In June 1987, Jamesene E. “Jamie” Likins joined the General Joseph Eggleston Johnston 2317 Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy® in Bunnell, Florida, on the record of John Helms of Wilmington, North Carolina. She was elected president general of the United Daughters of the Confederacy® in November 2012 and has served the general organization as vice president general (2002-2004 and 2008-2010). Likins has also assumed leadership roles in various committees, including the following: organization of new chapters (2003-2004), new business (2006-2008), president (2008-2010) and vice president (2006-2008) of the general officers’ club, vice president of the great-great-granddaughters club (2010-2012), credentials vice-chair pro-tem (1999), co-chair of the Children of the Confederacy general convention (1998), and general convention page (1992-1996).
On a divisional level, Likins has served as Florida division president (2000-2002), second vice president (1998-2000), and recording secretary (1992-1994 and 1996-1998). In addition, her division participation has including the following: education chairman (1998-2000) and committee member (2010 to present), publicity chair (1990-1994), Southern cross of honor chair (1998-2000), president of the Florida presidents’ advisory council (2010-2012), electronic Florida database committee member (2010-present), history of the Florida division committee member (2010-2012), vice president of the great-great-great-granddaughters club (2009-2012), and division convention page (1987-1992 and 1996-1998). The Florida division awarded her the Winnie Davis Medal in 1995 and the Jefferson Davis Gold Historical Medal in 1997.
Likins is a fifth-generation Floridian and a descendant of Florida pioneer William H. Brooks, who helped settle the state. Her maternal ancestors were also pioneers of Flagler County, where she was reared. Likins majored in English and minored in psychology at the University of Florida. In 1963 she married Roy Weldon Likins, who passed away in 1991. The couple have three daughters and thirteen grandchildren.
Likins has worked as executive secretary for Time Finance and was a photo-journalist with the Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Flagler (FL) Tribune, covering news around Flagler County. She also wrote a society column, called “The Hammock Happenings,” and a cooking column. Likins owned and operated two antique shops, one in Flagler Beach and one in Winter Park, under the name of The Likins Collection, and she traveled extensively throughout Europe searching for items for her business.
Likins has served as state secretary of the Florida Friends of the Library Association and was a founding member of the Flagler Friends of the Library Association. She was the first woman to be elected president of the Flagler County chamber of commerce and served three consecutive terms. She helped to organize the county’s genealogical society and served as its vice president. She has served as chairman of the county’s March of Dimes program and the county fair association and has been an active member of the Flagler County parks and recreation advisory board since its inception in 1982. She also organized and became the first Girl Scout leader in the barrier island community of Hammock, where she resides.
A certified genealogy consultant with the Mormon Church Family History Center in Bunnell, Likins’ love for genealogy knows no boundaries. She delights in spending time with and cooking for her family, reading spy novels, and living each day thankful for her many blessings. |