125th Anniversary Celebration - Frances Louise Hudson Mayes

I want to thank Honorary State Regent Dianne Culbertson for mentioning my project “Reflections of Our Treasured Past,” my blog, the 125th celebrations I organized, and the Ceremonies of Remembrance in her State Regent’s report from this past Continental Congress.  As a result, we have many new followers.  To “catch everyone up” as the saying goes, let me begin by letting you know where we are.

The SCDAR celebrated its 125^th anniversary on May 10, 2018.  I wanted to do something special on that day and came up with the idea of placing a white carnation tied with a blue ribbon on the grave of every deceased state regent that had served the SCDAR at a set time that day.  In addition, I wanted as many SCDAR members to participate in this as possible.

Having received permission from Dianne to proceed, I wrote the script that everyone would begin reading at 3:00.  I researched each state regent’s accomplishments during their tenure and wrote summaries that were all about the same length in order for the carnations to be placed on the respective graves at the same minute of the day.  I began locating the graves of the deceased state regents and contacting the chapters.   For some chapters, multiple members were state regents; therefore, I contacted other chapters in the area to increase the participation.  For some regents, their respective chapter was too far away to conduct the ceremony; therefore, I contacted the chapter nearest to the grave.  Today’s blog post is one of those.  I also encourage you to read the post about Doris Dunn, located in the archives, which shows God’s hand in this process.  It was extraordinary and a cherished story for me.

This was quite the undertaking to make happen, and for awhile, I wasn’t sure it was going to become a reality for every deceased state regent.  You see, I had written all of the summaries for the 31 regents only to have them disappear from my computer.  I had to rewrite all of them while working to contact the chapters and answering questions.  It became very hectic and very stressful while working full time.   I still don’t know what happened to those summaries.  In addition, I had regents that I could not find a chapter willing to participate.  Whew!  In the end, God provided.

Having interrupted the Ceremonies of Remembrance with the wonderful rededications at the SC State House, it is time to continue with these beautiful tributes to the remarkable women who led the SCDAR throughout its 125 years.  Frances Louise Hudson Mayes is one of those remarkable women.  In speaking with one of her great-granddaughters, I learned just what a remarkable woman she was.  She did so much for so many.  She definitely had a servant’s heart and worked tirelessly through the church and church missions to bring a better life to and for others.  Is there any doubt that she would have been touched by the situation of the children of the mountains and want to start a school for them to make a difference in their lives?  It is unfortunate that this blog will not be able to truly convey her essence, her heart, her love for others.  I hope that you will, however, get a sense of it.

Frances Louise Hudson Mayes

Mrs. Francis James

State Regent 1910-1914

#42688

Shared her vision for Tamassee at her first state conference and started fund to build the school during her final state conference

                   30 Nov 1859

                   16 Mar 1923

                   Aged 63

                             Mayesville Black River Cemetery

                             Mayesville, Sumter County, SC

Frances Louise Hudson Mayes was elected State Regent at Greenwood, November 1909, serving from 1910-1914. The outstanding feature of her regency was the completion of the monument to the Partisan Generals, known as the Partisan Monument, which stands on the State House grounds.  Anxious to complete the project during her term of office, and fearing that the Daughters could not raise the required sum and also carry on their state and national work, she personally appeared before the Legislature and made a plea for $2,000.  So entirely did she captivate the lawmakers that thirty minutes after her entry into the hall she had been voted the amount asked. She presided over the dedicatory ceremonies in November 1913.

Senate Chamber, SC State House

Mrs. Mayes organized eight chapters and reported in one year a gain of 123 in state membership. 

While interested in all phases of patriotic work, her heart yearned toward the problem of education for the mountain children, particularly those of South Carolina.  It was from her that the SCDAR not only caught the first vision of what has developed into our splendid Tamassee DAR School, but at her final state conference, a committee to select a site was appointed and funds for the school had been placed in the bank.   Strong hands and willing hearts caught the torch she had thrown, a site was chosen, and the work to begin Tamassee was begun.  Even though she was not in office when Tamassee opened its doors, she did live to see Tamassee established. A portrait of her was hung on the auditorium wall, presented with touching ceremonies by her beloved chapter, Nathanael Greene.  

