Chatham Garden Club

March 22, 2022

After nearly 100 years, Chatham Garden Club is still asking the question, “How can we beautify Chatham?” Former CGC President Mary Jac Meadows proudly says, “It’s amazing that any club can sustain for 100 years. We’re stronger the longer we exist. We have so much talent, devotion, and love.”

Community Involvement

The club has a long history of beautifying Chatham and the surrounding Pittsylvania County area — providing wreaths for the Pittsylvania County Courthouse doors; participating in creating hanging baskets of mixed greens and swags for Main Street; planting and maintaining garden areas at Chatham Town Hall; planting and maintaining a large planter at the Pruden Street parking lot; and partnering with a variety of civic groups in beautification projects.

Funds for community projects are generated by the club’s annual geranium sale. Members and loyal supporters look forward each year to the early spring arrival of their purchases — just in time for Historic Garden Week — and the town showcases hundreds of geraniums each summer.

Chatham Garden Club maintains strong ties with its nearby sister GCV clubs — The Garden Club of Danville and Gabriella Garden Club. Since 2017, the three clubs have joined for Historic Garden Week tours. The clubs assist each other when one is called upon to host a GCV event, and annually hold a joint meeting to welcome the GCV President or to enjoy a special presentation.

Flower Shows and Artistic Design

The club boasts GCV artistic design judges and talented floral designers. Members often participate in Garden Club of Virginia flower shows and VMFA’s Fine Arts & Flowers, winning InterClub awards and individual ribbons. The club is celebrated for its outstanding floral designs during Historic Garden Week.

Chatham Garden Club hosted the Garden Club of Virginia’s Annual Lily Show in 2001, The Meeting House, and 2002, Celebrate America, at the Watson Memorial United Methodist Church, chaired by Nancie Motley and Pattie Motley. The artistic schedule for the 2002 show called for an interpretation of 9/11 and undoubtedly left a lasting impression on all who exhibited or attended.

Centennial Preparations

Chatham Garden Club made plans to celebrate its centennial throughout the club year beginning September 2, 2020, with a groundbreaking ceremony at Gilmer Court, a parcel of land which was originally deeded to the club in 1936, “to be kept and maintained as a park.” The club chose to plant a redbud, the club’s flower. Chatham’s mayor presented a framed proclamation to the club that was followed by a presentation of the history of Gilmer Court. A club seal featuring a redbud bloom was designed by Mary Jac Meadows in recognition of the centennial.

Although many celebratory plans were curtailed due to COVID-19, a club history was presented via Zoom at each monthly meeting that followed.

Members gathered in June for a final celebration at Banister Bend Farm, home of club member and de Lacy Gray recipient Betty Davenport and her husband, Ben. Each member was presented with a gift bag containing an apron embroidered with the new club seal. Chatham’s 5th District Delegate attended to present a resolution commending Chatham Garden Club.

CGC Presidents 1995-2021

1995-1997	Lockett Van Voorhis
1997-1999	Mary Catherine Plaster
1999-2001	Pattie Motley
2001-2003	Ruth Jones
2003-2005	Jeanette Brown
2005-2007	Beth Coles
2007-2009	Huntley Friend
2009-2011	Mary Jac Meadows
2011-2013	Jessie Broskie
2013-2015	Staci Wall
2015-2017	Betty Camp
2017-2019	Gayle Gwaltney
2019-2021	Susan Bower