David Pelfrey,
Civil War Pension
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Letter from Dept of Veterans Service, Max Hilley, to Elmer Barfield, State Dept of Veterans Svcs. Dated Feb 3, 1961:
In reply to your telephone inquiry of last week concerning the health and whereabouts of the Confederate pensioner in my area, Mrs Dianne Pelfrey, I visited Mrs Pelfrey yesterday, 2-2-1961, who is now being cared for in an old ladies home now known as Oak Manor, 716 Dodds Avenue, Chattanooga, TN.
The home is operated by Mrs R H Meacher who did not happen to be present at the time of my visit but Mr Meacher was present. I would like to state he was a very find gentleman and I enjoyed our visit thoroughly. He showed me to Mrs Pelfrey's room and explained her situation to me thoroughly. She is past 105 years old and in good physical condition for one this aged. Of course, her mental facilities have dimmed through the years but she does recognize her attendants and at times, they state, gives them a bad time about bathing and dressing her, sometimes resisting and crying like a small child.
I was invited to look over the entire establishment which I did with one of the attendants, Mrs. Mattie Morgan and found the place very much above any expectations. It is a lovely old home with a new wing built to accommodate wheelchair patients, etc., and compares very favorably with even a V.A. Hospital. The two staff members with whom I talked were thrilled that our Department would be interested enough to check on the welfare of their patient and invited me to stop with them anytime that I was in Chattanooga.
In conclusion, let me state that in my personal opinion, Mrs Pelfrey could not be any better cared for in any home or institution of any sort. I was very enthused with the establishment and the reception given my visit.
Trusting this will answer any questions in the minds of our Department officers, I remain, Sincerely, Max Hilley
Notation: Mrs Dianna Pelfrey, Rocky Face, Whitfield County. Fiduciary: Mrs J W Self. Died May 15, 1961, age 105.
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