Alpha Zeta Member Spotlight
LOUISE NAPIER - INDUCTED IN 1972
Louise has held a number of leadership roles in Alpha Zeta since being inducted in 1972. She was 2nd Vice President from 1978-1980, President from 1996-1998, and has served on the Fine Arts Committee for several years. She has contributed original works of art for funding scholarships and has presented programs for our chapter including ones on the art of Iris paper folding, display of art works inspired by travel to Japan, a program on silk painting and watercolor exhibit at Wingate University Gallery, and a program on Fabric Designs, showing original art used for fabric yardage.
Louise has also been involved regionally and gave a program for a regional meeting on Art and Nature, how nature inspires my art, display of 40 watercolors of flowers. When she was chapter president from 1996-1998, she had a display of watercolors and printmaking at the NC DKG State convention in Hickory. Louise also attended a national conference in Salt City, Utah during her presidency. She had her original artwork selected for four covers of the Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin!
Louise served as a Professor of Art and Education, Wingate University, for 50 years. Guided numerous students through their Art Education degree, many who are outstanding art teachers in public schools. She has provided workshops for children and adults - recent ones at the Marshville Museum and Culture Center, Union County Library Over 40 solo exhibits of her art work. She also gives workshops for teachers in Union and Stanly Counties. She just taught one in August to art educators in UCPS.
Louise has been active in the National Art Education Association for 40 years, making presentations and exhibits at dozens of State and National conferences in New York, Baltimore, and San Diego. She has also provided illustrations for several publications by other authors including “Seeking a Country” and “Our Space, Our Place." This is in addition to writing and illustrating 3 of her own children’s books and publishing 3 books on her art work: watercolor paintings, printmaking, and most recent: paper folding with Japanese themes. You can find these books on Amazon.
As part of the recommendation letter for her Golden Key nomination, Deb Christensen wrote, "For our annual Grant-in-Aid auction, she has donated numerous pieces of her artwork (watercolors, prints, linoleum pieces, etc.) to help raise funds for our scholarship and grants. Many years there was a bidding war over one of her angel pieces or other works of art. Often the sale of her artwork has made a significant impact on the financial success of the auction. Louise is always willing to provide a program and share her art with our chapter. Her programs are very well received and after her last one on iris paper folding the members asked if she might teach the rest of us how to create a piece using this technique."
Louise has held a number of leadership roles in Alpha Zeta since being inducted in 1972. She was 2nd Vice President from 1978-1980, President from 1996-1998, and has served on the Fine Arts Committee for several years. She has contributed original works of art for funding scholarships and has presented programs for our chapter including ones on the art of Iris paper folding, display of art works inspired by travel to Japan, a program on silk painting and watercolor exhibit at Wingate University Gallery, and a program on Fabric Designs, showing original art used for fabric yardage.
Louise has also been involved regionally and gave a program for a regional meeting on Art and Nature, how nature inspires my art, display of 40 watercolors of flowers. When she was chapter president from 1996-1998, she had a display of watercolors and printmaking at the NC DKG State convention in Hickory. Louise also attended a national conference in Salt City, Utah during her presidency. She had her original artwork selected for four covers of the Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin!
Louise served as a Professor of Art and Education, Wingate University, for 50 years. Guided numerous students through their Art Education degree, many who are outstanding art teachers in public schools. She has provided workshops for children and adults - recent ones at the Marshville Museum and Culture Center, Union County Library Over 40 solo exhibits of her art work. She also gives workshops for teachers in Union and Stanly Counties. She just taught one in August to art educators in UCPS.
Louise has been active in the National Art Education Association for 40 years, making presentations and exhibits at dozens of State and National conferences in New York, Baltimore, and San Diego. She has also provided illustrations for several publications by other authors including “Seeking a Country” and “Our Space, Our Place." This is in addition to writing and illustrating 3 of her own children’s books and publishing 3 books on her art work: watercolor paintings, printmaking, and most recent: paper folding with Japanese themes. You can find these books on Amazon.
