We would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for coming out and supporting the 2nd Annual Sons of Confederate Veterans Fish Fry Friday, which was held in Courtland at the historic Mahone’s Tavern.

Nixon’s Family Seafood and Catering did a great job frying the trout and preparing many delicious, Southern-style fish dinners.

This could not have been a success without the help of many of our members’ wives, who made desserts or had them delivered early Friday afternoon. Some of our members’ wives are also in the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Some ladies who brought desserts are not SCV members’ wives but are members of the Jerusalem Chapter UDC. Regardless, without the cooperation of both organizations and our SCV wives, the meal would not have been as delicious as it was. These desserts are always a real compliment to the fish dinner.

The inside of the tavern was beautifully decorated with flowers grown and donated by Mrs. Tommy Simmons. Period furnishings and decorations, added to resemble a tavern in the 1860s, were compliments of Mrs. Warren Simmons, Mrs. Doug Rogers, Mrs. Fred Parker and Mrs. David Day. This was a delight for many who chose to stay and eat inside the historic tavern, which is only open to the public two or three times a year. We appreciate the time and talent of these dedicated women.

To the businesses who allowed our fraternal organization window space for advertising fliers, we thank you so kindly. To Manry Rawls Insurance, which allowed Nixon’s to set up at their business near the parking lot close to the Tavern, we also thank you so kindly.

We appreciate the cooperation of businesses in the area who kept on-hand a supply of fish fry tickets to sell to customers. Without Edwards Hardware, Doug’s Auto Repair, Nicholson’s Auto, A Cut Above LLC and Baggett Metal, we would not have been able to sell as many tickets as we did. We appreciate Larry Blythe at Courtland’s Dollar Store for providing the camp bags for carrying take-out dinners. WLQM, The Tidewater News and The Virginian-Pilot are very much appreciated for helping us with news articles and advertising which allowed us to spread the word to the public.

To the hard-working volunteers at the Southampton Agriculture & Forestry Museum, we’d like to thank you also for supporting the SCV on Friday night by helping promote our Fish Fry. Thank you for purchasing dinners.

We also appreciate other camps’ members participating, like the Old Brunswick Camp, The 13th Va. Mechanized Cavalry, and the Tom Smith Camp.

To those who did not attend or can’t eat fried fish but made a financial contribution anyway, we appreciate your support and thoughtfulness. To those who wanted to help but couldn’t be here and then decided to donate anyway by purchasing fish dinners, we especially thank you for giving the SCV an opportunity to give back to the community. You allowed our organization to deliver meals to shut-ins, the needy, the sick and less fortunate.

To one of our youngest SCV members, Chris Johnson of Sedley, a senior at Southampton High School, thank you for attending and helping us deliver meals to folks like Rhonda and Jimmie Copeland of Sedley, both of whom have recently been hospitalized with serious illnesses.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Urquhart-Gillette Camp 1471 Inc. sponsors this event each year and relishes the cooperation they also have from Jerusalem Chapter 2489 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in this effort called “Campaign To Save Mahone’s Tavern.” This joint effort began well over a year ago with the purchase of the local historic landmark (formerly the Page and Virginia Davis Watkinson homeplace) historically called Mahone’s Tavern, which is situated on Main Street in Courtland, directly across from the Southampton County Jail.

You can still help support this fundraiser by sending your contribution/donation to the Urquhart-Gillette Camp 1471. Make your checks out to “SCV 1471,” and put “Fish Fry” in the memo corner. Send your donation to Treasurer Volpe Boykin, 28359 Walters Highway, Carrsville, VA 23315.

All proceeds raised by the SCV from this fundraiser, after expenses, benefit Mahone’s Tavern and Museum Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. The museum’s benefactor will match all SCV proceeds dollar-for-dollar until Dec. 31.

Without the support of this community, museum trustees and especially our benefactor, Mahone’s Tavern would not be the new headquarters of both the Urquhart-Gillette Camp 1471 Sons of Confederate Veterans and Jerusalem Chapter 2489 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Thank you again for supporting us. Our ancestors would be proud that we have preserved a piece of our local heritage!