Drusilla is a captivating female name of Italian origin, meaning "Mighty" and "Strong." Its roots can be traced back to the Latin cognomen Drusus, derived from the Greek word for "dew." The addition of the diminutive "illa" transforms the name into its feminine form. Notable ancient Roman women, including empress Livia Drusilla and princesses Julia Drusilla the Elder and Julia Drusilla the Younger, were associated with this name. It was also adopted in the English-speaking world in the 17th century. While not widely popular in the United States, it has been embraced by individuals such as Australian writer Drusilla Modjeska and British actress Drusilla Wills. Additionally, the name has made appearances in various fictional works, such as in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. Whether in history or fiction, Drusilla exudes a sense of strength and might, making it an empowering choice for a female name.
Drusilla Dunjee Houston (1876-1941) was a multifaceted American writer, historian, educator, journalist, musician, and screenwriter from West Virginia. Born in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Rev. John and Lydia Ann Dunjee. After settling in Oklahoma, Houston founded McAlester Seminary for Girls and later served as principal of the Oklahoma Baptist College for Girls in Sapulpa. She also established the Oklahoma Vocational Institute of Fine Arts and Crafts and served as the religious director of the Oklahoma Home for Delinquent Boys. Houston was an independent historian and published the influential multi-volume work "Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire" in 1926, aiming to document the complex, ancient history and civilizations of Africans. She was a co-founder of Oklahoma chapters of the YWCA, the Red Cross, and the NAACP, and a prominent leader of the Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. Houston passed away in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1941. Her legacy lives on through the Drusilla Dunjee Houston Memorial Scholarship Award, established by the Black Classic Press of Baltimore to support emerging female scholars of African descent conducting research in Africana Women’s history. Her selected works include "Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire" and "Spirit of the South, The Maddened Mob".
Drusilla Elizabeth Tandy Nixon (July 15, 1899 – May 10, 1990) was a renowned community activist and music educator in El Paso, Texas. Born in Toledo, Ohio, she graduated from Waite High School and later attended the University of Toledo. Her career saw her work as a shipping clerk, serve in various positions at Tuskegee Institute, and organize the Black Girl Reserves at the YWCA in El Paso. Nixon was a dedicated member of the Phillis Wheatley Club for forty years and a charter member of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare (SCHW) in El Paso. She was heavily involved in various community organizations, serving on the board for the El Paso YWCA and contributing to the passage of the El Paso anti-discrimination ordinance in 1962. Nixon was married three times and had a passion for teaching music to children, with one of her notable students being congresswoman Barbara Lee. She passed away in 1990 at the age of 90 and was posthumously named an honorary member of the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame. Her impactful contributions have left a lasting legacy in the community.
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