Members of the Loosa Schoona Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are joining with more than 175,000 national DAR members in celebrating the organization’s 125th anniversary.
“I take great pride in being a member of DAR,” said Mattye Ruth of Bruce, who is among the original members of the local chapter. “When I think of all we’ve done through the years to support local needs, our veterans and current soldiers, it makes me very proud.”
The DAR was founded in 1890 as a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.
Clarice Spradling, Bebe Maxwell, Mattye Ruth
The Loosa Schoona Chapter was founded in November of 1968 in the Bruce home of Clara Davis.
There were 13 organizing members and eight charter members at the initial meeting. They included Davis, Ruth, Kate Cannon, Eva Carson, Mary Chamberlain, Myrtle Chrestman, Lora Cook, Mallie Coston, Nellie Davis, Marjorie Goudelock, Irene Gallic, Addie Haire, Willie Hasting, Cleo Hawkins, Vida Johnson, Annie Kimbrell, June Murphree, Euris Quillen, Joan Reid, Ellen Scarborough and Helen Steele.
“I cherish all the ones that have gone before us,” said Bebe Maxwell of Derma, current Regent for Loosa Schoona. “I love the history of our chapter.”
The name Loosa Schoona, derived from the Choctaw word Lusa-Ko-Nih, was chosen as the chapter name at that initial meeting in 1968 because of the small river’s significance to Calhoun County. The river, which splits current Calhoun County, was once navigated by keel boats hauling cotton and other goods down river and other essentials back up river including salt and sugar.
DAR members all across the nation volunteer millions of service hours annually in their local communities including supporting active duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for under served children with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.
The local chapter does its part by funding scholarships for Calhoun County students, providing care packages for military veterans, supporting local food pantry efforts and much more.
“They used to auction cakes to help raise money when they first organized,” said current DAR member Clarice Spradling of Bruce.
The first DAR chapter in Mississippi was founded in the spring of 1896 at the Natchez home of General John A. Quitman, of Mexican War fame, known as Monmouth. The DAR moved its headquarters to the Rosalie mansion in Natchez in 1938.
“It’s just an incredible place that we’ve been fortunate enough to visit,” Maxwell said.
The Loosa Schoona Chapter currently has almost 30 members and meets the second Monday of every month.
Their November meeting is scheduled to be held at Shady Grove UMC Church in northern Calhoun County where World War II veteran Dwight Hellums will speak to the organization.
