Our History
Most existing garden clubs in the early 1930s were well established, but not well publicized, and met as groups of friends who discussed horticulture and shared flowers and gardens with their friends and family. The "founding sisters" of the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. sought to widen the circle of friends who shared a mutual love for gardening.
Claudia Lea Phelps (Mrs. Sheffield), First and only Life President of GCSC, visualized one large body of garden clubs in South Carolina. In 1930 she invited representatives from active clubs across the state to meet at her home, Rose Hill, in Aiken.
The ladies met and discussed proposed plans. Early records describe the women, "almost giddy with excitement," as they shared good ideas during lunch. The expansive dining room table seated more than 16 people, and some of the ladies laughingly confessed to "buying new dresses" for the luncheon. The meeting concluded with a tour of the spacious grounds of the 34-room "cottage" which occupied a whole city block in the Winter Colony. Weekend visits followed the initial meeting, affording more time to make plans for the emerging organization.
Representatives from twelve active clubs met at Parish House of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia on April 22, 1930 to formally organize GCSC. The Charter member clubs were Garden Club of Aiken, Four o'clock Garden Club of Anderson, Garden Club of Charleston, Columbia Garden Club, Saluda Garden Club, Book and Garden Club of Spartanburg, Fortnightly Garden Club of Spartanburg, Flower Study Club of Spartanburg, Iris Club of Spartanburg, Sumter Garden Club, The Gardeners of Spartanburg, and The Summerville Garden Club of Columbia.
The first Officers were:
- President, Mrs. Sheffield Phelps, Aiken
- 1st Vice President, Mrs. Heyward Gibbes, Columbia
- 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Robert Wilson, Charleston
- Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. Frank Henderson, Aiken
There were three members on the first Board of Directors. The first Committees were Program, Membership, Visiting Gardens, Publicity, and Conservation. Nine Members-at-Large were listed as charter members.
A meeting on December 9, 1930 in the Rose Mary Tea Room, Columbia, was called to confirm the vote by the whole membership to seek federation status.
Delegates from South Carolina were guests at the annual convention of National Council of State Garden Clubs in Chattanooga, TN in May 1932. They extended a warm welcome to the South Carolina ladies, and heartily recognized this emerging "force for good" of federated garden club work in South Carolina. An abundance of qualified leaders, and a state with such magnificent scenic beauty, natural wonders, and established gardens, provided a perfect fit with National Council leaders.
The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc. was federated with National Council of State Garden Clubs on April 22, 1934, becoming the 25th state to join the national organization. NCSGC shortened its name in May 2001 to National Garden Clubs, Inc.
For 77 years, GCSC has met challenges with unwavering hope and perseverance, and measured time with successful ventures. We have experienced growth in membership by including youth, seniors, men and couples clubs. The goals of promoting conservation and environmental responsibility, and achieving successful beautification projects and educational endeavors, are legacies we leave to our members and our state.
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Presidents
The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc.
National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc./National Garden Clubs, Inc.
1930 – 2011
Mrs. Sheffield Phelps, Honorary President for Life*
1st Claudia Wright Lea Phelps (Mrs. Sheffield “Ted”), Aiken 1930-33*
2nd Lucy Bemis Pomeroy (Mrs. Robert W.), Camden 1934-35*
3rd Claudia Lea Phelps, II, Aiken 1936-38*
4th Sara Gossett Crigler (Mrs. Henry T.), Greenville 1938-40*
5th “Willi” G. Chapman Storm (Mrs. Albert F.), Mount Holly 1940-42*
6th June Nicholas Rainsford Butler/Henderson (Mrs. George P. Butler/
Mrs. P. F. Henderson), Edgefield 1942-44*
7th Elizabeth Guignard Guion (Mrs. Louis Issac), Camden 1944-46*
8th Hessie Thomson Morrah (Mrs. Bradley), Greenville 1946-48*
9th Rose Wall Dye (Mrs. W. Holt), Columbia 1948-50*
10th Christine Davis Featherstone (Mrs. Douglas), Greenwood 1950-52*
11th Coreen B. Bryant (Mrs. W. Jack), Orangeburg 1952-54*
12th Gladys H. Meadors (Mrs. P. D.), Greenville 1954-56*
13th Cuba Nunez Rutledge (Mrs. J. T.), Conway 1956-59*
14th Colie Blease Baker (Mrs. Richard L.), Newberry 1959-61*
15th Jean Adams Paschal (Mrs. Gary), Columbia 1961-63*
16th Mabel Woodward Johnson (Mrs. Dewey), Greenwood 1963-65*
17th Theresa Register Gamble, Sr. (Mrs. S. W.), Lane 1965-67*
18th Louise Connell Floyd/Campbell (Mrs. J. Gordon Floyd/
Mrs. Carroll Campbell, Sr.), Spartanburg 1967-69*
19th Lou Weaver Riddle (Mrs. Robert M.), Chester 1969-71
20th Charlotte Engerberg Prout/Lombard
(Mrs. William A. Prout /Mrs. Charles W. Lombard), Charleston 1971-73*
21st Clara Lewis Elmore (Mrs. I. D., Jr.), Sumter 1973-75*
22nd Barbara “Babs” Hulsey Barnette (Mrs. J. Edwin), Greenwood 1975-77
23rd Georgia Daniell Robinson (Mrs. James M.), Chester 1977-79*
24th Billie Walter Jackson (J. Blakeney), North Myrtle Beach 1979-81*
25th Corrie Miller Whitlock (Mrs. Myles W., Jr.), Spartanburg 1981-83*
26th Joyce Robinson Sanders, (Mrs. B. B. III), Bennettsville 1983-85
27th Shirley Johnston LaGarde (Mrs. D. R.), Greer 1985-87
28th Loraine Green Huckabee (Mrs. Walter), Greenwood 1987-89*
29th Dorothy Thomas Hunter (Mrs. John F. C.), Florence 1989-91*
30th Martha Claire Holladay Farmer (Mrs. J. Gordon), North Augusta 1991-93
31st Jessie Dale Price McCollough (Mrs. S. E.), Kingstree 1993-95
32nd Donna Yaw Marsh (Mrs. Stephen K.), Beaufort 1995-97*
33rd Kathy McLean Kelly (Mrs. H. B., Jr.), Gaffney 1997-99
34th Emily Floyd Stephens (Mrs. Lucian), North Myrtle Beach 1999-01
35th Patsy Brown Epperson (Mrs. H. Wayne), Manning 2001-03
36th Patricia Donnan Abercrombie (Mrs. Robert), Greenwood 2003-05
37th Sarah Ann Funchess Parler (Mrs. John), Elloree 2005-07
38th Marsha Bracey Alexander (Mrs. Lon Smith, Jr.), Moore 2007-09
39th J. Elizabeth “Betsy” Lynch Steele (Mrs. Odell Plyler, Jr.), Lancaster 2009-11
*Deceased
Former Presidents: Advisory Council