A Suffolk woman will lead the 101st annual session of the Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star of Virginia, Prince Hall Affiliation from today through Thursday, July 25. This will be held at the Hampton Holiday Inn Conference Center.

Mrs. Mary F. Keeling is the Grand Worthy Matron and will lead the session with the theme, &uot;Building on Yesteryears’ Sure Foundation.&uot; Grand Worthy Patron Robert G. Davis will assist Keeling. This service will also feature the gospel singing group, New Horizon.

The public is invited to attend the free Youth Program at 6 p.m. Monday. This will be followed by the awards presentation, which is also free to the public. The Grand Chapter will also make its annual award contributions to charitable organizations.

Keeling said that she was born in a religious family whose lifestyle was patterned according to the edicts of the Bible.

&uot;I was fortunate as a child to have had a wonderful experience of being reared by very strong parents, unique and brilliant and to have a grandmother of part black and Indian decent,&uot; said Keeling. &uot;Their wisdom and foresight helped to mold me into the person that I am today.&uot;

Keeling received her elementary education in Nansemond County, attending junior high and high school at the former Nansemond Institute in Suffolk.

On May 28, 1938, the Belleville Chapter No. 148 was organized and Keeling was appointed Charter Esther. From this beginning as an Eastern Star member, she began climbing the ladder of success working along through every door of opportunity presented to her.

Taking another step to further her education, she attended Cortez Peters Business School in Washington, D.C., graduated with top honors and delivered the valedictorian address at graduation June 1944.

In June 1946 she was married to Elder Milton W. Keeling (now deceased), and to this union two sons were born. She was also made a member of Arabia Court No. 23 Daughters of Isis. In 1953 in Portsmouth she was crowned &uot;Miss Fish Bowl Queen&uot; of the Fish Bowl Classic of Arabia Temple No. 12 A.E.A.O.N.O.M.S. In 1966, she was also made Past Illustrious Commandress, Past Most Ancient Grand Matron Heroines of Jericho, P.H.A.; Past Most Royal Grand Commandress of the Most Royal Grand Court Order of Cyrene P.H.A.; Charter member of the Virginia State Council of Assemblies Order of the Golden Circle organized on June 7, 1969 in Petersburg and served as

Grand Secretary for 30 years. She also served as Past State Grand L.L. Ruler and served for 30 years on the Board of the Leukemia Society of America, Virginia Chapter, Hampton.

In 1984, Catherine P. Dixon Grand Worthy Matron of the Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star of Virginia P.H.A., appointed Keeling, Grand Marshal which was the start that she needed to continue to work to reach the highest position in this organization.

In the year 2000 at the Grand Chapter Session held in Richmond, Keeling was elected Grand Worthy Matron for the State of Virginia.

Grand Worthy Matron Keeling has continued to work in the organization successfully with her latest accomplishment of winning the title &uot;Queen&uot; and was crowned the Queen of the Conference of Grand Chapter held in Winston-Salem, N.C. at its 53rd Grand Session. She won the title a second time in Las Vegas Nev.

and was crowned once more as queen.

The business session in Hampton will begin on Tuesday morning July 23 with over

800 members representing statewide chapters attending.

The three-day business session will conclude Thursday with the installation of officers for the upcoming term of office.