Each season one of our members is nominated to be posted as our "Person of the Quarter".

 If you know of an interesting PSRS member that you would like to honor, please email

 the webmistress, Jeannie Rucker,  jeannierucker@hotmail.com

Fall 2007

Janice Gartman Lee

I was born and grew up in Lexington County, SC where I still reside. I graduated from Brookland Cayce High School and later taught there for 23+ years. I graduated from the University Of South Carolina with a BS Degree in Chemical Engineering. Years later I graduated with a Masters Degree in Education from Cambridge College in Boston, Massachusetts, an outreach college of Harvard University. I am a retired Chemistry and Physics teacher.

I am a widow after having been married for over 43 years to a loving and understanding (most of the time) husband who did not share my love for history. I have four beautiful daughters and nine fantastic grandchildren, and am a member of St. David Lutheran Church. Yes, some Southerners are not Baptist nor Methodist as many people think.

I acquired my passion for history as a baby sitting on the lap of a wonderful African American lady who had been born a slave. She entertained me with tales of Sherman’s March through the plantation where she lived. She was a young girl when that happened and she lived to be 112 years old. "Aunt" Phyllis Glass never left the plantation that my father purchased in 1930. She had been born here and my father allowed her and her son to live out their lives there with her son working as a farmhand for my father. I live on that same old plantation site today. Her stories intrigued me and caused me to be a bit strange even as a child because I demanded to be allowed to roam old cemeteries when we went for Sunday drives. I also helped my maternal Grandfather clean all of his family cemeteries twice each year. Now tell me that is not strange for a little girl. Unfortunately, this stopped after he died when I was just 13 years old. But my love of history did not die.

All eight of my great, great grandfathers served for the Confederate States of America. Only one failed to come home from serving his beloved Southland. He lies buried on Harte Island in New York Harbor. He was a prisoner of war. I take great pride in their valor. But my South Carolina History did not begin with that war. Forty-three of my direct ancestors served in the American Revolution, and dozens had served before them in the French and Indian Wars. My very earliest ancestors arrived in SC in 1735, but my Virginia ancestors had settled there in the 1600’s. I am a proud American as well as a proud Southerner. As long as I live, I will fight to bring our South Carolina history back into the history books where these brave South Carolinians earned the right to be. They earned that right by giving their blood, sweat, tears, hearts and lives for the causes they believed in.

I have researched in Salt Lake City, Utah numerous times. I have been to Europe several times researching family genealogies, including the countries of England, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. I also love to travel and that works fits right in with history and genealogy. I also love working with computers and my research walks "hand-in-hand" with the computer. I also love to sew and collect period clothes.

I have written and co-written numerous family history and genealogy books. I have been researching SC History and genealogy actively since 1976. I have been the Editor of the Lexington Genealogical Exchange since it’s inception in 1980. I am the Registrar of the Granby Chapter DAR and the Mary Boykin Chesnut Chapter of the UDC. I am the SC Dar State Genealogical Records Chairman. I was named the 2006 SC State DAR Genealogist of the Year.

I am also a member of the following organizations: the Lexington Genealogical Association; Lexington County Retired Teachers Association; The Daughters of the American Revolution; The United Daughters of the Confederacy; The Palmetto State Relief Society, the Red Hat Ladies; and have currently applied to become a member of the Colonial Dames, XVII Century; and the Daughters of the War of 1812.

Until 1986 I did speaking tours across the South on South Carolina History and genealogy. At that time I had a heart attack and double bypass surgery. It never slowed me down until March 2006 when my heart forced me to retire from teaching. At that time I had four stints placed in the arteries surrounding my heart. But I am on the go again as often as I can!

I actively began re-enacting in 2005 and joined the PSRS in 2006. I enjoy participating in the living history that our children can see and feel a part of. I feel that I am honoring my forebears and what they sacrificed for my freedom when I participate in these Re-enacting events.

