History of The Petersburg MOLES

On February 20, 1960, the Roanoke Chapter of THE MOLES sponsored the Petersburg Chapter of The MOLES. With scores of visiting MOLES and Mules in attendance, twenty ladies were installed in grand style. The National President, MOLE Beresenia Hill, and the Roanoke Chapter President, MOLE Louise Lash, conducted the impressive ceremony which was followed by a ball at the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Club at Fort Lee, Virginia.   

MOLE Grace Brown Beasley, organizer of the Petersburg Chapter, transferred to the Washington, D. C. Chapter in 1967. MOLE Vergial S. Webb, a Charter Member, made an outstanding contribution to Moledom as composer of the words and music for the MOLES National Song. She also held the National Offices of Vice President, 1972-74, and President, 1975-1979. MOLE Webb transferred to the Baltimore Chapter in 1983. Another Charter Member, MOLE Annyce Blackmon, transferred to the Washington, D.C. Chapter in 1960 as well as MOLE Carolyn Rudd Johnson, who joined in 1979 and transferred to the Washington, D.C. Chapter in 1982.

The three most outstandingly successful events sponsored by the Petersburg Chapter were when the Chapter entertained two Conclaves, one in 1967 at the American House, Petersburg, Virginia, and the other in 1989 at the Marriott in Richmond, Virginia. The third was a Board of Directors Meeting in 1968 at the American House in Petersburg, Virginia. These three National affairs were well attended and everyone present had an enjoyable weekend of activities.

Today, our membership consists of twenty-three active MOLES and two Emeritae MOLES, MOLE Autholia Payne (E), MOLE Gladys B. Holland (E), our only living Charter Member, who resides in Tomball, Texas, and remains in touch with her MOLE Sisters.