July 2024
TDW hosted Ruby Faye Woolridge during the July meeting. Ruby Faye provided a great message for turning out the vote. Many thanks to her for an inspiring message!
April 2024
TDW hosted Ann Drumm, the North Texas Coordinator of American Promise – an organization committed to the passage of a constitutional amendment to restore reasonable limits on money in our campaigns and elections.
March 2024
One of the many functions of TDW-Ellis County is to provide Voter Registration information to High School students. Here, Mary Brooks is presenting to Waxahachie High School seniors about the importance of voting. Because of the hard work of volunteers with TDW-Ellis County, over 250 high school students have registered to vote so far in 2024.
August 2023
TDW hosts a food drive each year to help a local community organization. Mary Lou Shipley, TDW President and Julie Mendenhall, TDW Outreach Chair made the delivery of boxes of donated food to Helping Hands Food Pantry in Ennis. Thank you to all who donated to this wonderful cause to help those in need.
July 2023
U.S. Congressional Candidate for Texas District 6, John Love III was our guest speaker at our July meeting.
Christmas 2022
The season was filled with caring for others, sharing joy, and being together.
Annual Baby Shower
The Annual Baby Shower benefitting Hope Health was a huge success! Thank you to all who donated and attended.
Spring Tea
Photos from our Spring Tea to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment (two years delayed because of the pandemic)
The Spring Tea Committee – L to R
Emma Wilson, Mary Lou Shipley, Lynda Begnaud, Tina Williams and Rebecca Cockerham
Ellis County African American Hall of Fame
TDW of Ellis County was recognized for its support of the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony for outstanding African Americans in Ellis County.
Texas Democratic Women of Ellis County held a barbecue fundraiser with the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum & Library on Saturday, September 18. Thank you to all who donated and made it a success!
Baby Shower for Hope Clinic
The Baby Shower for Hope Clinic on August 22, 2021 was a huge success. Thank you to all of you who donated! We appreciate your support.
Voter Registration
Voter registration booth at the 2021 Juneteenth Celebration at the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library
TDW Members Helen Brock and Nancy Post having a voter registration table at the Waxahachie Farmer’s Market.
Beto Rally
Jana Lynne Sanchez along with TDW of Ellis County members and others at the Beto Rally on June 9 in Getzendaner Park in Waxahachie.
Thank You Notes
TDW of Ellis County received a thank you note from Hope Clinic for a donation we made to them in February.
TDW of Ellis County received a thank you from North Ellis County Outreach for our latest donation.
North Ellis County Outreach
Thank you to Ellis County Democrats and TDW of Ellis County for your generosity. Our food drive for North Ellis County Outreach was a huge success!
L to R – Lynda Begnaud – TDWEC President; Patricia Paige – TDWEC Outreach Chairperson; Emma Wilson – TDWEC Vice-President; Helen Brock – TDWEC Treasurer; Kelly Blackburn – Ellis County Democratic Chair
Representatives from Ellis County Democrats and TDW of Ellis County deliver food donations to North Ellis County Outreach.
L to R – Emma Wilson, Vice-president of TDWEC; Lynda Begnaud, President of TDWEC; Denise Butler, Executive Director of NECO; Patricia Paige, Outreach Chairperson for TDWEC; Helen Brock, Treasurer of TDWEC; Kelly Blackburn, Ellis County Democratic Chair
Patricia Paige, TDW of Ellis County’s Outreach Chair, gives a monetary donation to Denise Butler, Executive Director of North Ellis County Outreach. TDW of Ellis County has donated over $2,000 this year to NECO.
In Remembrance
One of our members, Blythia Davis, passed away in September of 2020. You will be missed! She was buried in Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, TX.
Baby Shower for Hope Clinic
Texas Democratic Women of Ellis County held their annual baby shower for Hope Clinic. Due to restraints of Covid-19, the shower was a drive-by baby shower. Baby items are donated to Hope Clinic. The Clinic serves health needs of uninsured residents in Ellis County. Expectant mothers are given a bag of necessary items to help care for their newborn babies. Shown in the photo – L to R – Lynda Begnaud, president of TDW of Ellis County and Kevin Crouch, Outreach Coordinator for Hope Clinic.
Lunch at The Reservation at Waxahachie High School
Ten of us enjoyed gumbo and beignets at “The Reservation”, Waxahachie High School’s culinary department restaurant on February 21.
Guest Speaker – Jesse Gibson
Jesse Gibson, our guest speaker, gave a presentation about Pea Island Life-Saving Station.