As part of the recommendation letter for her Golden Key nomination, Deb Christensen wrote, "For our annual Grant-in-Aid auction, she has donated numerous pieces of her artwork (watercolors, prints, linoleum pieces, etc.) to help raise funds for our scholarship and grants. Many years there was a bidding war over one of her angel pieces or other works of art. Often the sale of her artwork has made a significant impact on the financial success of the auction. Louise is always willing to provide a program and share her art with our chapter. Her programs are very well received and after her last one on iris paper folding the members asked if she might teach the rest of us how to create a piece using this technique."
Previous Spotlights
GLADYS MCCAIN KERR - INDUCTED IN 1968
Gladys McCain Kerr, a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, is a member and former chapter regent of the John Foster Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and served as North Carolina State Regent for The Daughters of the American Colonists (2000-2003). She is currently and Honorary State Regent. She is actively involved in Alpha Zeta Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma and is a past president of the society. In 1978 she was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt to serve as a member of the initial Board of Directors for the Andrew Jackson Memorial Foundation and was its treasurer. She is a professor emeritus of the mathematics faculty of Wingate University where she taught for forty years.
Ms. Kerr served as President of The Waxhaw Woman's Club when The Waxhaw Historical Festival and Drama Association was formed and was the first president of this association which was responsible for producing the annual outdoor drama "Listen and Remember," now an annual event. In 1989 she served as President of the Centennial Celebration Committee for the town of Waxhaw. Her community involvement includes serving on the Board of Trustees of Union Memorial Hospital (1990-1994), the original Board of Trustees of South Piedmont Community College (2000-2004), and the Board for Friends of Union County Public Libraries. She has served as pianist and organist for numerous churches in the area and at age eighty continues to teach piano. She is a graduate of Flora Macdonald College and George Peabody College for Teachers. Ms. Kerr takes great pride in being the mother of James Maxwell Kerr and grandmother of Williams McKain Kerr for who she wrote Down on the Farm: Red Clay & Rocks, Faith and & Hope: Stories, Pictures, and Tales of the McCain Family of Waxhaw, North Carolina and including the Walkup, Pickens, and Winslow Connections so that they and their many relatives might know more about their ancestors and the story of the Scots-Irish who left Northern Ireland in the 1700's and eventually settled in "the Garden of the Waxhaws" on the Carolina frontier.
Gladys McCain Kerr, a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, is a member and former chapter regent of the John Foster Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and served as North Carolina State Regent for The Daughters of the American Colonists (2000-2003). She is currently and Honorary State Regent. She is actively involved in Alpha Zeta Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma and is a past president of the society. In 1978 she was appointed by Governor James B. Hunt to serve as a member of the initial Board of Directors for the Andrew Jackson Memorial Foundation and was its treasurer. She is a professor emeritus of the mathematics faculty of Wingate University where she taught for forty years.
Ms. Kerr served as President of The Waxhaw Woman's Club when The Waxhaw Historical Festival and Drama Association was formed and was the first president of this association which was responsible for producing the annual outdoor drama "Listen and Remember," now an annual event. In 1989 she served as President of the Centennial Celebration Committee for the town of Waxhaw. Her community involvement includes serving on the Board of Trustees of Union Memorial Hospital (1990-1994), the original Board of Trustees of South Piedmont Community College (2000-2004), and the Board for Friends of Union County Public Libraries. She has served as pianist and organist for numerous churches in the area and at age eighty continues to teach piano. She is a graduate of Flora Macdonald College and George Peabody College for Teachers. Ms. Kerr takes great pride in being the mother of James Maxwell Kerr and grandmother of Williams McKain Kerr for who she wrote Down on the Farm: Red Clay & Rocks, Faith and & Hope: Stories, Pictures, and Tales of the McCain Family of Waxhaw, North Carolina and including the Walkup, Pickens, and Winslow Connections so that they and their many relatives might know more about their ancestors and the story of the Scots-Irish who left Northern Ireland in the 1700's and eventually settled in "the Garden of the Waxhaws" on the Carolina frontier.
FRANKIE RITCH - INDUCTED IN 1960
In the spring of 2021 the Delta Kappa Gamma president of our Alpha Zeta Chapter announced the start of having a member spotlight on our website. Since I’m the longest serving member of our chapter, she asked me to describe my history with our group and my teaching background.
