The Captain Thomas Carter, Sr. Chapter of the Alabama Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists hosted the Society’s 76th State Assembly in Troy Friday and Saturday.

Mary Alyce Sanders, Chapter Regent and assembly chair, said the members of the Captain Thomas Carter, Sr. Chapter were honored to have the opportunity to host the state assembly.

“The members of the DAC are descendants of a man or woman, who rendered patriotic or civil service to the American colonies prior to July 4, 1776,” Sanders said. “We are a lineage society whose members work to preserve our heritage and record our history for future generations.”

The 2015 Alabama Society DAC opened on Friday night with a candlelight dinner at the Troy Country Club with more than 40 members in attendance.

“The program was presented by Lawrence Bowden, president of the Brundidge Historical Society, which through its folk life events seeks, to preserve the heritage of the rural South,” she said. “It is very encouraging to know that there are those who are continuing to preserve the history of our country and, in ways that are informative and entertaining and provide opportunities for people of the community to share their talents and abilities.”

Special awards were presented to Nathan Southerland and MS4 June S. Hilarides.

Southerland, a student at Wallace Community College in Dothan, received the outstanding history award. Hilarides was the ROTC award winner. She is a student in the Troy University’s School of Nursing.

On Saturday, Alabama Society DAC members attended business meetings during the morning and the Golden Acorn luncheon at noon.

The Rev. Ed Shirley of Brundidge United Methodist Church presented a dramatization of the life of Francis Scott Key, the American lawyer, author and amateur poet who wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

“Rev. Shirley was outstanding at Francis Scott Key,” Sanders said. “He brought out many interesting facts about Francis Scott Key that I had never heard. It was a very interesting presentation.”

Jean S. Lee, co-chair of the assembly said there are eight chapters of the Alabama Society DAC and all chapters were represented at the annual meeting.

The Captain Thomas Carter, Sr. Chapter was organized on Feb. 28, 1982.

“Having the state assembly here in Troy on the anniversary of the date our chapter was organized was very special,” Lee said.

A year after the Captain Thomas Carter, Sr. Chapter DAC was organized, chapter members planted an oak tree on the square in downtown Troy.

William Carter, who came to Pike County in 1824, was the great-great-great grandson of Captain Thomas Carter, Sr. Thomas Carter, Sr. came to Virginia in 1653. He was a planter, merchant, attorney and captain in the militia.

William Carter served in the War of 1812 and is buried in the William Carter Cemetery.

Lee expressed appreciation to the Chapter members who worked on committees that were necessary to the success of the assembly. The decorations were done by Rebecca Southerland, who is a charter member of the organization. Her mother, Nannette Carter, was also a charter member of the organization.

Regent Sanders and Martha Richburg McKee are active charter members.

Lee, Elizabeth Mitchell, Deborah Beck, Debbie Patterson and Sally Jones made up the various committees for the assembly meeting.

Members of the DAC serve their communities through patriotic education, scholarships for Native American students, marking historical sites and service to veterans.