Left to right are Mary Noletti, Regent of Alexander Keith Chapter, Athens, Tn.; Pauline Moore, Nancy Ward Chapter (Chattanooga); and Linda Gray, Alexander Keith Chapter.
Nan-ye-hi (Nancy Ward) was a Cherokee Revolutionary heroine, dedicated to promoting peace between the white man and the Cherokee. She was known by her people as ‘Beloved Woman’, a leader and representative during tribal meetings with her people and the leaders of white settlers encroaching on Cherokee lands.
Nancy Ward died in 1822, not many years before the ‘Trail of Tears’; it was said that she envisioned her people being led away, sharing this fear.
The Nancy Ward historic grave site in Polk County was landscaped in 2002 by the 13 DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) chapters in the Cherokee District (Chattanooga to Kingston, Tn., areas), with the assistance of the Whitewater/Ocoee District, Tennessee Park Service.
A stone wall replaced a timber wall along the walkway to Nancy’s grave; flower beds were created to adorn the stone wall, using plants native to Tennessee in ‘Nancy’s day.’
A medicinal bed was established in 2006 featuring plants used in the 1700’s for health and healing; and currently is being re-established.
A recent ‘Fall planting’ was done, and plans are to complete the bed in the spring of 2016 by volunteers from chapters in the Cherokee District.