Pictured (l-r): Rebekah Lemley, third vice president, TN Division UDC; Rose Willard, president, Children of the Confederacy; Lisa Pritchett, vice president, Jefferson Davis Chapter UDC
Pictured, front (l-r): Zeke Pritchett and Ethan Peden; back row (l-r): Maney Willard, Jed Pritchett, Garin Willard, Luke Peden, Caleb Peden, Camryn Rainey, Rose Willard, and Victoria Willard
The United Daughters of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis Chapter # 900 held a re-chartering ceremony for the Children of the Confederacy on April 9, at the Kinser Church of God in Cleveland.
This children’s organization is an auxiliary to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was established by Miss Bunnie Love at a Georgia Division UDC Convention on October 14, 1897. A resolution was presented that this organization be created. The resolution passed and Mrs. McDowell Wolff was named founder of the Children of the Confederacy.
Officials said some important accomplishments made by the Children of the Confederacy include: (1) Dedication of a memorial window to Father Abram Ryan at Old St. Mary’s Church, Mobile, Al. on April 25, 1929; (2) The establishment and funding of educational scholarships; (3) The contribution of a bronze door for the UDC “Memorial Building;" (4) Marking of graves of Confederate Soldiers; (5) Collecting of Historical Confederate records; (6) Assisting of projects with the UDC organizations.
The ages for the Children of the Confederacy are infant to 18 years of age. After the age of 18, they may be transferred to the UDC or Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The name of the new organization is the Sumner A. Cunningham Chapter # 13. Sumner A. Cunningham served during the War Between the States in the Confederate States Army. He was a Sgt., Co. B., 41st Tennessee Infantry. He fought at Fort Donelson. He was captured by Union forces and was sent to Camp Morton in Indianapolis. He spent six months as a prisoner of war, before being exchanged in mid-1862. He rejoined his regiment in Mississippi and fought at Port Hudson, Yazoo River, Jackson, and Raymond.
In 1863 he was promoted to Sergeant-Major. He fought in the Battle of Missionary Ridge, and the Battle of Chickamauga. He also fought in the Battle of Nashville, and the Battle of Franklin in 1864.
After the War, he became the editor of several prominent newspapers. The Shelbyville Commercial (1877), Chattanooga Times (1876), and the Cartersville Georgia Express (1879). In 1893, he began publication of the Confederate Veteran magazine which became the voice of the United Confederate Veteran, and later the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Cunningham died in 1913, and is buried at the Willow Mount Cemetery in Shelbyville, Tn.
Lisa Pritchett, UDC chapter vice-president welcomed everyone to the ceremony. The Invocation, and Ritual was given by Camryn Rainey. The salute to the Christian Flag was led by Garin Willard. The pledge to the United States flag was led by Jed Pritchett. The salute to the Tennessee flag was led by Caleb Peden. The salute to the Confederate flag was led by Luke Peden. Special guest speaker for the ceremony was Rebekah Lemley, 3rd vice-president UDC Tennessee Division. The presentation of membership certificates were presented by Ms. Lemley. Receiving certificates were Michael Caleb Peden, William Luke Peden, and Ethan Ross Peden Confederate descendants of Osborne Davenport- Private Company B., 65th Regiment Georgia Infantry. Abigail Sumner Rose Willard, Anallyssa Victoria Hope Willard, Hayden Christopher Garin Willard, Julianna Maney Marie Willard, Confederate descendants of Jonathan Crye- Co. F., 62nd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. Christopher Arlen Turner, Confederate descendant of Richard A. Potter-Private 43rd Regiment, Tennessee Infantry. Ezekial Otis Pritchett, and Jedson Edward Pritchett Confederate descendants of William Moore Bain, Company D, 3rd Regiment, Tn. Mounted Infantry, 2nd Lieutenant. Camryn Reese Rainey, Confederate descendant of John A. Ellison, Company F, 19th Regiment Tennessee Infantry CSA. The new Chapter also had the installation of Officers.
Officers for the Chapter for 2016-2018 are as follows: president, Rose Willard; vice president, Caleb Peden; second vice-president, Luke Peden; third vice-president, Victoria Willard; recording secretary, Garin Willard; treasurer, Jed Pritchett; historian, Maney Willard; chaplain, Camryn Rainey; custodian, Zeke Pritchett; editor, Ethan Peden.
The Children of the Confederacy pledged to the Confederate Creed: "Because we desire to perpetuate, in love and honor, the heroic deeds of those who enlisted in the Confederate Services, and upheld its flag through four years of war, we, the Children of the South have united in an Organization called the Children of the Confederacy, in which our strength, enthusiasm and love of justice can exert its influence. We therefore pledge ourselves to preserve pure ideals, to honor the memory of our beloved veterans, to study and teach the truths of history, (one of the most important of which is that the War Between the States was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery), and always to act in a manner that will reflect honor upon our noble and patriotic ancestors. It is with great honor that the United Daughters of the Confederacy sponsor this organization. For they are the logical ones to perpetuate our Southern Heritage, and the future of our Confederate organizations."
Everyone sang Dixie Land, and the ceremony ended. Refreshments were served. Anyone interested in the Children of the Confederacy can e-mail: cofcsumnercunningham@gmail.com.