Decatur Co. TN
From Lillye Younger, People of Action (Decatur County Printers, 1983).
Special thanks to Constance Collett and the estate of Lillye Younger for permission to make this web page.
(photo caption) The newly formed Captain Nathaniel Wesson UDC Chapter has 10 members who are descendants or relatives of the late Captain. These members are, L to R., Mrs. Ruth D. Townsend, great great niece; Mrs. Dorothy Collett, great granddaughter; Mrs. Ruth W. Hardy, great granddaughter; Mrs. Naomi Jones, great grandaughter; Mrs. Penny Bell, great great granddaughter; Mrs. Aline Atkin, granddaughter; Mrs. Lorraine Hargis, great granddaughter; Mrs. Barbie Hickerson, great great granddaughter; and Mrs. Constance Collett, great niece. Miss Mary Frances Odle (not pictured) is also a great granddaughter.
(photo caption)UDC Officer., left to right, bottom row, Mrs. Jewell Tinker, Secretary: Mrs. Judy Townsend, Second Vice-President; Mrs. Ruth Dodson Townsend, President; Mrs. Doris Scott, First Vice President; Mr.. Faye Inman, Third Vice President; Top row, L. to R., Mrs. Marjorie Alexander, Treasurer; Mrs. Barbara Hickerson, Recorder of Crosses; Mrs. Lillye Younger, Reporter; Mrs. Linda Watkins, Chaplain; Miss Elizabeth Holland, Historian; Miss Betty Blackstock, Magazine Chairman, and Mrs. Nancy Jones, Registrar.
(photo caption)The United Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial to ancestors of chapter members of the Captain Nathaniel A. Wesson chapter was dedicated recently on the lawn of the Decatur County Courthouse. The memorial honors the late Ruth Dodson Townsend, the chapter's charter president, who died last year. Shown are Mrs. Doris Scott, left, current chapter president who gave the memorial for Mrs. Ruth Townsend, Mrs. Jewel Tinker, and Mrs. Blanche Tuten, who gave the dedication for the ancestors.
Mrs. Linnie Alexander Garner of Lexington was presented a "Reel Daughter's" pin at an award dinner of the chapter. A real daughter is a woman whose father fought for the Confederate States of America in the War Between the States. She is a member of the Parsons Chapter. Mrs. Garner is 85 years of age.
Her father, John Wriley Alexander, entered the CSA as a private and soon arose to the rank of sergeant. He was offered the command of Captain but refused. He was wounded at Shiloh when a shell burst and left him permanently blind in his right eye. He was also wounded in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky.
The objectives of the United Daughters of the Confederacy are historical, educational, benevolent, memorial and patriotic.
To be eligible for membership one must be at least 16 years of age and descendant of men or women who served honorably in the Confederate States of America.
The Daughters of the American Revolution are promoting this week as "Constitution Week" in Decatur County, and Mayor Tim Boaz has signed a proclamation declaring such an observance in Parsons. Mayor Boaz is shown during the signing ceremony with Allie Mae Stevens, Regent of the Peter Houston Chapter of the DAR, and Lillye Younger, Constitution Week Chairman. The observance of Constitution Week began in 1956 and has been followed every year since that time in observance of the basis of our Country's cornerstone of freedom and law.
The D.A.R. meeting was held Sunday afternoon, August 25, for the newly organized Chapter, which has been given the name of "PETER HOUSTON CHAPTER." A majority of the members were present for the occasion, also one new member.
Mrs. Allen D. O'Brien, Past State Regent, installed the officers, using a very patriotic ritual.
Mrs. Walter Hughey King, State Regent, gave an inspirational welcome and advised the members of future activities.
Other visitors were, Mrs. Oscar F. Noel, Jr., State Correspondence Secretary, and Mrs. Gordon Turner, State Conservationalist.
(photo caption)NEW PARSONS D.A.R. OFFICERS — Leaders of the newly organized Peter Houston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Parsons are, from left, Mrs. Faye D___, regent, Mrs. Linda Watkins, vice regent, Mrs. Ruth Jennings Townsend, chaplain, Mrs. Helen Garrett, secretary, Mrs. Sue Carrington, treasurer, Mrs. Ruth E. Townsend, registrar, Mrs. Jewel Tinker, historian, and Mrs _____ Smith, librarian.
