The Rosette Newsletter of the Tenn. Society Order of Confederate Rose ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winter Edition January 2016 Dear Members and Friends, I m sure your holidays have been as busy as mine and I am real glad of a short spell between the Christmas parades and parties and New Year s to regroup my thoughts and get this out! Definitely been many activities that I hope more of you will be able to participate in next year. The first Southern Heritage Day at Elm Springs was so much fun! Jan Hensley, her grandson Riley, and I set up our living quarters tents and info/sales fly with help from SCV Kevin Witherell, in the rain! But wet or dry a weekend at Elm Springs with compatriots is fantastic! And to top it off the Roses of Antoinette Polk #20 fed all the reenactors and participants the most delicious soup and cornbread supper Saturday night complete with desserts and then followed by a dance with music by Un-Reconstructed. Wow if you know me you know I was in heaven! Sunday church service was preached by Tom Meadows, a fine a preacher, SCV camp commander, artilleryman, and OCR Thorn too! And music again by Un-Reconstructed. Beautiful service. And then the same OCR chapter provided an afternoon Tea that was just delightful with all the trimmings. Thank you Antionette Polk for all the hard work you are a great bunch of dedicated hard-working ladies! Next year s date is set for Veteran s Day weekend in Nov. so mark your calendars now and come out and fellowship with us! Allan Corry and Time Capsule Ministries invites us all to timely period church services at King s Chapel in Triune. These wonderful services are both inspirational and historical, I ve learned so much from them as well as being inspired. Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful. I was honored to be invited to several Christmas parties and parades and I do attend as many as I possibly can. I love being with my Southern sisters and brothers! I encourage everyone to continue their good works, honoring their ancestors, loving the South, our heritage, and one another. And now on to all the Lee-Jackson celebrations! God Bless Dixie, Vonda Dixon, TNSOCR President
Tennessee Society OCR Officers Elected for the 2014-2016 term: President Vonda Dixon, Chapter #10 West Tenn. Vice President Jan Hensley #5 East Tenn. Vice President Betty Aronson #18 Treasurer Debria Beatey #6 Secretary Pat Butler #14 Tennessee Society Appointed Positions: Registrar and Chaplain Linda Boshers #6 Black Rose Keeper of the Rite Jackie Johnson #20 Aide de Camp Debbie Raymer #1 Historian position open Webmaster Jeff Craft #11 www.tnsocr.net THIS IS ELECTION YEAR!!!! THOSE EXPRESSING A DESIRE TO RUN FOR A STATE OFFICE or AGREEING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO A CURRENT POSITION ARE AS FOLLOWS AND WILL NEED TO BE NOMINATED and VOTED ON AT THE STATE MEETING IN KNOXVILLE IN APRIL. PLEASE LET YOUR INTENTIONS KNOWN IF THERE IS ANYONE ONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO RUN or NOMINATE ANYONE FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS. The current ladies wishing to fill the state elected offices are: President, Vonda Dixon, to retain position West TN Vice President, to retain position East TN Vice President, Clara Craft to replace Betty Aronson stepping down Treasurer, Debria Beatey, to retain position Secretary, Betty Aronson to replace Pat Butler stepping down Members these are the only Roses who have come forward so far offering their services as nominations for elected officers of the executive committee as of now. All officers are elected for a two-year term. April 2016-April 2018 in this case. Every adult (age 16 up) member, Rose or Thorn, can vote and be heard. None of the appointed members have expressed a desire to leave their positions. Historian-anyone? Everyone has done outstanding jobs and worked so well together way beyond what any organization can ask for in cooperation and you have no idea how grateful I am. 2
Pages in this issue: 1. From the President s Desk 2. Officers ~ IMPORTANT ELECTION INFO 3. Index ~ Prayer List 4. Jane Simmons Davis #6 5. Alice Thompson #19 6. Rosebuds and Young Rebels 7. Roses of the Cumberlands #1 8. Aunt Polly Eaton Williams Chapter #10 9. Black Rose Society 10. Mariam Beck Forrest #5 11. Wild Mountain Roses #11 12. Antoinette Polk #20 13. Dibrell s White Roses #13 14. Cynthia Holford Officer #18 14-15. Highland Roses #14 *Mary Ann Bell #21 *nothing submitted We have much to be thankful for and many things to keep in prayer. Always thank God for the great gift of Dixieland! Please remember chapter presidents Clara Craft and Nancy Hambrick as well as Thorn Tony Beatey as they face surgeries this month. 3
