Beta Chi Charter Members
**All information on this page was provided by charter member Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson.**
Beta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International was organized on May 31, 1979. The following is a newspaper article from that time:
"Beta Chi Installation Held"
"On May 31, the Beta Chi Chapter (composed of ladies from Catahoula Parish) of Delta Kappa Gamma International was installed in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church of Harrisonburg. Mrs. Joanna Pruitt, state executive secretary from Crowley, performed the ritual for installing the new chapter.
Charter members of the new chapter are Doris Alexander, Grace Aplin, Janice Aplin, Diane Atkins, Bernice Beard, Virginia Beard, Gene Boyd, Euzelia Chase, Emily Coney, Hazel Crawford, Elizabeth Field, Audrey Gibson, Marie Guinn, Nola Jones, Daisy Johnson, Bobbie Meyers, Una Pual, Sue Sandifer, Lurline Sheppard, and Frances Taliaferro.
The following officers were elected and installed to serve: President, Una Paul; first Vice President, Grace Aplin; Second Vice President, Doris Alexander; Recording Secretary, Sue Sandifer; Corresponding Secretary, Virginia Beard; Treasurer, Bernice Beard; and Parliamentarian, Marie Guinn.
Out-of-town guests consisted of Edleen Marczak and Jackie Shipp of Gilbert; Pat Bray of Tallulah; Joanna Pruitt of Crowley; Carol McDougald and Camille Holloway of Olla, Jimmye Campbell, Ladys Drane, Edith Davis, Betty Ward, Jo Benson, Grace Bailey, and Pat King from Concordia Parish.
A buffet supper was served to all those attending. Lillian Aplin will become the first lady initiated into the Beta Chi Chapter at its September meeting."
Charter members of the new chapter are Doris Alexander, Grace Aplin, Janice Aplin, Diane Atkins, Bernice Beard, Virginia Beard, Gene Boyd, Euzelia Chase, Emily Coney, Hazel Crawford, Elizabeth Field, Audrey Gibson, Marie Guinn, Nola Jones, Daisy Johnson, Bobbie Meyers, Una Pual, Sue Sandifer, Lurline Sheppard, and Frances Taliaferro.
The following officers were elected and installed to serve: President, Una Paul; first Vice President, Grace Aplin; Second Vice President, Doris Alexander; Recording Secretary, Sue Sandifer; Corresponding Secretary, Virginia Beard; Treasurer, Bernice Beard; and Parliamentarian, Marie Guinn.
Out-of-town guests consisted of Edleen Marczak and Jackie Shipp of Gilbert; Pat Bray of Tallulah; Joanna Pruitt of Crowley; Carol McDougald and Camille Holloway of Olla, Jimmye Campbell, Ladys Drane, Edith Davis, Betty Ward, Jo Benson, Grace Bailey, and Pat King from Concordia Parish.
A buffet supper was served to all those attending. Lillian Aplin will become the first lady initiated into the Beta Chi Chapter at its September meeting."
Beta Chi Charter Members
1. Audrey Gibson was initiated in 1942 as a state member and helped organize Alpha Iota in 1956. She taught for many years at Harrisonburg Elementary.
2. Francis Taliaferro was initiated as a state member in 1942. She served as the first president of Alpha Iota, which was organized in 1956. Francis had a BA from
Northwestern and a Master’s from George Peabody University. She taught in Winnfield 1 year, Shreveport 10 years, Harrisonburg for 8 years and Jonesville
Elementary. She was a faithful member as long as she was able.
3. Hazel Crawford became a state member in 1949. She resigned when she moved to Buras, but was reinstated in 1973. She served the chapter in many ways.
She was president 1958-1960.
4. Bernice Beard became a member in 1956. She had a BA from Northwestern. She taught upper elementary, high school, and was an elementary school
principal. She served as chapter treasurer for many years.