Rhonda Baiocco

I began doing living history/historical reenactments several years ago after getting involved in some behind the scenes work to help a friend make Hunley medals and patches.  I had so much fun meeting the people who traveled from all over to participate in the Hunley project, that I joined a local ladies group and I have never looked  back!  I am a member of the 25^th SCVI and the Carolina Ladies Aid Society, both great groups of people who love and appreciate history as much as I do.

I was born in Miami, Florida and lived between there and Cape Canaveral, where my father worked on the NASA program.  It was fun to watch the rockets lift off from my backyard and feel the shake of the ground (and the house, dishes, china, you name it!) move around me.  I always considered myself a “southerner”, after all I lived only 90 miles from Cuba – about as south as you can get!  However I now realize it was the stories told to me by my grandmothers and great grandmother that really gave me my southern roots and values.  My maiden name is Lee (Tennessee Lees and Taylors from Jonesboro – great grandfather’s cabin is still standing on Main St.!)  My mother’s people were Youngs, Thaxtons, and Nunnallys from the Birmingham and Bessmer area of Alabama.  I grew up on stories about all of them and what I have learned since becoming involved in reenacting has helped me to better understand and appreciate my own family’s history.  I used to think that my great grandfather Young became a bootlegger after serving with the 43^rd MS CSA because he was listed on his death certificate as a “ginner”.  You can’t imagine my relief to learn this had nothing to do with liquor (although he probably did that too!)

In the 21^st century I work as a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Charleston.  I am married to an amazing man who loves history (medieval that is. . . . just a few hundred years difference!) and we have three beautiful daughters and four grandchildren.   I like to spend free time poking around little antique/junk shops looking for treasures, reading (I seem to have amassed quite a collection of old books – I am fascinated with them and can’t get enough!), and learning/trying new things every chance I get – I love a challenge.

Even though I have been researching and doing living history for only four years, it has provided me with so much more than I ever thought it would.  I have done things I never would have otherwise such as: help with local TV/ theatre productions and movies, feed farm animals, fire a cannon, pick cotton, exhume human remains – the list could go on and on!  I have also made friends that have become like family to me as well as reconnect with my parents, grandparents and many relatives who have already passed on in a way that keeps their memory alive and close to my heart.  I am so grateful to have the chance to participate in this hobby and excited by the opportunity to continue meeting new people, learn new things and laugh/have fun.  It doesn’t get better than that!  

Margaret Wilbanks

Margaret at the Hunley Funeral

I was born in Union, South Carolina and raised in Sumter county. In high school I was very active as a cheerleader as well as a player on the basketball team. I spent my high school days dancing to mo-town music and playing in the orchestra and band. Today I still share my love of music by volunteering to play in the community orchestra and church related events.

I have a degree from Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. This has given me the opportunity to teach first grade for the Dorchester 2 schools in Summerville.

I have raised a wonderful son, who is now a handsome grown man. My husband, John Wilbanks, is retired for the Air Force. He now works for the post office. We have been reenacting together for ten years. He is with the 10^th S.C. Infantry. I am in the 27^th , the Carolina Ladies Aid Society as well as the PSRS. My greatest reenacting moment was being selected to represent one of the widows for the burial of the Hunley crew several years ago.

photo below: taken at the Abbeyville Ball December 2, 2006

Jean Hutchinson

Photo top left, Jean as Sister Mary Chardonnay; top right, A refuge "somewhere"; center left, Jean the Seamstress with her antique sewing machine at Green River Plantation 2001;Lower right, 2004 Rivers Bridge were Jean had walked from Walterbor.Lower left,Working textile conservation at the Confederate Museum in Charleston 2003.

I am a member of the 25^th SCVI and have been enacting for over 10 years.  I have been an active member of the PSRS during most of that time and served as secretary one year and president for three years.  My mentor was Marty Hegler (was Harmon) and she was a wonderful source of information and support.  I remember talking to her at local events even before I took the plunge and she was always pleasant, patient and willing to share information.  On the other hand, she started me down the path of accuracy and research, which has been a wonderful, if not exhausting, journey. 

