 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
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 2003 and 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 and 2nd and 1st Vice, Angela is also a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623
and a member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula.
She received her bachelors degree in English from The University of Southern Mississippi, with a minor in
business. While at Southern Miss, she performed with the university's famed Wind Ensemble and the Symphony
Orchestra, classically trained in flute, oboe and English horn. She was a member of the Pride of Mississippi
Marching Band. Angela is an arts enthusiast and supports the arts in education.
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! Angela and Jack are also the proud "parents" of two cats and four dogs.
Mary Lyles,1st Vice President/Memberhip Chairman
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.
Mary Ried, 2nd Vice President/Junior Membership Chairman
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, Historian
Rose Blanchard, Chaplain
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.
Nancy Sanders, NEC and Dept. Secretary-Treasurer
Nancy Sanders is a member of Crystal Springs Unit 41. A resident of Crystal Springs,
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.
Madeline Vuncannon, Alternate NEC
Madeline Vuncannon is a member of Philadelphia Unit 138. She has been a member for
over ten 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.
She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 2003 and 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 and 2nd and 1st Vice, Angela is also a partner of 8 & 40 Salon #623
and a member of the La Societe de Femme Cabane #1411, both located in Pascagoula.
She received her bachelors degree in English from The University of Southern Mississippi, with a minor in
business. While at Southern Miss, she performed with the university's famed Wind Ensemble and the Symphony
Orchestra, classically trained in flute, oboe and English horn. She was a member of the Pride of Mississippi
Marching Band. Angela is an arts enthusiast and supports the arts in education.
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! Angela and Jack are also the proud "parents" of two cats and four dogs.
Mary Lyles,1st Vice President/Memberhip Chairman
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.
Mary Ried, 2nd Vice President/Junior Membership Chairman
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, Historian
Rose Blanchard, Chaplain
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.
Nancy Sanders, NEC and Dept. Secretary-Treasurer
Nancy Sanders is a member of Crystal Springs Unit 41. A resident of Crystal Springs,
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.
Madeline Vuncannon, Alternate NEC
Madeline Vuncannon is a member of Philadelphia Unit 138. She has been a member for
over ten 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.
2009-10 Department Officers
American Legion Auxiliary
| Department of Mississippi |
| Angela Kilcrease |
| Dept. President |
| | | | | | | | |
| Plant a Seed for ALA and Help it Grow. The Department President's theme this year centers on gardening. Southern women are known for growing beautiful flowers and bountiful harvests of fruits and vegetables. This year, we are all going to exercise our “green thumbs,” with the help of a little mascot named “Do-Bee.” Do-Bee is a busy little bee, who toils day-to-day, spreading goodwill, cooperation, kindness, and the good word about all that the American Legion Auxiliary does for our veterans and in our communities. Let's plant seeds of membership, of patriotism, of service, and of volunteerism. After we properly prepare the soil--add some nutrients, water and tender loving care--we will surely reap the benefits of the good harvest. Do Our -- Best for ALA Enthusiastically Everyday |
Our Theme
