Event
First Annual Descendants of Battle of Guilford Courthouse Veterans Symposium
Fee:
Free.Location: LAT/LONG: 36.131211, -79.846285
Visitor Center Theater
Dates & Times
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of Event
10:00 am Opening Remarks 10:15 am Keynote Address 11:15 am Panel Discussion
Description
Did your ancestor fight in the Revolutionary War in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse? Are you interested in meeting other descendants of Revolutionary War veterans? This event is for you!
Join Guilford Courthouse National Military Park for our first ever Descendants Symposium! The symposium will kick off with a summary of the accomplishments of the park's dedicated citizen archivists, who have transcribed all pension files of identified veterans of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Kevin Eugene Graham will deliver the keynote address on his ancestor, Zachariah Jacobs Holmes. Descendants will then discuss how they have researched and uncovered the stories of their Patriot ancestors and what those stories mean to them today. The event will conclude with an audience Q&A session.
Opening Remarks: Supervisory Ranger Tom Sobol
Keynote Address: Kevin Eugene Graham, descendant of Zachariah Jacobs Holmes, and former President of the Sons of the American Revolution Lower Cape Fear River chapter
Panel Discussion of Descendants of Veterans of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse: former Mayor of Greensboro John Forbis, Kevin Eugene Graham, Mary Linville, Solomon Titus Taylor, and Eric Bruce Wilson
Panelist Biographies:
Kevin Eugene Graham is a native of Brunswick County, NC and a graduate of Elizabeth City State University. His parents are the late Malon Graham Sr. of East Arcadia, NC, and the late Dora Jane Kelly-Graham of Winnabow, NC. Kevin was born in Wilmington, NC. Mr. Graham is a proud descendant of many patriots who fought in the American Revolutionary War. His patriot ancestors were John Blanks Sr., Zachariah Jacobs, and Shadrack Chavis, all of whom were free men of color from Brunswick County, Bladen County and New Hanover County, North Carolina. On February 21, 2020, Kevin proudly accepted the position of President of the Lower Cape Fear Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, as the first African American to hold the office. Kevin’s research as a historian and genealogist has focused primarily on free families of color from the counties of Bladen, Columbus, New Hanover, Robeson, Pender, and Sampson prior to the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. His research is available on his family reunion website www.graham-reunion.com and www.blanks-reunion.com
Mary Linville attended St. Mary of the Woods College, Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University. She worked as a nurse and nurse practitioner for 37 years, mostly in public service and non-profit health care. She and her husband now own a small business, and they breed cattle. In her spare time, Mary writes grant proposals for a local non-profit. As soon as she retired, she went back to her first love, history! She loves her work as a Citizen Archivist transcribing Revolutionary War pension applications.
Solomon Titus Taylor is a proud community leader, United States Marine Corps veteran, historian, and the founder of the Titus Family Foundation and the Kids Basketball Association (KBA). His life’s work has been dedicated to mentoring youth, preserving history, and uplifting his community. He has traveled across the country, speaking at universities and community events, sharing his passion for the importance of knowing where we come from and the power of telling our stories. He believes that understanding our roots and embracing our legacy can inspire transformative change and help shape a brighter future for generations to come.
Eric Bruce Wilson is a resident of Falls Church, Virginia. He has an undergraduate degree in History from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a law degree from the George Mason School of Law. He retired from the U.S. Department of the Interior where he applied his knowledge of history and law for more than 37 years. His interest in the park stems from learning that his maternal Fourth Great Grandfather served in the battle as a member of the Virginia militia from Botetourt County.
Reservation or Registration: No
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