The rosette Spring, April 2015 edition of the TNSOCR newsletter Finally it s spring! Think most folks look forward to spring but I really don t believe any spring, in any year, has been so looked forward to! Many of our chapters were limited in their activities because of the awful weather. TN Treas./Chapter #1 pres. Carolyn Hedgecoth was actually without electric for 8 days straight! I rather like being iced in bad on the paycheck and I destroyed my little truck from lack of adequate anti-freeze but I was warm and safe. Betty Aronson #18, Jackie Dennison #11, and I participated in the Lee-Jackson Birthday Memorials in Lexington, Virginia. It was amazing to see so many hundreds of people honoring our heroes even if the re-constructed yankee govt. there has tried to remove their heroic sons in modern memory. It just will never happen!!! Many chapters participated with their camps in local banquets to honor Lee and Jackson. Lexington, Va.- Jackie #11, Betty #18, Vonda #10 Franklin - Debbie #12, Vonda #10, and Teri (she s Mrs. NBF at the Home) Many members attended the monument dedication on Winstead Hill in Franklin to honor the Alabama troops who fought there during the slaughter called The Battle of Franklin. One of the most well attended of memorials; I think I saw members of 5 of our chapters there to honor the Ala. soldiers. (see Chapter #20 s page for more pix.) Very, very sadly the Ky. State OCR vice president who attended was killed a week later in a motorcycle accident. We offer sympathy to Ky. OCR on the loss of Shanna Litchford. Be prepared - each day we get up we never know if it might be our last. I m looking forward to seeing ya ll April 11 in Greeneville! In humble service to the South, Vonda Dixon, Pres., TNSOCR 1
From the President s Desk Page 1 Index, Prayer Requests, Officers Page 2 Chapter #1 Roses of the Cumberlands Page 3 Chapter #5 Mariam Beck Forrest Page 12 Chapter #6 Jane Simmons Davis Page 6-7 Chapter #10 Aunt Polly Eaton Williams Pages 5 Chapter #11 Wild Mountain Roses Page 9-10 Chapter #13 Dibrell s White Roses Page 4 Chapter #14 Highland Roses Page 13 Chapter #18 Cynthia Holford Officer Page 10 Chapter #19 Alice Thompson Pages 13 Chapter #20 Antoinette Polk Page 7-9 Rosebuds & Young Rebels Page 11 Black Rose Society Page 11 Index Rawdon-Spears SCV Camp P.O. Box 465 Summettown, TN 38483. $20 plus postage To order contact Traci Chapter #19. Prayers Needed Elsa Ridley #14, lost her husband Warren, last week, she is usually at the conventions but will be absent this year. Clara Craft, Pres. #11, please continue to remember her health. Danny (SCV/MC) and Kelly Rentz (FL OCR) - he fell on the ice in Knoxville last month and received a concussion and has been in UTK ever since, his wife is at his side, they need prayer. The family of Shanna Litchford and the Ky. OCR vice president on the tragic loss of Shanna. tnsocr elected officers: Vonda Dixon #10, President Jan Hensley #5, West TN vice president Betty Aronson #18, East TN vice president Pat Butler #14, Secretary Carolyn Hedgecoth #1, Treasurer Currant TNSOCR appointed officers: Debria Beatey #6, Historian Linda Boshers #6, Chaplain Debbie Raymer #1, Aide de Camp Clara Craft #11, Black Rose Keeper of the Rite After 11 years of dedicated service to the TNSOCR as secretary and then treasurer and during one very trying time when officers dropped like flies Carolyn Hedgecoth kept TNSOCR going. While we understand she s surely served above and beyond the call of duty we will certainly miss her as a state officer. She will of course continue on as Chapter.#1 president. Our by-laws allow the position to be filled by appointment of the president. I am very pleased to announce Debria Beatey #6 will be sworn in to this position during the general meeting at state on April 11 th in Greeneville. Also because the job has become enormous we have voted to add a state registrar to our official ranks. Linda Boshers has agreed take on this enormous task and will also be officially installed at Greeneville. 2
