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DeEtte DuPré Nesbitt, a fourth generation Houstonian, and fourteenth generation American, is the daughter of Raymond Benjamin DuPré and Alice L. Cade DuPré Foster. She was married to the late Ernest V. Nesbitt. Mrs. Nesbitt has a son, Charles Scott Massey Nesbitt, and a granddaughter, Miss Luna J. Nesbitt. Her beloved daughter, Alice L. Massey Nesbitt, passed away from complications of a stroke on March 24, 2013.

In the Jamestowne Society Fall 2014 publication, it was announced that their Scholarship/Fellowship Fund will be named, in perpetuity, the "Alice Massey-Nesbitt Fellowship Fund" which will provide fellowships for graduate students doing research for master's and doctoral theses on approved topics relating to the Jamestown Colony.

In February 2015, the Executive Committee of the Jamestowne Society was unanimous in its recommendation that former Governor DeEtte DuPré Nesbitt of Houston, Texas become the only Governor Emeritus/Emeriti of the Jamestowne Society. On May 16, 2015, the Governing Council of the Jamestowne Society accepted the Executive Committee's recommendation and unanimously elected Mrs. Nesbitt the only Emeritus/Emeriti in the Jamestowne Society's history, of nearly a century. This will be a stand-alone title on the Governing Board of the Jamestowne Society, in perpetuity.

Mrs. Nesbitt attended Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston, where she majored in Business Administration, and also was approved as a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS). In 1976, she was one of the founders of an oil field service company in the State of Texas. After thirty-five years of ownership, Mrs. Nesbitt and her son sold their company to a publicly traded corporation. She is currently a partner in a South Texas Oil Exploration Company. Her primary residence is in Houston, Texas.

On May 5, 2017 Mrs. Nesbitt organized the Order of the Monarchs of Rheims. She was elected as Regent Emerita, in perperuity, Order of the Monarchs of Rheims and appointed First Dame in the Order of St. Denis. All Monarchs coroneted at Rheims Cathedral represent the most elegant and greatest kings in the history of Europe, as well as the nation that helped to bring about our American Revolution. It was one of the greatest dynasties in Europe. Please reference the complete listing on the HSC site for further details.

Honorary Memberships

  • Jamestowne Society (unanimously elected Governor Emeriti, February 20, 2015, inaugural recipient)
  • Ancient Heraldic and Chivalric Order of Albion (The very special rank of "Dame" was bestowed upon Mrs. DeEtte DuPré Nesbitt. This special rank was bestowed upon Mrs. Nesbitt on December 25, 2013.)
  • Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America (Mrs. Nesbitt was awarded Honorary Membership in the inaugural HSC Class of 2003; served as an HSC Consultant 2007-2009; and has served as a member of the Advisory Council from 2009-present.)
  • Order of Three Crusades 1096-1192 (Honorary Life Member, 2012 - life)
  • Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America (Honorary Member, 2009 - life)
  • Dames of Colonial Cavaliers 1640-1660 (Governor Emeriti, 2005)
  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Cavaliers (Governor Emeriti, 2008)
  • Order of Dames of Colonial Cavaliers (Founding Board Member)
  • Order of Descendants of Justiciars (Honorary Life Member, 2015 - life)
  • Order of Kings and Queens of the Holy Lands (Honorary Life Member, 2018 - life)
  • Founders Fellowship (Founding Chief of Protocol, 2018)

Memberships

  • Jamestowne Society (past Governor General, 1998-2000; recipient of Resolution of Appreciation, 2000; Lt. Governor General 1997-1998; Auditor General 1995-1997; Councilor 1993-1995; First Texas Company Jamestowne Society (Honorary Governor Emeriti; Honorary Member)
  • Order of Descendants of Colonial Cavaliers (Founding Governor General, 2007-2008; Honorary Governor General Emeriti)
  • Dames of Colonial Cavaliers 1640-1660 (Honorary Past Governor General; served as Governor General 2003-2005; Founding Deputy Governor General, 2000-2003)
  • The Society of the First Families of South Carolina 1670-1700 (Honorary President for Life; National President, 2007-2009; Third Vice President, 2005-2007; Recording Secretary, 2003-2005)
  • Order of First Families of Virginia 1607-1624/25 (Recording Secretary 2005-2015; Councilor 2001-2005)
  • National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia
  • National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Texas (Courtesy Member; Houston Town Committee)
  • Colonial Dames of America (past President of Houston Chapter VIII, 1995-1997; Advisor to Houston Chapter VIII, 1997-1999)
  • Huguenot Society of America
  • Huguenot Society of South Carolina (life member)
  • Daughters of the Cincinnati (life member)
  • National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry (life member)
  • National Gavel Society
  • Order of the First Families of Mississippi 1699-1817 (life member)
  • National Society Sons and Daughters of Antebellum Planters l607-l86l (life member)
  • Society of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy (life member)
  • Daughters of the Republic of Texas (recipient of Appreciation Award; life member of the San Jacinto Chapter)
  • The Pilgrims of the United States of America (life member)
  • The National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons (former Historian, Houston Colony) Recipient of Jefferson Davis Historical Award, Winnie Davis Medal and Special Recognition Award

