Obituary of Southwood S. Kerr, Miller Co, AR

Posted by Kathy Severance <watkins@wavetech.net> on Wed, 04 Aug 1999

Surname: Williams, Ake, Cavanagh, Ward, Larey, Grigson

Sabbath Recorder - 1925

Kerr - Southwood Sylvanus Kerr was born in Mooresville, NC., Oct. 13, 1860.
He was converted & joined the church when 19 yr. of age. He was united in
marriage with Virginia Williams, Jan. 2, 1882. To this union were born 9
children, 7 of whom are now living: Mattie - Mrs. C. Ake of this place;
Allie - Mrs. P. Simpson, of St. Thomas, Ontario, CAN; Verna - Mrs. C.
Treyer, London, Ontario, CAN.; Mrs. J. M. Dooley of Bradley, AR.; Vance, of
this place; Whitfield, of Aberdeen WA., & Guy of North Loupe, NE. Two
daughters died in childhood. Brother Kerr is survived by his wife, one
brother of Fort Smith, & by three sisters who reside in Cleveland, NC.

Brother Kerr united with the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Fouke, AR., Mar.
19, 1904. His membership was continued until April 19, 1914, when his name
was dropped at his request, & he joined the Methodist Church of this place,
with permission to continue to keep the seventh day Sabbath.

Brother Kerr was an earnest Christian during the most of his life, anxious
to do all he could to promote the work of the Lord. He felt called to
preach the gospel; & after some experience in this work, was licensed to
preach by the Methodist District Conference at Lewisville in November,
1912. He began his work at Springhill, which has prospered. The missionary
Baptist pastor now has a regular appointment there. He served as elder in
the Methodist Church of this place, assisting the local pastor on the
circuit, until in the autumn of 1923, when he felt that he was physically
unable to do so. He delighted to be at the church service, bible school, &
prayer meeting, attending when his health would permit.

Jan. 17, of this year Mr. Kerr was taken ill, & was confined to his bed
most of the time, until July 4, he passed on to be forever with the Lord.
During the last six months of his suffering he was patient & appreciative
of all that was done for him. It was his joy to talk of the Savior, to have
the Bible read to him & prayer offered & hymns of praise sung in his room.
The influence for good that went out from his sick bed can not be measured.
His wife, his brother, his son, Vance & daughter in law, three of his
daughters & their husbands were with him, tenderly ministering to him at
the last.

The funeral was from the porch & lawn of his late home in the village of
Fouke, on the afternoon of July 5, conducted jointly by the Seventh Day
Baptist pastor, Rev. Mrs. Angeline Allen & the pastor of the Methodist
Church, Rev. Mr. Ginnings, according to the desires of the family, it being
his expressed wish before he died. Members of the Junior & Intermediate
Christian endeavors sang, as they had done many times during the last
months of his illness. Burial was in the Fouke, Cemetery.