Enterprise-Journal from McComb, Mississippi • Page A008

Brent Rifles Chapter No. 2137, United Daughters of the Confederacy, met March 24 at the former home of Col. Preston Brent and Francis E. Brent. Dr.

Rusty Durham and his sister, Sissy Whittington, direct descendants ofCol. Brent, opened the home for the meeting. Pearl Strange, Sandra McKey, Margie Roberts and Patsy Frolich were hostesses. Upon arrival members were allowed to view the property and tour the home, which was built in 1811. Durham, a great-great- great-grandson ofCol.

Brent, mentioned that Brent was also a doctor and he was the only doctor ofthe direct lineage since that time. The home has been restored with some modern conveniences.However, it remains very much as it was built, with the wood beams and original construction. A large screen porch was added. There are many family pictures ofCol. Brent and some mementos ofhis service during the Civil War.

regiment was named Brent Rifles, which is the origin ofthe UDC chapter. President McKey called the meeting to order and thanked the host and hostesses. She also presented the ritual. Doris Millican led in prayer, and Rita Brister led in the pledges to the flags and gave the President's Message. For the program, Strange researched service records of Col.

Brent and the roster of his regiment and related photos. She presented Durham with a booklet with copies ofher research. The program was the summation ofher research. Preston Brent was born May 25, 1833, in Pike County just north ofHolmesville, to John A. and Rebecca Kaighler Brent.

He married Frances E. Brent, who died in 1909. They are buried in the Brent Cemetery near their home. brother William E. Brent also served in Co.

38th Regiment, MS Their father John was around age 50 when he served in Co. 2nd Infantry Preston Brent graduated from Drennon Springs Military Institute in Kentucky. Returning home in 1859, he formed the Quitman Guards at Holmesville, where the first Pike County Courthouse was located. On the courthouse square he trained 20 to 30 men once a month. Their uniforms were ofthe United States regulation blue with brass buttons, caps with the artillery style cockade plumes.

They were provided with fife and drums and Ferry muskets. Preston was elected captain. They chose the name Quitman Guards in honor ofJohn A. Quitman, an outstanding military man. Due to pressing business in 1861, he could not leave with his unit when the call for men to serve came.

In 1862, Preston Brent organized the Brent Rifles, Co. 38 Regiment, MS He was severely wounded at Vicksburg in July 1863 and refused to leave his men, commanding from his bed then taken as a prisoner ofwar. Col. Preston Brent died of pneumonia in 1884. UDC members repeated the motto and enjoyed refreshments.

Sissy Whittington researched what type offoods Confederate soldiers ate while in the field. She used similar ingredients and the refreshments were very similar to what the soldiers might have been served. After refreshments, chapter members assembled at the family cemetery, which is very near the family home. A special wreath, which had all members with their Confederate names attached, was placed on the grave ofCol. Brent to recognize Confederate History Month in April.

At the grave a special prayer was given and then the members were dismissed. Attending were Patty Breckenridge, Brister, Shirley Fitzgerald, Mildred Fountain, Frolich, Sonya Johnson, Emily Lambuth, Wanda Lambuth, Johnnie Lea, Peggy McCullough, McKey, Millican, Mary Anne Mitchell, Alice Earle Perkins, Patsy Pressler, Cherrie Randall, Roberts, Mary Ann Smith, Strange, Verna Swinney, Dianne Wallace, and guests, Vickie Cothern, Durham and Whittington. Junior Cotillion to form locally, director sought Brent Rifles UDC members meet at Brent home A8 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL, McCOMB, MISSISSIPPI www.enterprise-journal.com April 17 Palm Sunday Service 10:30 A.M. April 21 Maundy Thursday 6:00 P.M. This service will be in the Sanctuary with song and readings.

April 22 Good Friday 12:00 Noon Abrief service will consist of readings in scripture. April 24 Easter Sunday 10:30 A.M. May 1 Easter Cantata 10:30 A.M. "Lift High the Cross" J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church 110 Third McComb (601) 684.4189 The Lenten Season TRADITIONAL JEWELERS EDGEWOOD MALL, MCCOMB 601-684-6797 We pay Top Dollar for Gold on the spot! Sell your broken, unwanted jewelry today.

We make it easy! Pearl Strange, right, presents a copy of her research on Col. Preston Brent to his descendant, Dr. Rusty Durham. SUBMITTED McGehee to mark 95th The family ofMinnie Belle McGehee, longtime resident ofPike County, invite family and friends to celebrate her 95th birthday and a lifetime ofgood friendship from 3 to 5 p.m. 23.

The reception will be held in the fellowship hall of Magnolia United Methodist Church at the corner of 110 E. Myrtle St. and Highway 51 in Magnolia. McGehee is the fourth of nine children born to Anna and William Alcus Lenoir. She and her late husband, Howard Mason McGehee, had three daughters, Mari- lynMullendore, Kay Nelson and the late Janice Stanfield.

Wicker celebrates 90th EarlWicker will celebrate his 90th birthday with a reception hosted by his children from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at his home on Rarmer Road in Smithdale. Wicker was born April 20, 1921. He was married to the late DorothyRice Wicker and worked at International Paper and farmed. He has four children, Ernest, David and Larry Wicker and Kathryn W.

Alexander; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great- great-grandchildren. Wicker attends Calvary Baptist Church in Smithdale. Friends and relatives are invited to the reception but are asked not to bring gifts. BIRTHS Matthew Lee Johnson Mr. and Mrs.

Donald L. Johnson ofMcComb announce the April 6, 2011, birth ofa 7-pound, 13-ounce Lee Johnson, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center. The mother is the former Tokeya S. Poindexter ofMc- Comb. Grandparents are Clara Johnson ofBaton Rouge and the late J.C.Johnson, and Marcus and Jacqueline Anderson ofMcComb.

Kimble and Virgie Givens Wallace, longtime residents of the Monticello area, marked their 71st anniversary today. They were married April 13, 1940. They have three living children, Kimble Wallace Jr. and wife Kathy, Shelia Smithie and husband Bobby, and Ronnie Wallace and wife Sherri.They have five and David Smithie, Jennifer Lee, Michael Wallace and Natalie Hebert; and 12 great- grandchildren, Nicholas Wallace, Dakota and Amber Wyland, Christopher and Dalton Lee, Taylor, Will and Brian Smithie, and Luke, Ethan, Chloe and Bella Hebert. Kimble will be 91 on May 5, and Virgie will be 88 on April 16.

SUBMITTED Wallaces wed 71 years The National League of Junior Cotillions, a program ofetiquette, character education and social dance training for middle and junior high school students, plans to establish a program in Pike County. NLJC national director Elizabeth Anne Winters said the organization will be selecting a director for a local chapter who will receive complete training and an exclusive territory for expansion. The organization currently has directors operating hundreds of chapters in 34 states, including Mississippi. program is making a positive impact on students across the nation and we are delighted to know that more young people in this area will have the opportunity for this vital said. The cotillion teaches students courtesies by role playing, skits and games.

Standard ballroom and line dancing also is taught. In addition to the usual courtesies connected with dancing and etiquette, character instruction is provided for honor, respect, ethics, sportsmanship, gift acknowledgment, behavior at cultural and civic events, correspondence, introductions, paying and receiving compliments, receiving lines, table manners, instructional dinners, electronic etiquette, cell phone courtesy, and more. For more information or to apply for cotillion director, call (800) 633-7947, visit www.nljc.com or e-mail to.