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Department President Madeline Vuncannon
Madeline Vuncannon is a member of Joe Graham Unit 119 in Gulfport. She has been a member for nine years
and has held many offices and served on several committees and progressed through the chairs. Madeline is
eligible through the service of her brother, who served in the Navy, and her deceased husband, who served in
the Army, and her husband, Tom, who retired from the Air Force. She is a member of Mississippi City Methodist
Church, where she is active in the choir and the Lydia Circle. Madeline belongs to several civic organizations,
including the Krewe of Gemini, the Gulfport Garden Club, Handsboro Garden Club, the Southern Area Council
of Garden Clubs and the Jazz Society of the Gulf Coast. She is the mother of four sons, two daughters, and
grandmother to six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
1st Vice President Nancy Sanders
Nancy Sanders is a member of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112 in Jackson. She is eligible through her husband,
Larry, who served in the U.S. Navy during Viet Nam aboard the Carrier America. Nancy has been a member of
the Auxiliary for 14 years. During that time she has served at numerous levels in her Unit, including President.
Nancy has served as the Department Finance Chairman and Convention Chairman for the past several years, as
well as Junior Activities Chairman. Nancy is a member of Wynndale Baptist Church and is the mother of a son
and daughter. She is very involved in community service and youth wherein most of her time has been spent
over the past 35 years putting on clinics for coaches, speaking with youth on drug abuse and working with
abused children. Nancy won a National award as Children and Youth Chairman for her work through Unit 112 in
1999 in the community. She will be a natural promoter for junior membership this year.
2nd Vice Angela Kilcrease
Angela Kilcrease is a member of Walthall County Unit 56 in Tylertown, She has been a member of the
American Legion Auxiliary since 2003. For ten years, she served as The University of Southern Mississippi on-
campus coordinator for the Girls State program. In this capacity, she was able to become quite familiar with
the Auxiliary and made lifelong friends with many of its members who staffed Girls State. Angela is eligible for
membership through her husband, Jack, who retired from the United States Army. She has served her Unit as
President as well as District 7 President, both for two years each. At the 83rd State Convention in July 2004, she
was the recipient of the Wendell Craft Award for outstanding membership accomplishments. During the 2004-
05 year, Angela served at Department PR Chairman and has been member of that committee since. For 2007-
08, she will again serve the Department on its Web team. Angela is a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623 and a
member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula.
Historian Mary Lyles
Mary Lyles is a 30-year member of Jackson County Unit 160, where she has held all offices, excluding
Secretary-Treasurer, but including President. She is eligible for membership under her deceased husband,
John P. Arkle, Jr., and her current husband, John A. Lyles. On the District level she served as Secretary and was
District 9 President in 2002-03. On the Department level Mary has been a member of numerous committees,
chaired the Support Fund, and has been Americanism Chairman six times, most notably reminding us, “Isn’t it
GREAT to be an American?” Mary has attended 29 Department Conventions, 29 Mid-Winter Conferences,
numerous Area and District Conferences, three National Leadership Conferences, and 15 National
Conventions. She served as Department Sergeant-at-Arms for seven years and Page at six National
Conventions. Mary is a member of, and Past Department Chapeau of, the 8 & 40 in Mississippi and is currently
La Sous Presidente Nationale of La Societe de Femme.
Chaplain Mary Ried
Mary Smith-Ried is President of Unit 119 in Gulfport. She is a member of Eight & Forty, Le Femmes, and the
Anchor Club. In the past, she was president of the Professional Christian and Business Women’s Association
and President of Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Valdez, Alaska. She was on the Board of Directors for Horizons
Unlimited, an organization to start group homes in communities for the handicapped and disabled. Mary has
held the position of Church Hostess and Sunday School teacher in a community church of which she was a
charter member. Mary is a graduate of the University of Alaska with a degree in Applied Science and is retired
from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and from Harbor View Developmental Center. She now lives in
her hometown of Bay St. Louis and is married to Don Ried, a member of Post 119. She has two sons, two
daughters, eight grandchildren, and is expecting her first great-granddaughter in April 2008. She enjoys sports,
golfing, swimming, sewing, oil painting, gardening, and cultivating friendships.
