Thomson Guards Dispatch
2025
Tom Holley, Editor
January 2025 Dispatch
Next Meeting - January 28, 2025
Leadership in the Confederacy by Dr Paul W. Noe
Dr. Paul W. Noe is the pastor of the Sweetwater Baptist Church in North Augusta, South Carolina. He is a native of York, South Carolina. He is a graduate of North Greenville University (A. A.), Winthrop University (B. A. in English), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and Luther Rice Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). He has been a pastor for over thirty years serving churches in Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He has been pastor of the Sweetwater Baptist Church since July 2005.
Dr. Noe is also a writer, inspirational speaker and devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. To further his commitment to his faith, he has authored at least eight books being sold by Amazon.com. He is married to Bobbi Summers Noe who is a second grade teacher at North Augusta Elementary School. They have two children – Alyss (Pronounced Elise) - and Chandler. He is also a member of the General Gary SCV Camp in Edgefield, S.C. |
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SCV Bank Note: Paid in Full
Announcement from Walter Donald Kennedy, Commander –in-Chief, SCV 2024-2026
Announcement from Walter Donald Kennedy, Commander –in-Chief, SCV 2024-2026
I am pleased to announce to the Sons of Confederate Veterans membership that the outstanding balance on the museum banknote is now fully paid! As of December 27, 2024, Heritage Bank of Columbia, TN, was paid $885,516.54 to liquidate our obligation for this loan. This payment was made possible due to the generosity of anonymous benefactors.
Over the past 18 months, the Thomson Guards also did its part
in reducing the amount of debt for the national SCV.
Our camp originally made one large donation, then pledged to
contribute $60 per month, both totaling $3,560.
We can be proud that we successfully benefited the SCV’s
National Confederate Museum through our dedication to the SCV Charge.
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Commander’s Post — THANK YOU!
In November/December, Compatriot Damon Davis took the lead in the clothing collection for the North Carolina hurricane victims. Not only did he collect and store all the items but he then volunteered to transport those to a church center in Arden, NC. Thank you, Damon.
Compatriot Terry Johnson supplied the camp with the beautifully crafted wooden folk art CSA flags. He is quite the artist. We have sold a fair number of the flags and collected $400 so far. Terry also supplied seven iron crosses for the cemetery. Thank you, Terry.
Compatriot David Moore has always been our liaison to the Thomson Memorial Cemetery. With his continued leadership, after over three years of restoration by the camp and camp wives, David organized and held the dedication service. Thank you, David.
After each camp meeting, Compatriot Lewis Smith writes an overview report and sends it to the local newspapers with photographs where those have almost always been published. This has lent great exposure for our efforts to the community. He always attends work days, our camp meetings and he attends the Georgia Division SCV meetings. Thank you, Lewis.
Compatriot Ron Awe has shared his talents in the Thomson Memorial Cemetery where he took down broken walls, cleaned the bricks, and the rebuilt the walls. This was extremely difficult work. The walls are beautiful. Thank you, Ron.
A year ago, Compatriot Jimmy Crawley led the dedication service to his ancestor at the Old Wrightsboro Methodist Church. He did a wonderful job organizing this outstanding event and he is a CSA National Guardian. He attends our Georgia Division conference. Thank you, Jimmy.
Our friend Phil Turner, the Gray Poet, video tapes nearly every camp meeting where he also reads a sample of his beautiful poetry. He is on constant standby to provide a great history lesson to the camp. Thank you, Phil.
Earlier in the year, Compatriots Barrett Smith and Sammy McCorkle led the work efforts to restore the Stanford brothers lost and dilapidated wilderness cemetery. It is now a beautiful cemetery we can all be proud of. Barrett became a CSA National Guardian. Thank you, Barrett and Sammy.
Compatriot Patrick Lunceford continues to guard and restore the Sturgis Brothers cemetery located on his property. He also became a National Guardian. Thank you, Patrick.
