On January 23, 2016, the John D. Kennedy Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy held a luncheon at the Kershaw House to honor Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and to celebrate the birth date of Generals John D. Kennedy and Joseph B. Kershaw.  Guest speaker Alan Roberson from the Confederate Relic Room in Columbia presented a program on “The Burning of Columbia.”

Also, President Susan Baskin, Vice President Ann Martin and Registrar Debra Witt presented a very prestigious award—the Winnie Davies Award—to Mrs. Mary Downie Hamer Knowlton.

The Winnie Davis medal is awarded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to honor members of the Organization and to express appreciation to them for their contributions beyond the required duties, excluding the realm of history.  The medal is named for Varina Anne Davis, the youngest child of Jefferson and Varina Davis.

Mrs. Knowlton has contributed many services as a member of the chapter.  She headed a project to adopt several soldiers stationed in Afghanistan who had no families and never received any mail. She planned and organized a Real Daughter Marker and dedication and the placing of a VA headstone on the Real Daughter’s father’s grave in Quaker Cemetery.  And, she voluntarily assisted the new Long Bay Chapter with their charter members applications.