History

The Society of Mayflower Descendants in South Carolina was organized August 11, 1938 at Greenville, South Carolina, under authority of a charter granted by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, dated July 1, 1938. The objects of the Society are:

To perpetuate to a remote posterity the memory of our Pilgrim Fathers. To maintain and defend the principles of civil and religious liberty as set forth in the Compact of the Mayflower, for the glorie of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our country.

To cherish and maintain the ideals and institutions of American freedom, and to oppose any theories or actions that threaten their continuity. To transmit the spirit, the purity of purpose and steadfastness of will of the Pilgrim Fathers to those who shall come after us, an undiminished heritage of liberty and law.

To promote the interests that are common to all the State Societies of Mayflower Descendants, and to secure united effort to discover and publish original matter in regard to the Pilgrims, authenticate, preserve and mark historical spots made memorable by Pilgrim association.

In 63 years, the society has grown to 373 members from across South Carolina and the United States. In addition, there are 103 junior members (under 18). The Society meets twice a year, with the annual meeting commemorating Compact Day (November 21) and one spring meeting.

Current Board Members

The Mayflower Society is governed by a Board of Assistants, who volunteer their time to further the objects of the Society. Those objects include perpetuating the memory of the Pilgrims, maintaining the ideals and institutions of American freedom, and discovering and publishing original matter in regard to the Pilgrims.

Governor

Melana Maxie

Deputy Governor

Frances Frame

Captain

Dave Smith

Corresponding Secretary

Sarah Hoyle

Recording Secretary

Marylen Jackson

Deputy Governor General

Jeffrey Jackson

Assistant General

Melana Maxie

Junior Membership Assistant

Cari Gilette

Education Assistant

Holly Lohnes

Treasurer

George Unsinger

Historian

Mary Brandenberger

Counselor

Sarah Clingman

Elder

Desiree Voegele

Surgeon

Melissa Gibbons

Assistant, Palmetto Log

Deborah Hill

Former Governors

The Mayflower Society is honored to present those who have volunteered their time to further the objects of the Society at the highest level. Perpetuating the memory of the Pilgrims, maintaining the ideals and institutions of American freedom, and discovering and publishing original matter in regard to the Pilgrims. We present those whom have served and the years of their term(s).

Arthur Gaillard Gower

1938-41

Edna Lyman Whaley

1941-42

Louisa Walker Shaw Epps

1942-47

Mrs. Talmadge Miles Garrett

1947-49

Precilla M Spaulding Sheppard

1949-51

Arthur Ernest McKenna

1951-53

Claude Ivan Dawson

1953-55

Arthur Ernest McKenna

1955-57

Henry Elliot Johnson

1957-61

Arthur Ernest McKenna

1961-63

William Hughson Green

1963-65

Bradford Eric Anderson

1965-67

Charles Norman Banum

1967-69

Esther D. Littleford Woodworth

1969-71

Gilman Montgomery French

1971-73

Horace Eldridge Curtis, Jr.

1973-74

Miss Elizabeth Knapp

1974-76

Victor I. Montenyohl, Jr.

1976-78

Arthur Frances Doty, III

1978-80

Katherine Margaret Gault Young

1980-82

Col. Richard M. Lovelace

1982-84

Issac Chillingsworth Foster

1984-87

Katherine Jean Carter Handel

1987-89

Charles S. Bryan, MD

1989-91

Stanley Earle Holbrook

1991-93

Robert E. Holman, Jr.

1993-1996

Jeanette G. Taylor

1996-99

Joseph Edgar Sherman, Jr.

1999-2002

Sarah Linley Clingman

2002-05

Jeanette G. Taylor

2005-08

Patricia Westgate Sayko

2008-14

Bonnie Wade Mucia

2014-17

Jeffrey Jackson

2017-20

Melana A. Maxie

2020-23