Caroline S. Coleman 537, Children of the Confederacy, had the privilege of dedicating a memorial marker for Confederate soldier Thomas Calvin Chumley on Saturday, November 21, 2015, at the Cedar Shoals Baptist Church cemetery in Enoree, SC. Thomas Calvin Chumley is one of the Confederate ancestors of four chapter members of Caroline S. Coleman 537: Sumter (Chapter President), Hampton (Chapter Chaplain), Georgia Grey, (Chapter Historian) and Charlotte Chumley. Hampton and Georgia Grey also serve as SC Division officers of the Children of the Confederacy. Hampton is the SC Division Historian and Georgia Grey is the SC Division Recording Secretary. The Chumley family purchased and installed the iron cross marker and then gave the honor to Caroline S. Coleman 537 to dedicate the marker with a ceremony conducted by the chapter members. Before the ceremony began, Charlotte Chumley passed out programs. Sumter Chumley presided over the ceremony, and Hampton Chumley prayed for the event. The 16th SC Color Guard of Honor enhanced the dignity of the ceremony by posting the Colors, firing a gun salute, conducting the canteen ceremony and retiring the Colors. Jackson Tucker, Chapter Custodian (and SC Division CofC Chaplain) served as Drummer Boy with the 16th SC Color Guard of Honor and led in the pledges. One of the most moving parts of the ceremony was the reading of a portion of Scripture from the Family Bible of Thomas Calvin Chumley by Judge Rob Chumley, father of Sumter, Hampton, Georgia Grey and Charlotte. Thomas Calvin Chumley purchased the Bible in 1875 for the price of $7. SC State Representative, the Honorable Bill Chumley, grandfather of Sumter, Hampton, Georgia Grey and Charlotte, addressed the assembled group and told of similarities in conditions in the country at the time of the War for Southern Independence to the conditions in our country today. He told of his admiration for his ancestor, Thomas Calvin Chumley and his noble service. Sumter, Hampton and Georgia Grey presented the dedication ritual. Tammy Chumley, mother of the four Chumley children, and Charlotte unveiled the marker. Georgia Grey and Charlotte placed a floral arrangement on the grave. All of the girls from Caroline S. Coleman 537 in attendance placed individual flowers on the grave, and the boys in attendance placed flags on the grave. The floral arrangements were prepared by Tammy Chumley. Georgia Grey wore a dress that was made by her grandmother, and Charlotte wore a dress that was made by her great-grandmother. It was an honor to be a part of this solemn occasion, remembering this brave man for his noble service to our country. At the end of the ceremony for Thomas Calvin Chumley, the group traveled to Simpsonville, South Carolina, to dedicate the memorial marker of John Goodwin Garrett, ancestor of the Chumley family on their mother’s side of the family, at the cemetery of the Unity Baptist Church. Following that ceremony, the group proceeded to The Museum and Library of Confederate History, Greenville, SC, to honor ten veterans in a Veterans’ Appreciation Ceremony. At the end of the Veterans’ Appreciation Ceremony, a reception was held for the honored veterans. A cake bearing the picture of Thomas Calvin Chumley (in edible icing) was served. Thomas Hampton Chumley had the honor of cutting the first piece of the cake bearing the likeness of the ancestor for whom he is named. November 21, 2015, was a day that the members of Caroline S. Coleman 537, CofC, will never forget!
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