An appreciation was held honoring Jacqueline Bethea on Saturday, June 18 at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Florence. Rev. Merritt B. Graves was host pastor, and the event was sponsored by the Florence-Dillon Area Women’s Missionary Society.
Jacqueline Bethea, born in Latta, SC, is the youngest of thirteen children of the late Joe and Gladys W. Bethea.
She received her elementary and secondary education in the Dillon District Schools, beginning at Latimer Elementary School and graduating from Latta High School in 1981. She pursued a degree in Secretarial Science at Florence-Darlington Technical College, Darlington, SC.
The honoree is an inspiration to her church, her family, and her community. She willingly and tirelessly gives of herself with a smile when she sees a need, many times without being asked.
Chip, as she is affectionately called by her family and Jackie by her friends, served three years as Historiographer-Statistician, Florence-Dillon Area Women’s Missionary Society and Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Northeast Conference Women’s Missionary Society. She presently serves as Chairperson of the Florence-Dillon Area Women’s Missionary Society.
Jacqueline, a member of Weston Chapel AME Church, Latta, SC served three years as local WMS president. At present, she is a member of the WMS; Chairperson of the Commission on Evangelism; Stewardess Board and Christian Education Board. The Rev. Leonard E. Simmons serves as her pastor.
In the community, Jacqueline has served as a past board member of the Northeastern Technical College, Cheraw, SC. She is a member of the NAACP and South Carolina State Employee Association. For the past twenty-three years, she has serviced the community and county through employment with the Department of Social Services, Dillon County, SC.
The honoree takes great pride in writing her column, “Here and There” for the Dillon Herald newspaper, which displays noteworthy accomplishments and news about happenings in and around the Dillon area.
Jacqueline’s hobbies include writing, walking, meeting people, talking, taking group outings with the family and travel.
She states that her philosophy of life is to do what she can while she can to help others, and that her daily strength comes from her favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Maxine F. Moore presided over the program. Participating in the program were Bernice McElveen, Brenda Arnette, Sheila A. Leonard, Rev. Darryl Woodbury, Chimyra Player, Danielle Alston, Delores Lemon, Sharonda Jacobs, Kathleen Simmons, Zelda Moses, Bernice Sanders, Elder Robert B. Cooper, Sr., Anne McFadden, Eva M. Grant, Linda Battle, Barbara Stinney, Rev. Janice McMillian, Margie Jett, Christa D. Edwards, Joyce Green, Beulah Bethea, Annie Lou Eaddy, Rosa Lee Riley, Jerry Bethea, Chandra Collington, and Nikki Player.