UDC, SCV hold confederate memorial service

A Confederate Memorial Service was held recently at Big Horse Creek Church Cemetery to honor CSA soldiers Private J.C. Edenfield and Private W.J. McMillan. The service was sponsored by Margaret Jones #27 United Daughters of the Confederacy of Waynesboro in cooperation with Buckhead-Fort Lawton Camp #2102 Sons of the Confederate Veterans of Millen.

Dot Cauley, Recorder of Military Awards/Bestower of Crosses for MJ #27, welcomed everyone and led the Daughters in their Ritual. Joining them was Savannah #2 UDC prospective member Trinka Shealy Dickey. Ms. Cauley also explained why stones are placed for the dead.

Adam Bazemore, Commander of Black Creek Volunteers #549 SCV of Sylvania, led the pledges to the United States, Georgia and Confederate Flags. John Parker, Pastor of Big Horse Creek Church, gave the invocation.

Kathleen Rabitsch, historian of the church, told about the church's beginning and how it had lasted through the years. Steve Burke, McCloud-Mooring SCV of Swainsboro, gave the eulogy of Edenfield's unit - 12th ( Wright's) Ga. Calvary (State Guards) Stubbs Company.

Neil Dickey, Camp #2102, told about the personal side of John C. Edenfield.

Randall Burkhart, Camp Davis SCV of Guyton, gave the eulogy of McMillan's unit - the 2nd Ga. Reserves. Jennifer Mansell, MJ #27, sang a UDC song" Band of Sisters". Ms Mills sang" It Is Well With My Soul".

Widows, portrayed by MJ #27 members, Jennifer and Kaye Mansell, were escorted to the graves to place roses, by Camp #2102 members Neil Dickey and Sonny Allen. Wreaths were then placed by family members, Steve Burke for his cousin Edenfield and Peggy Burke Thigpen for her 3x grandfather McMillan. Julie Drake, member of Order of Robert E. Lee of Statesboro, placed one for their group. Trenton Harley placed one for Col. John James Jones #949 Children of the Confederacy of Waynesboro and in honor of his father, Steven Harley, who was a member of Camp #2102. Betty Bargeron, MJ #27, placed one for their group and Jeff Marlow, Camp Davis, placed one for all SCV units present.

Adam and Don Bazemore, Camp #549, folded the flags draping the graves and presented them to Steve Burke for Edenfield and Katy Jenkins for McMillan. Ms. Cauley then remembered the other eight soldiers buried there- A.J. Becton, Matthew Burke, W.D.S. Burke, Enos Dickey, James Dickey, Madison Dickey, S.C.M.M. Dickey and S.W.Wilson. She also remembered fallen SCV member Steven Harley. At this time she dedicated the cemetery as a True Confederate Cemetery.

Ms Mansell sang" Southern Cross". Savannah SCV member and attorney, David Hershell Dickey, read a poem that he had written " The Boys from Dixieland", in honor of his great-grandfather Madison Dickey and great-great grandfather S.C.M.M. Dickey. Jody Nasworthy sang "Dixie". Reenactors from Camp 2102, McCloud-Mooring, Camp 549, and Camp Davis gave the 21 gun salute. Actor John Wayne's heartbreaking "Taps" echoed through the cemetery. Ray Garvin, Chaplain of Camp 2102, gave the benediction.