Margaret Gaston Chapter DAR

07/04/2026

Happy 4th from the Margaret Gaston Chapter NSDAR and the Major David Wilson Chapter SAR! Even though the parade was cancelled, we’re looking forward to the reading of the Declaration of Independence Saturday, July 4th at 9 a.m. Wilson County Courthouse. See you there!

06/30/2026

06/20/2026

What a week!!!! The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit brought it all! From publicity from the Capitol Theatre to painting rocks, finding the rocks hidden all over town, to painting the Betsy Ross Flag, making George and Martha Washington masks, sharing the exhibit with LSSD Third Graders, writing with quill and ink, to having a silhouette made. With the History Associates of Wilson County and all the volunteers, this exhibit was well attended and so fun!! Thank you to all who attended and helped us make America 250 a truly wonderful celebration. And let's not forget our new radio personalities on WPLN.

06/16/2026

The Margaret Gaston Chapter NSDAR was proud to celebrate Flag Day, June 14th for America 250! Presenting the colors were Scout Troup 246, Invocation by Wayne Patton, Maj. David Wilson Chapter - Sons of the American Revolution President, National Anthem by Isaac Bland, Maj. David Wilson Chapter - Sons of the American Revolution Vice-President, Greetings from Judy Nessim, 1st Vice-Regent, Cecilia Bradford Carroll Chapter, NSDAR, Greetings from Wayne Patton, A Flag Day Moment from 15th Judicial District, District Attorney Jason Lawson (Maj. David Wilson Chapter - Sons of the American Revolution Chaplain, and Flag Code minutes from Scout Master Jameson Boswell, all led by Vicki Hines, Regent, Margaret Gaston Chapter NSDAR.

06/13/2026

Join us at 2 p.m. for a brief Flag Day program Fite-Fessenden House.

06/09/2026

The Maj. David Wilson Chapter, Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution (TNSSAR) will be conducting a reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 2026, at 9 a.m. from the steps of the Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon.
“This is part of our America 250 Celebration," said Maj. David Wilson Chapter President Wayne Patton. "We're inviting everyone to join us as we honor those who founded our Republic on our country's 250th birthday."

The public is invited. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and make appropriate precautions for the weather. Rain will cancel this event.

The Declaration of Independence will be read by community leaders and members of the Maj. David Wilson Chapter and the Margaret Gaston Chapter DAR, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

The Maj. David Wilson Chapter received top honors at the TNSSAR state convention earlier this year, earning both the Stallworth Award for the highest percent increase in membership and the DeMere Award for the greatest number of new members during the past year.

"Wilson County has been very receptive to our chapter, and we are honored to be the ones leading this event," Patton added. “We’re going to discuss turning this into an annual event for our chapter.”

Additional information and weather updates will be available on the chapter website (mdwsar.org), Facebook/Instagram, or via email at [email protected].

06/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18aT17V3Xs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Ferrell, Donna Claire Graves, age 90, of Mt. Juliet, TN, died May 30, 2026. Mrs. Ferrell was a
native of Mt. Juliet, TN and the daughter of the late Grafton L. and Clara Bell Hamblen Graves.
She was a lifelong and the oldest member of Center Chapel Church of Christ. Mrs. Ferrell was a
member and former Registrar of the Margaret Gaston Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution NSDAR, past President and active member of the Mt. Juliet-West Wilson County
Historical Society, a member of the Graves Family Association of Virginia, part owner and lived
on the Alford Farm, a certified Tennessee Century Farm that was established in 1816. Mrs.
Ferrell was active in researching family genealogies and land histories for families with ties to
Mt. Juliet and the Wilson County area and helped many find their lost ancestors. She was a
member of the old Hamilton Hill Home Demonstration Club. She was one of the first Cub Scout
Den Mothers in Mt. Juliet for Den 5, Pack 153. A 1953 graduate of Mt. Juliet High School, she
played basketball for four years for Coach Elzie D. Patton who later hired her as the MJHS
secretary when he was Principal. She was a ninety-year resident of the old Central Pike
neighborhood. She enjoyed traveling and had visited 25 states and 19 foreign countries with her
friend and companion, Mary Hodges. Along with her parents, Mrs. Ferrell was preceded in
death by her husband, Donald E. “Rusty” Ferrell, her brother, Gilbert L. (and Mary Lou) Graves,
her sister, Brenda Graves 11(Bob) Lannom, and her sister-in-law, Beverly Sutton (Eddie) Graves.
She is survived by, son, D. Mark (Kari) Ferrell; daughter, Lynne (Butch) Pool; siblings, Mahlon
(Elois) Graves, Eddie Graves, and Susan (Steve) Davis; grandchildren, Matt (Jessica) Ferrell,
Amanda Claire (Jake) Herring, Benjamin (Jade) Head, and Rachel Head; great grandchildren,
John Jones, Lucy Herring, Milo Herring, and Joey Claire Herring; fourteen nieces and nephews;
twenty great nieces and nephews; and four great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will
be conducted at 11:00 Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Bond Memorial Chapel with Bro. Andy
Connelly officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers
will be nephews, Barry Graves, Christopher Graves, Stephen Graves, John Graves, Darren
Weathers, and Aaron Davis. Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home
and 10:00 a.m. until service time Thursday.
Arrangements made by Bond Memorial Chapel, North Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt.
Juliet, TN (615) 773-2663. Obit Line (615) 641-2663. www.bondmemorial.com