MISSISSIPPI CofC HOLDS

                                                 51st ANNUAL DIVISION

                                                        CONVENTION

  The Mississippi Division Children of the Confederacy held its 51st Annual Division Convention on June 15, 2002, in Canton, Mississippi, at the Old Madison County Jail.  Hosts for the Convention were CofC chapters Jefferson Davis #521 of Hattiesburg and Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912 of Canton and UDC Chapters Nathan Bedford Forrest #422 of Hattiesburg and Capt. Samuel J. Ridley #2430 of Canton.

   Business Session, Memorial Service and Luncheon were all held on Saturday.  Highlights of the business session, at which Division President Kathryn Hudson presided, included reports of Officers, Committee Chairmen and Chapters.  Anne Pitre, a member of Margaret Davis Hayes #520, was awarded the Mildred Taylor Scholarship, and Cheri Cruso, a member of Bessie Hunt Dantzler, was awarded the Warren G. King Scholarship.  The Division voted to make contributions to the Buck$ for Book$ program at Beauvoir, the Madison County Historical Society, the UDC's Mildred Richards Taylor Memorial Scholarship which was established in memory of the former Division Director, the CofC's Golden Anniversary Scholarship and the UDC Division's Blanch Burrell Scholarship.  A new Division Award honoring former Division President and Ex-Vice President General Ruthie Murdock was accepted - the new award is to the chapter purchasing the greatest amount of insignia.  56 members and guests attended the Convention.  The Memorial wreath was placed at the Confederate Monument in Canton Cemetery by Division Chaplain, Haliegh Stewart.

   Officers for the 2002-2003 term were elected and installed by Mississippi Division UDC President Myra Sandidge.  They are:

Elizabeth Johnson, Margaret Davis Hayes #520, President

Samantha Cowart, Nathan Bedford Forrest #560, Vice President

Anne Katherine Cole, Dixie Heroes #917, Second Vice President

Cheri Cruso, Bessie Hunt Dantzler #14, Third Vice President

Rachel Summerlin, Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912, Secretary

Eleanor Johnson, Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Treasurer

Quent Fairchild, Jefferson Davis #521, Historian

Anna Smith, Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Chaplain

Amanda Ivers, Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912,Custodian

    Kathryn Hudson was elected chair of the Nominating Committee for the 2002-03 year.  Samantha Cowart conducted the Division Catechism Quiz. 

    Division Director, Rebecca Fairchild, presented certificates to the  following "award winning " chapters:

Mrs. R. W. Hall Loving Cup to chapter with greatest increase in membership: 

         McGehee Rifles #494, Cleveland

         Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912, Canton

Captain Thomas Cortez Rhodes Trophy to the Chapter Director submitting the earliest report:

         Charlene Barr, Director of McGehee Rifles #494, Cleveland

Scrapbook Award

Yearbook Award

Miss Myrtilla Given Award to the chapter giving the most books on Southern or Confederate history to libraries:

         Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Gulfport

Mrs. John C. Longest Award to the chapter spending the most money for books on Southern or Confederate history for libraries:

         Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Gulfport

Mrs. W. R. Coleman Loving Cup to the Chapter organized with the greatest number of new members:

        Jefferson Addison Hayes - Davis #932, Southaven

Deborah Lum Award to the chapter with the greatest attendance at the Annual Division Convention, exclusive of the host Chapters:

         Bessie Hunt Dantzler #14, Biloxi

Distance Award to the chapter traveling the greatest distance to division convention (Miles x # of members):

         Bessie Hunt Dantzler #14, Biloxi

Margaret Murdock Award to chapter submitting the best patriotic activities report:

         Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Gulfport

Frances Johnson Campbell Award to the chapter submitting the best civic activities report:

         Bessie Hunt Dantzler #14, Biloxi

Ellen Rodgers-Smith Award to the chapter submitting the best report of historical and educational activities:

          Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Gulfport

T.W. Crigler Loving Cup to the most outstanding chapter based on the Crigler points criterian:

          Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912, Canton

         

Superior Chapter:

          Margaret Davis Hayes #520, Gulfport

Honor Roll Chapters:

          Bessie Hunt  Dantlzer #14, Biloxi

          Jefferson Davis #521, Hattiesburg

          Margaret Sarah Ridley Gooch #912, Canton