Special to Cypress by Susan Sanders

Edited by Anna Cooper

Fellowship, philanthropy, community service, and fun gatherings are just a few words that could describe the Somerville Women’s Club (SWC). Beginning as the Somerville Garden and Arts Club in 1952, it was founded by Mrs. Fred T. (Willie Pearl) Fowler. She was the definition of a true Southern Belle, as are all of the ladies currently in the club.  Attractive, charming, vivacious, and accomplished, even today, her high standards and expectations remain as important parts of the Club. Today’s members include Mrs.Fowler’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Irma Fowler, and Mrs. Jett Turner, her granddaughter. We were guests at one of their meetings. You could feel the deeply Southern traditions that have been embedded in this group, as they are in many of our community groups around West Tennessee.

The SWC’s rich history stems from members who joined in the 1960s and are still active, sharing their experience and wisdom which contributes to the club’s strong foundation. Others have brought their own elegant personalities into the club, extending and growing the club, while keeping the wonderfully Southern traditions unchanged. Many of today’s membership are talented and accomplished ladies including the Vice-Mayor of the Town of Somerville.

The SWC meets every second Thursday of the months September through May. Each member takes a turn serving as Hostess for a meeting, several members collaborate together to provide delicious refreshments and special programs for the Club to enjoy. Interesting speakers, interior decorating tips, gourmet meal demonstrations, a yoga class, games and even puppies that were provided by the Tennessee Safety Spotters Therapy Dog Program are just a few of the past programs the Club has enjoyed. Full of old traditions and new experiences, the programs for the 2020-2021 year are already in the works, promising to be some of the best yet.

All members share their enthusiasm, not only for the meetings but also for their passion for two of the club’s philanthropies, “Hearts and Hands” and “Courageous Cuddlers.”: The Hearts and Hands program serves the special needs members of the Somerville community. The SWC helps to provide monthly birthday parties for the group of special needs individuals and also an annual Christmas Dinner party, complete with presents for everyone in attendance. Each SWC member donates one gift for a woman and one gift for a man. They then collect them and distribute them at the party. The ladies love making someone’s Christmas memorable and witnessing the joy and excitement this holiday party brings.

The Somerville Women’s Club established Courageous Cuddlers as a way to make an impact on children in their community. The members support this project by donating teddy bears and other stuffed animals to the Somerville Police Department. As an avid teddy bear collector, President Susan Sanders is always more than eager to participate in this yearly program. The Cuddlers are collected and given to the Officers to load in their police cars to be readily available to place in the arms of a child involved in any type of crisis situation. The goal of the SWC is to help provide a way for the Police Officer to ease the fears of a vulnerable, frightened child that is in need of a new friend to keep and hold and love during a difficult time.

Serving as President for the past seven years and starting her eighth year next September Sanders has enjoyed creating yearbooks every year and sending out “mailers” every month to remind members of the upcoming meeting. Sanders said: “Membership in the Somerville Women’s Club is something to be valued and I am honored to be serving as President. This group is made up of the very best this community has to offer: graceful and charming ladies that through their hard work and dedication have made SWC what it is today. My goal is to help provide an enjoyable year, nurture friendships, and make our club even stronger for the future. I am so proud of this organization. All of these wonderful ladies are very dear to me; it is a privilege to be part of the Somerville Women’s Club.“

The ladies of the club recite from a “Club Collect” written by author, Mary Stewart in 1904 at the end of each meeting. This prayer has reached across the world and was actually read into the printed records of the Congress of the United States in 1949. The Somerville Women’s Club is truly reflected in the last sentence of the prayer... “And may we strive to touch and know the great human heart common to us all, and O Lord God let us not forget to be kind.”