Southern Dames of America

The National Society Southern Dames of America is a lineage society and charitable organization for women of Southern heritage that supports ophthalmic research and promotes patriotic, educational, and benevolent endeavors.

History

In November 1962, a group of women decided to form an organization for women of Southern ancestry to promote education, patriotic and literary causes, and fund scholarships.The society's first national assembly was held at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta between June 2 and June 6, 1963. The chartering officers of the national society were Kathryn Slaughter Wittichen, honorary president and founder; Doris Walker Lyle, national president; Ms. Henry Frost Chadeayne, national vice president at large; Mrs. Allen D. O'Brian, national secretary; Mrs. Richard B. Redwood, national treasurer; Mrs. Thomas W. Huey, national historian; and Mrs. George T. Winn, national chaplain.
The second national assembly was held at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. from April 22 to April 26, 1964.
In January 1965, the Georgia Society of the Southern Dames of America held a luncheon at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, where national vice president Mrs. Hiram Mozley discussed plans for the national society's European tour. The national president, Mrs. Lee H. Lyle, was also in attendance and gave updates on two of the national society's major projects, the Thomas Jefferson Political Science and History Award and the Eye Bank Program.
The society's main goals are to support ophthalmic research and promote patriotic, educational, and benevolent endeavors. Members of the society financially support various eye care centers, hospitals, and schools for the blind.

List of presidents

The presidents of the National Society Southern Dames of America have been:

Number	President	Years in office	State of membership
1	Kathryn Slaughter Wittichen	1962–1963	Florida
2	Doris Walker Lyle	1963–1966	Georgia
3	Winifred Simpson Yarrington	1968–1970	Maryland
4	Emily Vance	1970–1972	Florida
5	Lillian Everhart	1972–1974	Georgia
6	Kathleen Plaster	1974–1976	Florida
7	Martha Jo Wallace	1978–1980	Florida
8	Margaret Boatright	1980–1982	New Mexico
9	Melva M. Koonce	1982–1984	Alabama
10	Kay Milton	1984–1986	Florida
11	Ann Seay Briglia	1986–1988	Alabama
12	Fritzi K. Martin	1988–1990	Louisiana
13	Hannah Jones	1990–1992	Florida
14	Anne B. Bradford	1992–1994	Tennessee
15	Shirley Spuhler	1994–1996	Texas
16	Carolyn N. Godwin	1996–1998	Alabama
17	Polly Hutson	1998–2000	Florida
18	Frances W. Hawkins	2000–2002	Maryland
19	Catherine F. Brister	2002–2004	Florida
20	Carolee P. McKinstry	2004–2006	Tennessee
21	Mary F. Rever	2006–2008	Maryland
22	Nelly G. Shearer	2008–2010	Tennessee
23	Dorothy Lee	2010–2012	Louisiana
24	Robin R. Towns	2012–2014	Georgia
25	L. Sue Comerford	2014–2016	Florida
26	Gabrielle "Gaby" Hadyka	2016–2018	Texas
27	Camille Lowery	2018–2018 Died in office	Georgia
28	Brenda Hamilton	2018–2020	North Carolina
29	Bonnell "Bonnie" Wheeler Lashley	2020–2022	Georgia
30	Jessieanne Wells	2022–present	Kentucky