December 1, 2011

Dear Historic Woodville Friends and Family,

At last, Grace Episcopal has been newly painted, and has an attractive�new sign! Though rarely used now, it remains the center of our Woodville memories. The 1883 Diocesan Convention Journal recorded 24 families as members of Grace - 138 years later paints a sadder picture.

On November 12,� we were� sad to bury� another of our Woodville� family in its churchyard,� Thomas Mizell Urquhart.� He would have relished� his family and friends gathered to� remember � his kind and generous spirit, his�� accomplishments and contributions, and his ever present smile

But,� we also ushered in a new generation of family, providing more incentive to preserve our history.� Louise Griffin Kesler�s son, Jimmy and wife Megan, � added� � Lily James Kesler in January.� In July, � Frances and Rupert Jilcott's � daughter Louisa and husband Danny, added� Madeline Etheredge� Johnson;� and� � Marcia and Charlie Griffin's son, Bennett and wife Helen,� welcomed� son� Grier Sawyers in October.� Welcome, all!

Too much competition for the scarce funds available� stymied HW�s hope� to secure grant money (to convert Grace's Sunday School building into a Woodville family history center) we applied for this year.� Back to the drawing board!

Though it may take a few more years to secure complete funding,� we hope, with your help,� to� implement a few necessary initial steps so it can be accessible to us all immediately, if not perfectly displayed : � moving� � our� many donated gems� - � artifacts, photographs, books, letters, collections, maps, genealogies,� portraits, � now stored in Raleigh -� to the Sunday School Building.� Before we can organize and display our tangible history, though, we need to prepare� it� for these items' safekeeping with� a new door and a security system. � � We will be very appreciative� of any help you might provide* to place these rare and� invaluable reflections of Woodville's past under one roof.� They belong to all of us, and benefit no one remaining in storage.

Future� funding opportunities� could then� complete our mission of a history center� - hvac, ADA compliance, display shelves/cabinets � -� making it visitor worthy and open, by appointment, along with� Grace Episcopal and� St. Frances churches, perhaps some homes.

We wish you much joy� this Christmas season, and in 2012,

Claudia Griffin, Clara Blanchard, and Molly Urquhart �

HISTORIC WOODVILLE
3104 Hillmer Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
Phone: 919.833.4009 E-Mail [email protected]

Visit our website at Historic Woodville

* All donations/grants are tax deductible and 100% funded to our various projects � directors receive no compensation

Please send us your comments and questions.

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