Beryl Henry
Miss Beryl Henry was born October 8, 1888, in Salem, Arkansas. After receiving her A.B. Degree from Henderson-Brown College in Arkadelphia and her M.A. degree from Peabody College, she came to Hope, Arkansas. She served as a classroom teacher and principal. In 1929, she became superintendent of Hope School System, the second woman to hold such a position in Arkansas. She served as superintendent until her retirement in 1942. She also served on the state board of education.
In 1942 Miss Henry served as educational director of a Japanese relocation center in Jerome then joined the staff of the state welfare department and moved to Benton. On October 8, 1967 Beryl Henry Elementary School was formally dedicated, a fitting recognition for her 24 years of service to the Hope School System. Her portrait hangs in the foyer of the new building that was dedicated in 2017. Arkansas Retired Teachers Association has an excellence award named after Miss Henry which is awarded each year. This award was given by Miss Willie Lawson, another founders of Kappa State, each year for many years. A founder of Kappa State, Miss Henry served a Parliamentarian on the first slate of officers. She belonged first to Upsilon in Prescott and later to Alpha Epsilon in Hope. Miss Beryl Henry died October 21, 1974, in Little Rock and was buried at Roselawn memorial park in Little Rock. |
Annie Griffey
Miss Annie Griffey was born in Clarksville, Tennessee on November 21, 1868. At the age of twelve, she came to Little Rock to live with her sister. She graduated from Little Rock Senior high School and further studied at Harvard and the University of Chicago. She taught in Little Rock Public schools for most of her career. In 1929 she became assistant superintendent, a position she held until her death.
Miss Griffey served as the first president of Kappa State and established Gamma Chapter in Little Rock in which she was active until her death. She organized the Woman Teachers Association in Arkansas in 1910 and was its first president. She was president of Arkansas Education Association in 1924 and was Arkansas Director for five years. She was also the first woman to be elected to the Pulaski County Board of Education. She fought for equal pay and encouraged and supported many women as principals. She trained many young teachers and built a team of highly qualified primary teachers in the Little Rock system.
Miss Griffey died on March 28, 1944, after a brief illness and is buried in Little Rock.
Her biography as seen in the Gamma Chapter, Little Rock yearbook.
Miss Griffey served as the first president of Kappa State and established Gamma Chapter in Little Rock in which she was active until her death. She organized the Woman Teachers Association in Arkansas in 1910 and was its first president. She was president of Arkansas Education Association in 1924 and was Arkansas Director for five years. She was also the first woman to be elected to the Pulaski County Board of Education. She fought for equal pay and encouraged and supported many women as principals. She trained many young teachers and built a team of highly qualified primary teachers in the Little Rock system.
Miss Griffey died on March 28, 1944, after a brief illness and is buried in Little Rock.
Her biography as seen in the Gamma Chapter, Little Rock yearbook.
Dr. Flora Gillentine
Dr. Flora Myers Gillentine was born November 21, 1975, in Pikeville, Bledsoe County, Tennessee, to John Calvin (a lawyer) and Sue Edna Hill Myers. She was one of twelve children. In 1902 she married Logan Seitz Gillentine, son of Richard Leake and Mary Elizabeth Seitz Gillentine. He was born in Van Buren, Tennessee. In 1905 they returned on the SS Umbria from Liverpool, England to Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee. They both taught public school.
Dr. Gillentine received a Bachelor of Science degree from George Peabody College for teachers in 1919, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, New York, in 1926 and her Ph.D from George Peabody College. She and her husband taught at the State Normal College in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A widow by 1930, she taught at State Teachers College ( now Henderson State Teachers College) in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she served as the head of the department of education.
Dr. Gillentine was extremely active in the Daughters of the American Revolution serving as historian in 1931. She served several honor societies, received national recognitions and published several articles during her tenure at Henderson State. She traveled extensively in the United States and Europe.
