The Manning Lions’ November speaker was Melana Maxie, Governor of the Society of Mayflower Descendants of South Carolina. Melana is descended from 3 Mayflower passengers that survived that first year and went on to become vital members of Plimoth Colony: Francis Cooke, Elizabeth Fischer Hopkins, and Stephen Hopkins. She shared the Pilgrim story and talked about the first Thanksgiving.
Melana and husband Don Browning, retired to Manning in 2017. She is a graduate of the Purdue University School of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Melana was an Engineering Manager for Lockheed Martin, on the F-35 Program.
She worked in the Weapons Integration Group, where she led the Store Certification program for all three aircraft variants and led studies for partner weapons. Melana is a genealogy hobbyist, and while reviewing a Sons of the American Revolution Application for her great-great-grand uncle, she learned of her own connection to the Mayflower. She applied to the Society of Mayflower Descendants and has been a member for several years. Melana serves as Governor of for the Society of Mayflower Descendants of South Carolina and has had photos published in the Mayflower Quarterly. She also serves at the national level as one of the Assistants to Congress, on the Meetinghouse Committee and the Bylaws Committee.
For more information about the Manning Lions Club, email manningsclions@gmail.com
