About Us
- About the Friends
- Established in 1989, The Friends of Stones River National Battlefield, Inc. serves as both an advocacy and advisory group for and a cooperative partner of the National Park Service to positively promote and protect the history and resources of Stones River National Battlefield.
- The Friends of Stones River National Battlefield, Inc. is considered a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Tennessee and classified as a 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.
James Patterson, has been a Friends member of eight years and also serves on the board of directors of the Tennessee Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans and as adjutant of Murfreesboro Camp No. 33. He is a member of the Joseph Palmer Chapter of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars and a reenactor with the 48th Tennessee Infantry (CSA).
James is proud to acknowledge the service of two great grandfathers: A. J. Patterson of the 18th Tennessee Infantry and Nathanial McDaniel of the 16th Tennessee Infantry and later 4th Tennessee Cavalry. He, along with his wife Melanie and children Matt and Callie, are residents of Murfreesboro.
James is proud to acknowledge the service of two great grandfathers: A. J. Patterson of the 18th Tennessee Infantry and Nathanial McDaniel of the 16th Tennessee Infantry and later 4th Tennessee Cavalry. He, along with his wife Melanie and children Matt and Callie, are residents of Murfreesboro.
- President
- Eddie Macon was born in Winchester, Tennessee and has been a resident of Murfreesboro for over 25 years. Formally educated in Industrial Engineering, his avocation is 1800’s American history, with a special interest in the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Civil War, period firearms and music.
Eddie has been a member of the Friends of Stones River National Battlefield for ten years. He currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer after having served as president of the Friends from 2000-03. Eddie was very active participant on the Friends’ committee that facilitated the first-ever descendants’ reunion held in December 2002 and the second reunion held in June 2005.
Shirley (Farris) Jones is a native of Murfreesboro and charter member of the Friends, having served as president from 1994-97. Active in the community, Shirley has served as president of the Rutherford County Historical Society (1990-94), president of the Martha Ready Morgan Chapter of the UDC (2000-02), and treasurer of the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association (2000-04).
Shirley is a founding member of the Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table and a 2004 recipient of the Jefferson Davis Historical Award for Writing and Research by the UDC.
A member of numerous organizations, including the Morgan’s Men Association and the Daughters of the American Revolution, she presently serves as Vice-Regent of the Middle Tennessee Region for the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA).
Shirley is a founding member of the Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table and a 2004 recipient of the Jefferson Davis Historical Award for Writing and Research by the UDC.
A member of numerous organizations, including the Morgan’s Men Association and the Daughters of the American Revolution, she presently serves as Vice-Regent of the Middle Tennessee Region for the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA).
- Secretary
- Jean Macon was born and raised near Seneca South Carolina and has a BS degree in music education with additional studies in mathematics. Jean has lived and worked in South Carolina, Mississippi and Kentucky prior to moving to Smyrna, Tennessee where she is employed as a Planner in the Engineering Department for a company that designs/manufactures electrical monitoring and control products. In addition to enjoying US history and being an avid Clemson fan; Jean enjoys working with her church’s young adults and working on her parent’s farm in South Carolina.
- Vice President
- Lori Sellers is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and has been a resident of Rutherford County for 10 years. With extensive family ties to the area, she spent many childhood visits in Rutherford County and at Stones River Battlefield. She is a descendent of both Union and Confederate soldiers that fought at the Battle of Stones River.
A long-time volunteer with the Davidson County Cemetery Survey and other groups working to identify and preserve small family cemeteries, she is an ardent supporter of historic preservation.
John Sadler is the great grandson of Captain William Sadler, Captain of Company G of the 8th Tennessee Infantry CSA, who was killed in battle at Stones River on December 31, 1862. He was born at home in Gainesboro, Tennessee in 1940 in the home of William Henry Sadler, the son of Captain Sadler.
John attended Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1962 with a degree in engineering and a commission as an officer in the US Navy. He served the Navy as a nuclear engineer for 41 years, first as an officer then continuing as a navy civilian. All of the service was in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, most of it in Washington in Admiral Hyman Rickover's office. John retired in 2003 and currently resides in McLean, Virginia.
John attended Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1962 with a degree in engineering and a commission as an officer in the US Navy. He served the Navy as a nuclear engineer for 41 years, first as an officer then continuing as a navy civilian. All of the service was in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, most of it in Washington in Admiral Hyman Rickover's office. John retired in 2003 and currently resides in McLean, Virginia.