The Madison-Mayodan Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (Mayodan, Rockingham County, NC) began September 1991, at a meeting of a group of women interested in recognizing their Confederate ancestors and in the history of that period. By the charter meeting, 30 March 1992, this group had grown to 18 charter members. Charter members were the following: Branson W. Angel, Betty Jean Baker, Pencie N. Collins, Jerri B. Griffin, Mary Jane N. Hall, Carleen H. Holt, Glenna R. Hornaday, Virginia J. Joyce, Lila R. Knost, Sue Anne Knost, Mary Louise D. McCollum, Marian H. Reeser (transfer from another chapter), Brenda P. Roberts, Wanda W. Smith, Donna A. Stowe, Leonora W. Sutton, Linda C. Vernon, and Jane J. Wade.
The chapter was named for the Madison Greys (Company D, 45th Regiment NC Troops), a group of men from western Rockingham County. The original Greys were formed in early 1862 in response to a call from Governor John W. Ellis to defend North Carolina against the invasion of the Outer Banks area by Federal Forces. We named our chapter for this company not just because these were men of the Madison-Mayodan area, but also because of the supreme sacrifices made by this group of men. Of the original 72 members, 32 died of disease or wounds during the war, 15 were captured and held as prisoners of war, three surrendered with Lee at Appomattox, and two were paroled in Greensboro, NC. It is hoped that the original Greys will look down on the efforts of these modern Greys with approval.
The organizing chapter president was Donna Stowe. Other original officers were Jane Wade, 1st Vice President; Mary Louise McCollum, 2nd Vice President; Wanda Smith, Secretary; Virginia Joyce, Treasurer; Linda Vernon, Registrar; Jeri Griffin, Historian; Brenda Roberts, Recorder of Crosses.
By the end of 1992, we added new member Kate Baughn Layne. During 1993 we were joined by new members Jane H. T. Deluca, Mary E. B. Greene, Abigail J. H. Gunn, Gladys L. N. Hall, Virginia B. Jones, Minnie E. B. Pruitt (Real Daughter). In 1994, we were joined by Joan A. Cobb, Julia R. H. Gunn, Kathy H. L. Mizelle, Doris R. C. Rhodes, and Malinda R. J. Wall. During 1995 we added these new members: Tommy P. Roberts, Rachel E. B. South (Real Daughter), and Christine B. B. Wilson (Real Daughter). Joining us in 1996 were Alma E. N. Blackwell, Mildred F. R. Buenzli, Eva J. C. Caravito, and Charlotte A. C. Landi. New members during 2001-2002 included Robin G. Lanning, Susan G. Irving, and Carlotta S. Tart. Alyn Brittany Berry, Iris Lane Irving, and Shirley M. Wheeler joined us in 2003. Karen Cochran joined in 2004. Patricia Barnes Land joined in 2005. In 2006, we were joined by Vickie Ann Sechrist Griffin, Donna Robers Sechrist, Joan Light Strutton,
The chapter has been saddened by the deaths of the following members: Alma E. Newnam Blackwell, Mildred F. Rhodes Buenzli, Kate Baughn Lane, Minnie E. Bullins Pruitt, and Christine B. Blackwell Wilson.
The chapter has counted among its members three real daughters of Confederate veterans, Minnie Bullins Pruitt, now deceased, Rachel Blackwell South, and Christine Blackwell Wilson, also deceased. Present membership is nineteen members.
Honoring our ancestors has been a prime activity of the group. Soon after the foundation of the chapter, it was decided that the main project of the chapter should be the construction of a Confederate Memorial in honor of the Rockingham County men who had served in the war.
To that end, we created a cookbook, Recipes from Dixie, to raise money. Included in the cookbook were memorials to Confederate veterans. Cookbook sales were extremely successful, but our chapter was unable to receive official county permission for such a memorial. Several years later, we were delighted that Rodney P. Williams, Commander of the Pvt. Lorenzo Dow Williams Camp #1456, had accomplished what we could not, and received permission to place a Confederate Memorial in the Veterans Park in Wentworth, NC. We were happy to contribute $1500.00 and our wholehearted support to this project.
Several of our members participated in the inspiring Dedication and Unveiling of the Rockingham County Confederate War Dead Monument on October 31, 1998. Mary Louise McCollum, Jerri Griffin, and Charlotte Landi participated by reading names in the Roll Call of the Confederate War Dead. Jane Wade spoke on the hardships and sacrifices on the homefront during the war. Rachel Blackwell South, our chapter’s Real Daughter joined other Real Sons and Daughters in the unveiling of the monument.
Members have remembered their ancestors in other ways as well. Nearly 100 supplementals have been passed or sent in. Confederate Iron Crosses have been placed at gravesites of 72 veterans. The chapter has ordered and installed 40 government tombstones at graves of Confederate veterans which had unmarked, vandalized, or broken stones. The chapter’s collection of pictures of Confederate veteran’s gravesites numbers an extraordinary 879 photographs! In addition, over 800 Grave Location Records have been compiled and sent to our state organization. For Confederate Memorial Day, 195 flags were placed on Confederate Veteran’s graves in 58 cemeteries. The chapter also has a collection of photographs of 171 Confederate veterans. One hundred and five pension applications have been copied and placed in a collection.
In the years of its existence, the Madison-Mayodan Greys have conducted five Confederate Memorial Day Services. The services have been moving occasions, bringing together chapter members, relatives of the veterans, re-enactors, members of the local high school’s ROTC program, and other community members.
