Education Day at Buckhead Church set for Nov. 30

The Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy came together on Saturday, Nov. 24, to clean up, sweep out and generally "gussie up" the grounds of historic Big Buckhead Church. All was done in preparation for the Eighth Annual Education Day to be held on Friday, Nov. 30.

Dorothy Cauley represented the Margaret Jones UDC Chapter of Waynesboro, and the Buckhead-Fort Lawton Brigade #2102 members participating included Sonny Allen, Ray Garvin, Darryl Drake, Byron Newton, James Saxon, Roger Saxon, Neil Dickey, Joe Wilson and Steve Burke of the McLeod-Moring Camp in Swainsboro. Paul Herrington joined his uncle James Ellis Saxon in the day's activities.

The trees were trimmed, the yards raked, the refuse picked up, and one dead tree was felled by chainsaw. The old cemetery was spruced up also, as it will be the site of a memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Batt Jones, CSA, who is buried there alongside his wife, Caroline.

Mrs. Jones is recorded as being the landowner of the parcel of property that was leased to the Confederate government to create Camp Lawton. Those 42 acres, located at present day Magnolia Springs State Park, became the "World's Largest Prison" at that time.

Above, Sonny Allen, Camp 2102 2nd lieutenant commander, presents the flag to Mrs. Tracy Lane and her family. At left, from left, Darryl Drake accepts donation for Education Day from Jerry Grigsby of the 32d Georgia. (Photos contributed)

The memorial service will be held 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at the cemetery. The public is invited to attend.

At the business meeting, Jerry and Dianne Grigsby of the 32d Georgia Light Artillery re-enactment group presented a check to camp commander Darryl Drake to go towards the perpetuation of Education Day. Camp 2102 is taking over the hosting duties from the 32d Georgia. They have done a yeoman job, and the Camp appreciates the faith that the group has shown in them to allow them to continue the tradition.

The highlight of the program was the presentation of a 1956 Georgia state flag to the family of the late Kacey Arnold Lane. Mr. Lane was a founding member of the South Jenkins District 6 Volunteer Fire Department and served as its treasurer before his untimely demise last summer.

The Lane Family was represented by Tracy Lane (Kacey's wife) and son Kody; his parents Quinney and Nellie Jean Lane, sister Donna Tapley, brother Mark Lane, Little Mark Jr, and Tonya; Kathy Fordham and Brittney; brother Quinney Lane Jr. with daughters Kamden and Samantha; Brian Lane and Sarah, and close family friend Ron Rodgers, a member of the Florida Division, SCV.

Also attending were Donna Drake, daughter Juliana and her friend Brent Freeman, and son Conley Drake. A special prayer for rain and the continuing good graces of God were offered by Rev. Thomas Simmons of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Garfield. He was accompanied by his wife Sandra and children Macy and Cody.

Education Day festivities will begin at 9 a.m. As of press time the following schools are scheduled to participate: Jenkins County Middle School, Jenkins County High School JROTC, Metter Elementary, Sardis Elementary and Edmund Burke Academy. All together, some 500 school children will visit 10 different stations to learn about the history of the War Between the States. The public is cordially invited to attend along with the children.