DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA
GOLD STAR MOTHERS LEGACY ARCHIVE
From local Chapters to a Statewide Sisterhood
OUR STORY
From communities across Georgia, Gold Star Mothers came together to preserve the memory of their sons and daughters through service. Newspaper archives document the growth of a statewide network-from early organizing efforts and chapter development to Department conventions, elected leadership, veterans service and public rememberance. These surviving records help restore the story of the women who built the Department of Georgia.
CHRONOLOGICAL TIMELINE
May 23, 1947 Douglas County Sentinel
Gold Star Mothers To Attend Convention
Seven members of the Atlanta Chapter are reported leaving for Long Beach, California, to attend the 12th National Convention of American Gold Star Mothers.
Mrs. Jewel Brown of Lithia Springs attended as contact for Douglas and Carroll Counties.
Two hundred seventy (270) mothers left Atlanta aboard a special train for the convention.
February 25, 1948
Griffin Daily News
Gold Star Mothers of Griffin and Spalding County
The Gold Star Mothers of Griffin and Spalding County will meet at the Chamber of Commeerce to her Mrs. Nellie Ashendorf of Atlanta, national committee woman of American Gold Star Mothers.
July 8, 1949
Douglas County
Sentinel
Mrs. Jewel Brown Elected to National Gold Star Office
Mrs. Jewel Brown of Lithia Springs was elected national committee woman for Georgia at the convention of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
As committee woman, she will organize Gold Star Chapters over Georgia and assist in veterans service work in Gold Star Families.
October 7,1953
Ludowici News
(Ludowici, Georiga)
Gold Star Mothers of Georgia Honored
Gold Star Mothers of Georgia were honored at a dinner given by the Disabled American Veterans at Atlanta's Dinkler Plaza Hotel.
January 1,1957 Macon Telegraph
(Macon
Georgia)
Gold Star Club Plans Meeting
The regular meeting of the American Gold Star Mothers will be held at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at Christ Episcopal Church.
Guest Speaker will be Mrs. Jewell Brown of Atlanta, Department President
April 23, 1963
The Macon
News
(Macon, Georgia)
Gold Star Mothers Hold Convention
The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Department of Georgia, held the ninth annual convention recently at the Dempsey Motor Hotel in Macon.
Officers elected included Mrs. Guyon Abney, President and Mrs. Gladys Turner of Atlanta, Treasurer. Members represented Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Lithia Springs and Macon.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
This 1947 article documents the Atlanta Chapter and identifies Mrs. Jewel Brown of Lithia Springs as the Gold Star Mother contact for Douglas and Carroll Counties. It also records Georgia mothers joining the special train carrying 270 Gold Star Mothers to the National Convention in California.
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
This 1948 notice documents an organized Gold Star Mothers group in Griffin and Spalding County and its connection to national leadership through Mrs. Nellie Ashendorf of Atlanta.
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
Jewel Brown's 1949 election as Georgia's national committeewoman gave her responsibility for organizing Gold Star Chapters throughout the state and assisting Gold Star families. It documents an important step in expanding and strengthening the Gold Star Mothers' presence across Georgia.
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
This 1953 photograph documents public recognition of Georgia Gold Star Mothers by the Disabled American Veterans. State and national veterans leaders joined the event, showing the growing visibility of Gold Star Mothers within Georgia’s veterans community.
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
This 1957 notice documents an active Gold Star Mothers group in Macon and identifies Mrs. Jewell Brown of Atlanta as Department President, showing continued connections between local groups and statewide leadership.
WHY THIS ARTICLE MATTERS
This 1963 article documents the Department of Georgia’s ninth annual convention, with members representing Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Lithia Springs, and Macon. It provides important evidence of the Department’s statewide growth and established leadership structure.
And there’s a particularly interesting implication here: if 1963 was the ninth annual convention, that points toward the first annual Department convention being around 1955, assuming the conventions were held annually without interruption