During her term as State Regent, Mrs. Hollis E. Woodyard identified a need for a new DAR chapter in the eastern part of Birmingham, Alabama.
Mrs. Claire “Cookie” Dorough began to recruit members, and an organizational meeting was held at her home on August 3, 1974.
The chapter received its charter on October 10, 1974. Organizing members were: Mrs. Kay Ledbetter Boehnke, Mrs. Mae Brunson Cooper, Mrs. Willie Mae Deal, Mrs. Clair Cooper Dorough, Mrs. Velma Nelson Hemphill, Mrs. Grace Thorn Hill, Mrs. Martha Thorn Huffman, Mrs. Nancy Huffstutler King, Mrs. Ethel Nelson Lacy, Mrs. Kerrye Dorough Milhorn, Mrs. Elizabeth Gary Moore, Mrs. Roberta Haynes Paul, Mrs. Marie Teague, and Mrs. Ollie Kendrick Spurlock. Organizing Regent Mrs. Dorough, chose the name of her American Revolutionary War Patriot, Josiah Brunson, as the chapter’s name. Three generations of the Brunson family were charter members, as well as two other members that were related.
Josiah Brunson was born September 7, 1750, in St. Mark Parish, South Carolina. He was the sixth of nine children born to Isaac and Mary (Nelson) Brunson. Josiah was the fourth generation of the Brunson family born in America. At the time of the American Revolutionary War, Josiah and six of his brothers served with General Francis Marion’s Brigade in South Carolina. All the brothers survived the war except Mathew, who was killed by the Tories in January 1781. In 1986, the grandmother of two of our members joined at the age of 102; and at that time, she was thought to be the oldest member to join DAR. The chapter has marked the graves of four of its members and two of its American Revolutionary War Patriots.
Our chapter is very patriotic and we follow the guidelines set forth by the National Society for small chapters. The chapter has enjoyed entertaining each of the state regents since our organization. The Josiah Brunson Chapter, NSDAR, members look forward to continued growth.