Statesboro Business & Professional Women: History

The concept of organizing a Business and Professional Women's Club in Statesboro began to be formulated in the latter part of 1946. An informal group of local business women called the Statesboro Business Girls desired to be affiliated with a federated organization.

Mamie K. Taylor, the State President of the Georgia Federation of Business & Professional Women's Clubs, was invited to meet with the local group and other interested women in November 1946. Those plresent adopted the resolution to become a federated organization and proceeded to take the necessary steps to achieve this. The Millen Business and Professional Women's Club was our sponsor.

Zula Gammage, Ann Williford, and Sarah Hall were appointed to the Constitution and By-Laws Committee to draft the by-laws for the club's approval.

A Nominating Committee comprised of Irene Kingery, Ruby Lee Jones, and Irma Spears was named.

At a special meeting on February 4, 1947 held at the Norris Hotel, the By-Laws were adopted and the following officers were elected:

• President - Grace Gray
• Vice President - Ann Williford
• Corresponding Secretary - Zula Gammage
• Recording Secretary - Penny Allen
• Treasurer - Janie Etheridge

The Standing Committee Chairman were:

• Membership - Helen Brannen
• Program Coordination - Isabel Sorrier
• Education & Vocations - Maude White
• Legislation - Lillie Z. Deal
• Finance - Charlotte Ketchum
• News & Radio - Alfred Merle D. Sauve'
• Parliamentarian - Hattie Powell

The Club's Charter, which is dated February 17, 1947, and bears the number 3251, is signed by Mamie K. Taylor, State President, and Sally Butler, National President.

On March 18, 1947, the Charter Banquet was held at the Woman's Club Building. Guests were the Statesboro civic club presidents, local officials, and representatives from the Millen Business & Professional Women's Club.

The impressive program included: Invocation by Rev. V.F. Agan, Vocal Solo by Margaret Sherman, Piano Solo by Jack Averitt, Welcome by Grace Gray, Address by Mayor Gilbert Cone, Introduction of State President by Grace Gray, and an Address & Presentation of Charter to the 53 members by Mamie K. Taylor.

Our Charter Members

Mary Sue Akins Penny Allen Leona Anderson Jessie Averitt Billie Bland Neolin Bobbett Helen Brannen Mary Brannen Lillian Centerbar Martha S. Coleman Juanita Daniels Pearl Davis Lillie Z. Deal Pearl Deal Mildred Dominey Janie Ethridge Dorothy Flanders Imogene Flanders Dr. Elizabeth Fletcher Zula Gammage Grace Gray Catherine Hagan Sarah Hall Cuba Hart Alma Hopper Ruby Lee Jones

Mamie Lou Kennedy Charlotte Ketchum Irene Kingery Zella Lane Carolyn Macon Martha Moses Edna D. Neville Hattie Powell Jane Proctor Evelyn Rogers Helen Rowse Ruth Sewell Mildred Simmons Ann Elizabeth Smith Sue Snipes Isabel Sorrier Irma Spears Inez Stevens Alfred Merle D. Sauve' DeAlva Thomas Tommie Thomason Corinne Veach Grace Waller Gwyn West Maude White Ann Williford

Statesboro BPW Pioneers...

