2023-2025 Officers

A Brief History of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi

The garden clubs of Mississippi began in 1929 when Mr. Ben Arthur Davis, a horticulturist and secretary of the Lauderdale County Horticultural Society of Meridian, couldn’t get enough interest in a statewide horticultural society.  He was advised to contact some people in the Delta who might be interested.  Davis contacted Mrs. C. W. Kettleman of the existing Greenville Garden Club and asked her to invite interested people to a meeting.  Twelve or 13 ladies representing six garden clubs met at the Edwards Hotel in Jackson on July 19, 1929, to form the first state garden club.  Those six clubs were Greenville, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Leland, and Meridian.  An undated clipping states that, “The purpose of this organization will be to draw the garden clubs of the state together closer in their relations and primarily to promote an interchange of garden visits.”  Our state organization preceded the national organization, which was formed in 1934. In 2029, we will be 100 years old.  Let’s make sure our organization is alive and well to celebrate that milestone!