Jane Simmons Davis Chapter #6, Murfreesboro, Tennessee Sponsored by Murfreesboro SCV Camp #33 Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and may you be blessed in the New Year. I hate to say my chapter has not been very busy in the last three months of 2015. But what we did do I did my best to make it count. My October (pretty much the whole year) was consumed with my daughter s wedding. But if I do say so myself it went off without a hitch and was beautiful! We held our annual graveside memorial service in honor of Sam Davis at the Sam Davis home in November. We had a very nice turnout with OCR / SCV coming from several counties, thanks to you all your attendance means so much! We walk two Christmas parades handing out almost 1000 confederate flags, spreading joy and our heritage. My chapter gained a new member I would like you all to welcome Brandi Frye. I hope to see you all soon!! May God Bless you all and the South! Debria Beatey, President, Jane Simmons Davis Chapter 6 Sam & Ted Stovall Barbara Marthal & Bill Harris The Crew Sam Stovall, Brandi Frye, Vonda Dixon, Melanie Patterson, Emily Puckett, Barbara Marthal, Linda Boshers And my baby girl!
Alice Thompson Chapter #19 Happy Winter everyone! Hope your holidays were filled with lots of love and happiness! It has been kind of quiet in our chapter for the last few months except for the Christmas parade we did at the beginning of December. We had a great time setting up the float and during the parade. Lots of cheers as our beloved flags passed by the crowds. As we go into the new year...we will be setting up our calendar for the next few months so please keep us posted on any upcoming events. May God bless each and everyone of you during 2016. Traci Spears, President 5
Rosebuds and Young Rebels are the Future of the Past Teach Them Well Anna, Cassie, Riley lead tours and Cassie helped cook in camp and then a strange young soldier claiming to be Robert as in E. Lee) but looking a lot like Anna were at the Mt. Juliet reenactment. Riley even joined a reenacting unit when at Elm Springs (somebody s gotta galvanize) Olivia in Mt. Juliet Violet, Cassie at the Christmas service in Triune. Riley at NBF State Park Mrs. Susan and Cassie in the Dodson Branch Parade, Abby in Gainesboro Christmas Parade 6
Roses of the Cumberlands #1, Crossville, TN As the old year goes out and a new one comes in, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016 in that order. If happy, one is likely to be healthier, and prosperity, aside from one's basic needs being met, doesn't bring happiness. Charles Ervin and I, Hamby Camp members Gregg Davis and Rob Pearce and wife Ronda, participated in the Standing Stone Day Parade in Monterey on October 10. Attendance was low due to unfavorable weather conditions. Thanks to the Champ Ferguson Camp for inviting us to join them for this annual event. Jerry and I transported storyteller Stephen Hollen (aka Mark Twain) and wife Linda to the Dillard-Judd Camp meeting on October 19 where Mr. Twain gave an entertaining presentation. Charles Ervin attended as well. In cooperation with the Hamby Camp, several members participated in the Crossville Christmas Parade on December 12 where we were cheered by bystanders and witnessed not a single negative comment or gesture. Many thanks to the out-of-towners who participated, some of whom drove quite a distance. 'Twas a great evening of good food and fellowship for the Hamby Camp Christmas Banquet at the Cumberland Mountain State Park Restaurant on December 17 a total of 36 attended (by my count). Again, several traveled from out of town to enjoy the evening with like-minded Southerners. Hamby Camp Adjutant James Lovelace provided great photography service. In addition to Fred Wilson's induction into the SCV, Vonda and I presented OCR membership certificates to David and Genie Jones. Congratulations to Charles Ervin on his election as commander of the Hamby Camp. Charles is very dedicated to the Cause and will serve the camp with excellence. Submitted by: Carolyn Hedgecoth, President Pictured below: 1) Standing Stone Day Parade, 2) OCR members with Mark Twain, 3) Crossville Christmas Parade participants, 4) attendees at Hamby Camp Christmas Banquet.