Luckily I love to read and our library has really grown since starting the hobby.  I never tire of finding new sources of information, either in print or on line.  My favorite new web site is Cornell University’s Making of America where you can view actual books of the period—and there are some doozies out there!

I was born in Nashville, Tennessee and have lived in Michigan, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Japan, and have traveled in Europe.  I have been married to Tom Key, aka Cornbread, for 18 years, and many of the men call me Mrs. Bread.  We have four dogs (two Jack Russell terriers, an Australian shepherd and a birddog/???) and four horses.  Our son and daughter-in-law live in Pomaria, SC with our grandson, Hunter, two grand-dogs and a pet deer!  In the 21^st century I am an administrative assistant for a CPA firm in Augusta, Georgia, which limits my activities during tax season.

One of my favorite things to do is attend conferences, workshops and museums.  In addition to learning a variety of new things, most have displays of original garments.  I truly believe that to really get a feel for accurate fabrics, colors and patterns you have to see as many originals as you have access to; there really is no substitute for the real thing.  The other best part of conferences is meeting wonderful people from all over the country, sharing ideas and learning from them—and then, bringing the information back and sharing it with the ladies here.  Those are really my two true passions in living history: looking at original garments and artifacts and sharing the research I so love with others.  I do sometimes get carried away but it is a sincere enthusiasm…so when that happens, just tell me to “dry up”.

Photo above:  Mrs. Marty Hegler, my mentor, and I at Aiken several years ago.At the Ladies Weekend,   

                                                                            Photo right:     The Athenaeum, Columbia, TN April 2005

Photo left:

Taking care of the livestock

Rivers Bridge homestead 2006

Photo Right: Hunter, Poppa and Virgil the horse

Catrina Moncrief

Catrina (left) with her mother (right) Carol Corneal, and Jeanie Weil (below).

February 2006

Simi Haliford

Originally for Romania, Simi moved to Greenville, SC as a young person. She met and married Ben and began reenacting soon after married life. Presently they are living at Ft. Polk in Louisiana. Ben is in the Army and may be deployed this year. They are expecting their first child in this spring.

Simi enjoys knitting historical patterns and open fire cooking. Though she is not able to attend South Carolina events regularly, she is still active in her reenacting ladies' group, the Ferguson's Ladies Auxiliary.

December 2005

Heather King

 A member of the 20th SC Volunteer Infantry out of Lexington  since March 2005.  I was born in Columbia , SC. My family moved to Gaston, SC  in the late 1980's.  While attending Midlands Techinical Collage I was blessed to meet my true love, the man I was to grow old with "Shawn King" .  We married in 1995 and I moved  with Shawn to Lexington , SC  to his mother's small farm.   I have worked for Lexington Medical Center Hospital for the past 6 years. I work at a rural community medical center in the small town of Swansea , SC called Lexington Medical Center - Swansea (Urgent Care). It consists of a Internal Medicine Office ,Ob/Gyn office, and Urgent Care(Emergency Room).   A farming community 45mins from Lexington , where people don't have the means to go to town to see the doctor. The towns historic 100 year old farm houses, history , and people made me long for more.  If I can understand the past it will help me with the future. It showed me the need to put the high tech, lazy  world aside.  My faith and beliefs brought me a understanding of how so many people lived before our time relying on faith , family , and hard work.  If you didn't work you didn't eat. After reading books by Beverly Lewis I became interested in the amish lifestyle , and how they flurished without the outside world.  My husband and I attended a Rev War reeenactment at Camden that I found by chance in the newspaper while eating lunch one day at work.  Once I saw the reencators I got excited.  I said to my self "I Can Do that". We modern camp already , this was the same in a way , just different equipment.  I was talking at work the next Monday about what we saw , and the desire to start.  My friend Linda Deloach was working and we got to talking.  Come to find out her husband "Mark Deloach" was a civil war reenactor ,he had been reenacting since the age of 16 (started with Rev War). I started their and didn't look back.  My dear husband " Shawn" began the hobby out of love . He said aslong as we can do it together he would because I wanted to so badly.We have been married 10  years this past November 11th , 2005.  We don't have any childern yet , but will Lord Willing. I can't wait to include our childern in this wonderful hobby.  Something that makes you very grateful for what you do have.  Something without video games, computers, cell phones, and busy work schdules. Something that requires thought , research , creativity, imagination.  We have two indoor cats and two outside dogs.  On the farm we have had goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, finches, calfs, dog kennel ,and barn kittens.  I had a Herb business at one time selling herb crafts.  I have met a great many people from all over. I am thankful to everyone who have helped me and contiue to help me .(Especially with the roles of women , and proper fashion of the time). It was hard to find info about women and what they wore.  I have learned about a lot of mistakes I made and need to fix . Thank You ladies for your informative info. I was at slump , not knowing what was right.  I am off running again thanks to ya'lls help. I can't wait until the next event where I can see everyone again. 