Roses of the Cumberlands #1 Sponsored by Sgt. Wm. Hamby Camp #1750, Crossville After the late winter blast of ice storms that hit the Cumberland Plateau very hard, daffodils are blooming, birds are singing, frogs are hollering, and it's time to start that pesky chore of mowing grass. The Highland Brigade Lee-Jackson Banquet at First United Methodist Church in Crossville on January 31st was well attended, the speaker was great, and food was bountiful. Our chapter assisted the host Sgt. William A. Hamby SCV Camp with setting up and decorating tables, food preparation, and greeting attendees. Thanks to all who brought items for the bake sale table to raise money for the TNSOCR legal fund. It is a great compliment that the church custodian commented that cleanup after the event required less effort by him than for any group previously using the facility to his recollection. We provided sandwiches, chips, dessert and drinks for the Hamby Camp meeting and book signing at the Art Circle Public Library on March 14th. Scott Guthrie spoke about the recently published book, Cumberland Countians in the War Between the States, and several copies were sold. Debbie Raymer recently underwent surgery and Frank Holladay continues to deal with health issues. Please keep these two members in thought and prayer. On a personal note, I am stepping down from the position of TNSOCR treasurer. Vonda has appointed Debria Beaty of the Jane Simmons Davis Chapter 6 to fill the vacancy until the next election in 2016 and a new position of registrar has been created to lessen the treasurer's workload. My heartfelt thanks to all who have been supportive of the decision and were complimentary of my past service. Carolyn Hedgecoth, President Pictured below: Carolyn Hedgecoth, Karen Shanks and Ruby Pruett Lee-Jackson Banquet Attendees at Lee-Jackson Banquet Scott Guthrie signs a book as Cmdr. Rob Pearce and Past Cmdr. Matt McClanahan look on 3
Dibrell s white roses #13 Sponsored by General George Gibbs Dibrell Camp #875, Sparta Can't believe another quarter's come and gone. The weather at times has been utterly brutal, and our Chapter has not been as active as planned during these few months. We have so enjoyed our first glimpse of Spring this past week, wrapping us in warm temperatures and delighting us with the beautiful blooms of forsythia, buttercups, redbuds, Bradford pears, and bridal wreath. On Saturday, January 31st, several members of our Chapter attended the Highland Brigade's Annual Lee-Jackson Banquet hosted by the Sgt. William A. Hamby Camp # 1750 in Crossville, Tennessee. This year's annual banquet in honor of General Robert E. Lee and General Stonewall Jackson was extremely well attended, and everyone enjoyed the camaraderie with fellow SCV and OCR chapter members from across the state. Our thanks to the Hamby Camp Guest Speaker Thomas Cartwright gave a most knowledgable and interesting presentation on the Battle of Franklin, making it come alive by noting the many regiments that fought in this battle and sharing letters the soldiers sent home to their families during this time. His special special focus on two of our most admirable Christian gentlemen to represent the South during the Civil War General Robert E. Lee and General Stonewall Jackson turned out to be the highlight of the evening. Our special thanks to Chapter #1 for hosting this superb evening! This April 1st will be our Chapter's one-year anniversary in re-chartering Dibrell's White Roses. We hope to have a small anniversary celebration at our regular meeting the first Tuesday of the month at the White County Library beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Submitted by Nancy Hambrick, president 4
Aunt Polly Eaton Williams #10 Sponsored by Gainesboro Invincibles #1685, Gainesboro Rode up to Lexington with Betty to participate in the Lee-Jackson Day Memorials there. We flagged with the Va. Flaggers on the streets waving the CBF and even walked to the homes of a couple of those PC (politically corrupt) scalawags homes singing Dixie! We visited the grave of Stonewall and memorial, marched in the parade, and attended the service where SCV Heritage speaker Ben Jones (aka Cooter) spoke - in the same church where Stonewall had been a member. I also attended the Battle of Murfreesboro Memorial at Confederate Circle. Betty Mullins #18, Mike Williams #14, and I attended together the Ala. Monument Dedication at Winstead Hill in Franklin. And having arrived early visited the McGavock Confederate Cemetery at Carnton, too. Big surprise was the arrival of the Davis family at the Lee-Jackson Banquet in Crossville. Amy commented that new folks who didn t know them probably thought they