Ella Brantley Explained

Office:President of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs
Birth Name:Ella Thomas Foreacre
Birth Date:May 24, 1864
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Death Date:January 22, 1948
Death Place:St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.
Occupation:clubwoman; civic leader
Children:3

Ella Thomas Foreacre Brantley (Foreacre; also known as Mrs. A. P. Brantley; 1864–1948) was an American clubwoman and civic leader. She was one of the first members of the Atlanta chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), and she served as President of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs (FWC).[1]

Early life and education

Ella Thomas Foreacre was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 24, 1864. Her parents were Col. Green Jonas (G.J.) Foreacre (died 1884 in Newark, Ohio)[2] and Delia H. (Nichols) Foreacre (died 1917 in Charlotte, North Carolina).[3] Col. Foreacre was one of the upbuilders of railroads in Georgia and a pioneer citizen of Atlanta, who became a resident of the city in 1850. He was a captain in the Confederate army in the seventh Georgia regiment, Company B, which was mustered into service in Atlanta. Mrs. Foreacre was one of the pioneer Reconstruction era leaders in social and church work in Atlanta.[4]

She was educated at Mrs. Ballard's School for Girls, Atlanta. She finished her education at the Mt. Vernon Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

Career

Brantley served as 2nd Vice-President, Georgia FWC, 4 years; 1st Vice-President, Georgia FWC, 4 years; and Chair of club extension of the Georgia FWC. In 1923, she was elected President of the Georgia FWC. During her regime in the federation, she brought in 194 new clubs with an approximate total of 52,000 for state membership. this was the largest number of clubs and the greatest increase shown in club membership during a similar period at any time since the organization of the federation. In 1921, she brought in 100 clubs, a feat which had never before been accomplished in the history of the federation.

Wilson served as president of the Blackshear Woman's Club; trustee of Tallulah Falls School; member, Atlanta Historical Society; and member, History Class of 1894. It was through her father's connection in the civil war that Brantley had an interest in the work of the UDC. She was one of the first members of the Atlanta chapter UDC and her certificate was number 9 in this organization.

Personal life

On October 3, 1888, in Blackshear, Georgia, she married Archibald P. Brantley. They had three children, including daughters Mrs. James Ragan and Mrs. Lawrence Willet. After becoming widowed in 1937, Brantley removed from Blackshear back to Atlanta.

In religion, she was Presbyterian. In politics, she was a Democrat.

Death and legacy

Ella Brantley died in St. Augustine, Florida, on January 22, 1948.[5]

In 1950, a memorial book shelf in the Passie Fenton Ottley Library at Tallulah Falls, Georgia was named in Brantley's honor.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Georgia Department of Archives and History . Georgia Women of 1926 . 1926 . Georgia Department of Archives and History . 10 . 18 November 2024 . en.
  2. News: Colonel G. J. Foreacre Dead (Newark, Ohio, 4 September 1884) . 18 November 2024 . The Atlanta Constitution . . 5 September 1884 . Atlanta, Georgia . 31 . en.
  3. Book: Huxford . Folks . History of Clinch County, Georgia: Revised to Date, Giving the Early History of the County Down to the Present Time (1916): Also Complete Lists of County Officers, Together with Minor Officers and Also Sketches of County Officers' Lives; with Chapters on the Histories of Old Families of Clinch County; Also Other Information as is Historical in Its Nature, Comp. and Ed. by Folks Huxford . 1916 . J.W. Burke Company . 978-0-598-42846-2 . 131 . 18 November 2024 . en.
  4. News: Elected President. Mrs. Brantley President Georgia State F. W. C. . 18 November 2024 . The Atlanta Journal . . 19 October 1923 . Atlanta, Georgia . 25 . en.
  5. News: Mrs. Brantley, Club Woman, Dies at 83 . 18 November 2024 . The Atlanta Constitution . Newspapers.com . 24 January 1948 . 2.
  6. News: Stafford . Bessie S. . National Winner. Federation Receives Award At State Meet . 18 November 2024 . The Atlanta Constitution . Newspapers.com . 13 April 1950 . Atlanta, Georgia . 18.