Aunt Polly Eaton Williams #10 Gainesboro We ve had a lot of fun this past quarter! Since we only have official meetings and provide a meal and speaker for our camp and chapter in the even months in October out speaker was Terry Twigg from Carthage doing a very interesting program on General Mosby that we all enjoyed & learned from. I went with the Gallatin s Gen. Bate SCV Camp in their cemetery ghost walk. And marched with the Lebanon Camp in the Veteran s Day Parade. Of course we enjoyed throwing candy and wishing our neighbors a Merry Christmas in the Gainesboro and Dodson Branch Christmas parades. Marcia served refreshments and Tom of course was photographer in Dodson Branch. Folks I never heard one disparaging remark at any of the parades we were in. The public still loves us and even if they won t stand up they cheer us on. December was our Christmas party with dinner at Helen s Restaurant. Susan and I enjoyed the hospitality of the Christmas parties in Sparta and Crossville as well! As I have for many years begun the season at Elm Springs doing tours during the Christmas Parade of Homes the opening day. I also worked a school day in Granville and at Forks River School and another in the field at Mt. Juliet and NBF State Park as well as a public day following the school day. I had a big surprise at the Battle of Wildcat Mike Davis was reenacting there with some of the locals for the weekend! If you don t know Mike and his family they are charter members of this chapter, who we lost to the USAF a couple years ago, but they retain their SCV and OCR memberships here. He was previously Highland Brigade commander. In humble service to the South, Vonda Dixon, president 1) Christmas dinner at Helen s Restaurant 2) Cassie and Tom Glynn at Dodson Branch 3) Vonda and Mike Davis at Camp Wildcat 4) Elm Springs Tea with hosting chapter #20. 8
Society of the Black Rose How to get started as a Black Rose Have you thought about becoming a Black Rose but didn t know where to start? 1. Pick a persona: The best way to start is to be a working class widow. This person would dye her best dress for a funeral or wear a black blouse and skirt. This was seen in the picture The Burial of Latan where the widow has on a black Garibaldi blouse and skirt in black. The other women and children are dressed in their best clothes. If you start out this way, you can decide on the updated dress you want. It could be a completely new upper class with trim or by adding a simple jacket. The best place to start might be to choose a fabric like cotton or a fabric that does not say I am polyester. Crepe is the fabric of choice and always appropriate, but if you need a light fabric, Georgette is good (Joann Fabrics may have Casa crepe and georgette and they are very nice fabrics). 2. Proper attire: a. Bonnets are considered formal wear. Do not wear attitude hats. There are small bonnets that may be worn just think, would a widow wear this hat? b. Veils can be very thin with the face visible and may have designs as dots, can be lace, or a veil of tears which is not seen through but you can see out. A must is to finish the edges of your veil. All veils would be finished on the edges as most of the 1860 s veils were manufactured with an edging of silk or ribbon. Some veils had velvet edging or lace. The size varied from just enough to cover the face to almost to the hem of the skirt. A good size is 40x60 inches with the front edge at breast level. Use a hat pin to keep it on. c. Gloves of many types can be used: cotton, kid or lace. Gloves with full fingers are appropriate, but some older ladies still wore their mitts. If you are going to be reading and need to turn pages, mitts will make the task easier. d. Hoops do not have to be special, but they would have put a trim of black cotton or lace at the bottom of their hoop. If you need your hoop for thin dresses, then you may not want to do this as it will show through. Adding a black trim to your hoop will prevent seeing white at the bottom of your widow s dress. There were hoops of color (see Charleston Museum display for a red one), but they were generally white for washing. If you are going to portray a widow often, you might consider buying a black hoop. e. Jewelry would be simple like a brooch. Do not wear all your metals and pins if you are a widow. Gold with jet is most common. 3. Actions can speak louder than words. Remember you are a lady. Do not smoke in the memorial area. When you curtsey, do not bend over or you will show more than you will care to share. Bend at the knees or, if you need help to place something, get a gentleman or soldier to assist. This should give you a bit of a start. Please start thinking about the Black Roses you know. One Black Rose will be awarded the Black Rose of the Year for Tennessee next spring at the State Convention. I need your recommendations and nominations no later than February 15th. This is the first year for this so I will be reading the nominations and passing them to someone outside of our state for their recommendations. Any criteria that you feel are especially important need to be sent to me in a private message on Facebook or in an email. 9