were royalty with the excitement their appearance created! The Davis family is charter members of this chapter and have remained members although Mike s joining the USAF caused them to move to Knoxville so we are always overjoyed to see them (Mike is also the past Highland Brigade Comm.) The banquet was hosted by the Sgt. Hamby Camp and the Roses of the Cumberlands. Fantastic. We invited Bob Vick of the Cookeville Camp to be our guest speaker in March doing his informative program on Jack Hinson, the west TN sniper. I recommend giving him a call to do it for your camp. In humble service to the South, Vonda Dixon, chapter president Banquet Vonda, Skylee, Mike, Amy, Lora, Ray, Charles At the grave of Gen. Jackson 5
Jane simmons davis #6 Sponsored by Murfreesboro #33, Murfreesboro Well ladies let s all hope ole man winter is on his way out!! We have all gotten our share this winter some more than others, even here in middle Tennessee where we usually don t see a whole lot and boy have my friends north and east of me surely had enough! Let s all think spring!!! This winter has been a quiet one on the OCR front not many events at all. In January we participated in the Battle of Murfreesboro Memorial Service on January 4, 2015. Linda Boshers and I laid the wreath, many were in attendance from my chapter, it was a very cold and blistery day. We also helped with the Lee-Jackson luncheon on January 17, 2015 followed by a grave side dedication in Rockvale, TN for two brave soldiers, Captain John Childress Jackson and Colonel Davenport Venable. Tony Beatey and Jason and Linda Boshers started by cleaning the cemetery up, cleaning the headstones and placing an iron cross for each soldier weeks before the dedication. Linda and Jason lead the dedication. Barbara Mathel and Marianne Wright did the unveiling. Family were present and it was a very nice dedication. February was a slow month. Some of us gathered at the home of Melanie and James Patterson on February 21, 2015 in celebration of the CSA seal. March 14, 2015 some of us gathered at Logan s Restaurant to celebrate Cleburne s birthday. May God Bless you all and the South! Debria Beatey, President, Jane Simmons Davis Chapter 6 At the Battle of Murfreesboro Memorial, Confederate Circle, Evergreen Cemetery Murfreesboro, TN Marianne Wright, Sam Stovall, Linda Bosher, Vonda Dixon 6
At the Lee-Jackson Luncheon - Debria Beatey, Anita Davenport, Regina Watkins, Sam Stovall, Amy Swicord, Regina Watkins, Marianne Wright, Melanie Patterson, Debria Beatey, Linda Bosher, Barbara Marthal, Brenda Puckett Marianne, Barbara, Linda, and decendants of the soldiers remembered. Honor guard volley. Antoinette Polk #20 Sponsored by Sam R. Watkins Camp #29, Columbia The first quarter of 2015 has made the ladies of Chapter 20 a rather busy group. On January 20th, several attended the Spring Hill Board of Aldermen meeting. This meeting was to vote on the rezoning of a major part of the battlefield. This property joins Rippavilla and Oaklawn. The developers want to build 1800 new homes and some commercial property on this sacred hallowed ground. There is an effort from several historians in the area to stop this. It is an ongoing fight. We will keep everyone posted on developments. Right now, it s just wait and see. SAVE SPRING HILL!!! February kept most of us snowed in. However, our Vice President, Mary Tucker Hood, welcomed grandchild number 7. A little girl named London Parker Lampley. At our Febuary meeting we got out our needles and thread and made our donation to the goodie bags for the State Reunion. Lots of laughs were shared this day. We sure have a good time when we get together!! March has been a whirlwind of activity for us. On March 7 th, we provided the meal for over 60 members of the Mechanized Cavalry. The MechCav Officers call was held at Elm Springs. The gentlemen were very grateful and we made a little money. 7
