Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2026

COAST NOTE
Proclamation with Mayor Gilich
Cleophan Club
CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
story by Gaye Winter and Jane Meynardie photos courtesy of Cleophan Club
Congratulations to The Cleophan Club! The word “Cleophan,” which is taken from Greek, means “to make clear or gather.”
The first recorded meeting of The Cleophan Club took place on September 30, 1901. It is believed to be one of the oldest Women’s Club in the State of Mississippi. The club was formed in Biloxi for the purposes of study and socializing, with its goal being the mutual improvement of the members in literature, art, history, and the culture of the coast of Mississippi.
Years ago, the members wore hats and gloves to their meetings which could last all day and might include reading an entire Shakespeare play. Annual dues were one dollar. The club flower is the Duchess Rose. When a member gave birth, she received a basket of Duchess Roses!
Today, as roll is called, each member describes what is happening in her life—this is reminiscent of the days the members would get out of their homes for a whole day and take their horse and carriage to other members’ homes and catch up on all the “news.”
In 1919, the club planted 12 palm trees in a Biloxi park adjacent to the train station to honor the memory of 12 Biloxi soldiers who had died in World War I. The trees, unfortunately, were lost to freezing weather. In 2014, The Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce recreated the Twelve Palms Memorial at Biloxi Businessmen’s Park including a marker commemorating Cleophan’s sponsorship of the original tribute.
There are 20 active members of this organization and several honorary members. The Program Committee chooses a topic for the year and hostesses for each meeting are chosen on a rotating basis.
The members who are not hostessing present papers on the chosen topic at each meeting. Some former topics include Mystery Writers, Rivers of the World, and Mississippi Battlefields.
Luncheon meetings are held on the first Friday of each month from October -May.
On April 7, 2026, Mayor “Fofo” Gilich read a proclamation at the Biloxi City Council Meeting celebrating the 125 year milestone for the club.
16 | June 2026 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
2026-2027 OFFICERS:
President: Libby Brookshire
V. President: Tana Bradley
Secretary: Jane Meynardie
Treasurer: Carol Walters
Custodian of Records: Lee Ann Dubaz Parliamentarian: Susan Dubaz
Duchess Rose
MEMBERS:
Katherine Andre Tana Bradley Libby Brookshire Phyllis Corley Susan Dubaz Lee Ann Dubaz Ann Guice
Lisa Guice Breanne Humphreys Lynn Lofton Barbara Meeks Jane Meynardie Celia Mitchell Millie Page Belinda Serata Deanne Stephens Wanda Stewart Carol Walters Gaye Winter