Tiny Broadwick: The First Lady of Parachuting

While spreading the words and feelings of a Confederate soldier to the masses has been reward enough for author Elizabeth Whitley Roberson, she has received a surprising bonus, as well. The Childrenís Book Council has named her book, Weep Not for Me, Dear Mother, as a Notable Childrenís Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies for 1997 . Ms. Roberson became enamored with the facts and history of the War Between the States when, as a child, she listened to stories about her grandfather, George Llewellyn Whitley, who had served as a sharpshooter with the 17th Regiment of North Carolina Troops. Her passion is evident in her book, Weep Not For Me, Dear Mother. The book is comprised of Confederate soldier Eli Pinson Landersí emotional letters to his mother, Susan Landers, in Yellow River, Georgia, with detailed annotation by the author that sets the letters in historical context. In Care of Yellow River: The Complete Civil War Letters of Pvt. Eli Pinson Landers to His Mother, also by Ms. Roberson, presents all of the surviving letters. Originally self-published, this book is now available in its first Pelican edition. Because of her significant effort in researching and writing the story, March 8, 1992, was proclaimed a day honoring both Ms. Roberson and her literary subject by the Georgia legislature. Eli Pinson Landers was a native of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Ms. Robersonís love for and knowledge of Civil War history flourished while she attended East Carolina University. She continued her education until she earned an M.A. in Education and an M.A.Ed. in History. In addition, the author continues to learn and teach about the War Between the States in a variety of ways. Ms. Roberson is affiliated with the Fort Branch Battlefield Commission, the Martin County Historical Society, and History Associates, all of which are located in North Carolina. Ms. Roberson often addresses historical groups such as Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Daughters of the American Revolution. She is widely published in magazines and journals including Tar Heel Magazine, Blue and Gray Magazine, and The New East Magazine . Ms. Roberson is a history professor at Martin Community College in her native Williamston, North Carolina.