When Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met at Bath Christian Church on Thursday evening, there was a special call for celebration in addition to the annual Christmas party. The women teachers welcomed back into their possession the Alpha Omega quilt, completed in 1986 as a fundraiser for a state project. The quilt had been brought back by then-President Virginia Ayscue from the raffle winner. Virginia had the quilt in her possession at the time of her death. This fall, Pat Bellar of Hickory (and Virginia’s daughter) contacted Alpha Omega President Betty Cochran about giving the quilt to the chapter. It is a most welcome gift!

Several of the members who made the counted cross-stitch squares back in 1985-86 were on hand as members admired the quilt and thanked Pat Bellar for her gift. The quilt features squares depicting life in Beaufort and Hyde counties: Ocracoke Lighthouse, the Swan Quarter ferry, St. Thomas Church (Bath), the Palmer-Marsh House, the Van Der Veer House, the Old Academy in Pantego, the church moved by the hand of God and the Octagon House in Hyde County, as well as the cardinal, a sailing ship, tobacco leaves, a trawler, clam shell, sand dollar and squares depicting local occupations. The quilt also depicts state symbols, such as the dogwood, the cardinal and state monuments. June Wallace, Nancy Hill and Margaret Ann Woolard are current members who made squares in 1986. Angela Robbins Sawyer, who as a high school student helped her grandmother, “Mama Dot” Tankard, made several of the squares.

Members and their guests shared a covered dish meal and brought gifts for Operation Santa Claus. Special guest Pam Pippin provided a program of song and inspiration.