OK MAHJ SOCIETY, FOUNDED BY DONELLE GREGSTON AND PAIGE STROUD IN 2026, IS BASED IN MARLOW AND OFFERS BEGINNER LESSONS, SOCIAL PLAY EVENTS, PRIVATE BOOKINGS, LEAGUES AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED EVENTS ACROSS STEPHENS COUNTY. THE WOMEN-OWNED MAHJONG EDUCATION AND EVENTS COMPANY WORKS TO DEVELOP DEEPER CONNECTIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A PLACE FOR WOMEN TO GATHER AND HAVE FUN.
nity, we’ re also helping to strengthen the communities and small businesses around us.”
To take part in the game, Stroud said players don’ t have to worry whether or not they have touched a tile before or already love the game. She said there’ s always a seat at the table.
Since starting Ok Mahj Society, Gregston said the events have gone really well.
“ It’ s really fun, because it’ s very rare that somebody cancels or no shows,” she said.“ It is a true testament of how fun the game is.”
After hosting several games, Gregston said they received a testament of how the game has touched lives from a player.
“ She said,‘ I love what you guys are doing and that this is going to be local history for being the Mahjong ladies that got people out of their homes in a post-COVID world to actually fellowship and be present again,’” she said.
Gregston said Mahjong made its most recent surge during the the COVID-19 pandemic, but the game gained a lot of popularity after it’ s initial start in the 1920s. Gregston said this is why she loves Mahjong.“ It’ s putting people together that might not actually ever meet or hang out together,” she said.“ They’ re connecting over a game and creating