When Franklin County native Lynde Davis entered the Tennessee Statehood Anniversary Photo Contest, she simply hoped to challenge herself. Instead, her photograph, “Where Sacrifice Meets the Sunset,” earned third place statewide and is now displayed at the Tennessee State Museum — a recognition that celebrates not only her talent behind the camera but also one of Franklin County’s most treasured landmarks.
“I entered the contest to have fun, test my abilities, and only hoped to be one of the 14 finalists from across Tennessee,” Davis said. “I never expected to place third. It was a very humbling experience.”
The contest’s theme, “Tennessee: Your Hometown, Your History,” immediately led Davis to one place.
“As I thought about what I think represents our community, the Sewanee Memorial Cross was the part of our community I wanted to showcase,” she said.
The award-winning image was captured on April 6, 2026, after Davis patiently waited for the perfect sunset. While she had photographed the cross many times before, this particular evening offered exactly what she had envisioned.
“I wanted to capture the cross during sunset,” she explained. “I never know if I’m going to get the sunset outcome I’m looking for, but fortunately, the sun set perfectly behind the cross and I was able to capture it with the sun beaming around the side.”
For Davis, the Sewanee Memorial Cross has been part of her story for as long as she can remember.
“Being raised in Cowan, I regularly saw the cross on the side of the mountain,” she said. “Anytime we went up the mountain, I could always see it.”
Over the years, it became a place filled with memories. It was where she and her husband, Jimmy, first exchanged the words, “I love you.” Later, it became the backdrop for photographs of their children, Kaleb and Kaleigh. Above all, it has remained a place of reflection.
“Standing at the cross and overlooking the valley below, I can’t help but thank God for all He created, His gift of salvation, and all His blessings in my life,” Davis said.
That personal connection inspired the title of her photograph.
“The title of my picture is ‘Where Sacrifice Meets the Sunset,”’ she said. “The 60-foot cross is meaningful because it is a beacon sitting upon Sewanee Mountain that can be seen throughout Franklin County. It’s truly an iconic part of Franklin County where sacrifice meets the sunset.”
While preparing for the contest, Davis also immersed herself in the remarkable history of the cross. She interviewed Sewanee historian Dr. Jerry Smith and studied “The Cross at 100,” co-authored by Smith and University Historiographer Sam Williamson.
She discovered that the story began in the early 1800s, when surveyors established what became known as “University View,” a scenic overlook marked by a flagpole. In the spring of 1922, University of the South Vice Chancellor Benjamin Finney climbed the mountain from Cowan at sunrise after arriving by train. Moved by the breathtaking view and reflecting on the lives lost during World War I, he envisioned a memorial cross standing on that very spot.
The Sewanee community quickly embraced the idea. Local stonemasons, many of whom were members of the Sewanee Summit Lodge of Freemasonry, joined together to construct the monument. Before the cornerstone was laid on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1922, residents brought stones from their own homes to create the foundation, a symbolic act of unity and remembrance.
The completed cross was dedicated on June 18, 1923, honoring Sewanee residents who gave their lives during World War I. In the decades that followed, additional memorial plaques were added to honor local service members who died in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War.
Today, although the cross stands on the Domain of the University of the South, it has become a destination for far more than just students and visitors. Families gather there to celebrate milestones, mourn loved ones, enjoy sunsets, or simply pause to appreciate the beauty stretching across the valley below.
Davis hopes her photograph conveys both the grandeur of the landmark and its meaning.
Her statewide recognition may have begun with a single photograph, but for Davis, the true reward is sharing a place that has shaped her faith and her family. Through “Where Sacrifice Meets the Sunset,” she invites others to experience the same sense of awe that has drawn generations to the Sewanee Memorial Cross — a landmark where history, remembrance, and hope continue to meet above the valley. GN
