Courtesy of Guy Mason, Okemah News Leader.
Old Paper Tells of PEO Founding On Friday afternoon of March 25th, 1927, chapter BQ of P. E. O. Was organized at the home of Mrs. J. M. Pemberton. Mrs. Emma Kennedy had been appointed local organizer and was assisted by several P. E. O. Members residing in Okemah.
Baskets of yellow and white Marguerites with bows of yellow tulle made the tables most attractive. The same color note was cleverly emphasized in the four course luncheon.
Members of the Okmulgee chapter of the sisterhood assisted the state organizer in organizing the new chapter.
Officers installed were president Mrs. Gus LeCompte; vice-president, Mrs. C. O. White, corresponding secretary, Mrs. Minnie Waller; recording secretary, Mrs. J. M. Pemberton; treasurer, Mrs. Kennedy; chaplain, Mrs. Mae Noble; guard, Mrs. W. H. Kretz. Mrs. Park Gibson was appointed pianist, Mrs. E. E. Parsons, historian; Mrs. Ida M. Hampton, parliamentarian.Other members were Mrs. Key John, Mrs. H. A. Dolen, Mrs. R. R. Jordan, Mrs. W. C. McIntosh, and Mrs. J. L. Mathews.
P.E.O. in Oklahoma, 1909-1969, Oklahoma State Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood,1974
CHAPTER BQ, OKEMAH, CHAPTER HISTORY
Chapter BQ, Okemah, was sponsored by Lima B.Kennedy, Z, Okmulgee, and was organized by Glenn Raffety on March 25, 1927.Chapter Z, Okmulgee, assisted. Charter members were:
Mrs. Emma B. Kennedy
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Le Compte, BZ, Mo.
Mrs. Manola J. Pemberton
Mrs. Ida M. Hampton, P, Neb.
Mrs. Ola Holloway Parsons
Mrs. Mae Rose Noble, BR, Iowa
Mrs. Nellie V. Dolen
Mrs. Vera Jordan, T, OkIa.
Mrs. Florine M. John
Mrs. Eulalia B. White, AM, Mo.
Mrs. Willie H. Matthews
Mrs. Hester V. Kretz, CT, Mo.
Mrs. Josie Gibson
Mrs. Minnie B. Waller
Mrs. Mamie T. McIntosh
Chapter BQ has supported all National P.E.O. projects.Two girls, Azalea Bynum and Juanita Willis, received educational loans,and JoAnne Abshier was given a scholarship to Cottey College. Azalea graduatedfrom O.S.U.
Chapter BQ has been hostess to two state conventionsat Bristow and McAlester, and has initiated fifty-two members under twenty-onepresidents.
Local projects have included help to needyfamilies, aid to the hospital, library, and schools, talent shared by thecommunity, and annual teas for high school girls. National projects, suchas Kits for Soldiers, Gifts for Yanks, Clothing Drives, Red Cross, Care,Girl Scouts, and Cancer Drives, were supported. Trees were planted in theOkemah Cemetery, floats were decorated, and bouquets were sent to shut-insby Chapter BQ.
Chapter BQ had its usual social P.E.O. eventsalong with the above generous donations to altruistic causes.