History of Philadelphia Chapter
In the fall of 1983, Barbara J. White traveled to Spain
with the Richmond Chapter of the National Epicureans, Inc.
Barbara enjoyed the friendships she developed with the
Eppies and Eppos on this trip. She returned to Philadelphia
determined to organize a group of women who shared interests
through family, professional, social, local and national
organizations into a social club that would eventually
become a chapter of the National Epicureans, Incorporated.
The first meeting was held on October 1983, at the home of
Peggy A. Epps. Each perspective member who was interested in
Barbara's ideas decide to call the group, "The Philadelphia
Jewels". The following officers were elected at this
meeting: Barbara J. White, President; Peggy Epps, Vice
President; Jacquelyn Jackson, Recording Secretary; Barbara
A. Hodges, Corresponding Secretary; Patricia Sawyer,
Financial Secretary; Dorothy Summers-Rush, Treasurer; Lois
Powell-Mondesire, Historian; Sylvia W. Bell, Journalist;
Nancy C Lee, Parliamentarian and Carolyn J. Douglas,
Sergeant-at-arms.
For a year and half, the Philadelphia
Jewels strengthened friendships among the members by
planning and sharing activities. Becoming Epicureans was the
goal! Barbara J. White wrote letters of interest to Dr.
Sarah Grant, Vice President. The Philadelphia Jewels were
advised of the steps to take to become Epicureans. In
January 1995, Dorothy Summers Rush wrote a letter to Blanche
Beckham of the Baltimore Epicureans requesting the
sponsorship of the Baltimore Chapter for the Philadelphia
Jewels. A positive response encouraged President White to
forward a letter and our resumes to Mrs. Miriam Brown,
President of the Baltimore Epicureans requesting formal
consent to sponsor, The Philadelphia Jewels. They agreed to
become the Chapter sponsor.
The Philadelphia Jewels
invited the Baltimore Chapter to meet at the home of
Constance B. Baker on a Sunday afternoon in June 1985. The
group shared a lovely brunch and made new friends. On
December 7, 1985. Dr. Carolyn L. Mosby and Dr. Sarah Grant
met the Philadelphia Jewels at the home of Peggy A. Epps for
a holiday party. Again, new friendships were established!
On May 3, 1986, the 22nd Chapter of the National Epicureans,
Incorporated was installed at the Embassy Suites Hotel in
Philadelphia. Barbara J. White, President and seventeen
members were inducted by the National President, Dr. Carolyn
L. Mosby of Richmond, VA. Epicureans from as far as South as
Atlanta, Georgia, and from as far West as Columbus and
Dayton, Ohio attended this installation.
The
Philadelphia Epicureans presented Dr. Carolyn L. Mosby with
a replica of the Liberty Bell and a Citation from Mayor of
Philadelphia. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. Eppies and Eppos attended
this spectacular dinner dance and had a fantastic time for
the remainder of the evening. On Sunday, May 4, 1986, a
farewell breakfast was served. During the weekend, the
Eppies lived up to their motto, "Eat, Drink and Be Merry!!!"
Since May
1986 the Philadelphia Chapter has inducted new members and
continues to fellowship at their meetings on the last Friday
of the month.
Accolades continue for the fabulous
Conclave hosted by the Philadelphia Chapter at the Downtown
Marriott in Philadelphia in June, 1995. The Chapter is
extremely proud that three of its members have been elected
to national offices of the national Epicureans,
Incorporated; Peggy A. Epps, National Vice President
(1994-1996), National President (1996-1998); Patricia
Sawyer, national Vice President (1998-2000), National
President (2000-2002) and Carolyn D. Gardner, National Vice
President (2010-2014), National President 2015-2017).
The
Chapter continues to support the National Project, Sickle
Cell Disease through thousands of dollars in contribution to
research and supportive services and through the
establishment in March 2011 of a children's library at the
Sickle Cell Anemia Center at Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia.
Our very own Eppie sister PA Supreme Court
Justice Juanita Kidd Stout was honored by the City of
Philadelphia. The Criminal Justice Center was named in her
honor in 2011. Judge Stout was the first African American
woman elected to serve as a judge in the United States. She
was also, the first African American woman to serve on any
state Supreme Court in the nation.
Chapter members are
appreciative of its many friends and supporters who have
enjoyed sharing the motto, "Eat, Drink and Be Merry" at its
many fundraising, social events and Founders' Day
Celebrations. Our members now look forward to hosting the 23
chapters at our 2017 Conclave.