Saturday, December 30, 1972

COL George Wayne Anderson

COL George Wayne Anderson was born 10 Jul 1863 in Edgehill, Virginia in Albemarle county. He was the 2nd of the 5 children of Edward Clifford and Jane Margaret (Randolph) Anderson. His father was from Savannah, Georgia and at the time of George's birth his father was serving as a Major in the 7th Georgia Cavalry (CSA) ultimately rising to the rank of Colonel and commanding the regiment. His mother from Edgehill and was a granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. After the war his father returned to the business of banking and served for a time as mayor of Savannah dying of yellow fever in 1876.

George educated in private schools before attending and graduating from the University of Virginia and the University School of Law in 1888. He moved to Richmond to practice law and lived there the rest of his life. George married Estelle Marguerite Burthe on 19 Dec 1889. The couple would have 3 children. He joined the Virginia militia (not yet the National Guard) in 1890 as a 2LT but was already a CPT in May 1891 commanding F Company 1st Virginia Regiment resigning in March 1895 as ordered by the Adjutant General of Virginia. However, by November of that year he was a LTC and in May 1898 became commander of the 1st Virginia Regiment as it mobilized for the Spanish-American War but did not receive a command in any of the 4 Virginia Regiments sent to Federal service. He became active in politics and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1899 where he supported a constitutional convention. Promoted to Colonel and assigned as commander of th 70th Virginia Regiment in 1900, he would serve in that position until 1906 when he retired from military service. He was then elected to the state Senate in 1901. George was city attorney of Richmond, Virginia 1921-1922 when he died of cancer on 30 Dec of that year. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

Both sons served in the first World War. 1LT Edward Clifford Anderson served in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Division and was awarded the Silver Star medal. CPT George Wayne Anderson Jr. was serving with the 313th Field Artillery 80th Division when he was killed in action on 1 Nov 1918.

George has his own Wikipedia page!

Friday, July 14, 1972

SGT Charles Douglas Reynolds

SGT Charles Douglas Reynolds, b. 20 Jul 1893 - d. 14 Jul 1962 (of cancer). Son of Thomas Jefferson and Mollie Bell (Setliff) Reynolds of Danville, VA, Charles was a member of C Company 116th Infantry. On the roster as a CPL in 1917, Charles also served during WWII beginning in 1942. He was married to Georgia (Hoy) Dean and helped to raise her children by her first husband while living in Harrisonburg. His father was a veteran of the Civil War and his brother, Robert Glenn Reynolds, was disabled in his service with 1st Virginia Infantry in Texas in 1917. SGT Reynolds is buried in the Staunton National Cemetery in Staunton, VA.

Tuesday, May 30, 1972

CPL Claiborne Keister Whitt

SGT Claiborne Keister Whitt, b. 13 Dec 1891 -d 30 May 1972. Son of George W and Gabriella B (Tye) Whitt of Halifax County, VA. Married Grace B Pettigrew with whom he had 4 children. On the roster of C Company 116th Infantry at Camp McClellan as Keister Whitt. He is buried at Highland Burial Park, Danville, VA.