Sumter's Home Chapter Regent Kathy Barrett

Thank you to the Sumter's Home Chapter for Regent Kathy Barrett and Linda Hawkins for conducting the Ceremony of Remembrance for Mayes.  Even though she was a member of the Nathanael Greene Chapter, she was buried in Mayesville located in Sumter County.  

Sumter's Home Chapter member Linda Hawkins

Thank you, Louise Mayes, for your vision for Tamassee and your efforts that allowed for Tamassee to be able open its doors to so many children.  Even though Tamassee no longer serves “mountain” children, the services the school provides are just as important today, if not more so, than it was when it first started.

125th Anniversary - Rededications of the State House - Bancroft Tablet

Before beginning the rededication of the tablet commemorating the South Carolinians who participated in the Revolutionary War, I want to tell you that this the last of the rededications at the South Carolina State House.  I want to thank Dianne Culbertson, Emily De-Quincey Newman, Nancy Bunch, Sara Stork giving of their time to make the rededications possible.  I hope you enjoyed the new feature of the videos.  I know the next purchase I make will be a good tripod!

I also want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July!  I didn't plan the last two posts to come right before our nation's birthday, but I know who did.  I hope this post and the previous one will inspire you to ponder and celebrate our nation's birthday in a new light and with a renewed sense of purpose.  May your patriotic fervor be evident year round; may be infectious; and may everyone around you "catch it."

first public reading of the Declaration of Independence

Our nation's birthday was brought about with patriotic blood and great sacrifice.  Even at the darkest hour during the war, the light of freedom was shining and gave hope to persevere.  South Carolina's motto is Dum Spiro Spero which means "While I breathe, I hope."  That is exactly what our patriots did, they kept that hope alive in their hearts giving them the strength to persevere, and that perseverance eventually brought about the freedoms that we enjoy today.  Again, I wish you and your family a very Happy Fourth of July!!!

Let us begin the last of the rededications.

On the north stairwell adjacent to the Tablet to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina hangs the tablet honoring the men and women from South Carolina who gave service during the American Revolution.  This memorial has a sad story attached to it concerning one of our state regents.

Script for the Re-dedication Ceremony Monuments, Tablets, and Medallions Placed by the SCDAR at the SC State House

South Carolina State House Grounds

June 13, 2018

Written by Penny Renwick

DIANNE:

On the north wall of the west landing of the stairway up to the rotunda and next to the tablet erected to the South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence hangs the Bancroft tablet.

PENNY:

On March 5, 1942, the Bancroft tablet commemorating the South Carolinians who participated in the Revolutionary War was formally presented to the state.  The program had been arranged by the general assembly and the SCDAR who together made possible the erection of the memorial.

One of the most important pieces of work accomplished during Susie Allan’s regency was securing of money from the South Carolina Legislature for the erection of this tablet.  The idea for the tablet was conceived by Judge Hugh Haynsworth of Sumter who secured the cooperation of the Sumter’s Home Chapter in presenting this project to the SCDAR.  Through the efforts of the state society, state regent, and state historian, the money was secured from the Legislature. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck the SCDAR, when Mrs. Allan was fatally wounded in a car accident returning from a DAR meeting in Aiken.  The event was postponed until the next year.  A cherished wish to see this project completed during her administration, she did get to see the Bancroft Memorial hanging in its place in the State House and had planned much of the program for the day prior to her death.

State Regent Mary Doyle led a meaningful dedication ceremony with a heavy heart that Mrs. Allan was not present but a joyful one in that she had seen her cherished wish come to fruition.

DIANNE:

South Carolina saw more skirmishes and battles than any other state of our country.  Men and women from all walks of life and all regions of the state came together in defense of our fledgling nation.  It took the efforts of everyone of our patriots to ensure the victory at Yorktown.

The SCDAR rededicates the Bancroft Memorial in recognition of the service of the men and women of 1776 who joined together up and down the Atlantic coast not as South Carolinians, Virginians, or Pennsylvanians, but as Americans to stand up to a formidable adversary to bring liberty and justice to all. 

DIANNE:

Our benediction will be given by the Emily DeQuincey Newman Regent of the Columbia Chapter, the first chapter organized in our state which in turn created the state society.