  

Carol Lynn Corneal

My name is Carol Lynn Corneal, I live in Goose
Creek, along with my son Christopher Lee Corneal, my
daughter Catrina Laura Moncrief, son in law Brandon
Casey Moncrief and my pride and joy, my grandson,
Connor Lee Moncrief. My great grandfather was William
Corneal who fought with the Missouri 6th Calvary, as a
Private. Of course he fought on the side of the
Confederacy.     I began re-enacting April of 2001 with the help
of Jeanne Weil. I was directed to Jeanne after doing
some research on prison ships in the Charleston Harbor
during the Revolutionary War. I have always loved
history, especially the war of Northern Aggression . I have
been able to get my sister, Linda Bombard and my
daughter Catrina involved in re-enacting. Now I am
working on my son, son-in-law and my grandson.
     I am the Vice President of the South Carolina's
Ladies Auxiliary, a proud member of the Mary Snowden
Order of the Confederate Rose and a member of the
Black Widows. I was fortunate enough to be one of the
widow's aboard the Yorktown when the last H.L. Hunley
Crew were laying in state. I also was in the first 5
row's of widows during the funeral march for the
burial of the last crew and learned that you can get a
sunburn through a veil. I look forward to many more
years promoting Southern Heritage.

Photo Left, On board the Yorktown during the Hunley Events. April 2004

Photo Right, Magnolia Cemetery with Sister, Linda Bombard.

Photo Below, with Grandson on the Yorktown.

Lynn Charles

My name is Lynn Charles, I was born in Charleston at the old Navy Hospital.  I grew up in Goose Creek and then moved to Ladson while still in high school. I have an older sister who has three children.  Five and a half years ago I  married my husband, James Charles.  He was born in Michigan - I do not hold that against him.  His family moved down here about 20 years ago when his dad was offered a job at BOSCH.  We have no children, but want them.  We do have a long-haired chihuahua that is our baby, named Tiki.   She just had a birthday in August, she is now 12 years old.  Tiki is very much part of our family.  Maybe I should make her a dress so that she can join me when I do reenactment.

 

I have been reenacting for 2 years now.  A friend of my mother's asked me if I wanted to dress in 1860s period dress for a fashion show sponsored by the Red Hat Ladies.  I did enjoy is so much that I attended a SCLA meeting two months later.  I was then sold on this hobbly.  I joined SCLA and signed up to be a guide at the Magnolia Cemetery ghost walk.  My first real reenactment was Seccessionville here in Charleston in November 2004.  It is hard to find time to  travel  to reenactments that are out of the Charleston area because of my job. I work for the Charleston Paper & Chemical as the office manager/inside sales for the local restaurants. I have big plans of attending future out of town events soon.

 

My first dress was made for me.  I am now attemping to make another dress myself. This is a challenge as I don't possess many domestic skills.When I met my husband, I told him up front that I was not Suzy Homemaker.  He still married me!  I am a luck gal!

