Mary Louise (Lou) Bennett, the only founder who lived to see Kappa grow through 77 years, graduated from Monmouth in 1872 and married Jennie's brother, Rev. Joseph Boyd. Prior to her marriage she had been a debater and teacher. She became a busy pastor's wife, living from coast to coast, and had no children. She and her husband lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for several years, then retired to Penney Farms, Florida. Lou co-founded with Minnie Stewart Kappa's second chapter, Beta at St. Mary's School in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1871, which marked the beginning of Kappa's extension program. Blind almost the last ten years of her life, Lou was widowed in 1932, died in 1947 at age 94, and is buried next to Jennie in Green Cove Springs. At the time of her death, there were 76 chapters in existence, and 39,566 initiated members. Because of her frail health and failing eyesight, she attended only two Fraternity functions later in life, the re-establishment of Alpha Chapter in 1934 and the opening of the Boyd Hearthstone in 1932, which was dedicated to her. Lou is Kappa's first listed member, "Alpha 1," on the permanent roll of membership. The 1934 Fraternity History was dedicated to her, and as the longest surviving founder, she assisted with efforts to reconstruct Alpha Chapter's history.
Mary Louise (Lou) Bennett, the only founder who lived to see Kappa grow through 77 years, graduated from Monmouth in 1872 and married Jennie's brother, Rev. Joseph Boyd. Prior to her marriage she had been a debater and teacher. She became a busy pastor's wife, living from coast to coast, and had no children. She and her husband lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for several years, then retired to Penney Farms, Florida. Lou co-founded with Minnie Stewart Kappa's second chapter, Beta at St. Mary's School in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1871, which marked the beginning of Kappa's extension program. Blind almost the last ten years of her life, Lou was widowed in 1932, died in 1947 at age 94, and is buried next to Jennie in Green Cove Springs. At the time of her death, there were 76 chapters in existence, and 39,566 initiated members. Because of her frail health and failing eyesight, she attended only two Fraternity functions later in life, the re-establishment of Alpha Chapter in 1934 and the opening of the Boyd Hearthstone in 1932, which was dedicated to her. Lou is Kappa's first listed member, "Alpha 1," on the permanent roll of membership. The 1934 Fraternity History was dedicated to her, and as the longest surviving founder, she assisted with efforts to reconstruct Alpha Chapter's history.
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