Obituary of Mary Angeline Bennett, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/obits/mabennett.txt ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb Project 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. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ALGenWeb Archives File Manager Carolyn Golowka, -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by William Fischer, Jr., February 2001 AN AGED MOTHER IS NOW AT REST ------------------------ The sudden demise of Mrs. Mary Angeline BENNETT [28 Jul 1847--31 Mar 1919] at the home of her grand-son, William L. BRADSHAW, near Bacon Level, at seven o’clock last Monday morning carried a pang of sorrow to many hearts, such as only the death of a good woman and a devoted mother can entail. No greater loss than this comes to those who walk the pilgrim way of life. In this case the pain was more keenly felt because of the fact that the thirty-three years after widowhood had been spent at the homes of her children and grand-children, making her a [ ? ] mother to the family, and demonstrating to each one throughout their lives the wealth of her womanly worth and the tenderness of her mother-heart. If there is a crown awaiting those who give their lives in loving, unselfish service for others, the erstwhile wrinkled brow of “Granny” now wears a shining diadem. Her life of more than seventy-one years brought her many vicissitudes, many sorrows. Yet her spirit continued buoyant and her heart beat warm. When the Civil War devastated the South and those of her own household went forth to battle, she did a heroine’s part at home. It was her lot to knit for our soldiers through two wars, for her hands were busy with the work of the Red Cross when our boys sailed away to suffer and to die upon the fields of France. When not engaged in more active work, or in reading (for she was a great reader and well informed on current events), Mrs. BENNETT was always busy with her knitting. By a beautiful coincidence, when the summons came to go to her final home, she was engaged in her favorite employ, and without a murmur or a pain her tired hands fell into her lap as she still reclined in her rocker -- and she was at rest. Only a few moments before she was in exuberant spirits, talking to the children, and saying to her grand-son that she would have no more heart attacks such as had hitherto brought her pain. Mrs. BENNETT had always made her principal home with her eldest daughter, Mrs. John L. BRADSHAW, but when the latter moved to West Point [Georgia] some months ago she remained here with her grand-sons, Messrs. Grady and Edgar BRADSHAW. Saturday afternoon she was carried down to the home of their brother, Mr. William BRADSHAW, to spend some days. On Sunday afternoon a visit was made to Cedar Rock, where she reveled in the beauties of Nature and gathered wild flowers. True to her motherly instincts to the last, she sent a box of these fragrant tokens of her love to the home of her daughter and grand-daughters in West Point. These were delivered just at the hour when the soul of the giver was borne to the Land of Unfading Flowers. The following day, upon her casket of gray, beautiful blossoms were laid by those who had so often been blessed by the loving ministrations of this self-sacrificing mother. Though her life was not widely known outside the limited sphere in which she moved, yet her influence, through others, will be far-reaching; and while she has gone out from that loved circle, yet the unseen power of her life still tugs at the hearts of those who remain, like the after-tow of a majestic ship, pulling out from port. Since childhood, Mrs. BENNETT had been a member of the Methodist church, retaining connection with the Rock Mills congregation, and always contributing her mite to the on-going of the Kingdom. In the church where her membership was, and where she formerly worshipped, funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon by Rev. J. D. O’KEEFE. To the soft strains of “In the sweet by and by, we shall meet,” the mortal remains were borne to their final rest in the Stevens [also called Sharman or Randle] cemetery, near the scenes of the early life of this devoted saint, now entered upon the larger life above. [From The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 2 Apr 1919, p.1]