Mechanized Cavalry at Elm Springs, Jackie Johnson, Michelle List, Anita Safian, Rebecca Sowell and Mary Tucker Hood Later that day, we were honored, pleased and humbled to take part in the marker dedication for the Alabama Division marker at Winstead Hill. Jackie Johnson, our Black Rose, along with Michelle List, and Rebecca Sowell laid the wreath on the marker. The ground was just too soft after all the rain and snow that we had to place the monument in it s permanent place. The ceremony went ahead as planned with one change. The marker was left on the trailer and we placed the wreath there. A very special thank to Travis Roberts, husband of our treasurer, Janet, for making the beautiful magnolia wreath. March 21 st, we began the clean up of the Dooley Cemetery in Columbia. Buried in this small family cemetery is a Revolutionary War veteran, a War of 1812 veteran and, of course, one of our good boys in Gray. The Confederate Veteran is 2 nd Lt. Martin Pemberton Dooley, Co. E, 48 th Tennessee Infantry. This is one of Columbia s oldest cemeteries. The first internment was in 1814 and the last being our Confederate. We, with the assistance of Camp 29, will be working hard on this little place over the next few months. There was more work done later in the week. Jackie and David Johnson, Camp Commander Trey Anderson, and Member Bonnie Anderson hauled off several loads of brush and debris. 8
Before After On March 28 th, we enjoyed the hospitality of Old Spencer Mill for the Blue Gray Ball. The Antoinette Polk Chapter donated a gift basket for the silent auction. The basket contained some of Maury County s best blackberry wine, custome wine glasses, some Civl War era movies, popcorn and lots of other goodies. This is a wonderful fundraiser for the restoration and preservation of St. Paul s Church in Charlotte, Tennessee. This little house of worship is owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 260. They are one of the very few SCV camps that own their own meeting place. This is a worthy cause. Please try to support this camp by attending next year. Wild Mountain Roses #11 Sponsored by Lt. Robert J. Tipton Camp #2083, Elizabethton Winter is finally over (well almost, we about 4 inches of snow here on March 28). The winter has put delays and cancellations on a lot of things, including OCR. I know that we all look forward to the nice spring weather and being able to at least get out of the house. We can start playing again! State convention is upon us and I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. We have 2 new chapters and another one in the making. For the nay sayers, OCR is ALIVE and GROWING in Tennessee. Things have been pretty dead for chapter 11 since the first of the year. Members did attend the annual Lee-Jackson Dinner held at the General Morgan Inn in Greeneville, TN. Also, 3 of our Roses; Ann Shepard, Kay Millsaps, and Sandra Kyte were in attendance on March 16, 2015 for the County Court meeting in Carter County, Elizabethton, when County Mayor Leon 9
Humphrey presented our sponsoring camp, Lt Robert J Tipton # 2083 with a proclamation declaring April as Confederate History Month in Carter County. This is the third year in a row that Mayor Humphrey has done this. He also attends the events that we have in Carter County. Thank you Mayor Humphrey. Looks like we are getting off to a good start. We are now preparing to host the State Convention. So far we have only had 10 members to register and there are 3 more that we positively know of that will be attending. I know that this meeting collides with the 150th Anniversary of the Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, causing attendance to be down. Wherever you ladies are at, be it convention or Appomattox, I know you will enjoy yourselves. Clara Craft, President Cynthia Holford Officer #18 Sponsored by Gen. George Gibbs Dibrell Camp #875, Sparta The CHO #18 Chapter has gotten off to a slow start in 2015, primarily because of the bad weather Tennessee as a whole has had. I started the New Year by attending an SCV meeting and planning session for the Gainesboro Invincibles on New Year's Day evening. The weekend of January 16-18, Vonda and I headed to Lexington, VA to take a stand for Dixieland by helping the VA Flaggers to flag Lexington and Washington & Lee University. The City of Lexington will not fly the Confederate Battle Flag for the Lee-Jackson State Holiday, nor will W&L return the flags to the Lee Chapel. So that chilly winter weekend found us flagging with our friend Susan Hathaway and the VA flaggers, and attending the memorial at Stonewall's grave before marching in the Lee Jackson Day parade through the streets of Lexington all the way to VMI. Being out there with other flaggers brings home to you very quickly that this war isn't over nor will it be any time soon! The end of the month was the Brigade Lee-Jackson Banquet in Crossville, hosted by ROC #1 and the Hamby Camp. The food, company of like-minded compatriots and the program by Thomas Cartwright couldn't be beat. The March meeting of the Dillard Judd Camp hosted a program on Col. Sidney S. Stanton by Martin Frost, which Thorn Larry Gunnells and I attended. We ended the month by traveling to Bridgeport, Alabama for the annual reenactment of the Siege at Bridgeport. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Greenville for Convention! God bless Dixie and God Save the South! Betty Aronson, President 10