5. Emily Coney was initiated in 1956. She had a Master’s degree from LSU. Miss Emily taught at Jonesville Elementary for many years. She served the chapter in
many ways, including president in 1966-1968. She was always a faithful member.
6. Marie Guinn was initiated in 1956. She had a BA and MA from Northwestern. She taught grades 5 through high school, served as guidance counselor and
assistant principal.
7. Dr. Gene Boyd was initiated in 1959. She taught for many years, and then worked in a supervisory position. She acquired both Master’s and Doctor’s degrees.
Gene served the chapter in many ways, including being president. She was also active on the state level.
8. Nola Jones was initiated in 1960. She had a BA and MA from Northwestern. She taught in the Baton Rouge school system and taught Social Studies at
Harrisonburg for many years.
9. Daisy Johnson was initiated in 1962. She had a BS from Louisiana Tech. She served as Home Demonstration Agent in Catahoula Parish, taught Home Ed at
Larto and Harrisonburg. She was president in 1972-1974 and was a faithful member as long as she was able, often attending meetings at the state level.
10. Lurline Shepherd was initiated in 1962. She taught Home Ec. at Enterprise and was a faithful member as long as she was able.
11. Grace Aplin was initiated in 1964. She gradated from Northwestern. Grace taught high school English and Social Studies for 3 years, and then taught 4th and 5th
grades in Jonesville and Harrisonburg for many years. Grace has been a faithful chapter member, serving on many committees and as vice president.
12. Una Paul was initiated in 1966. She has a BS and MS from LSU. She taught Business Education at Boyce High School, was employed by the U.S. Government
as a teacher at the Carville Leper Colony, was a librarian and teacher in LaSalle parish, served as librarian at Block High School, and then became Parish
Librarian. Una was president of the local chapters from 1976-1980. She was president when the transition from Alpha Iota was made. She has also served as
District Director.
13. Elizabeth Wilson was initiated in 1967. She graduated from Mississippi College and has done graduate work at Mississippi College and LSU. She taught 2nd
grade in Natchez for 4 years. She then taught 1st and 4th grades at Jonesville Elementary for 32 years. Elizabeth has served on the State Membership Committee
and the state World Fellowship Committee, and has been pianist at several state conventions. She has served the chapter as 1st vice president and two terms as
president.
14. Euzelia Chase was initiated in 1969. She received a Master’s degree in Library Science from LSU, taught English and served as librarian at Enterprise. Later she
became the parish librarian. She has served the chapter in many ways, including president.
15. Bobbie Meyers was initiated in 1970. She taught at Jonesville Elementary and Harrisonburg for many years in the field of Special Education.
16. Doris Alexander was initiated in 1971. She attended Louisiana Tech, but graduated from Louisiana College. She taught elementary grades at Manifest. She has
served the chapter as parliamentarian, secretary, vice president and president.
17. Virginia Beard was initiated in 1971. She taught at Block High School. She served as Recording Secretary 1976-1978.
18. Janice Aplin was initiated 1971. She graduated from Louisiana College. She worked at the Media Center for 1 year and spent the rest of her career teaching Math
at Jonesville Junior High and Block High School. She served as Newsletter Editor and Recording Secretary.
19. Dianne Nicholson was initiated in 1978. She has spent many years teaching in the elementary grades. Dianne has served the chapter well, including being
president.
20. Sue Sandifer was initiated in 1978. She received a Master’s degree from LSU and has taught elementary grades, as well as serving as assistant principal. Sue
has served the chapter in many ways, including being 1st vice president and president. She also served on the State Membership Committee.
2. Francis Taliaferro was initiated as a state member in 1942. She served as the first president of Alpha Iota, which was organized in 1956. Francis had a BA from
Northwestern and a Master’s from George Peabody University. She taught in Winnfield 1 year, Shreveport 10 years, Harrisonburg for 8 years and Jonesville
Elementary. She was a faithful member as long as she was able.
