 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Mary Smith-Ried is Past 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.
Sarah Edwards, 1st Vice President/Programs Coordinator
Rose Blanchard, 2nd Vice President/VA & R Chairman
Rose Blanchard is a member of Ramsey-Loper Unit 152, Lakeshore, and has been a
member of the Auxiliary since she moved to Mississippi 11 years ago. She is eligible for
membership through her husband Don, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard and is the
finance officer of Post 152. She has served as District 9 President, District Vice-President
for two years, and Department Education Chairman. Rose also has served on various
state committees and served as President, Secretary and Treasurer on the unit level.
She will serve as secretary/treasurer for her unit for 2009-10.
Her occupation could be summed up as “money.” She worked as a bank teller, then promoted to assistant
manager and manager. She also worked as the bookkeeper for several businesses. Rose is a member of
and attends Holy Family Catholic Church in Pass Christian, is a member of the Krewe of Fleur de Lis and
the Scarlet Magnolias, Red Hat Society. Rose and don have been married for 22 years and have four sons,
two grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Carolyn Tardy, Historian
Mary Lyles, National Executive Committeewoman
Mary Lyles is a 30-year plus 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 30
Department Conventions, 30 Mid-Winter Conferences, numerous Area and District
Conferences, three National Leadership Conferences, and 16 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, the 8 & 40 in Mississippi and is currently La Sous
Presidente Nationale of La Societe de Femme.
Angela Kilcrease, Alt. NEC/ Membership Chairman
Angela Kilcrease, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., is a proud member of Walthall County
Unit 56 in Tylertown, She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since
2003and is eligible for membership through her husband, Jack, who retired from the
United States Army and a decorated veteran of the Viet Nam war. Angela retired in
May 2009 from The University of Southern Mississippi after 25 years of service, serving
the College of Arts and Letters as its PR Officer and meeting planner for Continuing
Education. Angela and Jack are members of Tylertown Baptist Church.
Angela was honored to serve 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. In addition to serving in several Department
positions, which included Public Relations Chairman, Chaplain, Historian, 2nd and 1st Vice and
Department President in 2009-2010, Angela is also a member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411 in
Pascagoula. For 2010-11, Angela served on the National level as Vice Chairman of the Public Relations
Committee in 2010-11 and is a committee member on the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee. She
is also serving as the Southern Division Membership Chairman for 2011-12.
Although Jack and Angela have no children together, Jack has a daughter, Jackie, a granddaughter,
Sarah, and a great granddaughter, Ansleigh, who are members of Unit 56 and two grandsons, Bryan Austin
and Peyton who are now members of SAL at Post 56. Angela's only niece, Carrie, is a member of Unit 56
as is her Aunt June--a family affair!
Nancy Sanders, Secretary/Treasurer
Nancy Sanders is a member of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112 in Jackson. A resident of
Jackson, she is eligible through her husband, Larry, a Viet Nam veteran, and her father,
a deceased veteran of World War II who fought under Gen. McArthur. Nancy and Larry
have two children, Larry, Jr., an SAL member, and Michelle, an Auxiliary member. Nancy
has been a member of the Auxiliary for 14 years.
During that time she has served at numerous levels in Unit 112 (Jackson), 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 you 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.
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.
Sarah Edwards, 1st Vice President/Programs Coordinator
Rose Blanchard, 2nd Vice President/VA & R Chairman
Rose Blanchard is a member of Ramsey-Loper Unit 152, Lakeshore, and has been a
member of the Auxiliary since she moved to Mississippi 11 years ago. She is eligible for
membership through her husband Don, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard and is the
finance officer of Post 152. She has served as District 9 President, District Vice-President
for two years, and Department Education Chairman. Rose also has served on various
state committees and served as President, Secretary and Treasurer on the unit level.
She will serve as secretary/treasurer for her unit for 2009-10.
Her occupation could be summed up as “money.” She worked as a bank teller, then promoted to assistant
manager and manager. She also worked as the bookkeeper for several businesses. Rose is a member of
and attends Holy Family Catholic Church in Pass Christian, is a member of the Krewe of Fleur de Lis and
the Scarlet Magnolias, Red Hat Society. Rose and don have been married for 22 years and have four sons,
two grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Carolyn Tardy, Historian
Mary Lyles, National Executive Committeewoman
Mary Lyles is a 30-year plus 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 30
Department Conventions, 30 Mid-Winter Conferences, numerous Area and District
Conferences, three National Leadership Conferences, and 16 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, the 8 & 40 in Mississippi and is currently La Sous
Presidente Nationale of La Societe de Femme.
Angela Kilcrease, Alt. NEC/ Membership Chairman
Angela Kilcrease, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., is a proud member of Walthall County
Unit 56 in Tylertown, She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since
2003and is eligible for membership through her husband, Jack, who retired from the
United States Army and a decorated veteran of the Viet Nam war. Angela retired in
May 2009 from The University of Southern Mississippi after 25 years of service, serving
the College of Arts and Letters as its PR Officer and meeting planner for Continuing
Education. Angela and Jack are members of Tylertown Baptist Church.
