DEMOREST, Ga. — This year, the Grand Marshal of Demorest’s Glorious Fourth of July Parade honors an organization that has spent more than 90 years serving the community.
The Demorest Woman’s Club was officially announced as the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade during Monday night’s Demorest City Council meeting.
Before the meeting began, councilman Shawn Allen arranged framed photographs of many of the club’s past presidents in front of the council dais, creating a visual tribute to generations of women who helped shape the organization and the community it served.
The display served as a reminder of the club’s long history in Demorest, dating back to its founding in November 1934.
Allen, who nominated the organization for the honor, said the recognition is well deserved.
“The Demorest Woman’s Club has been a cornerstone of our community for over 9 decades, quietly making a difference through countless acts of service,” Allen said. “I nominated them as Grand Marshal for our Glorious Fourth of July on our nation’s 250th anniversary because this is a well-deserved recognition of their lasting impact on Demorest and their commitment to making our city and community a better place for all.”
The club was organized during the Great Depression and quickly became affiliated with the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs and the national General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Membership grew rapidly, and over the decades members led community improvement projects, educational programs, cultural events and preservation efforts.
Among the club’s most visible accomplishments was the preservation of the former Demorest Methodist Church building on Central Avenue. After purchasing the structure in 1955, members spent months renovating it and transforming it into the organization’s permanent home. Their efforts helped preserve one of Demorest’s most recognizable historic landmarks, which was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
In September 2025, with membership dwindling to just six women, the organization donated the historic building to Piedmont University to ensure its continued preservation and use by the community.
While membership has declined over the years, the club’s impact remains visible throughout Demorest.
This year’s Grand Marshal designation recognizes not only the women who founded the club in 1934, but also the generations of members who followed and dedicated themselves to improving life in the city.
Members of the Demorest Woman’s Club are expected to participate in the Glorious Fourth of July Parade as part of the celebration.
The parade is one of Northeast Georgia’s longest-running Independence Day traditions and will take on special significance this year as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence.
