The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-02-16
WOMAN'S CLUES YEARBOOK
HCNORS RElSlllE WILLIAMSON
FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE

hanson was showered with words
of praise by the ladies present ''fol
her dedication to the arts and hel
constant vigilance over cultural
matters in Dare County"
"Mrs. Rennie'' was presented
with the Manteo Wonian's Club
Yearbook for 1862, which was dedi-
Gated to her and said she was 50
deeply moved that swords escaped
her" Members present at the
meeting, which began at 8 pm.
with business session, heard Mrs.
M K. fearing, Jr., club president
and the former president for her
activities which began in 1925 when
she was General Chairman for the
first Dare County Homecoming
Day. This effort resulted in the
subsequent observance Of Virginia
Dare Day each year on Aug. 18th
when old friends met and not only
enjoyed each other but marvellous
and far famed fish fry as well.
"Mrs. Rennie," the president re-
called, was the president of her
graduating class at Greensboro Col
lege; she is now working on a re-
union of that class, Mrs. Fearing
stated.
The president went on to explain
how Mrs. Williamson was instru-
mental in getting, for some seven
or eight years, a Lycum course in
Manteo and cultural series of
lectures, plays and recitals.
In 1885, the Woman's Club start
ed library for the county which
consisted Of IA books. From this
beginning, the Dare County Public
Library was formed. AS a result
of "Miss Rennie,s" constant vigil
lence over all material matters and
her forward vision, as Chail1nn of
the Library Board, the library be-
came the cultural center that it is
today.
In the field Of music "Mrs. Rem
ME" has become a figure of state
and national importance. Since she
first played an old fashioned pump.
organ for Sunday School as a little
girl, Mrs. Williamson has devoted a
large measure of her time, unspar-
Iingly, to music appreciation. Since
World War II she has been the
organist for Mt. Olivet Methodist
Church, and at times has served
as choir director. She also served
the church by organizing and di-
recting the junior choirs of that
congregation.
She was one of the two organi-
GERS of the Roanoke Island Music
Club in 1882. She has been District
Director of the State Federation of
Music Clubs. She was State Chap
lain for four years and a member Of
the Board of Directors for twelve
years, with that organization. She
is now serving her second term as
State Treasurer for the State Fed
GRAFTON. To commemorate her dedi-
cation to this organization, Rem
ME Williamson Music Scholarship
has been established in the North
eastern District, in her honor.
After the dedication exercise,
"Mrs. Rennie" joined with her
friends to hear a talk by Mrs. Rob
ert F. Morales, of Pinar del, Rio,
Cuba, who entertained the group
of approximately forty members
and guests with an explanation Of
Communism in Cuba" Mrs. Mo-
rales, who was on a trip to this
country with her husband when the
Castro regime confiscated their
estate at Pinar del Rio, explained
how living conditions had "become
more intolerable" for the peasants
since Castro took over. Refugee
flights into Miami by Cubans have
become so extensive that doubt
that there are any more boats left
on the island" she stated. Mrs.
Morales, who is now living at the
Fort Raleigh Hotel, which is man
aged by her husband, said that
they were stranded here with "just
the personal belongings which one
might pack for a trip" "We still
have hope of returning to our pro-
perty some day." she emphasized.
During the evening, the club
president had particular praise for
Mrs. Sally Bardin who contributed
50 much of her time toward the
completion of the yearbook and
whose sketch adorns the cover of
the manual. Mrs. Bariin express
ed her thanks, in turn, to Don
Leary who designed sketch Of
"Mrs. Rennie" which appears at the
beginning of the dedication pas
sa~es.
The meeting concluded with re-
freshments of red tarts and coffee
(which were accented by narkins end
a tablecloth of red and white, the
club colofs, which seemed appropri-
ate for the pre-Valentine affair.
y