Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, April 6, 2000
The Southern Cross, Page 3
Elise Heyward Howkins: founder of the Catholic Women’s Club
A t the time of Elise H.
Howkins’ death, The
Savannah Morning News of
December 18, 1942, was
obliged to print a lengthy
news article and biography
tabulating this remarkable
woman’s accomplishments.
After convent-educated
Elise Heyward married John R|ta H DeLorme
S. Howkins in New Jersey in
1890, the couple moved to Baltimore where John
Howkins studied medicine. When he had obtained
his medical degree, Howkins and his wife moved to
Savannah.
Once settled in Savannah, John and Elise
Howkins launched both family and career. Dr.
Howkins began his practice, and he and his wife
had two sons. Later, John Howkins converted to
Catholicism. When Dr. Howkins died in 1912, his
passing did not cause Elise to withdraw from soci
ety. In the years following her husband’s death, She
became heavily involved in many Catholic causes,
and also in civic organizations. She was a dynamic
member of the publicity committee of the Catholic
Laymen’s Association early in its history. Her
involvement in organizations was never dilatory.
For 14 years, she served as Grand Regent of the
Savannah Court, Number 10, Daughters of Isabella,
and prodded that group into resigning from the
national body and becoming the Catholic Women’s
Club of Savannah. Mrs. Howkins acted as president
of the Catholic Women’s Club for two years, serv
ing until the organization was firmly on its feet.
Saint Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary was another
group Elise Howkins led as president for several
years.
Mrs. Howkins had earlier founded the Married
Women’s Card Club of Savannah—made famous in
the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of
Good and Evil—and functioned as its president for
14 years. She served as president of the Savannah
Women’s Federation for 25 years and was elected a
vice president of the Georgia State Federation of
Women’s Clubs in 1914.
Elise Howkins pushed for a Georgia Catholic
Women’s Organization to be affiliated with the
Federation of Catholic Women of the United States
and the National Council of Catholic Women.
Other causes which caught her attention included
the Audubon Society, the Savannah chairmanship
of the War Camp Community Service during World
War I, the Board of Trade, the Tree of Light
Committee, Red Cross work at the Huntingdon
Club, establishment of rooms in the former
Oglethorpe Club for the use of members of the U.S.
armed forces, and service on the Abrams Home for
Women Committee. Elise Howkins was at the helm
of the Savannah Women’s Federation when the his
toric move to set up the office of “police woman”
to care for women prisoners in Savannah’s jail was
implemented. Hampstead Home, a separate facility
for women prisoners, was likewise established in
Chatham County because of the Federation’s lobby
ing. Efforts were also made by this civic group to
find employment for women and to stock a “closet”
with clothing for needy wonen. Notable Savannah
gardens were opened under the aegis of the
Women’s Federation to obtain donations for various
worthwhile causes. The July 1921, issue of the
Bulletin averred that “there are few members of the
Laymen’s Association who have done more for the
Church in Georgia than Mrs. Howkins.” No wonder
that, at the farewell banquet for Richard Reid,
departing editor of the Bulletin in 1939, Mrs.
Howkins rose to question those present “good
naturedly” about the absence of women speakers on
the podium and the fact that women had not been
given more credit for the success of the Catholic
Laymen’s Association.
When she died unexpectedly in 1942, Elise
Howkins left behind two sons, Dr. John S.
Howkins, Jr. of Savannah and G. Heyward
Howkins of Baltimore. She also left behind an
incredible record of service to both church and
community. The Savannah Morning News observed
at the time: “There were few movements for civic
betterment or worthwhile humane causes that did
not receive a helping hand from Mrs. Howkins and
many of them she organized and led successfully
herself.” Elise Howkins’ zestful example of com
mittment and involvement provides inspiration for
today’s Catholic lay people, especially women, to
give their talents wholeheartedly to church and
community alike.
Rita H. DeLorme is a volunteer
in the Diocesan Archives.
Texas diocese asks for prayers,
donations to help tornado victims
Fort Worth (CNS)
FTihe chancellor of the Fort Worth Diocese has asked Catholics to pray for the
X victims of tornadoes that swept through downtown Fort Worth and nearby
Arlington March 28. Father Robert Wilson also requested the diocese’s 87 parish
es and missions take up a special collection at Masses April 8-9 for relief efforts.
A statement from the diocese said the priest issued the requests in the absence of
Fort Worth Bishop Joseph R Delaney, who was in the Diocese of Juticalpa,
Honduras.
“Ironically,” it said, the bishop was there “with a group of priests and lay people
exploring the mission efforts the diocese is extending to the people of Olancho
province, partially in response to 1998’s devastating storms generated by
Hurricane Mitch.”
Two tornadoes struck Fort Worth the evening of March 28, killing four people,
injuring 100 others and leaving many others homeless. The storms caused an esti
mated $450 million in damage.
One tornado cut a blocks-wide swath as it ripped through the downtown area of
Fort Worth, a city of 480,000. Streets were littered with debris, and battered build
ings, demolished automobiles and downed trees marked the path of the twister.
The roof of one church fell in and the steeple of another was stripped down to
show gnarled steel girders.
The second tornado destroyed more than 100 homes and damaged more than
1,000 others in Arlington and Grand Prairie.
The diocesan statement said the money collected during Masses would be used
by Fort Worth Catholic Charities, along with grants from Catholic Charities USA
and other emergency relief.
At the request of San Antonio Archbishop Patrick Flores, the board of direc
tors of the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Foundation in Corpus Christi has
given a $20,000 grant to the diocesan Catholic Charities office. The archbishop
made the request as a foundation board member.
Karen Spicer, executive director of Catholic Charities in Fort Worth, said the
agency’s main need was not for food or clothing but for cash to help relocate
families.
Editor's Note: Donations to Catholic Charities may be sent directly to the
Diocese of Fort Worth, Finance Department, 800 W. Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, TX
76108. (Designate for Tarrant County Tornado Relief)
Augusta Deanery Lenten Penance Services 2000
Saint Joseph Wednesday, April 10 .....7:30 p.m.
Most Holy Trinity Tuesday, April 11 7:30 p.m.
Saint Michael (Ft. Gordon) Thursday, April 13 7:00 p.m.
Saint Teresa of Avila Monday, April 17 7:30 p.m.
Diocese of Savannah Vocation
Retreats
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session I, June 2-4. This weekend retreat is open to any
single adult man who is searching for God’s will for his life and is open to
the priesthood. (The minimum age is a rising junior in high school.) The
retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon. It will
be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. (Vocatio Dei, Session I is co
sponsored this year by the Diocese of Saint Augustine.)
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session II, June 7-10. This four-day combination sports
camp/retreat is for rising 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys. It is an opportu
nity to learn about different vocations, to grow in holiness and to have a
great time! The camp will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah.
Call to Holiness 2000, July 23-26. This four-day sports camp/retreat is the
same opportunity as Vocatio Dei Session II, except it is for girls. The camp
is for 7th-10th grade girls and will be held at Saint John’s Center in
Savannah. Older girls are also needed as counselors.
For more information about these retreats, contact Father Brett Brannen at
912-743-1454 or e-mail him at Frbrett@savannahpriest.com or
Aaron Killips at Bravesfan@Hotmail.com.
Vocatio Registration Form
Vocatio Dei, Session I _
Name
Vocatio Dei, Session II
Call to Holiness
Age
Grade Parish
Address
City, State, Zip
Tel. ( )
E-mail
Mail to: Vocation Office, 131 Ward Street, Macon, GA 31204.