BRANDON GARDEN CLUB, INC.

2023-2024 Officers - Executive Committee

President:  Debbie Edwards

1st Vice President:  Ann Wentz

2nd Vice President:  Sheila Everett

Recording Secretary: Glenna Morgan

Corresponding Secretary: Jane Huddleston

Treasurer: Bobbye Strickland

Ex-Officio: Dixie Vance

Historian: Marion McKee

Parliamentarian: Nancy Magee

Public Relations: Charla Jordan

Advisory Board

Club President & Active Past Presidents

A History of the Brandon Garden Club

     The history of the Brandon Garden Club is intrinsically linked with that of the City of Brandon. Many charter Club members were descendants of families who settled Brandon and Rankin County. Today, few members are related those first settlers, but all members have the heritage of caring for and loving their home and the community known as Brandon. 

     Although there is limited written documentation of the Club's early years, there are abundant oral recollections, and the results of the Club's historic preservation and beautification projects are evident throughout the community. 

     The BGC was organized in January 1952 by Mrs. Gilbreath Neil with 62 members and federated with The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. (GCM) in 1953. It is said that Mrs. Neil accompanied a relative to a Delta Garden Club meeting, probably in Greenwood, the state headquarters of GCM. After the meeting, she enlisted friends and acquaintances to organize a club to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening. The history and Mrs. Neil's vision continue.

     Mrs. John McLaurin, Sr. (Janet), charter member and 1963 BGC President, saved copies of the club's yearbooks (handbooks). There is a familiarity between the edition for 1953-1954 and our current yearbook. The shape is small, just right to fit inside a purse. The format is similar: name of club, number of members, founder, dates of meetings, officers, hostesses and projects. 

     Projects are the heart and soul of the BGC. In the 2002 book Brandon, A Pictorial History, published by The Brandon Historical and Genealogical Society, BGC is described as "Brandon's oldest and most prestigious social club." This may be true, but it is also the "oldest and most hardworking club," as evidenced by the impressive list of continuing projects. Our underlying theme is beautification through gardening in our homes, gardens, and the Brandon community.

     BGC maintains the planters on the downtown square, donates books on gardening to the Brandon Public Library, recognizes businesses with outstanding commercial landscaping, provides scholarships to students at Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University, provides gardening programs to residents at a community living facility, and works with the City of Brandon on seasonal events and historic preservation projects. Our "Plant it Pink" bed raises awareness of the fight against breast cancer. Our annual plant exchange is a fun event where we share cuttings and plants from our own yards. Our Tablescapes Luncheon Fundraiser is a much anticipated and always sold-out event. 

     BGC members continue to make Brandon a better place to live. While monthly meetings might have impressive flower arrangements with silver and crystal, there is garden dirt on many hands during the week. Like our founders, we remember the past while planting for the future.