MONROE
JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE
SERVING
THE COMMUNITY FOR 84 YEARS
Monroe has been uniquely blessed in having some very old and prominent
civic and cultural organizations which date back many years. Recently a request
was made to share the Monroe Junior Service League’s history. Leafing through
my notebooks I was surprised at the material I had collected over the years with
photos and articles dating from the 40’s forward. Some of the city’s best
known and beloved ladies got their early start becoming members of Monroe’s
Junior Service League.
I remembered one of the members who not only was president of the group
but whose mother-in-law was the League’s first president.
Suzanne Polk Roberts, was president of the Monroe Junior Service League
from 1971 to 1972. Her
mother-in-law, Knoxie Nunnally Roberts Williamson, was the club’s president
the year the group was organized in 1936. I thought if anyone could furnish me
the information I needed Suzanne could. Knowing Suzanne for many years, she
continues to be one of the most socially and civic minded ladies of the city who
is always ready to lend a helping hand whatever the cause may be.
Created and organized in 1936, soon
after the group was established, an article in the Atlanta Constitution appeared
talking about the creation of the Monroe Junior Service League.
The article read: “To Mrs. Francis Warfield of Nashville, Tenn., goes a
great deal of credit for the organization of the group, for at the time of its
initiation, she was visiting her mother, Mrs.Edgar Tichenor and, being editor of
the Junior Service League magazine in Nashville, she helped them organize
somewhat along the lines of that organization.
What is now known as an organization’s mission statement, the
league’s original purpose was “To foster interest among members of the
social, educational, economic, cultural and civic conditions of the community
and to make efficient their volunteer service.”
At the initial meeting of the group, Miss Clara Knox Nunnally was named
president, Miss Anita Butts, Vice-President; Miss Mary Adcock, Secretary; Miss
Sara Francis Clarke, Treasurer; Miss Lalia Napier, Chairman Arts and Interest
Committee; Miss Sara Carmichael, Chairman Ways and Means Committee; Miss Celia
Lott, Chairman Membership. Other charter members were Misses Sara Roberts,
Frances Mobley, Frances Napier, Katherine Williams, Harriet Ray and Alice Field.
My hopes of listing all the past presidents of the club fell short so I
wanted to recognize some of those ladies who joined the club early on and
remained members throughout their lives. Several in this group did serve as
president of the League. They were: Evelyn Martin, Evelyn Summer, Mindell
Hester, Dot McGarity, Clara Bell, Rebecca Hawkins, Sara Kidd, Lucy Wayne, Miriam
Williamson, Mary Marshall, Emily Preston, Dorothy Blasingame, Marsie Field, Sue
Henson, Gloria Preston, Harriett Baccus, Elizabeth Odom, Catherine Melton, Jane
Williamson Jacobs, Gladys Camp, Elizabeth Wheeler, Kate Stewart, Georgia Huie,
Sarah Lowery, Dorothy Dyal Briscoe, Dorothy
Foster, Gypsy Glaefke, Jane Mulkey,
Dorothy Nowell, Louise Lewis, Peggy Seymour, Jean McDonald and Eleanor Preston.
One special lady who joined the league early on and continues to be a sustaining
member is Mrs. Kathryn Smith Phillips.
I gathered together a short listing of some of the league’s early
presidents which included: Cookie Sanders, 1940; Clara Bell, 1941; Evelyn
Martin, 1943; Virginia Sigman, 1944; Alice Field, 1945; Kate Lewis, 1946; Anita
Sams, 1949; Nanette Robison, 1950; Hilda Aycock, 1955; Bunky Grubbs, 1962; Helen
Arnold, 1962; Betty Hearn, 1967; Jean Green, 1968; Flonny Carrollton, 1970;
Suzanne Roberts, 1971; Gail Carrell, 1975; Sallie Echols, 1976 and Jane Camp,
1986.
When the league celebrated their 50th anniversary, Helen
Cohenour served as president and honoring the anniversary, the league’s first
president, Knoxie Nunnally Roberts Williamson, came from Atlanta to celebrate
the occasion.
In 1972 the Monroe Junior Service League published a cookbook, “Our
Favorite Recipes” which, as one might expect, became an instant classic.
