HISTORY OF COURT COMPTON #942

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Ninety-nine years ago, when Compton had only 147 Catholic families, twenty-five Catholic women decided to form a Court of the Catholic Daughters as a female counterpart of the Knight of Columbus.

 

On February 15, 1925, the Court was instituted by Court Whittier #519. Mrs. Edith Dutton, a member of Court Whittier, became a charter member of Court Compton #942, and its first Grand Regent. The purpose of the Court was charitable activities. The motto was Unity and Charity. At first the Catholic Daughters had to meet in homes dues to the fear of the K.K.K.

 

It was decided that meetings would be held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The first meeting would be a business meeting. The second would be a social meeting. When there was a fifth Tuesday, a meeting could be held if needed. Each member had to know the Password in order to enter the meeting. On the fifth Sunday the Catholic Daughters would receive Communion in the body at the 8:00 a.m. Mass.  Each member paid $100 to a Mortuary fund. This was to be given to the families on the death of a member; or if the member preferred, she could request it be used for Masses. This mortuary fund was eliminated in the seventies. 'In the meantime, many members still have their money in this fund. It was later called the Mass Fund.  As a new Court the members needed to learn the protocol as this is not only a State Organization but a National Organization.    

          

Committees were formed, following the first order of business which was electing officers. Each month a different group of women would bring and serve refreshments. It was also decided to always have a special Birthday table.  New officers would be nominated in April, and then the election would take place in May. The installation of new officers would be in June. Their new year would begin in September. For the installation, all the officers would wear long white dresses. Robes for officers would be donned at the appropriate time. The whole program had to be memorized, nothing was read.

 

A special meeting of the officers would be held in August. At this meeting all the Committees would be filled. All names were put in a container. As each name was drawn that person would be on the Refreshment Committee. This went on for each month of the year, and then one of them was selected for Chairman and another as a Co-Chairman.  There was always a monthly newsletter giving all the details of future activities. The Fourth of July Mass at St. Vibiana's was a very important duty of all Catholic Daughters. Each officer had to wear the robe of her office.

 

Court Compton #942 wanted to get their daughters and friends involved in the organization; so, the Junior Catholic Daughters was instituted in 1929. Irene Detwiler, a Charter Senior member was asked to be the Chairman of the Junior Court. She in turn asked other members to be counselors. Irene then became the first State Chairman of Juniors when the State Junior Department was organized in 1934. Later about 1950 or 1951 Irene was elected to the National Office of the Junior Catholic Daughter of the Americas. Virginia Karls was made Junior Chairman after Irene's appointment.

 

Court Compton Juniors instituted new Junior Courts in Torrance and Pomona. The Juniors did many charitable acts. They purchased the curtains for the Confessionals, a new Papal flag, and new candles for the side altars. They made and rolled bandages during the war. Each Sunday the Junior Court took turns in the nursery for small children while the parents attended Mass. Their activities were too many to mention in this history. The Junior Court was inactivated in 1966.  Later it was reactivated by Laura Ximines, Glentees Williams, and Mary Laughlin under the Regent Theresa Haynes. It lasted four years and then was inactive again.  Court Compton again wanted to have a Junior Catholic Daughters and on July 1, 2021, Court Mother Lupita 942 was officially instituted.  On June 4, 2022, with California 1st Vice State Regent Maria Santos-Silva, State Education Chairperson Mary Jane Leal, Court Compton 942 members and family, Court Mother Lupita 942 enjoyed their official institution of their court with eleven members.

 

The Senior Court had many money-making affairs to fulfill its Charities. One of the most rewarding charities were Scholarships given to students to further their education. The students had to be needy, but most of all good grades and the desire to go on to High School. The Sisters chose the student and the Catholic High School selected. The Scholarship money was then paid to the school in that student's name. The Senior Court sponsored Poetry, Art, and essay contests each year for student 4th grade through High School. The Senior Court also sponsored Teresita Pines Camp for girls. Three Juniors were sent to camp each year until Juniors were dissolved. Other money makers were bake sales, Fashion Shows, plays, dances, doll booth at St. Francis, monthly card parties, and breakfasts.

