Our History

The Visionaires was organized on February 24, 1938 when Gainesville, Florida was indeed a small, but proud hamlet.

Four ladies - Christola Wilkerson Jones, Frederica Cooper Jones, Florence Waldon Smith and Daphne Duval Williams met at the home of Mamie Taylor Cook. These five ladies envisioned a community more conducive to cultural and educational growth particularly for African-Americans. Each lady was asked to bing a friend and their ideas for implementing their vision. This small nucleus of women - Mamie

Taylor Cook, Viola Woods Jackson, Christola Wilkerson Jones, Frederica Cooper Jones, Mozelle Knowles, Irene Lewey, Florence Waldon Smith and Daphne Duval Williams formed the Visionaires.

We have kept our group relatively small in number, but have regularly invited young progressive ladies to join us. Thus, perpetuating the objectives as expressed in our name - to have a vision for the future, and to put that vision into action.

Some of our projects have included:

• Voter registration assistance;

• Charitable drives;

• Financial gifts;

• Scholastic achievement awards;

• Cultural events;

• "Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work";

• Developing Leadership Potential workshops.

The regular meetings of the Visionaires are held on the third Friday of each month from September through June. Meeting changes are left to the discretion of the hostess.

Our colors are blue and gold; our flower is the flower of the season and our song ' is "Auld Lang Syne".