Local civic club honors Bevill for 50 years of community service

The Union County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Marjorie Ann Randolph Bevill for her fifty-year membership in the Ishtehotopah chapter during a recent chapter meeting.

Angie Barmer

The Ishtehotopah chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Marjorie Ann Randolph Bevill for fifty years and was honored Thursday afternoon at the DAR meeting with a certificate. Pictured, from left to right, Sheri Hall Smith, Leanne Tate George, Marjorie Ann Randolph Bevill, Marjorie Livingston, Jane Sumrall, and Joan Smith.

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Bevill became inspired with the ideals of the DAR at age 18 when she attended Northeast Mississippi Community College and the house mother at the girl’s dorm was a DAR member. She became involved in research and found out that Joseph Randolph, her great-great-grandfather, was in the Army during the Revolutionary War. 

“It took a year of research through old letters, old family Bibles, tombstones, war records, and more to find the information about him,” said Bevill.

“Among the years I have been in the DAR, I have developed a love for the country and a love for the ideals of the DAR. The women in this chapter have been so dedicated to the ideals of the DAR,” said Bevill.

She said that this organization is different than many others because it requires people to delve into their family’s ancestry and family tree and do a lot of research. Written proof is required that someone in the family fought or served in the American Revolution for someone to join the DAR.

Over her fifty years of service in the DAR, Bevill has held numerous titles, including regent, and has served on several committees and offices. She said she enjoys the closeness of the members.

Sheri Hall Smith, DAR member, said, “The DAR has an emphasis on patriotism and the education of patriotism at schools, the American’s Creed, the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and The Star Spangled Banner, and we donate materials for historical preservation.”

The DAR gives donations to schools, military families, literacy groups, and more. Women age 18 or older can apply to become a member of the DAR if she can trace back an ancestor that served or fought in the Revolutionary War as a veteran or a patriot.

The DAR was founded on October 11, 1890 and was incorporated in 1896 by an Act of Congress. The mission is to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism and the motto is “God, Home, and Country.”

Membership includes 165,000 members, including 3,000 chapters in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and many countries throughout the world.

The six DAR members that meet on a regular basis are Sheri Hall Smith, Leanne Tate George, Marjorie Ann Randolph Bevill, Marjorie Livingston, Jane Sumrall, and Joan Smith. 

 For more information about the DAR, visit www.dar.org or contact one of the local members for more information about joining the local chapter.