Mariam Beck Forrest #5 September was a busy month for our ladies. Debbie Erickson and Lou Shaw attended the Laidland reenactment on Sept. 10-12 and the Buchanan Log Home reenactment on Sept. 19-20. Maria Braun-Tabor, Jan Hensley and Charlotte and Jerry Gray camped out on Friday night prior to the Trimble Flag dedication on Saturday Sept. 26. Elm Springs hosted their first Southern Heritage Festival from Oct 9-11. They plan on this being an annual event. Vonda Dixon, Riley Hensley and Jan Hensley attended & set up an OCR recruitment booth. It rained so hard the first night and also turned cold. Sunday morning turned into a beautiful warm day & I took this picture of our glorious flag & cannons in the fog. A period correct photograph was taken of the house and all the reenactors. The ladies of Antoinette Polk Chapter #20 hosted the tea & it was totally awesome. If you have ever hosted a tea before, you will recognize all the hard work that those ladies put forth to make this event exceptional. They have definitely raised the bar for all of us. Oct. 23-25, the OCR was well represented at the Mt. Juliet Homecoming with Vonda & her granddaughters, Cassie & Anna, Lou, Debbie & Riley & Jan. NEWS FLASH Vonda, our illustrious President was captured by the Yanks but not without a life or death struggle with her brandishing a sword! Again the OC R had a large group of us at Nathan Bedford State Park in New Johnsonville on Nov. 5-7 with Vonda, Charlotte & Jerry, Lou, Debbie, Riley & Jan. Dec. 11, our chapter had a Christmas party attended by John & Kasey Blankenship, Maria & her family, Lou, Debbie, Jerry & Charlotte, Riley & Jan. We played dirty Santa & John & Kasey were presented their OCR memberships. Also, Debbie, Lou, and Maria were presented their life memberships. Jan Hensley, President 10
- Wild Mountain Roses #11 The holidays are over and another year is upon us. The unseasonably warm weather we have been having up here in the mountains is unbelievable. It was about 75 on Christmas Day. No heat on until today and the temperature is not supposed to get above 40 for the next several days. Maybe winter is finally coming to these mountains. We have been having some good things going on with Chapter 11. We hosted a great Christmas party on December 11 for the Lt Robert J Tipton Camp 2083 with about 40 people in attendance. There was plenty of good food and we were blessed with the presence of III Generation, a great Bluegrass Gospel band, of which our camp chaplain, Randy Carrier is a member. One of the songs they sang was about a Confederate soldier dying in a Northern prison. I almost cried when they sang this one. Our brigade Lee-Jackson dinner will be held at the General Morgan Inn in Greeneville, Tennessee on January 22 ( I think). Tickets are $30.00 per person and a great program is planned along with a great meal. As most of you already know, I will be running for the position of East Tennessee Vice President in the spring. I have held this position before and Betty Aronson stepped into it when I was not able to do so. Thank God for Betty. Since I live in this end of the state, I feel that it would be easier for me to handle things up here than for Betty to have to travel so far. Happy New Year to one and all! Clara Craft President Chapter 11 Jackie Dennison at the Battle of Blountville that s double duty, mourning and Ladies Tea 11
Antoinette Polk Chapter #20 On October 10th & 11th, the Antoinette Polk Chapter #20 assisted with the first Southern Heritage Festival sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans at Elm Springs in Columbia, TN. Members Dottie Meadows, Janet Roberts, and Anita Safian, prepared a delicious stew dinner for those working the event on Saturday. A Victorian Tea was held on Sunday afternoon, also sponsored by the chapter and headed up by Michelle Hendrickson. On December 6th members Tom Meadows, Merilyn Grissom, and myself worked the Maury County home tours. On December 7th Michelle Hendrickson, Kortney Brus, Dottie Meadows, and Tom Meadows participated in the Columbia Chistmas Parade. This was on Maury Light Artillery's float. On Saturday, December 12th, the chapter participated in the Sam Watkins Brigade, SCV first annual Christmas Party at Elm Springs. We enjoyed a great Southern meal and listened to Anthony Staggs talk on the Forrest- Gould Affair that took place in Columbia during 1863. Members present were Bonnie Anderson, Kortney Brus, Michelle Hendrickson, Mary Hood, Dottie Meadows, and Beth Sims. The Antoinette Polk Chapter #20 wishes all of the Confederate Rose sisters a very happy New Year. Mary Hood, President 12
