On Saturday, March 22, 2025, five members of the Thomas Jefferson
Stubbs 2523, Conroe Chapter of the Texas Division, United Daughters of
the Confederacy met in Port Arthur, Texas for their annual district meeting.
The Texas Division of the UDC is divided into districts and this area is
District III, having nine (9) chapters. All nine chapters had members attending the meeting. The chapters were…Beaumont: Dick Dowling 404, they hosted the meeting, Bryan: L. L. Ross 100, Burkeville: Maj. Josephus Sommerville Irvine 2644, Conroe: Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523, Humble: Magnolia Rangers 2544, Huntsville: J. B. Gordon 339, Madisonville: McDonald-Sloan 2460, The Woodlands: Rebel Joan Of Arc 2721 and Wallisville: Thomas Jefferson Chambers 2591.
The meeting was held at the Port Arthur International Seafarers’ Center.
Port Arthur is known as the Cajun Capital of Texas. During the War between the States, Port Arthur, Texas saw much fighting from navel and land skirmishes, including the Battle of Sabine Pass, where the CSA forced back a Union amphibious invasion led by 4 gunboats.
Each district has a committee of four officers…all four were present for the District III meeting. They are: Emily Allen-Chairman (Dick Dowling 404 Beaumont chapter, Cindy Davis-Vice Chairman (Maj. Josephus Somerville Irvine 2664 Burkeville chapter), Clara Malak-Secretary (J. B. Gordon 339 Huntsville chapter) and Evelyn Miller-Treasurer (Rebel Joan Of Arc 2721 The Woodlands chapter).
Also present was Gina Smith, Texas Division President and member of the
Mid-Cities Bluebonnet 2429 Euless chapter. Mrs. Smith’s motto is “Southern Sisters Standing Shoulder to Shoulder, Unified, Determined, Committed.” Also present was Jan Kimmel, Texas Division Registrar of Supplementals and member of the Charles Buchanan Harris 2532 Sulphur Springs chapter. There were three (3) ex-President’s of the Texas Division present, Bernice Elgar, member of Dick Dowling 404 Beaumont, Kathy Hillman, member of Maj. Josephus Somerville Irvine 2664 Burkeville and Janice Langford, member of Magnolia Rangers 2544 Humble and she served as the President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.
Two honorary presidents were present, Anna Shepeard, a member of the Magnolia Rangers 2544 Humble and Carolyn Jamail, member of the Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523 Conore chapter.
A lovely meal was served at the meeting…it consisted of Crawfish Etouffee,
Chicken & Pasta, a salad bar, bread, tea and coffee. There was a dessert table featuring Gateaux (cake) with de Syrope (syrup), the meal and cake was prepared by Dena Lambert of the Beaumont chapter and Coconut Chess Pie made by Bernice Elgar, also a member of the Beaumont chapter.
There was a silent auction and a discussion was made on how the money would be spent. This was also Bylaws year and the bylaws were updated and amended. The Texas Division also had a project of…collecting socks for our soldiers who are in service to their country. There were thousands of socks collected this year for our military.
Also held was a Memorial Service for the daughters of District III that have passed away since the last annual meeting. Their name is read and those chapters that the ladies belonged to, stand as the name is called. This is a very moving service to attend and was conducted by Jane Ranak, member of the L. L. Ross 100 Bryan chapter. The ladies remembered were…Shirley Bryan and Linda Harper members of the Dick Dowling 404 Beaumont chapter, Bettie Jo Lance from the L. L. Ross 100 Bryan chapter and Eugenia Letbetter, Teri Grimm & Pat Spackey members of the Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523 Conroe chapter.
The objectives of the UDC are…Historical, Educational, Benevolent, Memorial, Patriotic.
Picture by Michele Scanlin and article by Eva Rains
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