That cookbook joined ranks with another highly treasured cookbook
published by the Roberta Chapter No. 275 Order of Eastern Star, in 1948
entitled, “What’s Cooking in Monroe, Georgia?” Leafing through both of
these cookbooks you see so many names of early Monroe ladies whose talent in the
kitchen was very well-known and whose dishes were often found on tables for
parties and special occasions.
A listing of some of the many early projects the league organized and
sponsored are as follows:
In 1936 the first service project was founded – an Eye Clinic for
underprivileged children, including donations for eyeglasses and examinations by
specialists in Athens and Atlanta.
1937 saw the project of completely equipping the children’s ward at the
Walton County Hospital. Everything from glassed=in nursery windows, incubator
and sterilizers to infant wear was made possible through the untiring efforts of
the League members.
Joining partners with the Monroe Kiwanis Club, the League, in 1937 began
Walton County’s first tonsil clinic. From this came the “Pre-natal and
Well-baby Clinic.”
In 1939 the “Once Upon a Time” children’s summer story hour was
begun at the Monroe Library and continued for twenty years.
During World War II the League members helped the Red Cross by sewing and
mailing “ditty bags” to the servicemen.
In 1947 the League began volunteer work at the Blood Bank in Walton
County and also helped in the re-organization of the blood bank in 1951 and has
continued in giving assistance in the area when the need arises.
The League’s project for 1949 was the establishment of the revolving
book cart which were placed in the hospital and adjoining convalescent wing.
The Hospital Supply Room was organized in 1950 with the following
purchases: one hospital bed, two wheel chairs and three pair of crutches. As the
demand for supplies grew over the years other items were added by League
purchases and by donations from friends.
Mrs. Florence Martin was the first teacher of the Monroe Junior Service
League Kindergarten which began in 1952. Thirty children were enrolled. In 1972
the enrollment was 75 with three teachers and three assistants. Classes were
held then at the Idlehour Recreation Center.
In March 1955 the Junior Service League held a “Fashionatta” at the
Monroe High School Gym, the proceeds going to benefit the kindergarten, hospital
nursery and hospital supply room.
When the
Nowell Recreation Center was opened in 1957, the League helped with its fund
raising barbecue along with funding for the decorating of the Ladies Lounge.
The Dental Clinic began in 1960 with the League donating dental kits to
all children.
In 1965 the Monroe Junior Service League was cited by the Cancer Crusade
for outstanding work done on Sabin Oral Sunday. Members of the League assisted
the Walton County Medical Society in organizing SOS in Walton County and 10, 274
doses of the Type III vaccine were given.
1970 saw the League in conjunction with the Health Department and the
Medical Society organize the first Pap Smear Clinic in Walton County. From 1970
until the second clinic in 1972, over 750 tests were made and several types of
cancer were detected.
Along the lines of cultural events the League has been involved in are
the following:
The League’s first cultural event was the presentation of Daniel
Whitehead Hicky in 1936. Mr. Hicky,
a noted poet and one of Monroe’s favorite sons, read from a selection of his
poetry.
Piano recitals have always been a favorite of the League members. The
University of Georgia provided students of music for the League to present in
Monroe. One of the most unusual programs presented was Dorothy Alexander and her
“Dance Art Group” which appeared in 1940.
In 1947 Mrs. Sarah Arnold and Mr. Charles Henson were featured soloists
when the Monroe High School Glee Club presented a program of popular music for
the League. Mrs. Henry Mashburn, speech teacher for the schools, in 1949 &
1950, presented several outstanding readings to the League along with listening
to opera recordings and providing a background history of the opera being
enjoyed.
Mrs. Anita Sams, in 1957, presented a program to the League members
explaining the progress of the work she was doing in compiling the history of
Walton County. Ten years later, in 1967, her book, “Wayfarers in Walton” was
published and League members hosted a tea reception
honoring her for the dedicated and exhausting work she did in compiling the
history of our county.
The Monroe Junior Service League continues on in its time honored
tradition of bringing the best of service and dedication of the League’s
purpose to the Monroe community as they look forward to celebrating their 100th
anniversary.
(Appreciation is extended to Suzanne
Roberts and Gail Carrell for their assistance with this article)