Seasons in the South

About the Book

A great deal has been written about the military career of Confederate General Earl Van Dorn, but his death at the hands of infuriated Dr. George B. Peters hinted spying and espionage. A baby a short time later by Jessie McKissack Peters, the young wife of a much older physician and state senator husband who had been absent for a year, came into question. The fascinating families left to cope with the situations include servants who were taught trades that allowed them to rebuild the area. Descendants became the first blacks to receive architectural licenses.

About the Author

As a fourth generation living in Lewisburg, Tennessee, she attended Middle Tennessee State University and received a BS and MBE. After working two years for Heil-Quaker Corp., she obtained a teaching position in the Maury County School System that allowed her to travel in the summer. Retirement after 32 years as a business teacher allowed her to spend more time on other interests in various painting mediums including China painting, researching, and Civil War reenactments. As a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, she received recognition for a watercolor depicting the 50th anniversary of the UDC Memorial Building, Winnie Davis Medal for contributing duties excluding the realm of history. The Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal for excellence in essay writing, declamation, and other points of special attainment in keeping with the historical aims and purposes of the Organization. She assists in organizing a week of reenacting 1861 for girls ages 14-18 held every summer at the Athenaeum Rectory that is very similiar to the life of a student during that time just as the Civil War was beginning. As a member of the board of the Athenaeum Rectory, an historical residence where the family resided, she wrote a book about the Smith family’s involvement in the developement of education in Columbia, Tennessee. Many of those involved in the second book attended the school, supported the school, or were there at different times during the war.