Food donations to North Ellis County Outreach
Our bimonthly food donation to North Ellis County Outreach. From L to R – Pat Paige (Outreach Committee Chair) and Denise Butler (Executive Director of North Ellis County Outreach)
MLK Jr. Parade 2020
December 2019 TDW Toy Drive for a local charity
Turkey Dinner Donations to the underserved in Ellis County
Texas Democratic Women of Ellis County are spreading cheer this holiday season. Members donated 20 complete, uncooked turkey dinners to needy families throughout Ellis County.
Star Award Recipient – Lucinda Windsor
Lucinda Windsor is the TDW of Ellis County Star Award recipient. She has worked tirelessly for years doing voter registration drives in local high schools. Congratulations to Lucinda and thank you!
October Food Donations to North Ellis County Outreach
Left to Right – Denise Butler (Executive Director of North Ellis County Outreach), Patricia Paige (TDW Outreach Chairperson), and Lynda Begnaud (President of TDW of Ellis County)
October 12, 2019 Fall Fundraiser Luncheon
In attendance were:
guest speaker, Gilberto Hinojosa, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party
Bill Brandon, Senior Advisor to the Texas Democratic Party
Mary Lou Shipley and Chuck Beatty, Waxahachie City Council members
J.R. Phillips, Ellis County Democratic Party Chair
Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge
Jo Ann Jenkins, founder of TDW of Ellis County
and many other faithful Ellis County Democrats
Summer Retreat Attendees
From L to R: Jerome Begnaud, Lynda Begnaud, Rebecca Cockerham, and Doug Cockerham attended the TDW Summer Retreat in Lubbock, TX
Blue Ribbon Lobby Day
Blue Ribbon Lobby Day at the Texas State Capitol on April 2, 2019 which was also Equal Pay Day. Seen above are those in attendance from all TDW chapters. In attendance from TDW Ellis County were Lynda Begnaud and Emma Wilson (left).
Reception for Nancy Cannaday
A reception was held for outgoing Ellis County Democratic Chair, Nancy Cannaday, on February 16 at Ellis County Democratic Headquarters. Nancy was ECD Chair from 2011 to January of 2019.
Jim Schermbeck, Speaker
Jim Schermbeck, director of Downwinders at Risk and a long-time environmental community organizer in DFW, was the speaker for the Texas Democratic Women of Ellis County’s monthly meeting in November 2018. He opened the Dallas office of the National Toxics Campaign in 1989, and then moved to Downwinders in 1994, where he’s remained ever since. Also present, was board member Carolyn Ross. Jim spoke about the dangers of particulate matter in the air that we breathe, and what they are doing at Downwinders to inform the public and change public policy. To learn more go to downwindersatrisk.org.
From left to right –
Kathy KinKaid, Jim Schermbeck, Lynda Begnaud, and Carolyn Ross
Gladys Burns, Speaker
Gladys Burns (center) was the speaker at our September 15, 2018 meeting. She is the Ellis County Volunteer Specialist for Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis County. She spoke to the group about how Meals on Wheels helps disabled and elderly people to remain independent and healthy in their own homes by providing home-delivered meals, daily personal contact, and support for individuals and their families. We learned how to become a volunteer. To learn more about volunteer opportunities go to their website – http://mowjec.org
L to R in photo – Kathy KinKaid, Gladys Burns, and Lynda Begnaud
Baby Shower for Hope Clinic
Texas Democratic Women of Ellis County held a baby shower for Hope Clinic in Waxahachie. Hope Clinic provides care for expectant mothers regardless of income status or ability to pay. Kevin Crouch, the Outreach Coordinator for Hope Clinic, was present to accept the donations. He said donations help to alleviate financial stress for those faced with an unexpected pregnancy, or for mothers who simply can’t afford the added expenses that come with having a baby.
L to R in photo
Kevin Crouch, Kathy KinKaid, and Lynda Begnaud
Women’s Equality Day
A bipartisan group from Ellis County attended the Women’s Equality Day Celebration at Dallas City Hall on Wednesday, August 24 at noon. Women’s Equality Day has been celebrated annually for over 20 years with a program by a local Dallas women’s organization, Women’s Issues Network (WIN). The group celebrated the 94th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote with an event at Dallas City Hall. In attendance from Ellis County from left to right were Shari Adkisson, Kathy KinKaid, Cathy Mitchell, Jo Ann Jenkins, Jan Sanders, Betty Ritchie, Barbara Fudge, Jettie Nonte, Maxine Weatherford, and Ruth Self.
Liberal Lunch in Ennis
Helping Hands
Food Pantry Donation to Helping Hands of Ennis in April, 2018.