Dibrell s White Roses #13 The highlight of our last quarter for 2015 was our Chapter's Annual Christmas Celebration held Tuesday, December 1st with our SCV Camp 875, General George Gibbs Dibrell. We had a wonderful gathering and were blessed by several members from neighboring SCV camps and OCR chapters. Brian Hartley, with the Dillard-Judd Camp 1828 in Cookeville, gave an awesome presentation on Major General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, and we extend our thanks to him for making our annual Christmas celebration even more special. We asked that Brian also bring a few of his famous, handcrafted Nutcrackers, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing these beautifully crafted items. As we end this year, we are very thankful for the many blessings we have received throughout 2015 and look forward to 2016 with ample hope and appreciation for the educational and historical opportunities we share, as well as the fully abundant and honorable heritage left us by our Confederate ancestors. Nancy Tolbert Hambrick, Chapter President 13
Cynthia Holford Officer #18 Livingston, TN Larry Gunnels and I attended the Elm Springs Heritage Festival on the 10th and we had a lovely fall day for this! The 19th found us at the Dillard Judd Camp meeting in Cookeville to hear the persona of Mark Twain, his life recollections of both before and after the war. In December, I was pleased to attend the Christmas party and meeting of our sponsoring camp, Gen. George G. Dibrell in Sparta hostessed by Dibrell's White Roses. As always, the food and fellowship was wonderful and a most entertaining presentation on Gen. Patrick Cleburne was given. We attended the Gainesboro Invincibles and Aunt Polly Eaton Williams Christmas party on the 3rd at Helen's Restaurant. On the 5th, we participated in the Gainesboro Christmas parade. And on the 17th, we had a lovely dinner at Cumberland State Park as guests at the Christmas party hosted by Crossville's Hamby Camp and Roses of the Cumberland. I hope everyone had a wonderful, merry Christmas and we are looking forward to 2016 as we go forth to defend our heritage! Betty Aronson, president Highland Roses Chapter #14 October: *Marty Smith did a presentation on the Immortal 600 at the Crossville Hamby Camp #1750. *Mike Williams and Marty Smith attended the Changing of the Flag ceremony in Macon Co. Jim Davis Camp #1425. *Mike Williams, Ed and Pat Butler along with Marty and Debbie Smith enjoyed a presentation by Mark Twain, aka: Stephen Holland at the Dillard/Judd #1828 camp meeting. *Mike Williams and Marty Smith attended Montgomery Camp #2014 for Standing Stone Day. November: *Mike Williams and Debbie Smith were present for a presentation given by Marty Smith on the Immortal 600 at the Montgomery, Camp Ferguson #2014 monthly meeting. *Mike Williams and Marty Smith marched in the Nashville Veterans Day Parade. *Mike Williams, Marty and Debbie Smith listened to a presentation given by Brian Hartley about Patrick Clayborne at the Smithville, Savage/Goodner camp #1513. *Marty Smith was present for Crossville Hamby Camp #1750 meeting. He listened to a presentation from Daniel Gordon on medicines in civil war times. Also Marty witnessed James Lovelace induction to the camp and last but not least, Charles Ervin being elected as new Camp Commander. Congratulations Charles!! *Mike Williams was in the Honor Guard and Marty Smith was present for the Sam Davis Memorial. * Mike Williams and Marty Smith also marched in the annual Winstead Hill march in Franklin. 14
December: *Marty Smith participated in the Crossville Hamby Camp #1740 Christmas Parade. *Marty and Debbie Smith attended the annual Christmas party presented by the Crossville Hamby Camp #1740. * Marty and Debbie Smith attended a Victorian Christmas Service in Arrington, TN. Submitted by Debbie Smith for Chapter #14 Marty & Debbie Smith at the period Christmas church service. Mike and Marty with the Lafayette SCV Camp changing the flag in Lafayette. Marty presenting his program on the Immortal 600. Mike and Marty in the Nashville Veteran s Day Parade. The next issue of the Rosette is Spring April 2016! Have a safe and happy spring serving the South and preserving her history! Info for state reunion is out and will be forwarded to your chapter presidents soon along with applications! 15