Members of the Ecor Rogue chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) gathered in the festively decorated Nix Center in Fairhope to honor Beverly Smith, the 2023 recipient of the chapter's annual Regent Carol Salsamendi Community Service Award.

Per the release, Smith is widely regarded as a patron of the arts in the Fairhope community, actively involved in the annual Fairhope Film Festival, the Wisteria Garden Club, and several other local events.

"The Fairhope Film Festival, now in its 12th year, swells downtown with hundreds of filmgoers and national filmmakers every November. Beverly and her husband, Prentiss, have welcomed actors, directors, producers, writers and sponsors to their beautiful home on Mobile Bay for three years," the release said. "Their hospitality is now legend, creating an enticement for film artists to return to the Eastern Shore."

Smith also initiated her own event, Celebrations of Tables on Mobile Bay, to fund scholarships for local horticulture students through the Wisteria Garden Club of Fairhope.

"Florists and all kinds of shopkeepers vie for the chance to show off their talents and wares at this tabletop showcase," the release said. "For three years it has been a well-attended and financially successful charity event, thanks to Beverly's organizational and promotion skills."

Additionally, Smith has hosted parties for local food celebrities, including Madonna's macrobiotic chef Mayumi Nishimura, Baldwin County pork purveyor Bill E's Bacon, and authors such as Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Bragg and Sonny Brewer.

According to the release, Smith's events typically benefit local philanthropies such as the Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts.
"Fairhope treasures her big heart, hard work and fine spirit that refine and supplement life in a small town," said committee chair Judy Culbreth. "Beverly says her strong suit and purpose is (to) celebrate people, today we celebrate Beverly."

About the DAR:
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a women's service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War.

While the organization began in 1890, today it comprises over 185,000 members across 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. Members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world and participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.