• Lillie Deal was the first woman to vote in Bulloch County, May 10, 1922.
• Pearl Deal was Bulloch County's first woman Deputy Sheriff, 1945.
• Minnie Lee Johnson was appointed the first woman Official Court Reporter for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit and the Atlantic Judicial Circuit in 1946.
• Hattie Powell was the first woman elected as Clerk of Bulloch County Superior Court and assumed her duties on January 1, 1949.
• In July 1955, Sara Hall was the first woman to serve on Bulloch County Traverse Jury.
• Pearl Deal was the first woman in this county to serve as Court Baliff in 1955.
• On October 22, 1956, Faye Sanders was sworn in as Bulloch County's first female attorney.
• Alma Hopper was the first woman to serve on Bulloch County Grand Jury in April 1957.
• At the State Convention in May 1959, Minnie Lee Johnson was selected as State Woman of Achievement for the year 1958 - 1959.
• Annette Brown, our first Nursing Scholarship recipient, graduated in 1961.
• Pearl Deal was the first woman appointed as a Bulloch County Tax Assessor, 1968.
• Since 1975, Mary Oliff has served as Vice President of the First Bulloch Bank & Trust Company. She is the first woman to be named to that position in any banking institution in this county.
• In July 1977, Martha Lane received the Order of the Golden Microscope, which is the highest honor bestowed by the American Medical Technologists.
• Faye Sanders Martin was appointed Superior Court Judge of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit on November 1, 1978.
• Alma Hopper attended the Congress of Business & Professional Women in Guatemala City, Guatemala, November 6-10, 1979. She was the only person from Georgia at this meeting.
• In November 1984, Julie Lanier was named State Teacher of the Year. She is the only Bulloch County teacher to ever receive this honor.
• In December 1984, Ann Williford was recognized by the Bulloch Memorial Hospital Pink Ladies for having volunteered 7, 148 hours and 45 minutes over a ten year period.
• Judge Faye Sanders Martin was presented the Distinguished Alumna Award by Georgia Southern College in December 1984.
• In March 1985, Jackie Strange was named Deputy Postmaster General, which makes her second only to the Postmaster General, in the United States Postal Service of USA.
• Julie Lanier was named Vocational Educator of the Year in Home Economics by the Georgia Vocation Association (1985-1986).
• Governor Joe Frank Harris named Julie Lanier to serve as a member of the State Board of Education - Teacher Career Ladder Task Force (1985-1986).
• Local attorney, Anne Moore, holds the distinction of being the first woman to establish a law office in Bulloch County (1986-1987).
• Judge Faye Sanders Martin was named Chief Superior Court Judge for the Ogeechee Circuit in 1986-1987.
• Susan Cannon was elected to serve as the BPW/GA State President for the year 1988 - 1989. She is the only member of Statesboro BPW to reach this position at this time (2002).
• Alma Hopper was one of the first recipients of the First Annual Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Awards, in recognition of dedicated service to the shut-ins of the Statesboro First United Methodist Church, and of her efforts in other community service activities, on April 10, 1989.
• Eyvonne Beasley was chosen as Statesboro BPW's first "Member of the Year" in October 1989.
• In May 2003, Ms. Alma Hopper, Statesboro BPW's sole surviving Charter Member, retired at the age of 85 years old and moved to Midway, Georgia where she had purchased a condominium on the Medway River. A Social, sponsored by Statesboro BPW, honoring Ms. Alma was held at the Statesboro First United Methodist Church on April 6, 2003. It was a lovely "cake party" with many beautiful cakes provided for the enjoyment of guests. Over 100 guests attended.
• Ms. Alma Hopper, last surviving member of Statesboro BPW, attended her last meeting on May 19, 2003 where she inducted our organization's officers as the immediate past Southern District Director for BPW/GA. She went on to move to Midway, Georgia where she had purchased a condominium and retired.

Our Statesboro BPW Presidents...

1947/1948 Grace Gray 1948/1949 Ann Williford 1949-1950 Ann Williford 1950/1951 Helen Rowse 1951/1952 Zula Gammage 1952/1953 Zula Gammage 1953/1954 Jacqueline Rowell/Charlotte Anderson 1954/1955 Zula Gammage 1955/1956 Zula Gammage 1956/1957 Minnie Lee Johnson 1957/1958 Minnie Lee Johnson 1958/1959 Alma Hopper 1959/1960 Alma Hopper 1960/1961 Zula Gammage 1961/1962 Esther Gross 1962/1963 Esther Gross 1963/1964 Pearl Deal 1964/1965 Pearl Deal 1965/1966 Grace Gray 1966/1967 Grace Gray 1967/1968 Roberta Appel 1968/1969 Roberta Appel 1969/1970 Maude White 1970/1971 Maude White 1971/1972 Virginia Kern 1972/1973 Virginia Kern 1973/1974 Barbara Martin 1974/1975 Barbara Martin 1975/1976 Octavia Gray/Grace Gray 1976/1977 Alma Hopper 1977/1978 Alma Hopper 1978/1979 Hazel Pocher 1979/1980 Hazel Pocher

1980/1981 Gene McAllister/Loyce Stanley 1981/1982 Dot Fuller 1982/1983 Mary Oliff 1983/1984 Susan Cannon 1984/1985 Ruby McCorkle 1985/1986 Ruth Robinson 1986/1987 Anna Beecher 1987/1988 Shari R. Barr 1988/1989 Eyvonne Beasley 1989/1990 Eyvonne Beasley 1990/1991 Patricia McElwee 1991/1992 June Cato 1992/1993 Kim Stradling Hulsey 1993/1994 Lynn Jones 1994/1995 Dr. June Alberto 1995/1996 Lisa Glisson 1996/1997 Faye Blackburn 1997/1998 Dr. Elaine Hapshe 1998/1999 Connie Edenfield 1999/2000 Christine Dunagin/Connie Edenfield 2000/2001 Vickie Meade 2001/2002 Kim Stradling Hulsey 2002/2003 Kim Stradling Hulsey 2003/2004 Ruth Robinson