretary; Mrs. John Bray, treasurer; and Mrs. Philip Conner, parlimentarian. The Honorary members are the Ladies of the Chastain Home, inactive charter members and past presidents. The constitution states the object of the Halifax Woman's Club shall be the intellectual, philanthropic, social, civic and domestic betterment of our town and community. The brief history of the club that follows attests to the fact they have lived up to the object of the club as stated in the constitution. The organization received state recognition for the prenatal clinic it began here under the presidency of Mrs. Henry McLaughlin, and has continued to be involved in the community over the years. The club has planned many house tours in the county, the proceeds of which go mainly to the Patrick Henry Boys/Girls Plantations, a campership at Camp Easter Seal and a scholarship at the Halifax County Senior High School. During the 1990-91 administration under the leadership of Mrs. Wyatt Osborne, president of the Halifax Woman's Club, the proceeds of the tour of homes was approximately $7,000, of which $5,000 was given to the Patrick Henry Boys/ Girls Plantation. The Halifax Woman's Club has contributed more cash to the Patrick Henry Boys/Girls Plantations than any other woman's club in the Alice Kyle District. One of our objectives is to help the Masons with the upkeep of the historical building, the Masonic Lodge in Halifax. The Masons permit us to hold our regular meetings in this building and by our contributions we help with needy repairs, etc. Over and above club expenses, regular donations are made to the Virginia Federation, State Federation, District Federation, and local programs and projects. In addition to the Patrick Henry Boys/Girls Plantation, our Scholarship to a worthy boy or girl, and our contribution to Camp Easter Seal, we contribute to the following: Dorothea Buck Fund, VFWC Student Loan Fund, Alice Kyle District Student Loan Fund, VFWC Headquarters Operating Fund, Penny Art Fund, and Operation Smile Fund. The Operation Smile is a very worthwhile organization. Doctors from the United States donate their services free of charge and operate on the faces of children in foreign countries that could not otherwise afford this surgery. Our contribution and contributions of other organizations help to make this possible. During the 1988 administration under the leadership of Mrs. Ruth Neal, president of the Halifax Woman's Club, the Halifax County Literacy program. was organized with 10 persons qualifying as literacy tutors. Under the guidance of Mr. Henry Harrison of the Halifax County School Board and now the Continuing Education Center, the program has expanded and continues to operate today with many members as tutors. As part of our health program, the Halifax Woman's Club has operated the canteen for the bloodmobile each year, furnishing sandwiches and drinks to blood donors. 
The club pays tribute to Mrs. R.C. 'Pocahontas' Edmunds. She was the main power of strength and guided our home tours for over 50 years. Her dedication and service has been invaluable.In, 1999 the Woman's Club purchased the land for the site, of the Halifax County Memorial Park. A gala at 'Redfield' with 425 persons present helped finance the project. Money raised from a gala at 'Round Hill' enabled the club to further contribute to the memorial and landscape the site. A total of $282,000 was donated to help with these worthwhile projects. The 250th birthday of the county was equally as successful. Beth Robertson and Betty Bane, members, co-chaired the event and program at the Halifax County Courthouse, with Lt. Governor Tim Kaine as speaker and the Honorable Charles McCormick as moderator. Some 200 people attended. A luncheon followed at the Chastine Home on Mountain Road in Halifax. The Woman's Club hosted the event. A gala at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bass raised funds which made it possible for the club to donate $10,000 to the South Boston/Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts. The money was used to print two books, "The Poet of Berry Hill" - poems by Richard Cecil Rogers, and the 1907 Handbook of Halifax County. A fourth gala is planned June 5, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. William MacCarty to raise money for the Prizery and other projects. Since 1929, the Halifax Woman's Club has worked towards making a difference. We look forward to the 100th birthday, thank you Mrs. Easley. |