Prominent Members
While we think every member of the John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, is truly special and "prominent," some have achieved state or national prominence.
Marion Moncure Duncan
25th President General, NSDAR, 1962–1965
As you may have learned from our other pages on this website, we love Marion Moncure Duncan and all she did for Alexandria, Virginia, and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Marion Elizabeth Moncure Duncan was born on December 19, 1913, in Alexandria, Virginia. She was a woman ahead of her time! She worked as a secretary for the president of AT&T in 1941, and for the American Red Cross from 1945 to 1947. She also worked as a court reporter, an accredited insurance broker, and from 1953 until 1976 was a small business owner. She was a founding member of Senior Services of Alexandria, established in 1968 to combat age discrimination in hiring and employment.
She became an organizing member of the John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, in 1932, and served as chapter regent from 1937 to 1940. She served in many state-level offices in the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, including state regent (1950–1953).
In April 1962, she became the first Virginian and the youngest woman to date to preside over the NSDAR. Her administration's theme was "Know-Do-Tell."
Amanda Hayes Rudolph
2024 State Outstanding Junior (OJ)
In DAR we honor our Junior members - women 18-35 years old. We know they are capable of phenomenal leadership and accomplishment. The John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, was founded by young women who knew they had the potential to be the future of DAR and our nation. Until the 1950s, members of our chapter had to be under 35 years old. Amanda is our chapter's third State OJ...and second in 6 years!
Amanda Hays Rudolph is an accomplished attorney, active in the Virginia State Bar and Alexandria Bar, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and several other Alexandria organizations. She was named as one of the Alexandria Chamber’s “40 Under 40” in 2020, Alexandria’s “Best Attorney Runner Up” in 2021, and a “Rising Star” by the D. C. and Alexandria Bar Associations. In addition to her JD degree from the University of Illinois, she has a Masters of Sociology from the George Washington University.
She has served our chapter as chair of our Junior Membership committee, Membership committee, 2nd Vice Regent, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. She has assisted with our Summer Socials, parades and other events. She served the NSDAR in a wide range of duties in both her home state of Illinois, where she was active in CAR, and here in Virginia, where she serves capably as the Virginia State Page Chair. She has also served on several committees at the national level. Her mother was Illinois State Outstanding Junior in 2000.
We are so proud of Amanda!
Brooke Purinton
2018 State Outstanding Junior (OJ) and Finalist for National OJ
In DAR we honor our Junior members - women 18-35 years old. We know they are capable of phenomenal leadership and accomplishment. The John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, was founded by young women who knew they had the potential to be the future of DAR and our nation. Until the 1950s, members of our chapter had to be under 35 years old. Brooke Purinton is the chapter's second Virginia State Outstanding Junior. The first was Helen Sue Crumley in 1965. We are so proud of Brooke!
Brooke served as Chapter Regent from 2013-2016, and oversaw a project to return valuable DAR pins to the chapter, started the chapter's tradition of volunteering at the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon, and worked with the chaplain on a project to ensure every member received a birthday card every year, which received an award during Continental Congress, our national conference.
She has a background in astronomy and physics, graduated with a JD degree from Georgetown University Law School, currently works for the federal government as an attorney.
Senator Linda T. "Toddy" Puller
Virginia House of Delegates 1992-1999; Senate of Virginia 2000-2015
Toddy Puller served Northern Virginia for 23 years in the Virginia legislature.
Toddy was married to Marine Corps Lieutenant Lewis Puller, Jr., son of U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, Sr. Her father was U. S. Army Colonel Robert Todd, who always joked the only non-Army man good enough for his daughter was the son of General Puller!
Delegate Puller suffered a stroke in 1997, which limited her movement, but she continued to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1999, she was elected to the Virginia Senate, serving until her retirement in 2015. For this, she was given the nickname "The Iron Lady of the Senate."
In 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced the new veterans long-term nursing care facility to be built in Vint Hill, Fauquier County, Virginia, would be named for General Puller, Lieutenant Puller and Senator Puller for their service to the commonwealth and nation. The John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, looks forward to many community service projects in support of the Puller Veterans Care Center (VCC) once it is opened in 2025!
Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy B. Jackson
City of Alexandria, City Council - Vice Mayor
Amy B. Jackson was elected to the Alexandria City Council for a second term in November 2021.
As a member of city council, Jackson serves on a variety of local and regional boards: The City Manager’s Quality of Life Committee, City Corps Council, INOVA Alexandria Hospital Task Force, Eisenhower Partnership Board of Directors, Combined Sewer Outfall Project Review Team Workgroup, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee, Potomac Watershed Roundtable, Gang Prevention Community Task Force, and the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission.
In 2019, Councilor Jackson entered a proclamation to the city council commending the John Alexander Chapter, NSDAR, and its decades of service to the city.
Contact Us
Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution
Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution
Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution
Visit the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution website
Become A Member
Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution
Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution
To learn more about becoming a member, please visit the NSDAR website