Angela was honored to serve 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. In addition to serving in several Department
positions, which included Public Relations Chairman, Chaplain, Historian, 2nd and 1st Vice and
Department President in 2009-2010, Angela is also a member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411 in
Pascagoula. For 2010-11, Angela served on the National level as Vice Chairman of the Public Relations
Committee in 2010-11 and is a committee member on the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee. She
is also serving as the Southern Division Membership Chairman for 2011-12.
Although Jack and Angela have no children together, Jack has a daughter, Jackie, a granddaughter,
Sarah, and a great granddaughter, Ansleigh, who are members of Unit 56 and two grandsons, Bryan Austin
and Peyton who are now members of SAL at Post 56. Angela's only niece, Carrie, is a member of Unit 56
as is her Aunt June--a family affair!
Nancy Sanders, Secretary/Treasurer
Nancy Sanders is a member of Hovious-Grayson Unit 112 in Jackson. A resident of
Jackson, she is eligible through her husband, Larry, a Viet Nam veteran, and her father,
a deceased veteran of World War II who fought under Gen. McArthur. Nancy and Larry
have two children, Larry, Jr., an SAL member, and Michelle, an Auxiliary member. Nancy
has been a member of the Auxiliary for 14 years.
During that time she has served at numerous levels in Unit 112 (Jackson), 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 you 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.
2011-2012 Department Officers
American Legion Auxiliary
| Department of Mississippi |
| Mary Smith Ried |
| Dept. President 2011-2012 |
| | | | | | | | |
TOUCAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
I hope that everyone had a great
holiday season. Even though our
children and grandchildren are far
away, we were fortunate to be able to
celebrate with close Legion friends
and family.
I enjoyed sharing in many Christmas
parties throughout the state. Thanks
for all of the invitations. If I had
conflicting schedules, please don’t
hesitate to invite me at some other
time. I would like to visit as many
units as I can this year as your
department president.
Mid-Winter is here, reports should
have been sent to all committee
chairmen; and it is time to hear what
has been going on around the state. I
am always amazed at how much we
accomplish each year for our
veterans. What an amazing group of
women we have.
Please be sure to attend the Mid-
Winter Conference and be prepared to
enjoy yourself. We will have some
great talent on Saturday night, the
14th. We will also have a tropical hat
competition. I have prizes for the
best hats so get your fingers to
working on those hats of yours. The
hat parade has always been a
favorite and a lot of fun.
If you would like to contribute to a
silent auction, please bring items to
be auctioned off for our Department
Support Fund. Also, sign up your
neighbors and friends and bring them
along with you. I understand that
Angela has some fun things, too,
associated with membership. It is
good to see so many new faces in
our Auxiliary Family, and to see the
enthusiasm that they are bringing into
our organization.
I congratulate all of you units that are
growing with new membership.
Sharing is what we do best as we
work with our veterans and service
men and women and their families.
If I can do anything to help your units
grow, don’t hesitate to call on me. I
will do all in my power to try to help
you out.
For God and Country,
Mary Smith-Ried
Department President
DIFFERENCE!
I hope that everyone had a great
holiday season. Even though our
children and grandchildren are far
away, we were fortunate to be able to
celebrate with close Legion friends
and family.
I enjoyed sharing in many Christmas
parties throughout the state. Thanks
for all of the invitations. If I had
conflicting schedules, please don’t
hesitate to invite me at some other
time. I would like to visit as many
units as I can this year as your
department president.
Mid-Winter is here, reports should
have been sent to all committee
chairmen; and it is time to hear what
has been going on around the state. I
am always amazed at how much we
accomplish each year for our
veterans. What an amazing group of
women we have.
Please be sure to attend the Mid-
Winter Conference and be prepared to
enjoy yourself. We will have some
great talent on Saturday night, the
14th. We will also have a tropical hat
competition. I have prizes for the
best hats so get your fingers to
working on those hats of yours. The
hat parade has always been a
favorite and a lot of fun.
If you would like to contribute to a
silent auction, please bring items to
be auctioned off for our Department
Support Fund. Also, sign up your
neighbors and friends and bring them
along with you. I understand that
Angela has some fun things, too,
associated with membership. It is
good to see so many new faces in
our Auxiliary Family, and to see the
enthusiasm that they are bringing into
our organization.
I congratulate all of you units that are
growing with new membership.
Sharing is what we do best as we
work with our veterans and service
men and women and their families.
If I can do anything to help your units
grow, don’t hesitate to call on me. I
will do all in my power to try to help
you out.
For God and Country,
Mary Smith-Ried
Department President
Jan. 2012 Message
