Family to memorialize centennial of Confederate veteran

Published 5:45 am Friday, September 15, 2017

A Civil War veteran from the Confederate Army will be honored on the 100-year anniversary of his death by his great-grandson at Shelton Grove Baptist Church on Sunday.

Zelmar Shelton will be leading a memorial service for Henry Shelton after Sunday’s church service at Shelton Grove, which begins at 10:30 a.m.

Henry Shelton enlisted in the Civil War in Blountsville, and served as a private in Harrell’s Battalion of the Alabama Cavalry. His brother, George, also served in the same regiment as a captain.

In one story that Henry passed down to his family, he said he got separated from his battalion and thought he would be captured by Union troops. To avoid capture, he hid inside a log for three days.

After those three days, he saw the glow of a firelight in the distance. Desperate for food, he crawled towards the light, and happened to find men who were under the command of his brother.

During the war, Henry was wounded twice, first in Trinity, Alabama, around five miles west of Decatur, and was wounded again just south of Atlanta. He was still near Atlanta when the war ended, and he was able to come back home to Blount County.

Later, he moved to Cullman County, where he married Margaret Dunlavy and had seven children.

Henry died on Feb. 14, 1917, and was buried on the land of one of his sons. The land on which he was buried later became the Shelton Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

“He was the first person buried there and now it’s a pretty big cemetery,” Zelmar said.

Over the years, many Sheltons have stayed nearby, and have remained active in their community, Zelmar said.

“The Shelton family has always been a real close-knit family,” he said. “And all of them were real good people.”

With 2017 marking the 100-year anniversary of his death, Zelmar will host the memorial service for Henry on Sunday, and is inviting anyone who wants to attend.

“Everyone’s welcome to come,” he said.

The memorial is meant to honor the military service and life of his grandfather, Zelmar said.

“I just thought it was appropriate to have it since it’s been 100 years,” he said. “If we can’t honor our veterans, who can we honor?”

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.