Society of the Black Rose
The Society has been formed to organize South Carolina Order of Confederate
Rose members that have an interest in portraying the persona
of a widow or mourner. Please see our Calendar Page for some
of our
events. Our
members will be notified of other events by email or newsletter.
Black Rose
The Society of the Black Rose
is a reminder of the loss of life during the civil war. It is a very
reverent organization. Women who lost loved
ones, be it sons or husbands, men fighting for a cause in which they
so dearly believed in. To be a member of the Society of the Black Rose
is an honor and with that honor is placed the responsibility of portraying
the death of our soldiers who fought so gallantly to protect our way
of life. We walk upon hallowed ground at each Memorial Service we attend.
Being a Black Rose member gives me the opportunity to step back in
time and feel the loss of those that have long since passed, fighting
and defending our precious land. I have felt the stirring of the spirits
of those that we mourn. It is something that lives inside the women
who are Black Roses. These men should not ever be forgotten. The Society
of the Black Rose is an organization that preserves our heritage and
at the same time let’s us mourn the loss that each woman before
us felt. We are not only are paying respect to the fallen soldier but
to the women who loved them.
For me, BLACK attire represents mourning and ROSE represents the
love for the soldier and his family who paid the price of death for
the cause.
Heidi B Jackson
Chair, Keeper of the Rite
VP Ann Eliza OCR Chapter # 14
Dillon, SC 29536
-
Black Rose members must be SC OCR members (either a
chapter member or a member-at-large) to join.
-
Members must have a complete period mourning outfit (period appropriate
partial mourning is also acceptable).
-
At present there is not a membership fee.
-
Member will receive a membership certificate to the Society of
the Black Rose.
-
The Society will
act under the SCOCR Executive Council with a coordinator, the "Keeper
of the Rite,” as contact person.
"Keeper of the Rite"
Heidi Jackson
email:
Black_Rose_Chair
As Keeper of the Rite, I would like to see more communication
with each chapter's Black Rose members. Perhaps if a chapter has more
than one Black Rose there could be one chosen as contact person for
their chapter so that we could coordinate our Black Rose functions.
There are so many memorials that I am sure that are on a local level
that Black Roses could attend from neighboring towns.
As Black Roses we carry the responsibility to be on call for those
that need us to come and represent not just at the larger memorials
but the smaller ones. Any woman who is a Black Rose is a special woman.
We don't dress in the pretty day dresses that some of the Rose's do.
We wear black mourning attire because each Black Rose has dedication
and reverence in their hearts.
I would like to see each Black Rose from each chapter get together
for an annual meeting to fellowship. I would like to see each chapter
call upon the Black Roses more often. We are a sisterhood not just
an organization. I would like very much to meet some Black Roses from
other chapter's or have ladies who are Black Roses attend meetings
at other chapters so that they could share not only events that are
upcoming but also their personal feelings about being a Black Rose.
That would possibly get more ladies interested in becoming a Black
Rose. Perhaps we could also develop a Black Rose newsletter so that
each member knows what is going on with each chapter.
I had the opportunity to attend the Hunley Funeral
Charleston. I was not a Black Rose at that time but immediately knew
that I wanted to
be one. To see the mass of mourners enter the cemetery was an awesome
sight. When the gate was opened they locked arms with me even though
I was not "one" of them and we were the first to enter the
cemetery. For me that acceptance from the Black Roses as well as their
presence has been a determining factor in how I want to preserve our
history.
We as Black Roses are respected and we all have
that special love in our hearts for "our" fallen men. A
member of the Black Rose knows all too well the stirring of emotion
that the widow's weeds
and memorial services bring to life.
Heidi B Jackson
Chair, Keeper of the Rite
VP Ann Eliza OCR Chapter # 14
Dillon, SC 29536
|
