I need a little help finding some info on a Mississippi veteran who died in Tennessee. Here is his info...

GUNTER, JOHN FRANKLIN PVT.
Company A - Franklin Rifles
7th Mississippi infantry

(Information at time of death)
Age: 100 Y, 1D
Sex: M
Race: W
Date of Death: 3/30/1940
Source: Death Certificate Card Index
File: 1316
Collection: Memphis/Shelby Death Index

Here is what I need help with. In an old 1939 Memphis newspaper article he is refered to as Colonel Gunter. Yet he is listed as a private on the 7th Miss. rosters and is not mentioned among the field officers.

Was his being refered to as Colonel due to the possiblity of it having been bestowed on him post war by some organization he was associated with or for some reason I am not familiar with? If anybody can shed some light on this I would appreciate the help.