"HerStory"

Welcome to our featured member history page ... we call it "HerStory".

Alma Fennell Ivey
President, 1990-91

Alma Fennell Ivey was born in Long, South Carolina in 1944 and when she was 3 days old her family moved to Wilmington . Alma was one of eight children in a military family and she was told to clean her plate and was not allowed to watch much television. When Alma was in her early 20's she tried to set up one of her friends with Don Fennell at a party, but she ended up with Don instead. After marrying, the Fennells were blessed with three children - Kimberly, Donald, and Jennifer. In 1971 Alma and Don purchased Ramseur's and Oleander Fabrics which they made into Drapery World Interiors. Alma is a very talented seamstress and she has a flare for decorating. When the new development of Landfall opened, Alma began to have a great deal of business. She has been in business for approximately 40 years and plans to continue. Don worked hand in hand with Alma in the business and through “hard work” as her son Donald put it, they succeeded. Being a successful business woman does not tell the complete story of Alma 's talents. She recently planned and decorated for her youngest daughter's wedding, making lovely flower arrangements. She is in the Grace United Methodist Church Bells and in the Grace United Methodist Church Choir. When her children were young, she directed the youth of the church and took them to the mountains on ski trips. She has generously offered her home on several occasions for church socials. When her children were at Hoggard High School taking chorus, Alma chaired successful fruit sales for the music department. She continued to do this for 15 years. She and her present husband Ben visit all visitors to Grace United Methodist Church for the Outreach Committee. She began doing this with her first husband Don who was stricken with brain cancer and died in 2006. Alma has continued the precedent they set with Ben and the church has benefited as this has brought in new members. She is also a wedding director for the church. Alma says that sometime in the 80's she was asked by Mary Lou McEachern to become a member of the Cape Fear Garden Club. Alma thought she was too busy, but Mrs. McEachern signed her up anyway because she thought the club needed Alma 's energy and ideas. Once Alma became a member she immediately became involved in what the Garden Club was doing. She served as recording secretary during Mrs. Flynn's term in office. In 1990-91, Alma was president of the Garden Club. She has been chairperson of the Azalea Garden Club Tour twice. She has presided over flower shows and a big fashion show. She has also been the Garden Council president at which time she saw to it that the brick sign at the Cape Fear River Bridge was completed. Alma has served 13 years as the chairperson of the Hospitality Committee. She has it organized so that it runs like clockwork. There are 70 members on the committee with 7 being hostesses each with10 on their committee. The hostess has to be at the Garden Club meeting early to set up and each of the committee members brings a goodie of their choice. Alma says that this gives people in the Garden Club a chance to meet each other and socialize before the meeting. The Christmas Tea refreshments are the responsibility of the Hospitality Committee. Alma loans her silver to the club and sets up the table on this occasion. She is “in the kitchen” during the whole affair making sure all plates are full and afterwards that all plates and silver are washed. Using her sewing and designing talent, Alma has made close to 250 Azalea Belle dresses which she rents to the Belles during the Azalea Garden Tour each year. This year, Alma has designed and made 5 dresses that have appeared in the Star-News which 5 of the Garden Club members daughters will wear the weekend of this year's festival. Alma seems to be a human whirlwind. She is passionate about everything she does. She works hard and knows how to get things done. She is a very valuable member of the Garden Club. There is no one more dedicated to the projects she chooses to undertake than Alma Fennell Ivey.