Smith-McMillan NSDAR Chapter Christmas Luncheon Held Recently

The annual Smith-McMillan NSDAR Chapter Christmas Luncheon was held at the Fritsch Auf! Valley Country Club. During the social prior to the program, members and guests mingled and perused the many beautiful Christmas raffle items whose sales benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund for area high school recipients. Regent Pamela Burke opened the program part of the luncheon at 11:30 a.m. along with Chaplain, Kathy Schatte in leading the DAR Ritual. Sherry Hebert accompanied on her on violin singing the National Anthem. Following the DAR Ritual, Regent Burke welcomed and recognized a special guest, Carol Lowe who is Director of District VII in Texas.

Regent Burke then turned it over to officer, Sherry Hebert, who presented the Smith-McMillan’s 1976 Organizing Regent, Sarah Peel Mabry, with a 60-Year DAR Membership Pin. Her husband, Dr. Mike Mabry and their special guests joined her for pictures. Sarah Mabry’s leadership service to DAR and DRT goes back many years as well as her professional career as an educator and counselor in several Texas schools. She has also served in leadership roles with Texas A & M University and now spends as much time as possible enjoying time as a grandmother and enjoying this family time.

Regent Pamela Burke introduced Marie W. Watts, Chapter Member and Vice President of the Faison Preservation Society presented a program entitled, “N.W. Faison House, Uncovering It’s True Past, The story of Louisiana Brown Faison (freed woman).” Marie shared a video presentation that she created which can be found at this link: https://youtu.be/ OdD0Q9tKvQU?si=MRpZb 3Ka3OpimnTl regarding the life and background of Lou Brown Faison whose history was more or less “hidden” by omission. She, like many women in the country’s past history had aided and abetted the soldiers in war time assisting their spouses or as freed slaves like Lou Brown Faison. Marie Watts and others found the history of Nathanial Faison and family but really had to dig to uncover the illustrious role of Lou Brown Faison. Watts pointed out that the history of Lou Faison was there all along, just hidden. She was a homeowner for the rest of her life, buying and selling real estate. The find was accidental. The story of Lou matters. It shows she was not a victim but acted rather than being acted upon. Her story is worth saving.

Marie Watts posed the question, “How many of us might have learned something about possible female relatives that served in the war effort had women written the history? This referenced the fact that Jimmie Faison, resident of the Faison House, told the history of the house to the Houston Chronicle in 1931 and did not mention that Lou Faison owned the house at one point.

The Faison House does have a DAR connection as N.W. Faison’s grandfather, Kilby Faison, is a patriot in the DAR database. Marie explained ways our members and guests can support the Faison House and thanked them for the fundraising and doing a day of service for the Faison House by the Smith-McMillan Chapter members.

Following the program, Chaplain Kathy Schatte gave the Benediction and a blessing of the meal and members and guests enjoyed a lunch and the Raffle Drawing which netted $1,000 that will go to scholarships.