Honoring veterans of other wars has also been a priority for this chapter. It has honored 41 veterans of recent wars in the Cross of Military Service ceremony. On Memorial Day, American flags are placed at the gravesites of veterans in six local cemeteries. Our chapter remembers the home-bound veterans or those in nursing homes in our area with special gifts and cards. Members also have collected stamps to be sent to veteran hospitals and have visited and helped with refreshments and activities for the nearest veteran hospital.
This chapter has a firm commitment to support the genealogy room of the local library. It has donated 166 books and 62 reels of microfilm that will help other researchers learn about the War Between the States and the part their ancestor played in it. This includes a complete set of the available Virginia Regimental Histories Series and our latest contribution, N.C. Historical Roster 1897-1997, and the complete set with index of The Confederate Veteran magazine. We have also purchased the complete set of North Carolina Confederate Veterans & Widows Pension Applications on microfilm. A collection of War letters has also been started and has been shared with the library. Books have also been given to local schools.
Publishing is another area in which members of the Madison-Mayodan Greys have helped others to research their Confederate ancestor. The chapter has published two books as guides to pension records in the State Archives: Confederate Pensioners and Widows of Rockingham County, North Carolina and Confederate Pensioners and Widows of Stokes County, North Carolina. The chapter also published a cookbook, Recipes from Dixie which included memorial pages honoring Confederate veterans. The Greys also published two sets of note cards depicting local sites with Confederate connections.
Special projects carried out by this group include placing luminaries on graves in local cemeteries for two nights each Christmas and Easter, (now just at Easter). The chapter publishes a newsletter, keeps a scrapbook of all activities, and cooperates with the other county chapters in planning a Lee-Jackson Tea every year.
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United Daughters of the Confederacy
The Madison-Mayodan Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy ( Mayodan, Rockingham County, NC) began September 1991, at a meeting of a group of women interested in recognizing their Confederate ancestors and in the history of that period. By the charter meeting, 30 March 1992, this group had grown to 18 charter members. These charter members were as follows: Branson W. Angel, Betty Jean Baker, Pencie N. Collins, Jerri B. Griffin, Mary Jane N. Hall, Carleen H. Holt, Glanna R. Hornaday, Virginia J. Joyce, Lila R. Knost, Sue Anne Knost, Mary Louise D. McCollum, Marian H. Reeser (transfer from another chapter), Brenda P. Roberts, Wanda W. Smith, Donna A. Stowe, Leonora W. Sutton, Linda C. Vernon, and Jane J. Wade.
The chapter was named for the Madison Greys (Company D, 45th Regiment NC Troops) a group of men from western Rockingham County. The original Greys were formed in early 1862 in response to a call from Governor John W. Ellis to defind North Carolina against the invasion of the Outer Banks area by Federal forces. We named our chapter for this company not just because these were men of the Madison-Mayodan area, but also because of the supreme sacrifices made by this group of men. Of the original 72 members, 32 died of disease or wounds during the war, 15 were captured and held as prisoners of war, three surrendered with Lee at Appomattox, and two were paroled in Greensboro, NC. It is hoped that the original Greys will look down on the efforts of these modern greys with approval.
The organizing chapter president was Donna Stowe. Other original officers were Jane Wade, 1st Vice President; Mary Louise McCollum, 2nd Vice President; Wanda Smith, Secretary; Virginia Joyce, Treasurer; Linda Vernon, Registrar; Jeri Griffin, Historian; Brenda Roberts, Recorder of Crosses.
By the end of 1992, we added new member Kate Baughn Layne. During 1993, we were joined by new members Jane H. T. Deluca, Mary E. B. Greene, Abigail J. H. Gunn, Gladys L. N. Hall, Virginia B. Jones, Minnie E. B. Pruitt (REAL DAUGHTER). In 1994, we were joined by Joan A. Cobb, Julia R. H. Gunn, Kathy H. L. Mizelle, Doris R. C. Rhodes, and Malinda R. J. Wall. During 1995, we added these new members: Tommy P. Roberts, Rachel E. B. South (REAL DAUGHTER), and Christine B. B. Wilson (REAL DAUGHTER). Joining us in 1996 were Alma E. N. Blackwell, Mildred F. R. Buenzli, Eva J. C. Caravito, and Charlotte A. C. Landi. New members during the 2001-2002 included Robin G. Lanning, Susan G. Irving, and Carlotta S. Tart. Alyn Brittany Berry, Iris Lane Irving, and shirley M. Wheeler joined us in 2003. Karen Cochran joined in 2004. Patricia Barnes Land joined in 2005.
In 2006, we were joined by Vickie S. Griffin, Donna R. Sechrist, Joan Light Strutton. In 2007, Tamela J. W. Flinchum became a member, while 2008 brought new memebers Cindi Tilley, Sylvia Fain, and Doris Hopper.
The chapter has beeen saddened by the deaths of members Alma E. Newnam Blackwell, Mildred F. Rhodes Buenzli, Pencie Collins, Kate Baughn Lane, Mary Louise McCollum, Millie E. Bullins Pruitt, and Christine B. Blackwell Wilson.
The chapter has been proud to count among its members three real daughters of Confederate veterans, Minnie B. Pruitt, Rachel Blackwell South, and Christine Blackwell Wilson. Present membership is nineteen members.
Honoring our ancestors has been a prime activity of the group. Soon after the foundation of the chapter, it was decided that the main project of the chapter should be the construction of a Confederate Memorial in honor of the Rockingham County men who had served in the war.
To that end we created a cookbook, Recipes from Dixie, to raise money. We have also published a list of the Rockingham County and the Stokes County Pensioners and Widows. We have a collection of photographs of Civil War veterans and Civil War letters.