THE SOCIETY OF THE Black Rose Spring is here and so is our busy seasons. We will be involved in a lot of re-enactments, dedications, memorials, and possibly some funerals. As always, the Black Roses will make good appearances on behalf of the TNSOCR. Some of us will be traveling good distances to participate in these events and services. As of this date, we have 21 Black Roses in Tennessee, with the 4 new members coming on board since the first of the year. All of these ladies are from the Antoinette Polk Chapter #20. They are Renee Norton, Mick Hendrickson, Jackie Lee Johnson, and Beth Sims. Thank you ladies and welcome to the Society of the Black Rose. Clara Craft, Keeper of the Rite The Tennessee Society wishes to thank Clara Craft for her service the past 2 years as Keeper of the Rite as she steps down from this office due to ongoing health problems. She will remain active with her chapter Wild Mountain Roses #11. Taking over this position will be Jackie Johnson, Antoinette Polk Chapter #20. Jackie Johnson has been active with the Black Roses of the Florida OCR before moving here. Thank you Clara! and Welcome Jackie! (I made the appointment and know she will be a great addition to the staff of the TNSOCR. New apps will be added to the website with Jackie s contact info for all future applications. ~ vd) Rosebuds and Young rebels Cassie Dixon #10, visited the CS Monument at the Cookeville City Cemetery and set a new flag there. Elsewhere in this newsletters are Skylee and Lora Davis, and Anneston Savage at the Highland Brigade Lee-Jackson Banquet in Crossville. The children are the future of our history teach them well. 11
Mariam Beck forrest #5 Sponsored by Jeffrey Forrest Camp #323, Gleason In January our chapter helped host the Lee-Jackson Banquet in Union City along with the Otho Stahl SCV Camp # 176. J. W. Binion is an ordained minister and did an excellent first person impression of Jefferson Davis. Lou and Deb spent the night at the Home for Wilted Roses and then hung out with reenactor friends making plans for 2015. Each year at the beginning of March, we help the Union City camp do a Civil War display at the front of the city library. The display case is so large that we can put a mannequin up with a period dress and other things that would interest women. It runs from March 1 until April 30. It is located right inside the front door and everyone has to pass by it. We have gotten lots of wonderful exposure and very few disgruntled comments. You can't please all the people all the time. Charlotte Gray, Debbie Erickson, Lou Shaw and Maria Braun-Tabor left March 12 to attend the Natchez Ladies Academy. It was a great time for all the ladies. The location is at the Jefferson Military Academy founded in1802. It is so steeped in tradition that Andrew Jackson stopped there after his win at the Battle of New Orleans. It is worth going to the academy to sit under the huge old Magnolia trees. The ladies learned to crotchet rugs and do silk embroidery. On a personal note I would like to ask that you remember Maria Braun-Tabor in your prayers. Her father passed away on March 26. Also, I would like to thank all of you for the cards and prayers for my husband s recent surgery for replacing his left hip. He is doing so great that now I am having trouble making him rest to let it heal. We are all looking forward to a great reenacting season and hope to see you soon! Jan Hensley, chapter president 12
Highland roses #14 Sponsored by Dillard-Judd Camp #1428, Cookeville Some of the members at the Lee-Jackson Banquet in Crossville Alice Thompson #18 Sponsored by Rawdon-Spears Camp # 2113, Summertown Traci s great BD cake!! Traci and Spike at the Elm Springs, SCV International HQ 13