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Awards Presented to
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Camp 91 and its Community Project,
the Thomson Memorial Cemetery
September 17, 2025
Mr. Adam Southern, Executive Director
Sons of Confederate Veterans
P. O. Box 59
Columbia, TN 38402
Subject: Ladies Appreciation Medal Recommendation for Mrs. Karen D. Holley, Mrs. Dollie M. Lacefield and Mrs. JoAnn Smith.
Dear Director Southern,
It is a great honor for me to recommend the Ladies Appreciation medal to the following women. I have listed just a few of their major achievements while assisting our camp, our division and our Sons of Confederate Veterans. Women like these are imperative to the success of our efforts. Thank you for the consideration.
The three women are listed in alphabetical order:
Camp 91 Thomson Guards, 5th Brigade is in the Georgia Division, Army of Tennessee.
Best regards,
Tom Holley, Commander, GA 5th Brigade
706-466-3678, [email protected]
www.thomsonguardscamp91gascv.com
Mr. Adam Southern, Executive Director
Sons of Confederate Veterans
P. O. Box 59
Columbia, TN 38402
Subject: Ladies Appreciation Medal Recommendation for Mrs. Karen D. Holley, Mrs. Dollie M. Lacefield and Mrs. JoAnn Smith.
Dear Director Southern,
It is a great honor for me to recommend the Ladies Appreciation medal to the following women. I have listed just a few of their major achievements while assisting our camp, our division and our Sons of Confederate Veterans. Women like these are imperative to the success of our efforts. Thank you for the consideration.
The three women are listed in alphabetical order:
- Karen D. Holley - Mrs. Holley is the wife of the previous Thomson Guards commander of eight years, Thomas Holley, SCV #296940. She has helped him every step of the way including with his work now as Georgia 5th Brigade Commander. While Commander Holley collects and edits all materials, Mrs. Holley puts together the camp website, the camp newsletter, and the meeting agenda. She spends countless hours on these projects. She attends the camp meetings and the national reunions. Karen is an active member of the UDC and is fully committed and supportive of our efforts.
- Dollie M. Lacefield - Mrs. Lacefield is the wife of Michael Lacefield, SCV #297211. Mike is a Vietnam Veteran that suffers effects of Agent Orange. Dollie must drive him to most any activity. Years ago when the Thomson Guards took over restoration of the historic Thomson Memorial Cemetery, the couple immediately began taking gravestone restoration and preservation classes. They then taught camp members proper procedures to clean and restore the 110 Confederate Veterans’ graves and Thomson’s two Confederate Monuments. Their work continues elsewhere around Georgia. Ms. Lacefield also helps Color Guard Sergeant Lacefield care for the camp flags. She attends every camp meeting and assists with the Confederate Memorial Day service. She attends camp meetings and the national reunions. Dollie is an active member of the UDC.
- JoAnn H. Smith - Mrs. Smith is the wife of Camp 91, Lt. Commander Lewis Smith, SCV #298339. JoAnn is active in all aspects of camp work. She attends and helps recruitment efforts at local festivals. She helps work the Confederate Memorial Day service. JoAnn helps with the cleaning of both Confederate Monuments and cemetery restoration. She attends each camp meeting and is well established in community politics to our great benefit. She encourages our best efforts.
Camp 91 Thomson Guards, 5th Brigade is in the Georgia Division, Army of Tennessee.
Best regards,
Tom Holley, Commander, GA 5th Brigade
706-466-3678, [email protected]
www.thomsonguardscamp91gascv.com
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David Moore presents award to
Lynn Davis -- July 2025 |
David Moore presents award to
Karen Holley -- July 2025 |
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Phil Turner, the Gray Poet,
Was Presented the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award and Medal by the Captain John Wilson Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, during the Thomson Guards, Camp 91 Confederate Memorial Day Commemoration, Thomson Memorial Cemetery, Thomson, Georgia Saturday, April 15, 2023 |
Philip Jefferson Turner was born in Milan, Tennessee to Lemuel J and Virginia Turner. His father was the head of the Music Dept. at nearby Bethel College. Unfortunately College professors had a limited income in those days, so in 1955 he moved his growing family of 5 to Harlem, Georgia to take a civil service job at Ft. Gordon. Phil spent an ideal childhood growing up in his family of now seven in this charming Southern town. Phil graduated from Harlem High School and then went on to earn a B.Ed. from the University of Georgia and a M.Ed. from Western Kentucky University. Towards the end of his business career Phil returned to Harlem to enjoy the retired life. Phil is married to Jeanne Turner and they have a son, daughter and one grandchild.
Phil is both a poet and historian. His first poetry was about the Confederacy. It is so realistic you would think he had actually witnessed and experienced what he wrote. It is also true of his poetry about WWII and Vietnam.
Phil has an abiding interest in Historic Preservation. Over the years he has conducted and recorded over 200 interviews with WWII veterans to preserve the stories of this fading generation, most of whom are now gone. He has also interviewed a number of Vietnam veterans. Phil has spoken around the Southeast and shared this history. He has also interviewed and recorded oral histories of well-known Augusta and Columbia County names to preserve local history. He and Bill Morris were the force behind the Harlem Bank Project which was the rescue and preservation of bank documents(some dating back to as early as 1905) that were discovered above the original vault in the old Bank of Harlem.
Phil has served as Chairman and on the committee for the Harlem Museum and is a member at large of the Columbia County Historic Commission. The 2022 Oliver Hardy Festival was dedicated to him. He is the official Historian and Poet Laureate of Harlem.
Phil is both a poet and historian. His first poetry was about the Confederacy. It is so realistic you would think he had actually witnessed and experienced what he wrote. It is also true of his poetry about WWII and Vietnam.
Phil has an abiding interest in Historic Preservation. Over the years he has conducted and recorded over 200 interviews with WWII veterans to preserve the stories of this fading generation, most of whom are now gone. He has also interviewed a number of Vietnam veterans. Phil has spoken around the Southeast and shared this history. He has also interviewed and recorded oral histories of well-known Augusta and Columbia County names to preserve local history. He and Bill Morris were the force behind the Harlem Bank Project which was the rescue and preservation of bank documents(some dating back to as early as 1905) that were discovered above the original vault in the old Bank of Harlem.
Phil has served as Chairman and on the committee for the Harlem Museum and is a member at large of the Columbia County Historic Commission. The 2022 Oliver Hardy Festival was dedicated to him. He is the official Historian and Poet Laureate of Harlem.
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