Athens Chapter No. 33
LOCATION: 204 State St., Athens, WV 24712
MAILING ADDRESS: P. O. Box 383, Athens, WV 24712
MEETINGS: Second Tuesday at 7:00
DATE OF GRAND VISITATION: May 2, 2012
Officers
| WM | Barbara M. Klingensmith | P. O. Box 516, Athens, WV 24712 |
| WP | Billy Joe Edwards | HC 78, Box 13, True, WV 25951 |
| AM | Nancy E. Belcher | P. O. Box 17, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Sec | Sonja L. White | P. O. 383, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Trea | Paulette S. Belcher | P. O. Box 166, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Cond | Drema Edwards | HC 78, Box 13, True, WV 25951 |
| AC | Dolores Keaton | P. O. Box 254, Pipestem, WV 25979 |
| Chaplain | V. Marlene Belcher | P. O. Box 17, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Org | Nell Jeffries | HC 78, Box 167-C, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Adah | Sue Strassburger | 1331 Egeria Rd., Odd, WV 25902 |
| Ruth | Julia W. Lewis | 845 Powell's Ridge Rd., Princeton, WV 24740 |
| Martha | Sharon C. Ofsa | P. O. Box 846, Athens, WV 24712 |
| Elect | Sarah Lynne French | Lee's MHP Box 20, Princeton, WV 24740 |
| War | Diana Bragg | 513 Thornton Ave., Princeton, WV 24740 |
| Sent | Bobbie Kay McGraw | HC 78, Box 17-C, True, WV 25951 |
Chapter Memership
| Patricia L. Akers | Jane S. Farmer | Jennifer R. Mann Massey |
| Ruth Albert, P.M. | Leigh A. Farmer | Bobbie E. McGraw |
| Frances Auville | Frances M. Fentress | Phoebe A. Medows |
| Drema V. Ball | Kathleen R. Fredeking | Kay W. Monahan |
| Violet Basham | Sarah Lynne French, P.M. | Barbara J. Murphy |
| Sarah E. Beasley | Diane French-Bragg | Wanda D. Murphy |
| Nancy E. Belcher, P.M. | Betty Rae Friedl | Sharon C. Ofsa |
| Paulette S. Belcher, P.M. | Mary K. Goodall, P.M. | Eunice Oxley |
| V. Marlene Belcher | Nell K. Jeffries, P.M. | Franklin J. Parker, P.P. |
| Joan Bowling | June B. Kantor | Wanda M. Powers |
| Judith Renee' Buchanan | Patricia Keatley | Wanda E. Sheneman |
| Susan Buchanan | Dolores Keaton | Alfred Strassburger |
| Marla K. Churchill | Rose T. Kessinger, P.M. | Sue Strassburger |
| Sammy Joe Coburn, P.P. | Diana S. Kirk | Janice Terry |
| Shirley E. Conner | Frances Kirk | Christine West |
| Karen Davis | Barbara M. Klingensmith, P.M. | Sonja L. White, P.M. |
| Linda S. Dick | Julia W. Lewis | Anne C. Whittaker |
| Jane F. Eades, P.M. | Doris J. Lockhart, P.M. | Edith W. Wood |
| Billy Joe Edwards | Karen G. Maclay | |
| Drema G. Edwards | Ennis F. Martin, P.M. |
Chapter History
Athens Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was formed under dispensation on April 2, 1908. Sister Bessie Barbor, later our Worthy Grand Matron 1918-19, was Worthy Matron.
On October 7, 1908 at the West Virginia Grand Chapter meeting, Athens Chapter #33 received its charter. The first stated meeting was held in the Masonic Lodge Hall in Athens on October 20, 1908.
Athens Chapter #33 was originally Athens Chapter #3. History passed down through the years said that the Worthy Matron had a family member graduating from Concord Normal (later Concord University) on the night of a regular meeting. The Worthy Matron naturally attended the graduation. The Worthy Grand Matron unexpectedly attended the meeting and took the charter and ripped the minutes out of the minute book and left. We still have that minute book that became the UD and Athens Chapter # 33 minute book.
Brother Doc Oxley was a charter member of Athens #33. His seven children all became members, one being Sister Evelyn Oxley Mann. She is the mother of Sister Barbara Mann Klingensmith and grandmother of Sister Marla Klingensmith Churchill. The four generations were or are active members.
Another interesting fact was that a penny drill was taken at special meetings and there were refreshments served after each meeting.
October 2008 will be our 100th anniversary.
Chapter's Past Grand Officers
Bessie Barbor , Worthy Grand Matron — 19— 19
Jean G. Hill Grand Marshal — 1973
Almeda Pettrey Grand Esther — 1980
Lila Coburn Grand Marshal — 1988
Sarah Lynne French Grand Electa — 1991
Joe Coburn Worthy Grand Patron — 1994
Joe Coburn. Grand Trustee — 1995-2000
Barbara Klingensmith Grand Warder — 2002
Sonja White, Grand Electa — 2011
Chapter's Past Grand Representatives
Bessie Barbour Arizona 1909-1911
Bessie Barbour Vermont 1912-1926
Nannie T. Gore British Columbia 1925-1928
Beulah Via Massachusetts 1930-1934
Addie Vermillion Connecticut 1936
Addie Vermillion Connecticut 1939
Mary D. Rogers Washington 1943-1946
Louise Lipps Vermont 1947-1950
Nettie Rose Lockhart Vermont 1956-1959
Billie Martin Nevada 1960-1963
Lila Coburn Colorado 1965-1967
Jean Hill Kentucky 1969-1971
Opal Martin New Mexico 1973-1976
Barbara Klingensmith Alabama 1983
Lila G. Coburn Scotland 1985-1987
Joe Coburn New Brunswick 1988-1990
Almeda Pettrey Nevada 1990-1992
Peggy R. Mann Delaware 1992-1995
Jane Eades New Jersey 1995-1997
Ennis Martin Australia 1997-1999
Sonja White South Carolina 2005-2007