hat’s off to jinxie

Hats Off To Jinxie

Acelebration of local civic ladies

There was a time when no woman would set foot outside her home without a hat. That time has long since disappeared, but on March 20, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc will revisit it with a tribute to a local woman, Barbara Forbush. The event, called "Hats Off to Jinxie: A Celebration of Local Civic Ladies" will be held at the Freedom Tea Society on Caroline Street.

On that day, models dressed in midcentury vintage attire will sport several examples from Barbara's (or Jinxie's, as she was known throughout her life) extensive hat collection. Jinxie passed away in September 2021 at the age of 91. A lifelong resident of Fredericksburg, she was extensively involved in civic organizations: the Garden Club of Virginia, the Mary Washington Hospital Auxiliary, the Stafford County Historical Society, and of course, HFFI, to name just a few. She also established the Forbush Family Legacy Fund at The Community Foundation after her husband passed away. The fund has supported even more organizations, including the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, the Friends of the Rappahannnock, and several more.

Her hat collection came to the attention of HFFI through one of its members, Mayo Carter, who is the grateful recipient of the collection. Jinxie's daughters wanted their mother's hats to go to a good home, and found the right person in Carter, a history and vintage clothes aficionado. Carter then came up with the idea of a fashion show to honor Jinxie and her involvement in the community. As the name of the event implies, it will not only pay tribute to Jinxie, but other women in Fredericksburg whose contributions deserve to be remembered.

The Freedom Society was chosen for the venue partly because of the role it plays in working to end human trafficking. Though human trafficking affects men and boys as well, the majority of its victims are women and girls. As this event coincides with Women ' s History Month, it seemed an appropriate venue to honor a woman who did so much for her community.

The event itself will harken back to the fashion shows of the past, featuring a threetier mini high tea. There will be two seatings of 30 people each. A slide show and lecture will highlight n o t a b l e Fredericksburg women going back to the 1700s.

bY wendy migdal

And so, through a series of events, these hats from the 1950s and 60s will bring people together on a Sunday in March 2022 and help them connect to the past. Carter has found that artifacts such as these not only provide a way to learn about the past, they also seem to have a unique power to emotionally transport the viewer. She recalls showing her collection . "When the older men saw those cigarette boxes, they all had to touch them. And they could recite the slogan, 'Lucky Strike Goes to War."

But for HFFI and Fredericksburg, a town that honors its history, the past is never very far away. Wendy Migdal is a free lance writer and a HFFI Volunteer

"Hats Off to Jinxie: A Celebration of Local Civic Ladies " HFFI Tribute Event Fashion Show & High Tea March 20 Freedom Tea Society, 1015 Caroline St