In my senior year at Duke, education majors for the first time were offered the opportunity to teach in certain schools in other cities. Feeling adventurous, I chose the one the greatest distance away – East Mecklenburg Senior High, just out of Charlotte. Cleta Black of our chapter was my supervising teacher. While practice teaching, I met Buddy; we were married in 1956 after my two years of employment at Rocky Mount Senior High, putting me back in Charlotte and teaching at East Mecklenburg.
At that time persons could not be invited to join Delta Kappa Gamma before teaching five years; and apparently that rule applied to the other Charlotte honor group, as I received invitations from both in May of 1960 while expecting Chip, my firstborn. I was the first at East to be allowed to teach after needing maternity clothes. Cleta Black and Rose Jennings were my sponsors and remained dear friends until they died. I was with Cleta her last night, leaving her with her nephew two hours before her passing. LaRue Perry, also from Elm City, was inducted at the same time.
Also that year I took a Red Cross class to learn about infant care and the next year a class at Queens to learn more about early childhood education. Soon I was asked to be Director of Christian Education at my church, Kilgo United Methodist Church, but I did not feel led to do that. In 1962 before our daughter, Fran, was born, I was challenged to try to revive our church kindergarten, which had dwindled to four students. For six years I was the unpaid volunteer director, during which time the school expanded from four students to three classes, three teachers, forty-four students and waiting lists.
In January, 1964, the War on Poverty was declared by President Johnson. In 1965 I was among the first from Charlotte to qualify to teach adults and taught reading and math at Garinger and Hawthorne Lane and high school English at Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church, Belvedere Homes Library, and Central Piedmont Community College. Somehow during this period I studied and passed the real estate brokers exam to be in better position to help husband Buddy start our own business in 1966. I continued to teach adults for CPCC into 1972. Even in real estate I continued teaching, as all real estate agents need introductory classes and continuing education.
In Delta Kappa Gamma I have held minor offices, but it seems my primary role has been to assist and encourage those in leadership positions and be a positive presence. Hopefully I can continue to do this a while longer.
Frankie Ritch
May 28, 2021
In the spring of 2021 the Delta Kappa Gamma president of our Alpha Zeta Chapter announced the start of having a member spotlight on our website. Since I’m the longest serving member of our chapter, she asked me to describe my history with our group and my teaching background.
In my senior year at Duke, education majors for the first time were offered the opportunity to teach in certain schools in other cities. Feeling adventurous, I chose the one the greatest distance away – East Mecklenburg Senior High, just out of Charlotte. Cleta Black of our chapter was my supervising teacher. While practice teaching, I met Buddy; we were married in 1956 after my two years of employment at Rocky Mount Senior High, putting me back in Charlotte and teaching at East Mecklenburg.
At that time persons could not be invited to join Delta Kappa Gamma before teaching five years; and apparently that rule applied to the other Charlotte honor group, as I received invitations from both in May of 1960 while expecting Chip, my firstborn. I was the first at East to be allowed to teach after needing maternity clothes. Cleta Black and Rose Jennings were my sponsors and remained dear friends until they died. I was with Cleta her last night, leaving her with her nephew two hours before her passing. LaRue Perry, also from Elm City, was inducted at the same time.
Also that year I took a Red Cross class to learn about infant care and the next year a class at Queens to learn more about early childhood education. Soon I was asked to be Director of Christian Education at my church, Kilgo United Methodist Church, but I did not feel led to do that. In 1962 before our daughter, Fran, was born, I was challenged to try to revive our church kindergarten, which had dwindled to four students. For six years I was the unpaid volunteer director, during which time the school expanded from four students to three classes, three teachers, forty-four students and waiting lists.
In January, 1964, the War on Poverty was declared by President Johnson. In 1965 I was among the first from Charlotte to qualify to teach adults and taught reading and math at Garinger and Hawthorne Lane and high school English at Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church, Belvedere Homes Library, and Central Piedmont Community College. Somehow during this period I studied and passed the real estate brokers exam to be in better position to help husband Buddy start our own business in 1966. I continued to teach adults for CPCC into 1972. Even in real estate I continued teaching, as all real estate agents need introductory classes and continuing education.
In Delta Kappa Gamma I have held minor offices, but it seems my primary role has been to assist and encourage those in leadership positions and be a positive presence. Hopefully I can continue to do this a while longer.
Frankie Ritch
May 28, 2021