The Society of the Black Rose
In OCR Black Roses are the ladies who dress in black as mourners in memorials and other services where mourners are appropriate.  The Society of the Black Rose was begun in 1998 by Suzy Hagar and Yvonne Brown.  ONLY current members of the OCR of any state can be Black Roses.  This is a sub-group of the OCR.   A Black Rose must have mourning attire, either full or second mourning is acceptable.  Gentleman mourners must wear a black armband during the service.  There is no additional charge - members must submit a membership application to their state Keeper of the Rite, who will forward it to the Confederation Keeper.   Each year in our convention one Rose is chosen from within the entire Confederation to receive the Black Rose of the Year award medal for exceptional work done to honor the Confederate soldier/s.  Recipients to date of this honor are:

2003 Marilyn Sweeney, Texas*                                       2016 Ann Turner, Virginia
2004 Joanna Pate, Louisiana                                          2017 Reta Brand,  Texas
2005 Suzy Hagar, North Carolina                                   2018 Sandra Padgett, California        
2006 Lynda O'Neal, Florida*                                           2019 Diane Padgett, South Carolina
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 no awards given             2020 Jackie Dennison, Virginia/Tennessee
2012 Kathryn Clark Tilson, Florida                                2021 Gail Jessee, Florida
2013 Norma Holley, Texas                                              2022 Renee Bell Gallien, South Carolina  
2014 Debria Beatey, Tennessee                                      
2015 Vonda Dixon, Tennessee                                        
                                                                                           


* denotes those who have since passed away

The symbols on the Black Rose pin include: the Iron Cross of Valor to mark a soldier's grave,
Battle Standard the soldier's rallied around in battle,
Recumbent Rose in remembrance of our ancestors and their part in the events of the CSA,
Rosebud for the next generation to lovingly pass along our history too.

A 3 year project resulting in the symbol below to adorn a grave marker to honor deceased members
or special projects was created.   In 2009 it was voted that all states and members were asked to create a
design to represent the Order of Confederate Rose that would be voted on in the next Confederation meeting.
2010 in the presidents' meeting the design below was voted on, and in 2011 the bronze medallion was unveiled!