The Texas Genealogical College named Mrs. Nesbitt a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award on October 21st, 2016. To view, click here.

Mrs. Nesbitt is a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. She is listed in all Marquis Who's Who editions.

The Bexar County Court of Commissioners at San Antonio, Texas conferred the title of Hidalgo (a member of the lower nobility of Spain), upon Mrs. Nesbitt. She is also the National Recipient of the Silver Good Citizenship Medal from the National Society Sons of the American Revolution, the Varina Howell Davis Medal, and the Honor Award for Historic Preservation.

Authorships

  • A Dedication of Confederate Markers: Evergreen Cemetery, February 8, 1992; Privately Published, 1994
  • Memorial to DeAnna DuPre Walker; Huguenot Society of South Carolina; Transaction #98, 1993
  • Hall and Fuller Families; Nacogdoches County Families, 1985

 Television Appearances

Mrs. Nesbitt appeared on NBC television during the 1990's. She was interviewed several times about the restoration of the historic Evergreen Cemetery. To view, click here.

Mrs. Nesbitt appeared in the television pilot, Positively Houston, Houston's positive local news program by the University of Saint Thomas and Christina R. Maxwell, executive producers on PBS. To view, click video one video two or video three. Mrs. Nesbitt continues to support PBS.

For over 35 years, Mrs. Nesbitt has been a member of Harris County Historical Commission, (appointments made by the county judge). Mrs. Nesbitt, along with the Commission, researched Mrs. Nesbitt's great grandfather, James Robert Cade. On February 2, 2016, Mrs. Nesbitt was notified by the State of Texas that Mr. Cade was selected to be honored with an Official Texas State Historical Marker. He was the only individual selected to receive this prestigious honor during 2015-2016. The marker was placed in Glenwood Cemetery - the Victorian Section, in Houston, Texas along with other notables such as Howard Hughes, Jr., awarding film star Gene Tierney, Wild-Cater and celebrity, Glenn McCarthy, Sr. and others. Mr. Cade is considered to be the Howard Hughes of innovation in the design and manufacture of steel-fabricated private and public rail cars in the United States, circa 1885-1912. The dedication ceremony was held on May 6, 2017. For information on the dedication please .click here

A number of Commendations were presented during the ceremony. They include one from the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, the Governor of Texas, the Texas State Senate, the Texas State House, and the Mayor of Houston. As part of the dedication ceremony, Mrs. Nesbitt was presented a Certificate of Commendation for her work in historic preservation, in recognition of James Robert Cade, by the United States Senate.

Other Notes

Mrs. Nesbitt was elected to life membership in The Pilgrims of the United States (in alliance with The Pilgrims of Great Britain.)

For decades Mrs. Nesbitt has been a supporter of Houston's Theatre Under the Stars and she is recognized for her efforts in the VIP category.

Mrs. Nesbitt served on the Southern Heritage and Debutante Ball for 35 years, as Chairman, and later as the Advisor for three Chairmen.

She was elected the National Recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal in the category of Individual Achievement which was awarded by the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She was appointed a Kentucky Colonel for life for her historic preservation in that State. Additionally, she served as Director for the Dad's Club for over a decade. Also, she served as a member of Larry Casey's Highwater Rescue Team during Hurricane Harvey.

Mrs. Nesbitt has been a 30+ year member of the Petroleum Club of Houston. She is a member of the Junior League of Houston, and a family member of the West Side Tennis Club of Houston. Following in the footsteps of her Anglican forebears, she is a devout and lifelong Episcopalian.

 

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