Patriot grave-marking ceremony set for Nov. 11
BY LAFAYETTE
SUN STAFF
CHAMBERS COUNTY — A Revolutionary War veteran laid to rest in northern Chambers County will receive formal honors this Veterans Day as part of nationwide commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The Richard Henry Lee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will host an Alabama Patriot Grave-Marking Ceremony for Patriot Reuben Stevens (1762-1860) on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. CT at New Hope Christian Church in Abanda. The event is free and open to the public.
The ceremony will honor Stevens’ wartime service and dedicate a special Alabama Patriot marker at his resting place to preserve his memory for future generations. The program will begin inside the historic church before moving to the cemetery grounds.
Stevens is one of a select few Revolutionary War veterans resting in East Central Alabama. While approximately 1,200 Revolutionary War patriots are buried statewide, far fewer settled in this region because East Alabama remained part of the Creek Nation until 1832. Following that period, about 25 known patriots moved into Chambers, Lee, Russell, Macon and Tallapoosa counties — frequently arriving as older men accompanying their grown children in search of newly opened land.
In conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary, the Auburn-based SAR chapter has spearheaded efforts to locate local gravesites and place commemorative markers at each verified location.
New Hope Christian Church is located off Chambers County Road 237, approximately 15 miles northwest of LaFayette.
From LaFayette: Take Alabama Highway 77 North toward Wadley. Follow AL-77 North through Penton and Milltown (about 13 miles), then turn right onto Chambers County Road 237. Proceed 1.5 miles; the church and cemetery will be on the right.
Travel Note: Because multiple churches in the region bear the New Hope name, attendees are advised to verify their route using the exact GPS coordinates: 33.0866972, -85.4889667.
For more details about the ceremony, contact Sid Harden at sidharden@gmail.com.
