Randolph County AlArchives Obituaries.....Ashcraft, Catherine September 19, 1850
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 September 14, 2022, 2:54 pm

South Western Baptist Macon AL
Died at the residence of her husband, Thomas Ashcraft in Randolph County, Ala., 
on the 19th of September 1850. Mrs. Catherine Ashcraft in the sixty-fourth year 
of her age. She was the daughter of Rev. Ephraim Abel, and was born in Orange 
Co., Va., May 28th, 1787. On the 24th of December 1805. she was married to 
William Stigler and was baptized by her father in the summer of 1806. Her 
husband dying about 1813 left her with three small children, and on the 15th of 
March 1815, she was married again, to Thomas Ashcraft, with whom she pleasantly 
spent the remainder of her life. There cannot be too much said of the piety and 
exemplary life of our beloved sister, but the narrow limits of our obituary will 
not allow extended remarks. Her bands were aver stretched out to satisfy the 
wants of the needly. She always had some kind word of admonition to drop to 
strangers as well as acquaintances. She was not fond of controversy, but in 
imitation of her father she aimed many appeals at the heart, which often proved 
successful. In conversation with her husband shortly after being taken with the 
disease of which she afterwards died, she said "I have a precious promise from 
my Savior" while meditating on the suffering usually attending this disease, 
(dropsy) I thought my affliction would be very severe, but these words come to 
my mind with irresistible force. These afflictions shall be light and shall not 
be long. These words comforted me, and I feel resigned to Ihe pleasure of the 
Lord, and I live or die, I am the Lord's. She was noted for noble powers of 
mind, quick judgment and decision of character, but such was the excruciating 
pain which she suffered during her last illness. that she was some sometimes out 
of her right mind for two days and nights in succession. She frequently 
expresses, a desire to depart and be with Christ, but while she was anxious to 
be relieved from her sufferings and enter the world of happy spirits, she was 
still resigned to the will of God. She was almost insensible in her last 
moments, yet her exit seemed to be serene as the unclouded aim sinking behind 
the western hilts not. indeed, to set forever, but to arise in resplendent glory 
in the morning of the resurrection, for the path of the just is as the shining 
light which shineth more and mora unto the perfect day. Tha following lines also 
was always fond of repeating and it is supposed that additional force was given 
to them as they were the last words of a beloved daughter. 

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