Honoring Alum Elisabeth Seyller
On Saturday, April 29, friends and family members gathered at Camp Apasus to celebrate the life of Girl Scout alum Elisabeth Seyller.
Elisabeth Seyller was a dedicated Girl Scout who spent memorable years as a girl in the program, attending Camp Apasus in 1936 and 1937 when the camp was located at the Norfolk Zoo & Park site. During an interview, she recalled that the cost to attend camp was $1 for two weeks and that girls rode their bikes to camp. The camp was discontinued during World War II and, when reopened, found a new home on a piece of property next to the cemetery located on Granby Street. Elisabeth recalled how the camp site moved over the years as the cemetery grounds expanded.
Elisabeth also gave many years to the movement as a volunteer. Her daughters, Patricia, Joyce, and Robin, were Girl Scouts in the 1950s and 60s, and Elisabeth stepped up help lead their troops. It was a big era for Girl Scouts and a time of change for our state and nation. On February 2, 1959, 17 brave African American students, known as the “Norfolk 17” were admitted to Norfolk Public Schools. Betty Jean Reed was the only African American student in the Granby School District, a trailblazer who epitomized the definition of courage. Within a few years, Elisabeth Seyller would open her Girl Scout troop to African American girls and become the first integrated troop in the area. It happened when a troop in Titustown, a sister troop that did joint program with Elisabeth’s troop, found themselves without a leader. Elisabeth invited the girls to join her troop.
In addition to being a troop leader, Elisabeth also served as a day camp counselor at Camp Apasus from 1961 to 1966. She was responsible for contracting bus service for campers in 1962 and making sure all girls who wanted to attend camp had transportation.
Elisabeth at her desk in the Greater Tidewater Girl Scout Council office in Norfolk in the 1970s
Elisabeth Seyller with her daughter Pat Seyller in 2013
Group at the annual Sertoma Club Luncheon at Camp Apasus in 2013
The Girl Scouts celebrated its 50th birthday in 1962; and in 1963, the organization dramatically reimagined age levels, badges, and more. The Intermediate age level split into Juniors and Cadettes. Intermediate level badges were divided between the two groups, with green borders for Juniors and gold borders for Cadettes. This would be the first program transition Elisabeth navigated, but not the last! Over the years, she helped with program updates and changes and, with her keen organizational skills, kept information flowing. The 1969 National Council Session in Seattle, Washington, established the priorities for the 1970s. These included remaining a uniformed movement, creating a membership that reflected society, increasing membership dues from $1 to $2, updating the Promise and Law, and eliminating prejudice. Elisabeth was well ahead of the national organization and had already opened her troop to be inclusive!
She came to work for GSCCC in 1967, starting in a secretarial capacity and was promoted to office manager when the council opened A Place for Girls in 1986, the regional headquarters and program center. Her amazing editing and proofing skills made her sought after by everyone and every department! She was an avid reader as well. If you wanted to know what was in the morning newspaper, you just had to ask Elisabeth. She was also well-known for her numerous letters to the editor of the Virginian Pilot.
In the 1990s, she once again became involved as a troop parent when she supported daughter Tricia in Girl Scouting. Elisabeth ensured that Tricia had the same wonderful times at camp that she experienced as a girl, and she supported Tricia in earning her Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette may earn.
Elisabeth passed away on February 18, 2023. On April 29, friends and family gathered at Camp Apasus to celebrate her life. It was a day full of tears and laughter as many shared stories and their memories, which included good times spent in Girl Scouts together. View Elisabeth’s obituary at legacy.com.
Former GSCCC employee David Renfro spoke during the memorial service at Camp Apasus
Dugie Denson Shoup whose mom, Connie, volunteered with Elisabeth in Norfolk in the 1960s
“Barges” was one of Elisabeth’s favorite campfire songs. It first appeared in Girl Scout songbooks in the 1930s. We’ve shared the lyrics below, you can also listen on YouTube.
Chorus:
Barges, I would like to go with you,
I would like to sail the ocean blue.
Barges, have you treasures in your hold?
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold?
Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Silently flows the river to the sea,
As the barges go by silently.
Chorus
Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Starboard shining green and port is shining red,
I can see the barges from my bed.
Chorus
Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Anchors start to pull and engines start to roar,
As the barges pull away from shore.
Chorus
Out of my window looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Stars are brightly lighting up the sky,
As the barges seem to skip right by.
Chorus
Out of my window looking in the night
I can see the barges flickering light.
Taking their cargo out into the sea,
How I wish someday they'd take me.
Chorus
How my heart wants to sail away with you,
As you sail across the ocean blue.
But I must stay beside my window clear,
As the barges sail away from here.
Chorus