 

Secret Sisters was always a fun activity. Our Secret Sisters were always revealed at our social meeting in May. Another fun activity was the come as you are breakfasts. These were held in different homes of the members. The women would be fined if any added clothes were put on. Father Flynn, our Pastor, always attended these breakfasts.  A member would always pick up others members. Good food was always served.

 

Many of our members worked with the C.C.D. Program to further Catholic Religious Education for students who attended public schools. The C.D.A. donated the St. Vibiana window in the new church, also the large statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

 

In May each year there was a State Convention to add or delete any changes to be made. The Grand Regent or an alternate was to represent her respective Court. An amount of money was designated for the Grand Regent's expenses. At one of the meetings the word "Grand" was deleted. Now we are called Regents.

 

Court Compton's patron saint was St. Elizabeth of Hungary. The members of the Court Compton had a retreat each year at the Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Alhambra. 

 

During World War Il the Catholic Daughters took turns at the U.S.O. in Los Angeles. Cookies, sandwiches, and drinks were provided to these service men and women. Many of the members made bandages, worked for the Red Cross, and took part in other activities for the war effort.   After the war many black service men stayed in Southern California. In 1956, the Court voted to encourage black Catholic women to join our Court. We now have many Black and Hispanic women in Court Compton. They have brought great distinction to Court Compton. 

 

Court Compton #942 has had seven District Deputies, Past Regents Kathryn Coy, Theresa Morales, Alice Avery, Joan Braun, Daphne Bernestine, Josephine Bryant and Yvette Manard.  

 

Some years ago, Theresa Neumayer painted a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and donated it to the Court.  Bertha Bennett, another member, donated $20.00 to be used for something special for the Court. The money was used to purchase a case to house the Blessed Virgin.   On December 8, The Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception always had a committee to decorate the altars. 

 

When a member has been in the Catholic Daughter for 50 years, she is issued a Life-Time Membership.  A motion was made in 1956 to give Irene Detwiler a Life Membership, the first in Court Compton #942.  At our Anniversary dinners members received the appropriate pins. In 1995, we were honored to have three members to receive 50-year pins, and Life membership. They were Lucian Bruns, Clarinda Virnig, and Virginia Karls. In 2010, we have added five more members to our Life membership. They are Marion Malley, Helen Ramelot, Mary Vanderslice, Lucian Bruns and Marion Malley.  Currently, we have one Life-Time member - Sandra Koch.  

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The Regents are always invited to join the Past Regents Club.   Court Compton #942 is proud to have one of its members, Daphne Bernestine, a past Regent to become the first African American to represent California as its State Treasurer during the 2007-2009 year. She held the position of 2nd Vice State Regent for the 2009–2011 year, 1st Vice State Regent for the 2011-2013 year.  Because of the death of the State Regent in 2011, Daphne became the first African American to hold the seat as California State Regent.   The California State Board got it's second African American to represent the ladies when our own Regent Jo Bryant became the State Treasurer for the 2019-2021 year.

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This history is a very small part of what Court Compton has done over the years. Each member receives a telephone book with all the member's address and telephone numbers, along with a member roster that also includes addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, and installation dates. Businesses in Compton were asked for donations to print our annual yearbook. Each member had a copy. Each book had the entire year's program, committees, etc. They were very helpful to know dates and activities in advance. Court Compton has continued to issue each member a court roster and telephone book. May Court Compton continue its good works for another "Ninety-Nine" years!!!

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Respectfully submitted,

Virginia Karls, Past Grand Regent and All Members of Court Compton #942

First Update on June 8, 2010, Second Update on June 5, 2016, Third Update

on September 3, 2018, Fourth Update on December 31, 2020, Fifth Update on

October 4, 2021, Sixth Update on August 16, 2022, Seventh Update on

January 16, 2024, by Karen Jones

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our Patron Saint

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