Belinda Meacham Jones, president of the Col. John Washington Chapter, Colonial Dames 17th Century, secured attorney Drew Benham as the guest speaker for the chapter's Nov. 18 meeting in Benton.
Benham, a Conway native, has been recognized as one of Arkansas' "Best Lawyers" by local publishing groups for employment and labor law as well as trusts and estates, a news release said. Her topic on Nov. 18 was wills, trusts and estate planning.
She attended Hendrix College, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in History in 2006. During this time, she was invited to study abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England. After graduation, she attended the University of Arkansas Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, and graduated sixth in her class with high honors in 2013, the release said.
Benham has primarily worked in the areas of probate, trusts and estates, real estate transactions and general and employment litigation. She is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in all Arkansas state district and circuit courts, Arkansas Court of Appeals, Arkansas Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.
Members traveled from Arkadelphia, Hot Springs Village and Hot Springs for the meeting.
CD17 is an organization of women who are lineal descendants of an ancestor who lived and served prior to 1701 in one of the Original Colonies in the geographical area of the present United States of America. Members are devoted to preserving the memory of those who settled in the United States of America prior to 1701, the release said.
The work of the society is dedicated to the preservation of historic sites and records, promotion of heraldry and coats of arms and support of charitable projects, patriotism and education. "Through these and many other activities, members acknowledge and honor those individuals whose enduring legacy of virtue, courage and patriotism formed this great nation," it said.
For more information about CD17, email Jones at [email protected].