Chris Beaman

I am a member of the 13^{th SCVI, H Company, and my husband, John Beaman, and I have been involved in Civil War reenacting since 1995. Although I have lived in Greensboro NC for 32 years, I am a home grown South Carolinian from Edgefield County, the big city of Trenton to be exact! John is a native North Carolinian with ancestors who fought for the cause, but we chose to join the Palmetto Battalion through the influence of my cousin Brenda Carpenter and her husband, Buck.}

I have lived in Dallas, TX, New York, Atlanta, Stamford, CT, and finally settled down in Greensboro in 1973. We have two children from my "former life" as in BJ (before John) – a son, Jimmy, father of our 13 year old grandson, Kyle..  and a daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Steve. We all live in NC. Our babies, however, are our two Maine Coon cats, Jasmine and Scarlet.

My last 20 years have been spent in the employment of U.S. Representative Howard Coble, Congressman to the 6th District of NC. Yes, this is our 11th term! Looks like I’ll retire before he does!

Other than Civil War, we also enjoy participating in Revolutionary War living history. Other interests include reading, local and national politics, church activities, and traveling. Latest travels-----to China in February 2005 and to Egypt in April 2005. Little known fact: I was a Delta Airlines "stewardess" (as we were known then) way back, many moons ago!

I’ve enjoyed all aspects of involvement with reenacting, but I especially treasure the people that I have met and the friendships that have evolved through this most interesting and exciting hobby.

Photos: above, With my husband, John, at our unit's Christmas party.

Below left, with my daughter, Jill, in the Virgin Islands on her wedding day, May 2004.

Below right, with my grandson, Kyle, and my cousin Brenda Carpenter's dog, Sam.

Below left , our kitties, Jasmine on the left and  "Miss Scarlet" on the right.

Brenda Carpenter

Lynn Cogdill

Member of Ferguson’s Ladies Auxiliary, designated camp cook soon after becoming a member of the unit. I also reenact Rev War and volunteer with the Spartanburg County Historical Association, demonstrating cooking and other home arts.

Been reenacting in South Carolina for 15 years, in Beaufort and Spartanburg.

Born in Rockville, MD, just outside of Washington, DC. Finished college in PA and soon moved west of the Rockies. I’ve always been fascinated with history, the mid- nineteenth century in particular. After 10 years in places like Utah and California, I decided to come back east with my daughter, Brittany. She is a junior at the College of Charleston and has also grown up in the reenacting community.

I’ve always been handy with a needle (or two), knitting and doing embroidery. My mom taught me how to sew when I was younger, but I never liked those zippers! Period sewing is much more my style, as it involves a lot of handwork and creativity. I’m also a bit of a fabriholic with my own personal linen landfill at home. I started sewing out of self-preservation, I couldn’t afford to keep Brittany in clothes for the hobby. My seamstress would no sooner finish a dress for her, when she’d outgrow it and need a new one for the next event!

The most exciting thing about this hobby, besides meeting so many wonderful people, is the fact that you never stop learning. I read a lot of diaries and accounts of life in this period, also books on cooking, dyeing and spinning, and sewing.

Photos: Above Right; Lynn with Simplicity Pattern designer, Martha McCain:

Above Left; Lynn demonstrating sewing at Gable Middle School:

Below Right: Lynn in Rev.War dress during a Christmas Parade:

Connie Reuter

A member for three years of the 11th SC Volunteer Infantry out of Beaufort.

One daughter, Sarah age 18, attending Winthrop University ; Two Cats, Gabriel and Yoshi;  Dating Tom Grazioli

Member of Ferguson’s Artillery Ladies Auxiliary since February 2004                               

Three children, a daughter, Amber age 24; and two sons, Kirby, age 21, and TJ, age 19. Both sons are semi professional wrestlers under the names "Krazy K" and "Poindexter"

Elements of Civil War history that interests her most: Period correct ballroom etiquette.