BENEDICTION: EMILY DEQUINCEY NEWMAN

Heavenly Father, as we leave here today we thank you for the opportunity to  remember the work of our state society over its 125 year history here at the South Carolina State House which paid tribute to the men and women of 1776.  We thank You for the men and women, who as John Adams stated, bought liberty for us “at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood” in order for there to be peace for their children. 

We thank You for the members of the SCDAR who have worked toward the greater good these past 125 years during times of war, depressions/recessions, pandemics, and during the highs and lows of our nation’s history. 

We ask that You would make the history that we of today leave for future generations be just as awe inspiring as the history of our beginnings.  We ask that You would make the character of the women who have led us in our past be unmistakable in our leaders of the future.  We ask that You would make the enduring leadership of our past as evident as we move forward in our next century of service to God, Home, and Country.

Finally, we ask that You would continue make each of us, as citizens of these United States, worthy of the trust You have placed in us to serve God, Home and Country.

In Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.

DIANNE:

For more information on the tributes to the men and women from our Revolutionary past here at the State House, I invite you to follow Penny’s blog at Reflections of Our Treasured Past.  We thank you for taking the time to be with us via these video presentations.  This concludes the Rededications of the tributes located at our State House.

The War Between the States is often referred to as the Civil War; however, the first civil war was actually the Revolutionary War.   This civil war was extremely evident here in South Carolina often pitting neighbor against neighbor and re-igniting old feuds and animosities.  Those of both sides organized militia and often engaged each other.  The countryside was devastated with raids and reprisals being the order of the day.  What most people do not realize is that the most battles and skirmishes of the American Revolution occurred right here in South Carolina even though the first shot heard round the world was fired hundreds of miles away.   Not only that, in 1780 and 1781, South Carolina saw more battles and deaths than any of the other former colonies had during the entire war!

The Battle of Lexington

History books focus on the northern colonies because much of the dissent began in Massachusetts with the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Lexington and Concord.  In addition, George Washington's troops and efforts were focused in that area, and the Continental Congresses took place in Philadelphia.  Most people do not realize that the effort to preserve the memories and actions of the American Revolution did not get its start until after the War Between the States.  Because South Carolina was the first state to succeed from the Union prior to breakout of the war, South Carolina was intentionally left out except in the most extreme circumstances.

So just how many battles and skirmishes occurred here in South Carolina?  Well, over 400 battles and skirmishes are known.  No, that was not a typo.  There are over 400 known battles and skirmishes that occurred on South Carolina's soil.  Charleston June 1776, Kings Mountain October 1780, and Cowpens January 1781 are considered  three of the top ten battles to take place during the American Revolution.

According to the Journal of the American Revolution, Charleston is often regarded as a minor action; however, the failure of the British to take Charleston forced the British to focus their efforts in the north for the next several years.  It was this battle that swayed the delegates of Continental Congress that victory with the British could be achieved which led to the approval and signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Battle of Sullivan's Island

Kings Mountain was a complete annihilation of loyalist militia which forced the British to revise their southern strategy because it demonstrated that their overextended forces could be defeated.  In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the Revolution."  Thomas Jefferson called it, "The turn of the tide of success."  President Herbert Hoover while at Kings Mountain said, " This is a place of inspiring memories.  Here less than a thousand men, inspired by the urge of freedom, defeated a superior force entrenched in this strategic position.  This small band of Patriots turned back a dangerous invasion well designed to separate and dismember the united Colonies.  It was a little army and a little battle, but is was a mighty portent.  History has done scant justice to its significance, which rightly should place it beside Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Yorktown."

Battle of Kings Mountain

Cowpens was a sudden defeat of a substantial British force that stopped the British offensive momentum in the south and renewed the spirits of American forces which initiated the campaign that brought the war to an end.  In the opinion of John Marshall, "Seldom has a battle, in which greater numbers were not engaged, been so important in its consequences as that of Cowpens.  It gave General Nathanael Greene his change to conduct a campaign of dazzling shiftiness that led Cornwallis by an unbroken chain of consequences to the catastrophe at Yorktown which finally separated American from the British crown."

Battle of Cowpens

With over 400 known skirmishes and battles, South Carolinians made great sacrifices for the cause of liberty.  The Revolutionary War in South Carolina was very violent and brought about a great loss of life. South Carolinians made significant contributions to the patriot victory and our nation's freedom even though South Carolina patriots were not given the credit they deserve.