Stepping Stones

After the Civil War, (not at all civil in reality) Sophie and a valiant band of women worked tirelessly to honor the soldiers, both Confederate and Union, in various ways. Here are the most prominent memorials credited to her efforts. From my book:

"After the close of the War between the States,  Mrs. Bibb and her associates organized the “Society for the Burial of the Dead”, which in turn became the Ladies’ Memorial Association, of which she was unanimously made President and held the office for twenty-one years, until the close of her life. This Association, under her management, erected headstones and a monument over the eight hundred Confederate soldiers buried in Oakwood Cemetery, besides liberally assisting in the proper interment of soldiers on distant battlefields and in bringing the remains of others to Montgomery."

 The second accomplishment:

"Eventually, Sophie Bibb made the first donation toward a fund for the erection of a monument on Capital Hill “To the Soldiers and Sailors of Alabama.” While her cherished hope that she would live to see the work completed was not fulfilled, the cornerstone was laid before she died by President Davis, who came in 1886 from his retirement at Beauvoir at the request of the Ladies’ Memorial Association to take part in the ceremony. She was too ill to attend, but her heart was made glad by a visit from her old friend and honored President. The scene was most touching. Realizing that it was their last meeting on earth, President Davis silently pressed his lips to her brow as they parted."

As distant as that scene may seem, my grandmother frequently brought it to life for me as she recounted that day. She was very young when Jefferson Davis came to call, and whether she actually recalled the day or her mother reminded her enough to imprint the event in perpetuity, she told me about it as if it just happened and with exact details.

Once I asked in naivety, youth, and from lack of listening, "Nanny, didn't Abraham Lincoln come to call on you once?"   She managed to live past the shock of that one.  I didn't realize what a blaspheme that was in her ears, but I learned quickly and didn't make that mistake again.

More on the day JD came to call and Sophie's demise in the next post.