The Major George Gibson Chapter NSDAR met Feb. 27 at The Sayers Homestead in Ewing, Virginia, known locally as the Parkey House. The hosts were owners Bob and Nancy Parkey. Bob Parkey welcomed the group and gave a history of his home. He stated that the original construction began in 1791 and was completed in 1796 (Lee County was formed in 1792). The Parkey family has owned this house for nearly 100 years.
The Sayers Homestead was recently designated a national historic place. A plaque on the front of the house states “The Sayers Homestead has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior c. 1796.” The national register website states that the original, southwest section is a rectangular building built of stone. Its walls, more than two feet thick, are constructed of course, rough-cut limestone. The stone masonry construction is a major factor in its significance. The Parkeys have restored the house so that these beautiful stone walls can be seen in many of the rooms.
The original owner of this historic house was William Sayers, thus the name “The Sayers Homestead.” Mr. Sayers’ daughter, Nancy, married a McPherson. The McPhersons occupied the house until approximately 1876 when it was sold to a Gibson family. A Gibson daughter, Esther Gibson Parkey, inherited the property in 1923, and it has remained in the Parkey family since that time, according to Bob Parkey.
Major George Gibson Chapter Registrar Andrea Cheak researched a former member of the chapter who lived in this historic house. This member was Mabel Banner Parkey, grandmother of Bob Parkey. She applied on October 10, 1949, and was promptly approved on December 6, 1949. Mabel Banner Parkey’s ancestor patriot was Charles Kilgore, Sr. who was wounded in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Kilgore was born in Ireland in 1744 and died in 1825 in Greene County, Tennessee.
Hostess Nancy Parkey led the group on a memorable tour of this beautifully restored house and surrounding buildings while relating some of the discoveries made during the restoration process. One of these was a wooden peg which came from a beam that had to be replaced. She also showed several items that came from her family as well as the Parkey family.
Following this enjoyable and informative tour, the chapter met for a meeting in one of the lovely upstairs rooms. Regent Nancy Britton called the meeting to order. Other members present were Marisa Anders, Charlotte Brooks, Joy Burchett, Andrea Cheak, Judy Hansard, Sharon Harrell (associate member), Judy Hounshell, Rebecca Jones, Linda Lawson, Agnes Marcum, Fay Ramsey, Myra Richardson (associate member), Augusta Sinon, Mary Sprinkle and Manerva Watson. Regent Britton introduced Roger Hansard, husband of member Judy Hansard, and prospective new member, Rebecca Sprinkle Royal.
Britton presented the DAR Community Service Award to Roger and Judy Hansard. Recipients of this award must have contributed to the community in an outstanding manner through voluntary heroic, civic, benevolent service, or by organizing or participating in community activities. The Hansards were selected by the Major George Gibson NSDAR for their work with the First Baptist Church of New Tazewell and the Regional Education Center Ministries (RECM) Food Pantry. Roger and Judy were appointed North American Mission Board Missionaries in July 2015.
Members participated in the DAR Ritual and customary opening. Chaplain Manerva Watson gave devotion by reading from a work by Luci Swindoll entitled “God’s Creative Ideas.” The scripture was Mark 9:23 “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The devotion ended with a blessing for the food.
Cheak read from the DAR President General’s message that the DAR Library is starting Genealogy 101 classes. These classes will be held at DAR Headquarters and will also be available on the DAR website, www.DAR.org.
Cheak also read about DAR’s formal attempt to set a new record for the “most letters to military personnel collected in one month.” Britton reminded members that she needs the group’s letters by the March, April or May meetings as they have to be turned in to Continental Congress in June 2016. The President General also wrote about the DAR Museum’s Portable Education Programs which travel across the country to visit schools and chapters.
Burchett presented the National Defense Minute by reading about the DAR Medal of Honor. This honor is awarded to an adult U.S. citizen who has shown extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service, and patriotism. Recipients must have made contributions to their community, state, country, and fellow man. One of the most recent female recipients was a U.S. Navy nurse who was awarded for performing lifesaving trauma and humanitarian care in Iraq to U.S. military, enemy prisoners of war, and Iraqi civilians.
Ramsey gave the Flag Fact by reading that the design of the Liberian flag closely resembles that of the United States. She also read that “Old Glory” actually references a specific flag owned by one Captain William Driver and is displayed at the Smithsonian.
Marcum’s Indian Minute focused on the Chickasaw Indians, a tribe that lived in the southern United States. Their land included western Tennessee and Kentucky, northwestern Alabama, and northern Mississippi before the Indian Removal. They were relocated to Oklahoma by the U.S. Government in the 1830s.
In her DAR School Minute, Marcum stated that the Labels for Education program will end on Aug. 1. June 1 is the final date to mail these labels to the DAR schools in order for them to be received on time.
The Celebrate America Volunteer program will end in May 2016. All our volunteer hours need to be turned in as soon as possible. Chapter members can still volunteer after May, but the Celebrate America Volunteer program will end with the expiration of the current President General’s term.
Britton thanked Agnes Marcum and Myra Richardson for their Facebook and social media work. She hopes members will visit the chapter Facebook page often. Currently, only chapter members will be on the Facebook page. Later, other names can be submitted to Marcum for potential addition. She and Fay Ramsey have also been working on a chapter blog.
Members were reminded that this is the 100th year celebration of our national parks. Also, there will be a special program at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park April 9-11. On April 11 at 11 a.m., the 32nd quarter will be released in the “America the Beautiful” quarter program. This quarter will feature the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Children in attendance will be given one of these commemorative quarters.
The chapter continues to recycle plastic bags and keep count. The group sends coupons to overseas military and cancelled stamps to a veteran’s group. The chapter will also continue to send Box Tops to the DAR schools as well as Labels for Education (as long as this project continues).
The nominating committee for the 2016-2019 chapter officers consisted of Augusta Sinon, Joy Burchett and Carol Rowlett. The committee’s nominations were unanimously approved, and the new officers will be installed at the next meeting scheduled for March 19.
The group enjoyed the delicious lunch prepared and served by hostess Nancy Parkey and Bob’s sisters, Barbara Parkey-Miller and Pat Parkey. Chapter hostess Judy Hounshell presented the Parkeys with a hostess gift from the Major George Gibson Chapter.
The Major George Gibson Chapter NSDAR is grateful to the Parkeys for this wonderful opportunity.
