Bettye Moore
Joe Wheeler #291 UDC

Alabama’s last known confederate daughter dies. Norma Vivian Denney Smith was laid to rest Jan. 9, 2012.

Her funeral service was held at Heritage Funeral Home in Cullman. She died at her residence Jan. 7. She was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Denney, Company H, 31st Infantry. Her father was captured near Big Shanty, Ga. and discharged from Rock Island, Ill., in 1865.

Her mother was the fourth and last wife of Thomas Jefferson Denney. Mrs. Smith remembered most of her half siblings and had a fond relationship with them although they were much older than her.

Survivors include her brother, Tyce Denney who resides in Tarrant, one son, Sanford, two daughters, Linda and Barbara and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Smith became a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy June 2010. Her certificate of membership was presented to her July 17, 2011.

Mrs. Smith was a homemaker living in the same home most of her life. She was born in Cleburne County and moved to Cullman at about age eight or nine.

She attended Fairview School. She loved flowers and plants, crochet and quilts. She thought that a visit from you was not complete unless she prepared food for you.

She always wanted you to look at her mother’s hat and photos of her family. She was so excited when she received cards and letters from the women of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Her daughters made a scrapbook of the cards and when it was getting too cumbersome placed the cards on a Christmas tree.

A diabetic, she was a unilateral amputee. Sitting in her wheelchair, she would explain, “I’m not confined, I can get down in the floor and scrub my floors when I need to.” Pleased to be recognized as a Real Daughter of the Confederacy, she would say, ”I’ve been drafted into the Confederate Army.”

Bettye Moore is the president of the Joe Wheeler #291 UDC.