Molly Stewart Fund
The purpose of the Molly Stewart Fund is to help defray expenses of attending Continental Congress for the TSDAR Outstanding Junior. This is funded through chapter and individual contributions. The state is currently giving $500 to the Outstanding Junior, but the Tennessee Society hopes to increase the financial award to a level that will cover the total travel and lodging expense of the trip to Continental Congress when the Outstanding Junior is able to attend in the year of her award.
The TSDAR Molly Stewart Fund is named to honor Mary Elizabeth “Molly” Stewart, who served the Tennessee Society as a Page for State Conferences during her high school years. A native of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, Molly was the daughter of Chancellor Jeffrey E. and Linda Stewart. Molly’s grandmother, Mrs. L.F. (Beulah) Stewart, was a member of the General James Winchester Chapter of the DAR.
In addition to her Paging activities for the Tennessee Society, Molly was very active in her school, church, sports and civic activities all through her high school career. She was Vice-President of her Freshman and Sophomore classes, President of her Junior class, and Senior Class Student Council Representative at Franklin County High School; a winner of Who’s Who Among American High School Students; the National Young Leaders Conference nominee; nominee for the DAR Citizenship award; Fellowship of Christian Athletes Huddle Leader; a member of the National Honor Society; Captain of her high school soccer team; President of the Interact Club; member of Young Life; member of First United Methodist Church and its Youth Advisory Council and Youth Choir; Alternate to American Legion Girls State; member of the Young Democrats Club; and a volunteer and participant in numerous church, school and sports activities.
Molly was in her final days of high school in the year 2000, looking forward to college at Ole Miss, when she and a friend were both killed in a tragic boating accident. Her parents are pleased that the Tennessee Society has chosen to honor Molly’s memory with the Molly Stewart Fund. They have remarked that she really enjoyed her time serving as a Page at State Conference, and the friendships and acquaintances she made there, and that it is very gratifying to know that her name is being used to provide opportunities for other young women who are part of the Tennessee Society’s activities for DAR.