Barbara Painter, seated center, is surrounded by her descendants who are part of the six generations of daughters from the same family with DAR membership in the Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR. From left, Barbara’s great-granddaughter Brenna McDaniel, granddaughters Kristin Ross and Laura Kirk, and daughter Julia Morrison.
When Mabel Burrow Strickland joined the Chief John Ross Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928, the Chattanooga group was only in its fifth year of organization. Little did she realize she had just laid the foundation for a legacy of descendants to honor their ancestor for his patriotic service during the Revolutionary War. Today, nearly 100 years later, six generations of daughters from this family have become members of the same chapter.
All are proven descendants of Patriot George Martin Shofner of North Carolina. Born in Germany, Mr. Shofner embraced his new country’s vision of independence and served as a soldier in the American Revolution. He died in 1838 at Bedford County, Tn.
Ethel May Strickland Lane, Mabel’s daughter, followed in her mother’s footsteps by joining the DAR chapter in 1945. Barbara Lane Painter, Mabel’s granddaughter, became a member in 1957 and has maintained her DAR membership with the Chief John Ross Chapter for more than 66 years.
At the close of the chapter’s centennial year in 2023, DAR applications were accepted for Mabel’s great-granddaughter, Julia Painter Morrison, and great-great-granddaughters Laura Painter Kirk and Kristin Painter Ross
Junior member Brenna Saxon McDaniel, Mabel’s third great-granddaughter, recently became the sixth generation to continue the family’s legacy, joining DAR at the start of the Chief John Ross Chapter’s second century of service.