Page 24 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2015

COASTNOTES SUPPORTING OUR
COMMUNITY
Anola Club has been strong community supporter since 1943
story by Susan Ruddiman photos courtesy of Anola Club of Pascagoula
TOP: THIS CLUBHOUSE has
been home to the Anola Club of Pascagoula since 1950. Members still meet there today in the wood frame building that was originally a school. BOTTOM: In the 1950s and 1960s, members were known for wearing dresses, hats and gloves to their club meetings. Though times are more informal now, they do wear hats for their end-of-the-year luncheon.
Founded in 1943, the Anola Club of Pascagoula is the city’s oldest women’s club. The members today are just as active in the community as the founding members were. The 32 members work year round to raise funds for the community.
“The Anola Club encourages the personal growth of its members and supports the community throughout the year, in particular by awarding several thousands
of dollars in college scholarships annually to outstanding youth in area schools,” said Betty Green St. Amant, corresponding secretary.
In April, six high school seniors received $1,500 in college scholarships. The recipients were KeShun Wells, Moss Point High School; Emma Foster, Resurrection Catholic High School; Maggie Samblis, Gautier High School; Ellis Armond, Resurrection Catholic High School; Hannah Scott, Pascagoula High School; and Gabrielle Wood, Pascagoula High School. In addition, the
club members gave $1,000 to the Explosion of Excellence program hosted each spring by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
“We also contribute to Our Daily Bread, the Backpack Buddies programs in Moss Point and Pascagoula, the Salvation Army, and the women’s shelter,” said Kay
Sims, a past president and now recording secretary.
The club members have held popular fund-raising events over the years, including a history-filled cookbook, sale of playing cards, fashion shows, kitchen tours, open houses, and — more recently — a chocolate and champagne fete.
The club was named for Anola, the ill-fated Indian princess who walked into the river rather than surrender. Rose Ford was elected the first president in 1943, and she remained a member until she died last year at the age of 98. The club was first a junior woman’s organization, and then a senior woman’s club before members voted to withdraw from the federation in 2002.
Since 1950, they have been meeting September-May in their clubhouse, a former red school house built in 1875. The building, which has survived hurricanes and a tornado, still has its original oak floors.
Besides St. Amant and Sims,
the 2015-16 officers are Vivian Daily, outgoing president; Faye Robertson, president; Joy Mangum, first vice president; Mary Catherine Gallahue, second vice president; Lanny Beery, treasurer; Sharon Armond, historian; and Mary Ann DiSanti, parliamentarian.
24 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2015
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net