She was one of the original initiates at the Hot Springs organization meeting in 1934 and continued to found chapters throughout the state. She served Delta Kappa Gamma as international vice president in 1940-1942. She served as the second Kappa State President from 1937 through 1940.
Dr. Gillentine died on October 11, 1946, in Arkadelphia and was buried in Pikeville, Tennessee.
Dr. Gillentine received a Bachelor of Science degree from George Peabody College for teachers in 1919, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, New York, in 1926 and her Ph.D from George Peabody College. She and her husband taught at the State Normal College in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A widow by 1930, she taught at State Teachers College ( now Henderson State Teachers College) in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she served as the head of the department of education.
Dr. Gillentine was extremely active in the Daughters of the American Revolution serving as historian in 1931. She served several honor societies, received national recognitions and published several articles during her tenure at Henderson State. She traveled extensively in the United States and Europe.
She was one of the original initiates at the Hot Springs organization meeting in 1934 and continued to found chapters throughout the state. She served Delta Kappa Gamma as international vice president in 1940-1942. She served as the second Kappa State President from 1937 through 1940.
Dr. Gillentine died on October 11, 1946, in Arkadelphia and was buried in Pikeville, Tennessee.
Dr. Gillentine's work in the DAR:
DAR Joy O'Donnell Letter
State Regent Gillentine
DAR Historian General Gillentine (1922-1932)
DAR Gillentine Campaign for PG 1935
DAR Joy O'Donnell Letter
State Regent Gillentine
DAR Historian General Gillentine (1922-1932)
DAR Gillentine Campaign for PG 1935
Willie A. Lawson
Miss Willie Lawson received her degrees from Flora McDonald College in North Carolina and her Master of Science from Peabody College. Her early career was spent in Jonesboro and Crossett. She served in the State Department of Education as Assistant Superintendent for Public Instruction in charge of Opportunity Schools which were organized for those citizens who had no opportunity to receive the fundamentals in education. In 1927 she was elected country superintendent of Mississippi county schools and served in that capacity for 6 years. She was elected Executive Secretary of the Arkansas Education Association and held that position as the first woman to be elected to that position in any state organization.
Miss Lawson served Kappa State for many years. Minutes from several years noted that Miss Lawson gave the address at the Birthday Luncheon at the Kappa State Convention on April 1,1967. She also gave the invocation for the 1971, 1975 and 1978 Luncheon. She spoke in 1976 for the retired teacher’s memorial for Miss Beryl Henry, a fellow founder, and at the Kappa State Arkansas Education Association Fellowship Breakfast in 1979.
In 1937, in her capacity as Executive Secretary, Miss Lawson organized the Arkansas Education tour to give opportunities for travel and research for teachers across Arkansas. She was also instrumental in gaining teacher retirement for Arkansas teachers. In 1951 she was voted Arkansas Woman of the Year. In 1952 she was appointed to the Arkansas Highway Commission, the only woman in the nation to hold a similar position at that time.
Miss Lawson belonged to Gamma Chapter in Little Rock.
Miss Lawson served Kappa State for many years. Minutes from several years noted that Miss Lawson gave the address at the Birthday Luncheon at the Kappa State Convention on April 1,1967. She also gave the invocation for the 1971, 1975 and 1978 Luncheon. She spoke in 1976 for the retired teacher’s memorial for Miss Beryl Henry, a fellow founder, and at the Kappa State Arkansas Education Association Fellowship Breakfast in 1979.
In 1937, in her capacity as Executive Secretary, Miss Lawson organized the Arkansas Education tour to give opportunities for travel and research for teachers across Arkansas. She was also instrumental in gaining teacher retirement for Arkansas teachers. In 1951 she was voted Arkansas Woman of the Year. In 1952 she was appointed to the Arkansas Highway Commission, the only woman in the nation to hold a similar position at that time.
Miss Lawson belonged to Gamma Chapter in Little Rock.