OUR
THREE CENTENARIANS
Provided from a
presentation made by Honorary State Regent, Mrs. J. Russell Bersch
MARY GREEN
MOORE, (Mrs. George C.),
NSDAC Number 32273. (1895-1999)
Her niece Nancy Trout relates that she
was affectionately known as “Aunt Tommie.”
Her boundless energy was used for the good of anyone she felt she could
help. Aunt Tommie’s ancestry was a great
interest to her. It was one of her favorite topics when family came to call
because she considered it important for everyone to have knowledge of his or
her background.
Membership in the Fort Henry Chapter of
Virginia State Society, Daughters of the American Colonists was a great source
of pride to this Daughter. Patriotism and
knowledge of the process of governmental legislature were ideals she wanted for
everyone. At the ripe old age of 98 Aunt
Tommie accompanied a tour group to Richmond and insisted that everyone must go
to the capitol and view the legislatures at work. After that she said they must walk up the
stairs and see the statue of George Washington.
No one dared to tell her those steps were too much for them because of
her agility dependant upon the help of her walking cane.
Aunt Tommie was a devout Christian. Recognizing the value of the original pews
and wooden candleholders in the windows of a little Methodist church in
Mecklenburg County, Virginia, she convinced the congregation to save these
relics. Aunt Tommie was community minded
and resourceful. She always became
involved in whatever was taking place and voiced her opinion if it was contrary
to what she perceived as the best interest of the community.
Her ninety-ninth and hundredth birthdays
were celebrated at Ferndale Park, and Appomattox Riverside Park, Petersburg,
Virginia, with a picnic dinner and rides on the Appomattox Canal in the Lord
Chesterfield Batteau.
Aunt Tommie went down to board the boat almost running as she moved
along with the aide of her walking stick.
Before the Batteaumen could get there to help
this Daughter climbed into the bateau and was ready to go. She was one passenger they will never
forget!
She enriched all of our lives in many
different ways. We shall always have a
part of her with us. This centenarian
was constantly working on a project or maybe two or three at one time –
painting a picture, crocheting an afghan, sewing, writing or reading,
Carla Odom, Honorary Regent of Fort Henry
DAC Chapter recalls Aunt Tommie as a multi talented lady. She wrote stories and painted lovely oil
landscapes. In her mid-nineties she
sewed and hung the draperies, made the cornice boards and covered them for the
parlor and dinning room on the first floor of the Louise Hines DAR Chapter
House in Petersburg. She also restored a
large mahogany buffet in the dinning room.
She was in Carla’s DAC, UDC, and DAR chapters as was her deceased sister
Mary Thweatt and her niece Nancy Trout who survives.
MARY McCAA DEAL, (Mrs. Joseph
D.)
NSDAC Number 4822. (1897-1999)
All who knew Mary Deal loved her. Honorary State Regents Georgia Holder,
Caroline Gordon, and Eva Bryan related the following information they
remembered about her. Mary was born in
Florida although both her parents were from old Virginia families. Her father’s people, the McCaa’s,
came from Scotland in the middle of the 18th century and settled in
Amherst County. Her mother’s people, the
Campbell’s came to Virginia about the same time and settled in Louisa County.
Mary’s Mother died when she was ten
years old. Her Father was a traveling
auditor for the railroad, therefore, he was unable to
stay at home to raise her and her younger sister, Nellie. Her Great Aunt Alice Campbell Thomson reared
them along with her own daughter in Norfolk.
Mary was an outstanding history teacher for many years in private and
public schools in Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. She and her husband had one son.
This loyal Daughter was also a member of
the Great Bridge Chapter, NSDAR. She
served two terms as Regent in the 1930’s.
She was also active in the National Society Colonial Dames of America in
the Commonwealth of Virginia.
When this centenarian was still a
bubbly, vivacious, energetic young lady she kept telling Honorary State Regent
Caroline Gordon that the Friendly Society, the DAC, was her favorite
society. She was Honorary State Regent,
National Chaplain and Organizing Secretary, National Chairman for Yorktown Day
Association, and she served as national chairman for the Cape Henry
Commemoration for 15 plus years.
NSDAC National Treasurer Georgia Holder
recalls the day she took her seven-month-old son Chad to the State assembly and
him lying on the floor at the end of the table.
Mary Deal almost stepped on him.
Also when this Daughter spoke at the National Assembly the Pages had to
secure a stool so she could see over the podium.
ANNE EVANS
GRIFFIN McCOY, (Mrs.
Charles H.)
NSDAC Number 29543. (1899–2001)
Honorary State Regent Caroline Gordon,
who was her secretary, chauffeur, and good friend for
ten years, shared this information in remembrance of
Virginia DAC’s
third centenarian had an incredible inner strength, supported by a soundly
rooted Christian faith. She was an
active leader in the Women’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church for 45 years.
Her club work reached perhaps its
highest achievements in the service provided to the Lochhaven
Garden Club from 1944 to 1980. Under her
guidance this group worked closely with Mr. Fred Heuelle,
Director of Norfolk’s famous Botanical Gardens.
Mrs. McCoy and her club helped to establish the botanical library. Students of landscape architecture use the
library extensively. With the aid of
Margaret Nelson and Virginia Pollock she was able to secure the marble
sculpture “Madonna and Child” by an Italian sculpture that was added to the
other handsome marble statues in the Botanical Gardens’ green and white
sculpture garden.
While Anne was President of the
Lawrence T. Royster Circle of the Kings Daughters
Children’s Hospital, a monthly program was initiated to learn more about the
operation of the hospital. The
This centenarian was a charter member of
the Women’s Navy League. For nearly 50
years this group worked to draw the civilian business world and the US Navy
closer together so that both could coordinate their efforts for the betterment
of Norfolk.
Mrs. McCoy held many offices in the
Great Bridge Chapter, NSDAR. She was
instrumental in having the history of the chapter rewritten and updated by
fellow member Mrs. Joseph Deal. While President of the Tidewater DAR Regents’ Club Anne
participated in a spectacular event.
Judge Richard Kellam moved his court for one
day only to the USS Guam. The ship was
docked at a Norfolk Navel Station pier.
On board ship a Naturalization service was held with the Great Bridge
Chapter, NSDAR and the US Immigration Services participating.
Anne Evans Griffin McCoy was an original
member of The Norfolk Mace Chapter that was organized
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