Parsons Mayor J. L. Lancaster, seated, signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week, marking the 188 anniversary of the Constitution of the United States. The event is sponsored by the Peter Houston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Lillye Younger, Constitution Chairman; and Mrs. Billy J. Stevens, DAR Regent observe the signing.
Members of the Peter Houston D.A.R. Chapter dedicated a monument honoring their ancestors in the courtyard of Decaturville Courthouse on Sunday, July 4.
Mrs. Allie Mae Stevens, Chapter Regent, was in charge of the ceremony. Spiraling the historical event, Mrs. Joy Veazey sang The Star Spangled Banner as the crowd assisted.
Mrs. Stevens welcomed each one present and called on Mrs. Helen Garrett; Chapter Chaplain, who gave the invocation, which was followed by a Salute to the Christian Flag, led by Mrs. Nancy Jones, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Ruth Dodson Townsend, State Flag Chairman. A brief history of the chapter was presented by Mrs. Jewel H. Townsend, Chapter Vice Regent. The dedication was led by Mrs. Linda Watkins, USA Bicentennial Chairman.
The unveiling of the monument was under the directions of Mrs. Doris Scott, Bicentennial Committee Member; Mrs. Zelma O'Neal and Mrs. Sue Carrington, Chapter members. Mrs. Blanche Tuten called the roll of the members who placed a white carnation on the green cross in memory of their ancestor. The first Regent, Mrs. Faye Jordan Dailey, was honored by Mrs. Nancy Ivey, Chapter member and the deceased member, Mrs. Cozette Houston Hartsfield was honored.
Mrs. Ruth Jennings Townsend, Chapter Registrar, read a poem and Mrs. Margaret Hinshaw Maples, Chapter Parliamentarian, led in prayer.
Climaxing the eventful program County Judge Hardin Smith made some remarks and Mrs. Lillye Washburn Younger, Bicentennial Committee Member, gave the benediction.
Serving as color guards were Nancy Jones, Chapter Recorder; Jonetta Vise, and Alice Ann Reid, Chapter members.
(photo caption)Parsons Mayor J. L. Lancaster, left, and Decaturville Mayor Ralph Moore, right, signed proclamations declaring the week of September 17 through September 23, 1974 as Constitution Week. The event is sponsored by the Peter Houston DAR. Present for the signing were Mrs. Lillye Younger, left, constitution chairman, and Mrs. Allie Mae Stevens, right, chapter regent.
Mrs. Robert Watkins, a member of Peter Houston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, has received an appointment from the President General of the National Society of the DAR to serve as a Page at the 81st Session of the Continental Congress which will convene in Washington, D.C. April 16th to 22nd.
In 1968 Mrs. Watkins assisted in organizing the Peter Houston Chapter and served as its first Vice-Regent and Program chairman. Since that time she has served as Regent for two years and as chairman of chapter committees on Membership, Junior-Membership, Genealogical Records, DAR Schools and as a member of the Lineage Research Committee.
Sue is currently Chapter Registrar, State Co-Chairman of Junior Membership and State Chairman of Constitution Week. In 1971 she served as delegate to State Conference and to Continental Congress. At the 1972 State Conference she served as teller on the Elections Committee, was elected Secretary of the Regents Club and is a charter member of the Chairman's Association of the Tennessee Society of the DAR.
Mrs. Watkins is a member of the First Baptist Church of Parsons where she teaches a Sunday School class of young married women, is a soloist in the Sanctuary Choir, Secretary of the Church Music committee, a member of the Flower committee, Day Care Center committee, and a member of the Edna Mae Franks Missionary Circle.
Besides her church work, she is very active in her community. Sue serves as Associational Director of the Decatur County Girl Scouts, Co-Chairman of the PTA Membership committee, a charter member of the Decatur County Business and Professional Women's Club having served as First Vice-President and chairman of the Personal Development, and Foundations committees. Sue is a member of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society and is a past president of the Young Matron's Garden Club and of the Parsons Book Club.
Mrs. Watkins is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Tinker of Parsons. Sue is married to Robert Watkins, also of Parsons, and is the mother of four children: April, Robert, John and Gregory Watkins.
