Georgia:  Elbert County:  Tribute to Mrs. Sexta Eavenson Strickland
15 February 1974
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This file was contributed by:
Chandler Eavenson
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294

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On 15 Feb 1974 Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia issued the following
proclamation:

Whereas: Mrs. Sexta Eavenson Strickland was one of Georgia's great patriotic
leaders; and

Whereas: Through her ingenuity, thoughtfulness and untiring efforts, Mrs.
Strickland prepared a "Georgian's Creed"; and

Whereas: This Georgian's Creed was adopted as the official Georgian's Creed
for all the citizens of our beloved State by the Georgia General Assembly
on March 4, 1939; and

Whereas: During ceremonies on Saturday, February 16, 1974, a tree will be
planted on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol in honor of Mrs.
Strickland; now

Therefore: I, Jimmy Carter, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby set
aside the day of Saturday, February 16, 1974, as a day to honor the late
Mrs. Sexta Eavenson Strickland as authoress of the Georgian's Creed and
its pledge to the Georgia State flag.

Among the many notables, friends and family present were Georgia Secretary
of State Ben W. Fortson, Jr.; Rev. Charles H. Allen, Associate Pastor of the Second
Ponce de Leon Church of Atlanta; and Mrs. James E. (Claudia) Duffell, Past Governor
of the Georgia Branch, Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. Excerpts from the
remarks of Rev. Allen and Mrs. Duffell are as follows:

Rev. Allen: "I first knew her as Teacher of the Woman's Bible Class in our
Church, which association began a close friendship that I will always cherish. She
taught her class until she was past 100 years of age; her teaching experience
extended a good 84 years - sometimes teaching two classes each Sunday......Her heritage
ws not only a rich genealogical one, but a glorious spiritual one. Entering into
this background we find such names as the Concord Methodist Church, the Harmony
Baptist Church, Dove's Creek Baptist and Van's Creek Baptist Churches - all near Elberton,
Georgia. It was a the Concord Methodist Church that her grandmother, Sarah
Thornton Eavenson, had the first Sunday School in that section organized."

Mrs. Duffell: "In 1908 Hon. Thomas W. Bicknell, although famous in many
fields, founded and organized the National Society, Sons and Daughters of the
Pilgrims, and he will live in our memories as its organizer. In 1939 Mrs. Strickland
organized the Georgia Branch (originally named the Ralph Eavenson Branch) at
Winder, GA and served from 1929 to 1931 as Governor, and again was elected
and served from 1946 to 1949 as its Governor....Mrs. Strickland, born July
2, 1868, died May 1, 1971, was a remarkable woman of noble heritage, as seen in the
book she compiled, edited and published in 1933......She was a member of many
patriotic groups:- Colonial Dames of America, Magna Charta Dames,
Descendants of Knights of the Garter, Order of the Crown, Dames of the Court of Honor,
Americans of Royal Descent, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters
of the American Revolution, Service Star Legion and the Eastern Star."

[Submitter's notes: Eugenia Sexta Eavenson (1868-1971) was born in Elbert
Co., the daughter of Capt. John William Eavenson and Jane Josephine Oglesby
(1846-1930).  She married Alexander Hamilton Strickland on 5 May 1889 in Hart Co., GA. He
died on 28 July 1926 in Union Springs, AL. Both buried Bowersville Cemetery, Hart
Co.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson