chapternews2

CHAPTER NEWS, page 2

George B. Singletary #313
Greenville

Our chapter is excited to report that 2009 has continued to be a year of growth with five new membership application approved for Laura Oden, Elena Perez, Linda Hines, Susan Hines and Angie Reid giving us a total membership roster of 22 members.

In February, the historic Coward-Dixon House was the setting for the presentation of the Stonewall Jackson Medal to our Honorary Member Gary Gene Riggs. This presentation was an expression of our Chapter’s appreciation for his outstanding contributions and dedication to our chapter. The Coward-Dixon House is on the National Register and is an 1850’s era Greek revival style home owned by the family by chapter member Barbara Dixon Tyson. Our special speaker was Dr. Lyle Holland, Lenoir County Battlefields Commission Chairperson, who gave a presentation entitled “Preserving Civil War Heritage in Lenoir County”.

On March 13, five members and one prospective member attended the District VIII Meeting in Rocky Mount. Our chapter was awarded the Woodruff Award (a 3-way tie), the Blackburn Trophy, the Powell Banner and the Membership Incentive Award.

Confederate Memorial Day was observed May 9th at the historic Cherry Hill Cemetery in downtown Greenville. The chapter dedicated a UDC Real Daughter marker for Ms. Louis Hyman. A wreath of red and white roses was placed at the Unknown Soldiers Monument. At the conclusion of the ceremony, 41 Confederate graves were marked with the First National Flags. The ceremony was well attended by UDC, SCV and the public. We carpooled to Trinity Cemetery in Chocowinity and placed a wreath of red and white roses at the Maj. Gen. Bryan Grimes Monument. Several other graves were also marked with the First National Flag. Our chapter provided 75 First National Flags to UDC and SCV members for placement on Confederate graves in Pitt and adjoining counties during the month of May. A large photograph of one of our flags at a Confederate headstone was on the front page of the social section of the Sunday Daily Reflector Newspaper.

May 16th completed the last phase of the beautification site at the Tranter’s Creek Civil War Trails marker. This site commemorates the Battle of Tranter’s Creek and is where our chapter’s namesake Colonel George B. Singletary was killed. Completing the last phase, a split rail fence and concrete pavers were installed.

May 30th chapter member Kim Riggs organized and directed her Poole Family Ceremony at Albemarle Church of Christ in Tyrrell County. A Confederate Iron Cross was dedicated to her confederate ancestor Thomas G. Pool. A UDC WWII Cross of Military Service was present to her grandfather Thomas Rudolph Poole of Beaufort County. Her husband Gary Gene Riggs, Honorary Chapter Member, was presented the Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal for his untiring work to preserve Confederate History as it relates to the medical field. Several male descendants of Thomas G. Poole dressed in authentic military uniforms worn by their ancestors from their wars.

In May our chapter collected 150 feminine products for “Give2thetroops Girls Campaign” and also collected specialty items due to exposure of the summer heat, included sunscreen, baby wipes, lip balm, deodorant and shower products. This will be an on-going chapter project caring for our ladies serving overseas.

The chapter is in planning stages of publishing a 2nd Edition of “The Diary of Lieut. Alonzo Etheridge Bell”, who was captured at Fort Hatteras in 1861. His descendants will work with us again to publish this 2nd Edition. This is in preparation for “NC Sesquicentennial 2011” and “Flags over Hatteras” celebration in which our chapter has been invited to participate in. We continue to provide support and assistance to the public in researching Confederate records and Southern genealogy. We look forward to continued growth in the last half of 2009.

President Karen M. Nethercutt