Berkeley Chapter No. 77 of the Eastern Star Grand Visitation

Berkeley Chapter No. 77, Order of the Eastern Star, held its Grand Visitation on Saturday afternoon, May 12, at Warm Springs Middle School. There were 166 members and guests present to celebrate the homecoming of Worthy Grand Patron, Brother Lewis O. Braithwaite and to welcome Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Bobbie Bonnell.

Special guests included: General Grand Chapter Committee members Midge Crouch and Lester Dempsey; 11 Past Grand Matrons, six Past Grand Patrons, two Past Grand Matrons from other jurisdictions-Jane Grollig, District of Columbia and Joan Morris, Maryland; and one Worthy Grand Patron from other jurisdictions-Phil Beeman, Maryland. There were also eight Grand Representatives, two General Grand Chapter Special Committee Appointments, 11 Instructors and Deputy Instructors, 11 Worthy Matrons, seven Worthy Patrons, 34 Past Matrons, three Past Patrons, 30 members and visitors and 15 chapter officers.

Braithwaite and Bonnell have spent the last year visiting each Chapter in the state and raising money for their special project – Lung Disease and the Rosenbaum Family House (WVU Hospital) – as well as other charities such as Heart, Cancer, Shriners Transportation Fund, Scottish Rite Language Disorder and Knights Templar Eye Foundation.

Berkeley Chapter No. 77 presented them with over $4,000 in donations to benefit their special projects and other charities. During their year of "Blessings and Hope" they also chose to collect non-perishable food items at each Grand Visitation for the local food banks in each area. Berkeley Chapter No. 77 collected over 500 pounds of non-perishable food at its Grand Visitation and donated it to MCEIF.

Sena McBee sang special songs for the Worthy Grand Matron, Bobbie Bonnell and the Worthy Grand Patron, Lewis O.. Braithwaite. The Worthy Grand Matron presented Nancy Largent with her 50-year pin. A dinner was served by the members of the chapter following the meeting.