United Daughters of the Confederacy
Ransom-Sherrill Chapter #653 Organized: March 18, 1903 Chartered: June 16, 1903
Newton, North Carolina
Articles & Videos by our Members
United Daughters of the Confederacy Ransom Sherrill Chapter April 24, 2019 Donation to the Historical Association of Catawba County
​
Local Newton Chapter "Ransom-Sherrill United Daughters of the Confederacy" president, Mrs. Marlene (James) Stewart presented a substantial monetary donation to Interim Director of "Historical Association of Catawba County," Bo Teague on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
This event is pictured in front of the 1861 restored Confederate Flag on display at the Museum. This special flag was sown by wives of husbands serving in the 12th NC Reg Co A also know as the "Catawba Rifles."
"Ransom-Sherrill UDC" was formed in 1903 by the same lady who started the famous "Old Soldiers Reunion" in 1906, Mrs. Fannie Ransom-Williams. Mrs. Williams was the daughter and niece of two local Confederate generals and wife of an early Newton newspaper publisher.
Our local UDC Newton chapter boasts two past Presidents General, the late Mrs. Cecile Brawley (Glenn) Long and the late Mrs. Mazelle Setzer (Robert) Smith.
As the only remaining UDC Chapter of five that were once active in Catawba County, "Ransom-Sherrill UDC" is celebrating 116 years of honoring and remembering Southern History, Culture, Patriotism and Education.
This donation is given in memory and honor of all men and women who have and continue to support all patriotic endeavors and all branches of the United States Military.
"Real" Daughter, Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice passed away at about 3 p m September 1, 2014 in Hospice House in High Point, N. C.
The "North Carolina Sons of Confederate Veterans" and the "North Carolina United Daughters of the Confederacy" participated in the funeral service for Mrs. Rice.
Mrs. Rice will be missed as she and her story touched so many Southern lives.
United Daughters of the Confederacy North Carolina Division 115th Annual Convention”—Recognized Honoree—African-American “REAL” Daughter, Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice
Written and published by Marlene Stewart, Pres. Ransom-Sherrill UDC Chapter, Newton, NC 2011
Many American citizens are unaware that there is a very small “club” of elderly women nation-wide who are actually the daughters of Confederate soldiers. These “Real” Daughters are honored by the educational, historical, patriotic, memorial society called the United Daughters of the Confederacy. UDC members across the country send the “Real” Daughters gifts, cards and checks on their birthdays. For many of these women, just knowing their fathers are recognized for their Southern Confederacy service is the greatest reward.
UDC is the oldest patriotic organization in our country because of its connections with two statewide organizations that came into existence as early as 1890-the DOC Daughters of the Confederacy in Missouri and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Confederate Soldiers Home in Tennessee. Modern UDC was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia on July 18, 1919.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy North Carolina Division held its 115th Annual Convention October 5-8, 2011 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina. The program emphasized the memory of the sesquicentennial “One Hundred and Fifty Years of Remembrance” of the War Between the States.
Ransom-Sherrill Chapter- United Daughters of Confederacy of Newton, NC was represented by Chapter President, Mrs. Marlene (James A.) Stewart. Mrs. Stewart is also the District II Director representing Daughters from Western North Carolina. Mrs. Stewart had the honor of being introduced to a “Real” Daughter of the Confederacy, Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice. Mrs. Rice is a member Guilford 301 United Daughters of the Confederacy of Durham, North Carolina.
One local story of an African-American “Real” Daughter of the UDC is included below:
Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice, 89 is African-American. She was the youngest and favorite child of her father, Mr. Cliff Harrington Wary Clyburn. He was born into slavery and he fought for the Confederate Army from 1863 to1865. He was born in Lancaster County but later moved to Union County. Official documents say Mr. Clyburn volunteered for the Confederacy with Capt. Frank Clyburn. According to the pension documents, Mr. Wary Clyburn served as the bodyguard for Frank Clyburn in Company E of the 12th regiment of South Carolina. Wary carried Frank on his shoulders to rescue him during intense fighting. Wary also served as a special aid to General Robert E. Lee.
When Mrs. Rice was young, her father told her his story. He said he ran away with his master's son to serve in the war. He died in 1930 when his little girl (Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice) was just about ten years old. As an adult, Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice, went from one archive to the next (including Washington DC) trying to prove her father's story of service to the Confederacy. Eventually, Mrs. Rice was able to find her father's 1926 Civil War pension records. African-Americans were not formally enlisted until the very end of the war making documentation a challenge. After 1926 many other former slaves also got pensions, according to his daughter.