Members of the District III, Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, came together on Sunday, January 18, 2026 to honor a Confederate veteran, on Texas Confederate Heroes’ Day, in Cleveland, Texas. The event was held at the Oak Shade Baptist Church and Cemetery, the event has been at this location for many years now. The Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523, Conroe Chapter has hosted the event for years and are very thankful to the church for allowing them to use their Fellowship Hall.
The Confederate soldier honored on the 18th was Adolphus Sunberry Gossett, he mustered in with the 2nd Regiment Co D Texas Infantry in 1862. He married Carrie C. Peavy in Polk County, Texas in 1868 and later settled in Liberty County, Texas and there, they raised their children. While inside the Fellowship Hall of the Church, Mrs. Carolyn Jamail gave the history of the Gossett family. While family members names were read aloud, two Stubbs chapter members, Sherry McKey and Schelle Taylor, placed white carnations in a magnolia wreath. When the program was over, everyone walked out to the cemetery.
Two uniformed Sons of Confederate Veterans members, carried the wreath to the cemetery. They were Steve Sodich and Brad Halliday, both from the 4th Texas Field Battery Camp 2358 Tomball, SCV. These men placed the wreath at the headstone of Mr. Gossett. While everyone was standing at the gravesite, all joined hands and sang DIXIE.
Attending the event were…two Honorary Texas Division Presidents, Carolyn Jamail and Anna Shepeard and one Ex-Texas Division President, Bernice Elgar. Mrs. Emily Allen presided over the program and she serves as the District III Chairman and Beckie Endebrock is the President of the Thomas Jefferson Stubbs 2523 Conroe chapter. District III has nine chapters and four chapters had members attending.
After the program ended and the wreath was placed, everyone came back inside for visiting and delicious food. A very yummy “Cowboy Fire Roasted Bacon-Tomato Soup” was served, along with chesses, crackers, tea, coffee and cookies.
It was a solemn day, beautiful blue sky, a little chilly but A. S. Gossett was honored in the most respectful manner.
Picture and article by Eva Rains, Publicity Chairman for the Stubbs Chapter