I want to point out Compatriot Mike Lacefield for teaching us how to properly clean heastones. We can be proud that not only did we do the work but it was completed correctly. Also, Mike guards our camp flags and he attended both the Georgia and National reunions. Thank you, Mike.
As Camp Commander, I can honestly say that it is easy to lead any group when there are so many individuals willing to get involved with activities. As a camp, you have worked hard and you have been very generous with your financial resources. Thank you, one and all.
I would be extremely remiss if I did not mention what I call the fabulous three. They are Karen Holley, Dollie Lacefield and JoAnn Smith. Karen is totally dedicated to both the Dispatch and the website. Dollie and JoAnn work on every community project. And, all three attend and support our meetings. You know what they say, “Behind every good man there is a better woman.” Or, something like that. Thank you, Karen, Dollie and JoAnn.
Is it any wonder that Camp 91 Thomson Guards was recognized as the SCV Georgia Division
CAMP OF THE YEAR 2023-2024?
Please continue your tremendous loyalty and efforts. Sincerely, Tom Holley
Compatriot Terry Johnson supplied the camp with the beautifully crafted wooden folk art CSA flags. He is quite the artist. We have sold a fair number of the flags and collected $400 so far. Terry also supplied seven iron crosses for the cemetery. Thank you, Terry.
Compatriot David Moore has always been our liaison to the Thomson Memorial Cemetery. With his continued leadership, after over three years of restoration by the camp and camp wives, David organized and held the dedication service. Thank you, David.
After each camp meeting, Compatriot Lewis Smith writes an overview report and sends it to the local newspapers with photographs where those have almost always been published. This has lent great exposure for our efforts to the community. He always attends work days, our camp meetings and he attends the Georgia Division SCV meetings. Thank you, Lewis.
Compatriot Ron Awe has shared his talents in the Thomson Memorial Cemetery where he took down broken walls, cleaned the bricks, and the rebuilt the walls. This was extremely difficult work. The walls are beautiful. Thank you, Ron.
A year ago, Compatriot Jimmy Crawley led the dedication service to his ancestor at the Old Wrightsboro Methodist Church. He did a wonderful job organizing this outstanding event and he is a CSA National Guardian. He attends our Georgia Division conference. Thank you, Jimmy.
Our friend Phil Turner, the Gray Poet, video tapes nearly every camp meeting where he also reads a sample of his beautiful poetry. He is on constant standby to provide a great history lesson to the camp. Thank you, Phil.
Earlier in the year, Compatriots Barrett Smith and Sammy McCorkle led the work efforts to restore the Stanford brothers lost and dilapidated wilderness cemetery. It is now a beautiful cemetery we can all be proud of. Barrett became a CSA National Guardian. Thank you, Barrett and Sammy.
Compatriot Patrick Lunceford continues to guard and restore the Sturgis Brothers cemetery located on his property. He also became a National Guardian. Thank you, Patrick.
I want to point out Compatriot Mike Lacefield for teaching us how to properly clean heastones. We can be proud that not only did we do the work but it was completed correctly. Also, Mike guards our camp flags and he attended both the Georgia and National reunions. Thank you, Mike.
As Camp Commander, I can honestly say that it is easy to lead any group when there are so many individuals willing to get involved with activities. As a camp, you have worked hard and you have been very generous with your financial resources. Thank you, one and all.
I would be extremely remiss if I did not mention what I call the fabulous three. They are Karen Holley, Dollie Lacefield and JoAnn Smith. Karen is totally dedicated to both the Dispatch and the website. Dollie and JoAnn work on every community project. And, all three attend and support our meetings. You know what they say, “Behind every good man there is a better woman.” Or, something like that. Thank you, Karen, Dollie and JoAnn.
Is it any wonder that Camp 91 Thomson Guards was recognized as the SCV Georgia Division
CAMP OF THE YEAR 2023-2024?
Please continue your tremendous loyalty and efforts. Sincerely, Tom Holley