EAR TO THE GROUND: Annual benefit honors veteran, helps to preserve cemetery

Once again, it's time for the annual Rock 'n' Soul for Sergeant Rodney M. Davis fundraiser. Four years ago, the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans partnered with the Macon Cemetery Preservation Corporation to coordinate this benefit. One half of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund for Bibb County public high school ROTC students, and the other half is used for preservation of the historic Linwood Cemetery, where Sergeant Rodney M. Davis is interred.

This year, the event will take place from 6-9 p.m. tonight at the Tubman Museum in downtown Macon. Ben Sandifer will play solid gold sock hop hits to make the crowd dance. He also organizes the program, and this year he invited special guest DJs like Charles Richardson, Sergeant Davis Scholars, members of the Jr. ROTC in Bibb County and more.

The Rock 'n' Soul for Sergeant Rodney M. Davis will consist of dancing, a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing and free food. The theme of this event is the 1960s and attendees are encouraged to wear outfits from this era; the best costume will receive a prize.

For the past three years, the fundraiser has taken place on a Saturday. This is the first year it has occurred on a First Friday. Sandifer thought it would be beneficial to make this non-alcoholic family event a part of Macon's First Friday festivities.

Davis, a member of the United States Marine Corps, posthumously received a Medal of Honor award after jumping on a grenade, which killed him and saved others in his battalion. Davis was a native of the historic Pleasant Hill community.

The Macon Cemetery Preservation Corporation (MCPC) is a non-profit organization designed to preserve abandoned and neglected cemeteries in Macon-Bibb County. Currently, Linwood Cemetery in Pleasant Hill is the group's first priority. I am honored to be one of the founding board of directors of MCPC.

Initially, the City of Macon's Community Resource and Development committee chaired by Councilwoman Elaine Lucas formed the Linwood Cemetery subcommittee to help assist a group of residents with an initiative to eliminate blight in the cemetery. In 2001, the Linwood subcommittee formed the MCPC to serve as an umbrella nonprofit organization to help abandoned and neglected cemeteries throughout the county.

Years ago, a group of Marines would come out to help keep up Davis' burial site because of their semper fi motto. Eventually, the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans, a group of Vietnam War combat veterans of the 1st Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, decided to work with MCPC to raise funds for ROTC scholarships and preservation of Linwood Cemetery. The two entities have worked together on several successful fundraisers to include building a beautiful granite monument, a golf tournament and Rock 'n' Soul -- all in honor of Davis.

Advance tickets for adults are $10 and can be purchased at www.rockn soulmacon.org, Tickets are $15 at the door and $5 for students.

Yolanda "Y-O" Latimore is founder of Poetic Peace Arts and director of Like Water Publicity, a media and booking agency. Contact her at ylatimore@gmail.com.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 5:35 PM with the headline "EAR TO THE GROUND: Annual benefit honors veteran, helps to preserve cemetery ."