By Kay Pruitt
The Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honors Betsy Crothers Moreland for her many years of service in DAR and her zeal to preserve history to enrich the lives of others. Betsy Ann Crothers was born in Haynesville, Claiborne Parish, on August 19, 1936. Her parents were William W. Crothers and Bessie Mae Baucum Crothers.
Betsy was an active member of first the Dorcheat Chapter and then the Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter when the Bistineau Chapter merged with the Dorcheat Chapter; later she transferred to Claiborne Parish Chapter. While a member of the Dorcheat Chapter, she served as state curator. After transferring to the Claiborne Parish Chapter, she served as state recording secretary (1998-2001) and was one of the Honored Daughters of the Claiborne Parish Chapter. She was regent for Dorcheat Chapter, Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter and Claiborne Parish Chapter as well as an Honorary Chapter Regent, Honorary State Regent and Past National Society of the Daughter of the American Revolution Vice President General 2004-2007. Always active in DAR she was a member of NSDAR Officers Club, and NSDAR Vice Presidents General Club serving as chaplain in 2007. In addition, she was a member of National Chairmans Club, NSDAR Heritage Club, NSDAR State Regents Club, Louisiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution State Officers Club, LSDAR State Regents Club, NSDAR Vice Chairmans Club, LSDAR Cameo Club, NSDAR Chairman of Conservation, (1998-2001), and NSDAR Vice Chairman of Community Service.
Betsy received the Sons of the American Revolution Medal of Appreciation and the Martha Washington medal. She was awarded the “Kemper Key” by President General Dorla Dean Eaton Kemper. She was the President General’s appointee to the KDS Board of Trustees 2007-2010.
During her over 32 years as a member of DAR, she turned her efforts to identifying LSDAR projects from the past; her aim was to keep this valuable part of the history of the society recorded and renewed. In 2002 Betsy was honored with a Presentation Day at Oakley Plantation with LSDAR purchasing an eight-piece place setting of Blue Italian by Spode (this pattern was original to the plantation) to complete the set and honor Betsy who was the state regent. The Louisiana Purchase Bi-Centennial was celebrated in 2003 with a year of activities whose purpose was to educate and inspire Louisiana citizens. A plaque was placed in Galvez Square at the old capitol building in Baton Rouge to honor General Don Bernardo de Galvez and his Revolutionary War patriots. State Regent Betsy Moreland helped dedicate the plaque “A Patriot’s Legacy.” A new United States flag, which had been flown over the nation’s capitol, was presented in 2007 at Fort Jessup along with a 35-foot flagpole and a granite bench engraved with the names of the Moreland Executive Committee. These items were dedicated by Betsy and were accepted by the staff at Fort Jessup.
Betsy’s ancestors were John Cloud, a private from South Carolina, Hans Casper Kuhn of South Carolina who provided patriotic service, Lewis Coon, a soldier from South Carolina, Peter Fuller, a corporal from Massachusetts, and William Young a soldier from South Carolina.