Dedication and Memorial for Nineteen Civil War Soldiers

The General T. J. Churchill Chapter #1373, United Daughters of the Confederacy will host a Dedication and Memorial Service to mark the NEW TOMBSTONES for eighteen Confederate and one Union soldier at Mount Holly Cemetery, 1200 So. Broadway, Little Rock, Arkansas. Entrance to the cemetery will be through the gate on 13th Street.

The Dedication Service will be Sunday, June 24th, 2012 at 2:00 P.M.

In the past few weeks, the previously unmarked graves of eighteen Confederate soldiers and one Union soldier were identified at Mount Holly Cemetery, the City of Little Rock’s oldest cemetery. Through the efforts of Mount Holly and the Churchill Chapter UDC, tombstones were secured through Veterans Affairs Memorial Services. The Arkansas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans will assist in the ceremony.

Sixteen year old CSA Private George Godwin Borland died 24 June 1862 and has rested beneath the soil of Mount Holly Cemetery for 150 years, but his grave location was never marked. The young boy now has a new tombstone. The dedication service for all of the soldiers will take place from the gravesite of Private Borland on the 150th anniversary of the young soldier’s death.

Each soldier will be recognized with their rank, Company and Unit in which they served.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy was born of many women’s benevolent associations that were tending the graves of not only the Confederate dead, but the Union dead as well. Their hope was that Northern women were doing the same service to Southern soldiers buried there.

This event falls within the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial which commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the conflict.   This event has been endorsed by the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission:
www.arkansascivilwar150.com  

For additional information: Kay Tatum, (501) 529-3802

Christmas Concert


Sunday, December 18th, 2011
2:00 P.M
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History
503 E. 9th Street, Little Rock, AR

Free to the community and in honor of American Veterans.
Please be our guest.

Sponsored by the General T. J. Churchill Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy.  This special holiday musical presentation is presented by Margaret Wyatt Piano and Vocal Studio

Please join us for an afternoon of music and visit the wonderful exhibits of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

Tax deductible sponsorships benefit the MacArthur Museum of AR Military History.  For additional information: (501) 375-5197 or Tat1000@sbcglobal.net

General T. J. Churchill Chapter #1373 Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The grand day of the celebration for the General T. J. Churchill Chapter arrived on Saturday, August 27, 2011. A Victorian Tea was held at the Frederick Hanger House, circa 1889, to welcome out of town guests. A delicious and beautiful arrangement of delicacies was prepared by Chapter members. Guests were taken back to a gracious Victorian era in preparation for the awaiting events of the evening. Lively piano music provided the musical backdrop for the tea in the historic home.

Guests entered the First Ladies Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Presidential to the melodious sounds of the SoMa String Quartet, under the direction of Mr. Joe Joyner. The group provided the music for the entire evening which concluded with a ball.
After a welcome by Kay Tatum, President of the Churchill Chapter, the invocation was given by Lois Clifton, Churchill Chapter Chaplain. The colors were posted by a Confederate Color Guard with the pledges led by Churchill Chapter members.

A bestowal of the Vietnam Cross of Military Service award was presented to COL Phillip A. Snodgrass M.D. Dr. Snodgrass is the great-grandson of Andrew Jackson Snodgrass, who signed as recommendation for Mrs. T. J. Churchill’s membership into the General T. J. Churchill Chapter, UDC, organized in her husband’s memory.

Three new members were welcomed into membership during the historical event. Mrs. Pam Trammell, past AR Division President, with Mrs. Mary Jackson, current AR Division President, presented new member certificates to Mrs. Inez Patchell, Ms. Sandra Sample and Mrs. Inez Stone. The new members were escorted to the podium by Mrs. Mavis Griggs, Churchill Registrar.

Arkansas Division President Mary Jackson presented a lovely greeting on behalf of the Arkansas Division. A brief address was given by Churchill President, Kay Tatum and gifts of gratitude were presented. Mrs. Tatum thanked the many ladies of the Churchill membership who worked so hard to make the Victorian Tea and historic banquet and ball a success.

The General T. J. Churchill Chapter was organized on July 17, 1911 and Charted on September 11, 1911.

100th Anniversary Dedication of Marker at Mount Holly Cemetery

Mrs. Catherine Forney, the widow of Mr. B. F. Forney, organized the first Arkansas Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy in Hope, AR in 1895. She would marry COL James Fulton Smith and move to Little Rock in 1899. On July 17, 1911, The General T. J. Churchill Chapter would be organized in Mrs. Forney-Smith’s home.

