Obituary of William Henry Byrd of Jackson County, Florida

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elizabeth P. Walters,
through Brian and Lynne Walters, cobolt@foothills.net

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Sent in by Elizabeth P. Walters: 

William Henry Byrd's Obituary- In the golden days of Autumn we gather 
in the harvest to supply our needs in a future year.  It is meet that 
death's harvest shall be gathered also, for out needs in Eternity.  
Oct. 2, 1882, the home of J. W. Byrd and M. E. Byrd was made glad 
because of another child sent to brighten their lives.  William Henry, 
this boy was christened though everyone knew him as "Boy."  For several 
years it seemed that he lived near the meeting of life and death for he 
was a delicate child.  Later his health improved and he spent his 
boyhood days in happy enjoyment in his home with three other boys all 
older than himself.  After he attained his majority he spent a year in 
Fort Worth, Texas where his brothers had settled.  Returning to 
Cypress, FL, late in Dec. 1906, he remained there in his fathers home 
until his death.  During this year he made application to join the 
order of the masons and would have taken his first degree Oct. 15th, 
but a few days before he was taken sick.  No one thought the end so 
near, until Tuesday, Oct. 13th, when he grew rapidly worse.  All that 
kind and willing hands could do was done, but he had reached the border 
and he could not turn back.  Thursday, Oct. 15th, just as rosy dawn 
broke and wakened the world from a nights repose, the end came.  The 
death angel called his spirit and bore it away to its home in Paradise.  
Though he had never become a member of a consecrated son of God.  He 
was a young man of sterling character; beloved by all who knew him; 
devoted to his parents; the youngest child; the stay of his father and 
the comfort of his mother.  Just a little more than a year ago his 
brother, Rufus, died in fort Worth and now Henry lies beside him in the 
quiet city of the dead.  Oct. 17th, his body was taken to the family 
cemetery on the Fulgham Homestead and tenderly laid to rest.  Why it 
pleased the alwise Father to remove him while yet a young man, we know 
not now, but sometime in the future we all will understand.  "Man is of 
few days.  "Like unto the grass which groweth up in the morning it 
flourisheth, but at even is withered and dead, Weep not, dear parents 
and brothers, your loved one is at rest, safe in the Shepherd's fold.  
This is only one more link, one more tie of earth broken to be made 
whole again in Heaven.  One more at home and in a little while we will 
all be called to sleep the sleep that knows no awakening on earth.  
"Asleep in Jesus peaceful rest, whose waking is supremely blest.  
Blessed is the dead which die in the Lord; yes that henceforth they 
shall rest from their labors.  When God calls, let us be eager to 
answer his summons.  One at a time we are called and as we meet the 
dark Angel we see beyond, the light of God's throne lighting the path 
and hear glad voices shouting and singing his praise as they meet us at 
the pearly gates that stand for us ajar, and we hear the welcome "Enter 
thou into the joy of thy Lord." -His Cousin.