BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies

Subject: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 03:14 PM

Who knew!?

Former teenage bride dies at age 93

Associated Press - August 20, 2008 1:43 PM ET

LEXA, Ark. (AP) - The widow of a Confederate Army soldier has died in Arkansas.

Maudie White Hopkins was a poor teenage housecleaner during the Great Depression when she married the elderly veteran, who'd been 16 when he joined up with Virginia's infantry.

William Cantrell offered to leave her his land and home if she would marry and care for him in his later years. She was 19; he was 86. He died three years later.

Hopkins later remarried and had three children. She died Sunday at the age of 93.

An official with the United Daughters of the Confederacy says other Confederate widows are still living, but they don't want any publicity.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 03:28 PM

Cantrell? Cantrill? Coincidence or too good to be true?

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Genie
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 03:29 PM

Well, if there's a song in this, it shouldn't be in the Non-Music/BS section, right? :)

Maybe someone can do a rewrite of "Maids, When You're Young Never Wed An Old Man?"

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:46 PM

An interesting story about a Confederate widow here. Mrs. Alberta Martin was well-known at Confederate gatherings in Alabama and elsewhere in the South. She was given an 1860s style funeral:
Confederate funeral

A song was written in her honor by Ron Taylor, Sons of Confederate Veterans Southeast Brigade Commander.

Chorus:
Go rest high on the mountain.
Sis, your work on earth is done.
Take your flag up to heaven,
Wave to the Father and the Son.

I have not found the rest of the song.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:56 PM

I wondered about that, too, Terry.

Thanks, folks. I will put this in the music section, afterall.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 04:57 PM

I think you are thinking of Quantrell? Kansas/Missouri? Quantrells Raiders?

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:05 PM

Cantrell is an English name of Norman derivation, quite common in the South, nothing to do with Quantrell as far as I know.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:12 PM

A song, maybe, but there was a bestseller novel a few years back -- something like "Last Confederate Widow Tells All" -- that was based on pretty much the same scenario.
-Glenn

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Jayto
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:15 PM

That song is Go Rest High on that Mountain. You can find the lyrics on pretty much any country music lyric site. Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs recorded it as a tribute to Keith Whitley. It was a number 1 hit a few years back. I have heard it played at several funerals as well. Look up Ricky Skaggs or Vince Gill lyrics and you will find it. I think Vince Gill would be your best bet because I think it was Vince Gill with guest Ricky Skaggs is how it was released.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:24 PM

Photo of Maudie Cecelia Hopkins here:
Maudie Hopkins

In Georgia I heerd tell of another of these marriages of a Confederate veteran and a young care giver. Perhaps this is not the last of these stories.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:37 PM

Taylor changed the lyrics of the song attributed to Vince Gill to make them apply to Mrs. Alberta Martin.
Haven't found them.

Subject: RE: BS: A song in this? - Confederate widow dies
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 05:40 PM

Yes I was - it just seemed to me that the surname was rather evocative but I was aware that I could be wandering into territory wher my knowledge and expertise is pretty sketchy!