Obit of Ettie Byrnes Kendrick - Butler Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed by Ed Godbold APR 1999 "From what newspaper this obit is from is unknown, probably The Greenville Advocate. This clipping was found in the belongings of Eleanor Erle Thagard Hulse who passed Juanuary 1999. DUMB, SWEET, and -DEAD-ALAS! Died in Greenville, ALa., at the residence of her father-in-law, Dr. J.C. Kendrick, surrounded by her nearest and dearest ones, on the 29th day of April, 1887, Ettie Byrnes Kendrick, wife of Dr. J.B. Kendrick, aged about twenty years. Oh mournful one, a lonely watcher wafts thee, Sigh for sigh-- The night is dark, but night and darkness bringeth God so nigh! That fair sweet shape beneath the flowers lying Is shape alone, The subtle essence fro the vase has vanished, The spirit flown-- Where Heaven's light is falling And our Darlings ever calling-- Softly calling! Oh sunshine that heralds the joyous month of May, oh flowers already ablsuh, ye leaves un- folding each little page whereon is written, "Ye shall live again" and wooing winds that sigh and mute dew-drops that tremble in the heart of the opening rose, touching reminders are ye all of one as young and fair and sweet as any of these and yet like yonder broken flower on the pitying earthm she lieth low! Dumb, sweet and-dead-alas! Cut off in expanding bloom, torn from the sheltering support, and from the sweet compnay of innocence, out of warm and beaytiful light into the darkness, which wraps existence on earth as with a mantle of gloom. A;ways startling, strangely new is death--Grief drives the shuddering soul out into pathless, starless, speechless darkness and heart-pierced we fall in utter helplessness beneath the blow which takes from life its brightness, from home its sweetness and like lost children we go wandering far away from the one fixed star which shines steadily over the deep dark wave, throughthe cloud and down upon the grave, even smile from the lips of God, the all-pitying One. Sorrowing Friend, thou art not forgotte! The fixed star of Hope shines on and in spite of darkness, loneliness, doubt, and misery, God's love and pity are sure--sure for all who love and mourn, who storm-driven to the knees, find Goda loving Father and Nature a tender Mother. Yes, she was sweet and dear and her soft cheek was too fair a morsel for the stern, white lips of death. Her days were too short, her life too bright with youth and hope, her friends too fond to let her go, and it is too sad to think that love could not save, nor skill beat back the dark-winged guest who bore away your best-beloved to that soundless Beyond, that echoless unknown! Aye, human freindship melts to pitying tears as it contemplates the circle rudely broken which now gathers about manhood young and yet despairing and the precious little one which are together "bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh," yet severed cruelly apart! The "little child shall lead them"--with the divine appeal of infancy--helplessness and innocence--shall lead he loved and loving ones with hearts half-broken back to the light. How weak are words. While the night is here, how gladly would we touch one chord vibrating to the music of her young life well spent--how quickly dry the mourner's tear and bid him bear the burden of life bravely, leaning hard on her faith until it becaomes his own. For who can heal save the great Physician of souls? Truly she was good and sweet and truly she is taken she is take--it seems to us, tto soon! Her presence was pure and womanly--like wandering perfume it haunts each place that knew her and her voice, like the distant music of dreams, lingers in every room and a dainty image of her spirit flits over the face of her child--as chaste be the current of the lives from which she is called, as hers has been! Life has its duties that call us away from the grave and in the performance of them, as God wills, lies Peace--for-- There is a light that shines for loving Trust Up there where God uplifteth dust from dust-- Hark, the happy voices calling! When tear are never falling, Never falling!! I.M.P.H.