3. Hazel Crawford became a state member in 1949. She resigned when she moved to Buras, but was reinstated in 1973. She served the chapter in many ways.
She was president 1958-1960.
4. Bernice Beard became a member in 1956. She had a BA from Northwestern. She taught upper elementary, high school, and was an elementary school
principal. She served as chapter treasurer for many years.
5. Emily Coney was initiated in 1956. She had a Master’s degree from LSU. Miss Emily taught at Jonesville Elementary for many years. She served the chapter in
many ways, including president in 1966-1968. She was always a faithful member.
6. Marie Guinn was initiated in 1956. She had a BA and MA from Northwestern. She taught grades 5 through high school, served as guidance counselor and
assistant principal.
7. Dr. Gene Boyd was initiated in 1959. She taught for many years, and then worked in a supervisory position. She acquired both Master’s and Doctor’s degrees.
Gene served the chapter in many ways, including being president. She was also active on the state level.
8. Nola Jones was initiated in 1960. She had a BA and MA from Northwestern. She taught in the Baton Rouge school system and taught Social Studies at
Harrisonburg for many years.
9. Daisy Johnson was initiated in 1962. She had a BS from Louisiana Tech. She served as Home Demonstration Agent in Catahoula Parish, taught Home Ed at
Larto and Harrisonburg. She was president in 1972-1974 and was a faithful member as long as she was able, often attending meetings at the state level.
10. Lurline Shepherd was initiated in 1962. She taught Home Ec. at Enterprise and was a faithful member as long as she was able.
11. Grace Aplin was initiated in 1964. She gradated from Northwestern. Grace taught high school English and Social Studies for 3 years, and then taught 4th and 5th
grades in Jonesville and Harrisonburg for many years. Grace has been a faithful chapter member, serving on many committees and as vice president.
12. Una Paul was initiated in 1966. She has a BS and MS from LSU. She taught Business Education at Boyce High School, was employed by the U.S. Government
as a teacher at the Carville Leper Colony, was a librarian and teacher in LaSalle parish, served as librarian at Block High School, and then became Parish
Librarian. Una was president of the local chapters from 1976-1980. She was president when the transition from Alpha Iota was made. She has also served as
District Director.
13. Elizabeth Wilson was initiated in 1967. She graduated from Mississippi College and has done graduate work at Mississippi College and LSU. She taught 2nd
grade in Natchez for 4 years. She then taught 1st and 4th grades at Jonesville Elementary for 32 years. Elizabeth has served on the State Membership Committee
and the state World Fellowship Committee, and has been pianist at several state conventions. She has served the chapter as 1st vice president and two terms as
president.
14. Euzelia Chase was initiated in 1969. She received a Master’s degree in Library Science from LSU, taught English and served as librarian at Enterprise. Later she
became the parish librarian. She has served the chapter in many ways, including president.
15. Bobbie Meyers was initiated in 1970. She taught at Jonesville Elementary and Harrisonburg for many years in the field of Special Education.
16. Doris Alexander was initiated in 1971. She attended Louisiana Tech, but graduated from Louisiana College. She taught elementary grades at Manifest. She has
served the chapter as parliamentarian, secretary, vice president and president.
17. Virginia Beard was initiated in 1971. She taught at Block High School. She served as Recording Secretary 1976-1978.
18. Janice Aplin was initiated 1971. She graduated from Louisiana College. She worked at the Media Center for 1 year and spent the rest of her career teaching Math
at Jonesville Junior High and Block High School. She served as Newsletter Editor and Recording Secretary.
19. Dianne Nicholson was initiated in 1978. She has spent many years teaching in the elementary grades. Dianne has served the chapter well, including being
president.
20. Sue Sandifer was initiated in 1978. She received a Master’s degree from LSU and has taught elementary grades, as well as serving as assistant principal. Sue
has served the chapter in many ways, including being 1st vice president and president. She also served on the State Membership Committee.