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75th Reunion - 2014

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 Officers

officers

2018-2020 Officers:  Bill,   Ann,   Polly,   Susan,   Peggy,   Elaine,   Nancy,   ,   Nikki

Officers are elected for two-year terms. Trustees serve for three-year terms. Committee chairs are appointed by the President.  The Executive Commitee is composed of all current officers, trustees and committee chairs. [Link to Past Presidents]

President:  William L. (Bill) Costley

Bill descends from Reverend Samuel Swayze through daughter Hannah who married Jeremiah Coleman. Bill retired from U. S. Marine Corps, then became an educator. Served as professor and administrator at El Dorado Branch of Southern Arkansas University until retirement. He lives in El Dorado, AR, and is married to the former Elizabeth Dilworth. They have two sons and eight grandchildren. His hobbies are travel and genealogy.

Executive Vice President: Ann Severance

Ann Severance descends from both Samuel and Richard Swayze. Her grandmother, Gertrude Swayze Loudon, was one of the founding members of DJS. Gertrude’s father (Ann’s great grandfather) was a riverboat captain known as Capt. Jed Swayze. He was a significant figure in the history of Jonesville, Louisiana, including serving as the first president of the Catahoula Bank.Ann currently resides in Baton Rouge, LA, where she grew up. She attended Mississippi University for Women then received a MA and PhD in Dance and Related Arts from Texas Woman's University. Ann taught dance for over 15 years in various settings from colleges to dance studios before changing careers to become a college course materials sales representative for 17 years. She is now contemplating her next career. Ann has been the Social VP for DJS many years and tremendously enjoys serving the organization. For the 2014 reunion she created a 75th Reunion website.


Vice President--Genealogy:  Nikki Britt Shaifer

Nikki descends through Richard Swayze & Sarah Horton> Mary Swayze & Caleb King> Eliza King & Daniel Farrar> Alexander King Farrar & Ann Mary Dougharty> Thornton Hardy Farrar & Ella Cornelia Ford> Anne Matilda Farrar & Sidney Briscoe McCaleb> Mary Louise McCaleb, & Roy Howard Tarver> Betty Tarver Britt


Vice President--Programs:    Susan McCraine Campbell

Susan lives near Baton Rouge with her husband Jerrell and three children. She grew up in Woodville, MS, and is descended from Rev. Samuel Swayze through her father, David Lindsay McCraine and from Richard Swayze through her mother, Wilma Roundtree McCraine. Susan Graduated from Mississippi State University, majoring in Ornamental Horticulture. “Growing up, my family came to the Jersey Settler’s Reunion every year.  I remember the “long” meetings in the church and the long tables loaded with food set up under the trees.  We brought chairs and tables and ate under the trees, visiting with grandparents and cousins.”


Vice President--Publicity:    Peggy Daniels

Peggy descends from Nehemiah Carter & Rachel Minthorn> Phebe Carter & Henry Phipps> Mary Polly Phipps & Argulas Geter> Frederick Hayes Geter & Amanda Rabb> Dulcie Ruth Geter & Delcy R Merritt > K. Elaine Merritt & Wardy L Daniels> Peggy L Daniels.


Vice President--Social:  Elaine Daniels

Elaine descends from Nehemiah Carter & Rachel Minthorn> Phebe Carter & Henry Phipps> Mary Polly Phipps & Argulas Geter> Frederick Hayes Geter & Amanda Rabb> Dulcie Ruth Geter & Delcy R Merritt > K Elaine Merritt & Wardy L Daniels.

Recording Secretary:  Nancy Todd 
 
Nancy is Professor Emerita of Eastern Washington University where she directed graduate students and managed a USAID faculty exchange grant with the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, where she traveled many times.  Nancy lives in Washington state where she enjoys Civil War re-enacting and involvement in VASA Order of America, as she is one-fourth Swedish. Nancy descends through Rev. Samuel Swayze's grandson James Swayze's daughter Rebecca Malinda Swayze [pdf]. Rebecca and her family traveled the Oregon Trail in 1847 and settled a Donation Land Claim on the Columbia River in the area of today's NW Portland. There are many, many of Rebecca's descendants on the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere.

Treasurer:  Melanie Sojourner
 
 

Chaplain:  Dan Tarver

 

 

Cemetery Trustees:   Kevin Perrin, Dusty McIlwain & Gary O'Neal.  DJS descendants should address inquiries to Gary for cemetery plot acquisition. Rules and Regulations for the Kingston Cemetery
Nominating Committee:  Elaine Daniels, Frank Swayze & Ann Severance