November 16, 2022 – Daily Devotional
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16
You may not know the name of Eugenia Duke, but the people of Greenville, South Carolina do, and they recently took time to honor her legacy. Eugenia Duke lived in South Carolina. In 1917, Eugenia and her daughter Martha began selling her homemade sandwiches to the soldiers at the Army camp, Camp Sevier. Eugenia sold her sandwiches throughout World War I to help support her family.
Eugenia sold her now famous sandwiches for 10 cents. The homemade sandwiches consisted of bread, pimento cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise. They were so popular that Eugenia spent most of her time making these sandwiches, just to keep up with the demand. Her mayonnaise was so popular that she eventually began to sell it separately. In fact, you can still find Eugenia’s mayo on store shelves. Duke’s Mayo is one of the most popular mayonnaise brands. Eugenia Duke’s small sandwich business grew throughout the years of the war. She went from earning money for her family to being able to give back to her community in significant ways.
Soon, Eugenia and the people who worked for her were helping the soldiers as they prepared to leave for Europe. She famously helped to make 10,000 sandwiches in one day, all to feed the troops. Although she had become tremendously successful, she wanted to serve her community and offer kindness to her neighbors.
Last week, several people from the Greenville community came together to honor her legacy of kindness. They used Eugenia’s original sandwich recipe to make just over 10,000 sandwiches for local shelters and food banks. It was a fitting way to say thank you to a person who helped lead her community in kindness.
Eugenia Duke was a creative entrepreneur. She knew her success was an opportunity to serve others. Her life became a great example of how to work hard, serve well, and be a blessing to so many. Eugenia’s legacy is a wonderful reminder that we can work hard for our own success while serving others.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