Charter members included Mrs. Anne Sevier Churchill, the widow of Gen. Thomas James Churchill, for whom the Chapter was named, and the 13th Governor of Arkansas. The Chapter was chartered on September 11, 1911 with a membership of 95 ladies. By 1912 membership had increased to 138.

Some years after the death of Col Smith, Mrs. Catherine Forney-Smith sold her large 10 room home to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for a fraction of its worth in memory of her 2 sons who died in WWI. However, before her death she had generously donated in excess of that amount back to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Catherine Forney-Smith died in Little Rock on the afternoon of December 10th 1930 and would be interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hope, AR beside her first husband and her young children. However, she was not recognized in Little Rock for her contributions until now.

Members gathered at Little Rock’s historic Mount Holly Cemetery on July 17, 2011, which was the 100th Anniversary of the organization of that Chapter. At the gravesite of COL James Smith members heard the history of his remarkable wife and dedicated their 100th Anniversary marker to her memory.

In closing, a poem was read by Chapter President, Kay Tatum that was written in 1911 by charter member, Josie Frazee Cappleman, and was published in the first Chapter Yearbook in 1911:

Here’s a smile for all the joy-days
Of this T. J. Churchill year;
For the saddened days of sorrow
We shed the silent tear;
Here are wishes, e’er the kindest,
For these many members true,
And Love—Love in abundance—
For, O Daughters, each of you.

--Josie Frazee Cappleman

100th Anniversary Banquet and Ball

100th Anniversary

General T. J. Churchill Chapter #1373
Little Rock, AR
United Daughters of the Confederacy

Saturday, August 27th 2011


The General T. J. Churchill Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy is pleased to announce events to commemorate our 100th Anniversary.

Advance reservations are required by 1 August 2011. Tickets are $25.00 per person and include the dinner, banquet and ball.

A dinner, banquet and ball are planned for the evening, beginning at 6:00 P.M. The SoMa String Quartet, under the direction of Mr. Joe Joyner, will be providing the music for the evening. Special guests will include Mrs. Mary Jackson, Arkansas Division President, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

For additional information please contact: Kay Tatum (501) 529-3802 or kay.tatum@yahoo.com

Mrs. Catherine A. Green Forney-Smith

The Mother of the UDC in Arkansas, Mrs. Catherine Forney-Smith organized the first Arkansas Chapter in Hope in 1896. After her husband, Mr. Forney died, she remarried, moved to Little Rock and organized the General T. J. Churchill Chapter in 1911. Her second husband, COL James Fulton Smith was the organizer for the 1911 United Confederate Veterans Reunion the same year.

Mrs. Forney-Smith is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Hope, Arkansas. A commemorative service in her honor is planned for Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. Refreshments will be served immediately following the service.

This event is sponsored by the Albert Pike Chapter, General T. J. Churchill Chapter, Pat Cleburne Chapter and Johnson's 15th Arkansas Memorial Color Guard.

From the General's Paw

Time for an update!

My Mom took the attached photo on Sunday night before my surgery on Monday. One last time to destroy the evil enemy--a roll of Charmin. She talked to me about what was in store, but she didn't tell me everything. I went to Hillcrest Animal Hospital on Monday morning. The rest is a blur. I was supposed to stay for two nights but with the blizzard coming, my Mom picked me up on Tuesday afternoon. Offering hugs, kisses and a lot of love, she was so happy to take me home.

I must admit, I'm treated pretty well. She warms my towels in the dryer, I've been given "can" food during my recovery and I get lots of treats during the day and LOTS of LOVE. Everyone thinks I'm pretty special.

The ladies tell me that the Churchill Chapter supports spaying and neutering. I wish I had known that before they adopted me as their mascot. Last year Sherrell Snodgrass and Beverly Webb donated their time and resources to help out the Veterans at the at the Arkansas Veteran's Home with their kitties. You see, they had adopted some of my friends and while they took really good care of them, funds were not available for sterilization. That's where the ladies came in. As a project of the Chapter the ladies, with the help of FURR took care of the kitties and even got medical treatment for one.

There are many ways in which to help Veteran's, but this was indeed a special gift. The gals still collect cat food for the Veteran's. A delivery was made in December along with toiletries, magazines and money to support their Christmas party.

I think it's time for a nap. Mom...where's my warm towel?

General T. J. Churchill