Obit of Samuel Parker - Conecuh Co. AL -------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGenWeb NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Lygia D. Cutts - ALGENWEB Archives FM -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed by Patsy Quick JUNE 1999 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX Editied by Jess F. Mercer and William H. Stoker No. 27 VOL 8 Washington, Ga., July 2, 1840 pg. 441 THE CHRISTIAN INDEX OBITUARY Departed from this life, in Conecuh County, Alabama, SAMUEL PARKER, in the 75th year of his age on Saturday evening 23rd of May. The subject of this short tribute of respect was born in the State of Maryland, on June 21, in the year 1765, of George and Sarah Parker. Being left an orphan at an early age, he had to contend with many disadvantages and leaving his native state, he moved to Virginia, where he remained three years. From that state he came to Georgia, where he attached himself to the Baptist Church at Mount Prella, H.C. and continued 12 or 13 years a useful member of that body. He then moved to Fishing Creek Church, B.C. where he continued about 12 years. He afterward moved to Alabama, and unitied himself with the Mars Hill Church, C.C. where he remained 2 years. He subsequently moved on the Conecuh River same county where he was instrumental in geathering togeather a few of the children of God in that destitute region and during the visits of a neighboring Preachers had them constituted into a body, called Tilers Creek Church, now Elam Church, which has since been wonderfully blessed. Here in the midst of a numerous offspring, and circle of acquaintance, he continued for the last 20 years of his life, a bright illustration of the Grace of God and forcible of his character. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for nearly fifty years and a Deacon for about forty five years. His health has been for a time delicate but not so much impaired as to debar him from the duties of Religion. In the house of prayer hisseat was seldom vacant; and there he enjoyed sweet commun with his God in the ordinances and services of the sanctuary. He was peculiarly gifted in comforting the broken hearted and administering consolation to the sin-sick soul; and his pathetic admonitions to the careless sinner and to the youth of his settlement will never be forgotten. With a manly zeal he possessed an unbending integrity of principle which rendered him peculiarly useful in the right discharge of the duties of life. There was another trait in his Christian character which shown bright~and diffused itself extensively among his brethren. His faith in the promises of God, his love for his Redeemer, and his enlarged views of the scheme of Salvation early instructed him in those plan of benevolence which are in operation for the spread of the Gospel of Christ. This was his favorite theme, on which-of-his-late-years, He spent so much of his Christian conversation, and towards it be contributed much of his prayers substance. For several months previous to his death, his suffering became severe and often pungent, arising from a violent cough and expectoration of phlegm; but he bore all composure and a resignation to the will of the Heavenly Father. At times, when relieved a little of his sufferings, he would request those around him to sang the sweet Hymn commencing "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, ' with the chorus How long, Dear Jesus, O! how long Wilt thou have me to stay, Reach down, reach down, ye wheels of time And bring the joyful day. the words he would repeat, although in a state of extreme debility. He used to remark he had nothing in this world to court his stay, but every thing to invite him away to that place he could see his redeemer face to face and join with the bright retinue of Heaven in songs of Redeeming Grace and Dying Love. After a severe attack on Saturday, he was raised in his bed to take a little water; but the Messenger of Death arrived and he leaned over in the arms that supported, and in a few minutes his Spirit sweetly took its flight to receive a crown of glory prepared and laid up in Heaven. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death-of-his-saints'.