NEC Shirley Turner
Shirley Lamb Turner of Cleveland was elected President for 2006-2007 at State Convention in Meridian, July
14-16, 2006. She is eligible for membership through her father, George Ertis Milum, who served in World War
II. At the Unit level, Shirley has served in several offices and chaired several committees. She attended Girls
State as a senior counselor and is now serving her home Unit, Glen Crosby Post 165, as Unit President. On the
Department level, Shirley has served as Chaplain, Historian, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and several
years as a page. She is married and has a daughter, who is also a member of Unit 165, and one grandson.
She is a member of Linn United Methodist Church and has served as music director, Sunday School teacher,
and in Young Adult Training. When she's not busy with Auxiliary work, she enjoys volunteering at the nursing
home, gardening, and watching her grandson play sports.
Alternate NEC Glenda Wheelis
Glenda Wheelis of Laurel was elected President of the Department of Mississippi at the 84th State Convention
in July 2005, in Tupelo. She joined the Auxiliary under the eligibility of her husband, James Wheelis, and
late father. James served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Yorktown during the 1960s. Her father also
served in the Navy during World War II. She is an eleven-year member, originally joining Marvin E. Stainton
Unit 11 in Laurel, but now is a member of Evan Gavin Unit 1997 in Heidelberg. Glenda has served numerous
positions, including four terms as Unit President, Chaplain, 1st Vice President, Girls State counselor, and
chairman for most all committees. She was District 8 President in 2000-01 and has served as Chaplain,
Historian, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and President on the Department level. She also served as
National Page during the St. Louis convention. Glenda is a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623 and a member of the
La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula. She is the mother of three children and
grandmother to four and the proud owner of two beautiful dogs that she found on her mail route and saved from
starvation.
Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Sanders (see above biography)
Madeline Vuncannon is a member of Joe Graham Unit 119 in Gulfport. She has been a member for nine years
and has held many offices and served on several committees and progressed through the chairs. Madeline is
eligible through the service of her brother, who served in the Navy, and her deceased husband, who served in
the Army, and her husband, Tom, who retired from the Air Force. She is a member of Mississippi City Methodist
Church, where she is active in the choir and the Lydia Circle. Madeline belongs to several civic organizations,
including the Krewe of Gemini, the Gulfport Garden Club, Handsboro Garden Club, the Southern Area Council
of Garden Clubs and the Jazz Society of the Gulf Coast. She is the mother of four sons, two daughters, and
grandmother to six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
1st Vice President Nancy Sanders
Nancy Sanders is a member of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112 in Jackson. She is eligible through her husband,
Larry, who served in the U.S. Navy during Viet Nam aboard the Carrier America. Nancy has been a member of
the Auxiliary for 14 years. During that time she has served at numerous levels in her Unit, including President.
Nancy has served as the Department Finance Chairman and Convention Chairman for the past several years, as
well as Junior Activities Chairman. Nancy is a member of Wynndale Baptist Church and is the mother of a son
and daughter. She is very involved in community service and youth wherein most of her time has been spent
over the past 35 years putting on clinics for coaches, speaking with youth on drug abuse and working with
abused children. Nancy won a National award as Children and Youth Chairman for her work through Unit 112 in
1999 in the community. She will be a natural promoter for junior membership this year.
2nd Vice Angela Kilcrease
Angela Kilcrease is a member of Walthall County Unit 56 in Tylertown, She has been a member of the
American Legion Auxiliary since 2003. For ten years, she served as The University of Southern Mississippi on-
campus coordinator for the Girls State program. In this capacity, she was able to become quite familiar with
the Auxiliary and made lifelong friends with many of its members who staffed Girls State. Angela is eligible for
membership through her husband, Jack, who retired from the United States Army. She has served her Unit as
President as well as District 7 President, both for two years each. At the 83rd State Convention in July 2004, she
was the recipient of the Wendell Craft Award for outstanding membership accomplishments. During the 2004-
05 year, Angela served at Department PR Chairman and has been member of that committee since. For 2007-
08, she will again serve the Department on its Web team. Angela is a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623 and a
member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula.
