McLeod-Moring Camp #1386, the local chapter of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, have been busy these last few weeks. Since the middle of May, the organization has improved the look of an area cemetery and marked the 40th anniversary of its charter.
On May 15, members of McLeod-Moring Camp, the Heritage Roses, and volunteers from the community worked to clean up Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery off Highway 221 in the Kite area.
Participating from Camp #1385 were Commander Daryl Hill, Historian David Love, and member Rickey Winfrey. Heritage Rose members participating were Chapter President Buffy Hill and member Katelyn Hill. Community members helping included Linda Hudson Flanders and Mike Henry.
The cemetery was overgrown, and some headstones were hidden by the overgrowth of the vegetation. Trimming of that overgrowth revealed that one of the headstones belonged to a Confederate soldier, Pvt. Spencer A. Meeks of the 48th Georgia Regiment.
A few days later, Mcleod-Moring Camp #1386 celebrated its 40th anniversary. The group gathered May 20 at New China Restaurant in Swainsboro to do so.
McLeod-Moring Camp #1386 was originally chartered in Emanuel County on May 16, 1981. The national organization, however, was organized 85 years earlier in 1896; the purpose of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans organization is to remember and honor the sacrifice of those who fought and those who died for the Confederate States of America as well as to protect historical monuments and artifacts.
Charter members of the Emanuel camp included John B. Spivey, Commander; Homer S. Durden Jr., 1st Lt. Commander; Kermit Phillips, 2nd Lt. Commander; Homer S. Durden III, Adjutant; Dale A. Morris, Treasurer; James Dorsey, Historian; and Milton A. Carlton, Chaplain.
Charter members were George E. Clark, William B. Clark, Wilder L. Coleman, W. James Curry, Charles M. Dawkins, George R. Durden, Andrew S. Morris, D. Allen Morris Jr., Van A. Phillips, Wilder N. Phillips, Sidney B. Shephard, Christopher M. Williamson, and G.B. Williamson Jr.
The guest speaker for the anniversary celebration was Perry Bennett, LTC USA (retired), who currently serves as a lobbyist for the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In attendance that evening were members of McLeod-Moring Camp, Commander Daryl Hill, Lt. Commander Sam Brown, Historian David Love, Camp Adjutant Nick Krauss, Chaplain Glenn Grimes, Donald Hall, Joey Gibson, Emory Fennell, Ricky Winfrey, members of Robert Toombs Camp #932 Commander Bob Whitaker and Bill Wood, along with members of the Heritage Roses President Buffy Hill and Secretary Jenny Williams.