The Plant City Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy actually had its beginnings before 1927.  Mrs. J. A. Pearce urged Mrs. Mary Noel Moody,  formerly of Sweetwater Tennessee, to form a chapter of UDC in Plant City. The organizing meeting was held on February 27, 1927.  Mrs. J.A.  Alsobrook and her daughter Elizabeth were also hostesses for the occasion.  The following 23 ladies were signed on as organizing members:     

Mrs. M.N. Moody, Mrs. J.A. Pearce, Mrs. V.B. Collins, Mrs. J.W. Alsobrook, Mrs. C.R. Beauchamp, Mrs. C.T. Gordon, Mrs. Reese Smith, Mrs. F.M. Prewitt, Mrs. P.M. Moody, Mrs. Ida Loving, Mrs. C.E. Fiquette, Mrs. D.S. Tuttle, Mrs. W.B. Herring, Mrs. P.A. Merrin, Mrs. P.G. White, Mrs. W.H. Cowart, Mrs. W.G. Mason, Mrs. W.I. Williams, Mrs. J.W. Hull, Miss Mary Collins Roux, Miss Elizabeth Alsobrook, Miss Margaret Herring, and Miss Gray Moody.

The Charter was received May 20th, 1927 with 47 members.

In 1928, soon after receiving its charter, the chapter hosted its first public meeting in the 1914 High School auditorium.  It was a joint meeting of the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy.  The stage was decorated with red poinsettias and white Star Jasmine, the UDC colors.  The Stars and Bars and other Confederate flags were used along with the Stars and Stripes.    Mrs. Moody called the meeting to order and outlined the idea of bringing to the public the songs and ways of the beloved Southland.  Dressed in period attire, Mrs Evelyn White sang a beautiful rendition of "Love's Old Sweet Song".  She carried an Orchid fan of ostrich feathers. Her curtsies carried out the old Southern idea.  Miss Margaret Herring sang "Juanita" accompanied by a number of pretty girls in white dresses with red ruffles.  Both girls were called back for an encore.

The state UDC president, Mrs. J. Franklin Ezell was present along with other state officers.  The speaker of the evening was George H. Wilder, president of the local Sons of  the Confederate Veterans.  One inspiring moment was the presentation of E.T. Roux dressed in his gray uniform.  A chorus of young ladies sang other southern songs.

They closed the meeting with the "Star Spangled Banner" and Margaret Herring sang "Lord Give Us Peace."

At their first Memorial Day service in 1928, Harold Hughes gave a moving tribute to the Confederate Veteran.  One portion of his address made an impression on me and I hope it will for you.  He said "the Confederate soldier built not for himself but for the blessing of posterity, and of that posterity, you and I are members.  Had he not been faithful to the discharge of his duties as a citizen during the dark period of reconstruction, we today would not be surrounded by the manifold blessings and liberties that we enjoy today.  Let us then as his true sons and daughters today take thoughts of the seriousness of our duty to posterity.  In high resolve in this sacred hour, let us here rededicate our lives and our hearts and our all to perpetuating and transmitting to posterity unimpaired and unsullied, those great institutions of liberty and constitutional government bought forth with the price of our forefathers' blood and glory to the Confederate soldier.  His spirit marches on.  As we are worthy let us follow in his footsteps."

In those first years they started compiling a Roll of Honor,  a list of the Confederate soldiers.  Later some would be awarded the Cross of Honor by the Chapter.  They placed pictures of Confederate Generals Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson in the local schools, beginning with Stonewall Elementary and William Jennings Bryan Elementary School.  They wrote stories, songs and poems about their ancestors.  They contributed money and furnishings-lamp table, brass chandelier from Col. Young's home and a fifty year old doll dressed in period attire to the Gamble mansion.  They sent funds to decorate the graves at Camp Chase in Ohio.  Some of the fathers were prisoners in there during the war. They contributed money for the markers for Jefferson Davis Highway, the beginnings of the memorial building in Richmond,  the newly organized Randolph relief fund for the widows of Confederate Soldiers having no other means of support.

The 2nd Anniversary party was hosted by Mary Noel Moody.  White cake and Neapolitan ice cream was served.

J.L. Young received the first Cross of Honor in 1928.   In 1932 Mr. C.N. Isom and  E.T. Roux accompanied by Miss Aldine Griffin,  rode in the parade in a horse drawn surrey complete with prancing steeds,  James Shelton Moody won the Robert E. Lee Medal given by his grandmother in honor of his great grandfather, Judge J.H. Estes.

Mary Noel's project for 1934 was restoring and furnishing a room in the Plant City Library for Southern Literature, history, pictures, and souvenirs. The whopping big sum of 165 dollars was spent on the room. Pictures of Jeff Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson were placed in the room.

In 1938 Mary Noel Moody was unanimously elected President of the fifth Florida Brigade. 

Through the years Jefferson Davis' Birthday was celebrated with the Bartow and Lakeland Chapters.  A picnic was usually enjoyed by all.

During the war years the UDC bought War Bonds,  rolled bandages, sent care packages and donated to foreign relief. 

In 1948 the Florida UDC convention had 1,000 members present.  That year also saw the demise of  the founding president of this chapter, Mrs. Mary Noel Moody.  She was sadly missed by the chapter,  Besides her fellowship and untiring devotion, She did many of the programs and was the keynote speaker at many functions.

The Plant City Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy even had a room in the South Florida Baptist hospital.  It was furnished be donations from friends and family.

The information above was taken from minutes from the meetings.  The Plant City UDC of today still carries on the work that these ladies began eighty years ago.  We work to educate, with scholarships and living history presentations, placing of Monuments, Memorials and grave markers.  At our February meeting we will see the finished model for our monument to the Cow Calvary.  We all work in our communities for the betterment of our society.