Memorial to the Confederate Dead at Elba United Methodist Church

                                             "The Confederate Dead" inscribed near bottom of window. 


Every Sunday I sit next to this beautiful stained glass window at Elba United Methodist Church. The windows are beautiful, especially on bright sunny days. Most of the windows have names of the donor families except for two.


I learned why these two windows are memorials to "The Confederate Dead".
Stained glass windows were added to the church when the present church was built in 1911.
Two of the large stained glass windows were installed as the Coffee County Memorial to Confederate Soldiers from Coffee Coffee. Mrs. Cordelia Lee Costello was in charge of the memorial fund to erect a monument on the courthouse square in Elba, but post-war poverty was so devasting until this was impossible. Since the church was under construction, Mrs. Costello got permission from the congregation and the contributors to use the funds to help buy the windows.


Mrs. Costello's husband, Pierre Darcy Costello, was born in Limrock, Ireland. He immigrated to Elba and married Cordelia Lee. He served as Probate Judge of Coffee County (1856-1862). He went to war and served until his death on Jan 4, 1863 in the Battle of Murphreesboro, TN and is buried on the battlefield. There is a large monument for him at Shiloh cemetery near Elba.
The Costello's had several children but all died before reaching maturity. His wife and children are all buried at Shiloh Cemetery. Mrs. Costello lived for a long time after her husband was killed.


I found this information in the Coffee County Heritage Book and it was submitted by Marion Brunson, member of Elba UMC.


I wonder if there are any other stained glass windows dedicated to the Confederate Dead.


I once took some lessons to learn to make stained glass. After making two panels for our front door in NC, I retired from doing this craft. I learned enough to really appreciate the work involved.