DAR Chapter Celebrates Momentous 125th Anniversary

Oxford witnessed a spectacular event recently as descendants of some of the city’s oldest families gathered in its historic heart for a very special celebration. The women who assembled for High Tea at The Isom Place weren’t just any women, but members of the David Reese Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This year marks the chapter’s 125th anniversary, with the occasion being celebrated over a year-long series of events.

Honoring the Chapter’s Resilient History

The David Reese Chapter, one of the oldest DAR branches, was organized back in 1899. Although it could have been the first DAR chapter in Mississippi, the devastating yellow fever outbreak robbed them of three charter members, thus rendering them the second. This resilient group of women weathered numerous historical times, from the Victorian era, through World Wars, and all wars that followed. These were women of strength and resilience who lived through pivotal movements in American History, many even before gaining the right to vote.

Remembering their Ancestors

To commence their 125th anniversary, the chapter organized a unique event where its members performed as notable Daughters throughout history. A “Regents Come to Call” theme took precedence as the chapter invited their David Reese ancestors to reminisce about their lives and memories. Using Oxford Walking Tour guide from the Chamber of Commerce, participants were able to locate their historical residences across town.

Stories of the Notable Daughters

Miss Ella Pegues, a charter member, proudly pointed out four historic homes in Oxford associated with her family, including the famous Ammadelle. Another former member, Mrs. Jane Rankin Eades, joined the David Reese Chapter at the age of 79, then becoming the oldest member and the only Real Daughter – a member with a father who was a verified Patriot of the American Revolution. Her husband built their family home on South Lamar.

Special Guests and Further Celebrations

The celebration featured members from a diverse background. Some of the prominent faces were Helen Conkey, the founding regent; the Wardlaw sisters – Charlotte Kilgore Wardlaw and Margaret Wardlaw Wendel Sharp, both former regents; Maud Morrow Brown, acclaimed author of The University Greys; and Evelyn Gurley Crockett, who was renowned for publishing a book capturing the first 100 years of the chapter.

The gathering was also graced by a very special guest, Molly Crockett, the granddaughter of Evelyn Gurley Crockett, whose vital role in founding Oxford’s Double Decker Festival is well recognized.

This memorable reunion is just the beginning of a series of events planned throughout the year to celebrate the chapter’s 125-year history. The 100-member David Reese Chapter continues to uphold and reaffirm its longstanding commitment to promoting patriotism, fostering education, and preserving history.