Marker dedicated for Confederate hero

Re-enactors kneeling are, from left: Pvt. Jesse Walton ( Harrisburg), Sgt. Will Silas ( Jonesboro) and Colonel W. Danny Honnoll, Commander Shaver Camp and AR Civil War Sesquicentennial Commissioner (Jonesboro). Back - Sgt. Doyle Yearta (Jonesboro), Lt. Dale Barnett, Fagan Chapter MOSB- Sgt in Arms ( Ravenden), Bobbie F. Barnett of the James Wiseman Honnoll Chapter UDC (Ravenden), Capt. M. Ray Jones, ACWSC Commissioner (Jonesboro), Chaplain Joe C. May, Shaver Camp (Bay), Shaver Camp SCV 2nd Lt Cmdr Jimmy Steven (Trumann), Pvt. William Cole of Neill Camp (Batesville), and Capt Roger Harvell of Barret's Battery ( Melbourne).

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Private Richardson served as a private in Company C., 16th Alabama Infantry. He was wounded at Shiloh and sent to Okolona Hospital for his wounds. He was captured July 22, 1964, in Atlanta, Ga., during the Civil War. He was taken to Camp Chase Ohio, and released after the war was over. He married Nancy Roberts in 1867 in Lauderdale County, Ala. Richardson died in Cardwell, Mo., on June 10, 1899, and is buried at Cockrum Cemetery.

The program welcome was directed by W. Danny Honnoll, followed by a prayer by Joe May. Greetings were also given by Ernestine Layton, Will Silas, Lt. Dale Barnett, Capt. Roger Harvell, and Ray Jones, III.

Richardson family members present include, from left: Doug Richardson, Sue Kender, Gary Whitney, Margaret Ratliff, Debra Whitney, Tara Bellomy, David Bellomy, Amy Redden, Louise Roddy, and Billy Roddy.

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Bobbie Barnett, dressed in mourning attire, placed a bouquet of roses on Pvt. Richardson's grave. A three-volley gun salute was presented by Sons of the Confederate Veterans members of the 30th Arkansas Infantry and re-enactors.

Will Silas presented Taps. All those in attendance joined in singing "Amazing Grace" and "Dixie." Doyle Yearta and Ray Jones served as honor guard, with Joe May giving the closing benediction.

"I want to thank the re-enactors that took part in this memorial today," Honnoll said. "We all stepped back in time and burned powder to honor our ancestors and the men that wore the gray. Remember we pass this way but once. We cannot recall the days that are gone, but the passing moment is ours long enough to grasp the hand of friendship, give rest to the weary, and comfort to those who mourn. This is done in brotherly love."

Honnoll presented the confederate flag that had been draped over Pvt. Richardson's grave to Tara Bellomy, who had filled out the necessary paperwork to have her family member honored with the military marker.