Taylor Isom, 22, became the fifth generation of her family to join the Order of the Eastern Star Ellettsville Chapter 454 on May 10.
Isom graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in gender studies. She plans to continue her studies in the fall of 2017 in pursuit of a master’s degree in social work, with the long-term goal of becoming a hospice bereavement coordinator.
Internships and volunteer work at AseraCare Hospice in Evansville and IU Health Hospice in Bloomington have helped prepare her to reach this goal.
Isom’s community service includes a Habitat for Humanity home build, helping to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association, and doing mission work in Tennessee with Ellettsville First United Methodist Church.
“She’s just a real nice, bright young woman,” said Mildred Cooley, family friend and Order of the Eastern Star member.
Isom’s great-great-grandmother Allie Harris joined the Ellettsville chapter in its early days with her husband, Ellettsville Farm editor and publisher W.B. Harris.
Her great-grandmother Bernice Hudson Baird served as the chapter’s Grand Martha from 1942 to 1943, Grand Esther from 1946 to 1947, and Worthy Grand Matron for the state of Indiana from 1950 to 1951.
Other family members who served in the fraternal organization include Isom’s mother Bliss Isom Felton, secretary; grandmother Mary Hudson, warder; and aunt Dewie Southern, associate conductress.
“To get someone young that is excited to join was quite, quite good,” said Southern, who has been a member of the organization for nearly 30 years.
The Ellettsville chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was chartered in 1921. It has been involved locally with the Heritage Walk, Santa on Sale Street and Hoosier Hills Food Bank, among others.
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world that allows both men and women as members. Its members must be affiliated with Masons or youths who participated in Job’s Daughters or Rainbow Girls.
Originally published in Ellettsville Journal, 2016. Republished here for archival and portfolio purposes.