Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier honors longtime member
Julia Blewer was honored with the 2014 Sustainer of the Year award from the Junior League of Shreveport- Bossier. This annual award is given to a sustaining member who frequently and consistently uses her gifts, talents and resources to enhance the social and economic conditions of others, serves selflessly and personifies the Junior League mission and vision.
Junior League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
“I was totally shocked to win this award and so honored,” Blewer said. “To be grouped with the former recipients is humbling.”
Blewer, a widow who was married for 46 years, has a son, daughter and several grandchildren.
Growing up, she attended Southern Methodist University, graduated from Centenary College with a degree in education and then taught school at Broadmoor Junior High.
She also received the Wayne Drewry Award from the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Life Member award from the Presbyterian Women.
Blewer has been an active member of the Junior League for 14 years, and a Sustaining member since she turned 40-years-old. “So that adds up to a lot of years,” Blewer said. She’s also served for 34 years helping women beat addiction and find recovery from alcoholism and drug abuse. Serving others is truly her heartbeat.
Blewer has such a heart for all things community and loves watching the result of the effort put worth. “I love the fact that for over 80 years, the Junior League has poured thousands of dollars into the community and started programs that later became their own entities such as Rutherford House and the Molly Webb Speech and Hearing Center,” Blewer said.
“I loved my work with the Revel and the Rummage Sale with the Junior League,” she said. “I was a sustainer when I was a Revel co-chairman and Revel board president. I really enjoyed serving on the league board.”
Blewer’s list of contributions to the community and involvement doesn’t stop there.
She was former chairman of Demoiselle Club Ball, Cotillion, Les Boutiques de Noel. She was also a Brownie leader for her daughter’s troop and a cookie chairman, as well as chairman for the Girl Scout’s Bicentennial Celebration. She also served on the Samaritan Counseling Center Board, the Glen Retirement Center Board, Holiday in Dixie Ambassadors and is on the Board of Oakwood Home for Women.
Blewer also worked on John Hussey’s campaign for mayor and has served First Presbyterian Church in many capacities.
Blewer also was a league volunteer at the Dixie Health Center. “Because my name is Julia Blewer, one of the patients there thought I was Jessie Brewer of ‘General Hospital,’” laughed Blewer. “I simply hated to dispute her.”
Blewer enjoys reading, is an avid football fan and enjoys watching “Downton Abbey.”
When it comes to encouraging other women to get involved in their community, Blewer has great insight. “Just do it,” she said.
“You will not regret it. The pay back you receive is unbelievable – not in regards to things or money, but in regards to that feel-good feeling of having given of yourself with no expectation of return. That’s invaluable.”
–Betsy St. Amant
