Mrs. Nellie G. Roulhac (5th National President), a native of Philadelphia and an English instructor at Albany State College, had a dream of making opportunities available for the children of the Deep South. Her dream came true in the Spring of 1950 when she was instrumental in getting fifteen mothers to meet at her home for the purpose of organizing the Albany Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated. It was at her home that the mothers were informed and committed to the objectives and aims of the national organization. They remain the same today, “To help parents and the spiritual, cultural, educational, recreational and social needs of their children, and to contribute to the community.”
The first Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, to be chartered in Georgia was arranged in Albany by Mrs. Edna Seay of Buffalo, New York, National President of Jack and Jill of America, on September 23. 1950. The chartering ceremony was conducted at the home of Mrs. Belle Few Thompson. The Albany, Georgia Chapter was sponsored by the Memphis, Tennessee Chapter.
The officers of the Club were Mrs. Nellie Gordon Roulhac, President; Mrs. Addie H. Heard, Vice-President; Mrs. W.M. Dennis, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Pearl Sanders, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Lessie Miller, Treasurer; and Mrs. Bemry Nelson, Journalist. In addition to the above-named officers, the following charter members were present: Mmes. Ophelia Andrews, Evelyn Battle, Grace Blaylock, Lucile Burton, Zenola Cheevers, Beatrice Crowell, Dulce Dabney, Sue Ellis, Miriam Gay, Mary L. Vincent Harris, Ruth Humphries, Conine Jones, Helen Mays, Virginia Searles, Edna Smith, Belle Few Thompson, and Mary Watson.
Other members included: Aurelia James, Jesse Coleman, Ethel Glover, Anna Granberry, Sharlote Simmons, Hertha Taylor, all of Albany, Georgia; Thelma Carroll, Deloria Catchings, both of Camilla, Georgia; and Mildred Rollins and Edwina Smith, both of Thomasville, Georgia.
The Albany, Georgia Chapter sponsored the Tallahassee, Florida Chapter, the Atlanta, Georgia Chapter and the Cordele, Georgia Chapter.