Historian Mary Lyles
Mary Lyles is a 30-year member of Jackson County Unit 160, where she has held all offices, excluding
Secretary-Treasurer, but including President. She is eligible for membership under her deceased husband,
John P. Arkle, Jr., and her current husband, John A. Lyles. On the District level she served as Secretary and was
District 9 President in 2002-03. On the Department level Mary has been a member of numerous committees,
chaired the Support Fund, and has been Americanism Chairman six times, most notably reminding us, “Isn’t it
GREAT to be an American?” Mary has attended 29 Department Conventions, 29 Mid-Winter Conferences,
numerous Area and District Conferences, three National Leadership Conferences, and 15 National
Conventions. She served as Department Sergeant-at-Arms for seven years and Page at six National
Conventions. Mary is a member of, and Past Department Chapeau of, the 8 & 40 in Mississippi and is currently
La Sous Presidente Nationale of La Societe de Femme.
Chaplain Mary Ried
Mary Smith-Ried is President of Unit 119 in Gulfport. She is a member of Eight & Forty, Le Femmes, and the
Anchor Club. In the past, she was president of the Professional Christian and Business Women’s Association
and President of Women’s Aglow Fellowship in Valdez, Alaska. She was on the Board of Directors for Horizons
Unlimited, an organization to start group homes in communities for the handicapped and disabled. Mary has
held the position of Church Hostess and Sunday School teacher in a community church of which she was a
charter member. Mary is a graduate of the University of Alaska with a degree in Applied Science and is retired
from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and from Harbor View Developmental Center. She now lives in
her hometown of Bay St. Louis and is married to Don Ried, a member of Post 119. She has two sons, two
daughters, eight grandchildren, and is expecting her first great-granddaughter in April 2008. She enjoys sports,
golfing, swimming, sewing, oil painting, gardening, and cultivating friendships.
NEC Shirley Turner
Shirley Lamb Turner of Cleveland was elected President for 2006-2007 at State Convention in Meridian, July
14-16, 2006. She is eligible for membership through her father, George Ertis Milum, who served in World War
II. At the Unit level, Shirley has served in several offices and chaired several committees. She attended Girls
State as a senior counselor and is now serving her home Unit, Glen Crosby Post 165, as Unit President. On the
Department level, Shirley has served as Chaplain, Historian, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and several
years as a page. She is married and has a daughter, who is also a member of Unit 165, and one grandson.
She is a member of Linn United Methodist Church and has served as music director, Sunday School teacher,
and in Young Adult Training. When she's not busy with Auxiliary work, she enjoys volunteering at the nursing
home, gardening, and watching her grandson play sports.
Alternate NEC Glenda Wheelis
Glenda Wheelis of Laurel was elected President of the Department of Mississippi at the 84th State Convention
in July 2005, in Tupelo. She joined the Auxiliary under the eligibility of her husband, James Wheelis, and
late father. James served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Yorktown during the 1960s. Her father also
served in the Navy during World War II. She is an eleven-year member, originally joining Marvin E. Stainton
Unit 11 in Laurel, but now is a member of Evan Gavin Unit 1997 in Heidelberg. Glenda has served numerous
positions, including four terms as Unit President, Chaplain, 1st Vice President, Girls State counselor, and
chairman for most all committees. She was District 8 President in 2000-01 and has served as Chaplain,
Historian, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and President on the Department level. She also served as
National Page during the St. Louis convention. Glenda is a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623 and a member of the
La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula. She is the mother of three children and
grandmother to four and the proud owner of two beautiful dogs that she found on her mail route and saved from
starvation.
Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Sanders (see above biography)
| Mary Lyles |
2007-08 Department Officers
| Nancy Sanders |
| Angela Kilcrease |
American Legion Auxiliary
| Department of Mississippi |
| Madeline Vuncannon |
| Dept. President |
| | | | | | | | |
| Mary Ried |
| Shirley Turner, PDP |
| Glenda Wheelis, PDP |
