BIBB COUNTY, GA - OBITS William Henry Cherry Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dawn Besancenez Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm WILL CHERRY KILLED FORMERLY OF MACON Mr. J. S. Cherry of Macon received a telegram yesterday from his sister, Mrs. McAfee of Smithville, in which it was stated that Mr. Will Cherry, their brother had been killed and that she would be in Macon this morning with the remains. The statements made in the telegram which was received by Mr. Cherry were meager to the extreme. Neither did it state where the death took place nor in what manner had he been killed. Mr. Will Cherry was formerly of Macon. While he resided in this city he was a locomotive engineer, running out of Macon on the Southwestern railroad. Of late years he had made his home in Birmingham. The deceased was well known here and in the railway circles was held in high esteem by both the officials of the road and his friends. It was learned at a late hour that death was not met on the railroad. This served to discredit a number of rumors that were afloat. ========================================== Posted in the Macon Telegraph Saturday Morning September 10, 1904 I have typed it exactly as it appears. Please note that the last statement made in this obituary if false. William Henry Cherry did die from injuries sustained in an accident involving the railroad. William Henry Cherry parents were: Hilliard Judge Cherry- For whom Cherry Street in downtown Macon, GA was named. Martha Wright J. S. Cherry was his only surviving brother Judd Sanford Cherry. Mrs. McAfee was one of his sisters Martha (Mattie) Eugenia Cherry married to Archibald Howell McAfee. Mr. McAfee was the owner of the “Chicken House” a hotel/restaurant (formerly known as the McAfee Hotel) famous state-wide for their chicken pie and homemade scuppernog wine. The hotel burned 04 March 1933. Their son and grandson both played professional baseball players. Their grandson William (Bill) Fort McAfee, Jr. was elected Mayor of Albany, GA 21 Nov. 1955. I have more on the McAfee family from Smithville, GA. ================== William Henry Cherry’s Obituary b. 12 March 1862 - d. 09 Sept. 1904 FUNERAL OF MR. WILL CHERRY Was a Large Attendance of the Locomotive Engineers. The funeral services over the body of Mr. Will Cherry, who met his death on the railroad near Birmingham several days ago, were conducted yesterday afternoon at the residence of his brother, Mr. J. S. Cherry, 853 Oak Street. The services were conducted by the Rev. J. L. White, Pastor of the First Baptist church. Present at the funeral was a delegation of the Birmingham members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. To this order the deceased belonged. He was also a member of the Macon Masonic lodge No. 5, in which he was in good standing. The interment was at Riverside cemetery. The body of the deceased arrived in Macon at an early hour yesterday morning, accompanied by Mrs. Cherry, her three children and members of Locomotive Engineers of Birmingham. The following acted as pallbearers: A. J. Ball, C. F. McKeouch, C. H. Pugh, W. L. Wasner, S. W. Smith, and F. W. Hawes. (Can’t read first word of sentence) M???? Hubbell and Boone sang “Asleep in Jesus” and “Nearer my God to Thee”. This was posted in the Macon Telegraph. I have typed it exactly as it appears. His wife was Tero Estelle Licette. His brother was Judd Sanford Cherry. The three surviving children were: William Henry Cherry Otway Howell Cherry Martha Wilmont Cherry ==================== IN MEMORIAM On September 9th, 1904 near the hour of noon, the sweet spirit of our loved one, William H. Cherry, returned to the God who gave it. He was the son of Hilliard J. and Martha W. Cherry, who for fifty years were citizens of Macon. He was born March 12, 1862, being 42 years old, united with the First Baptist church when quite a young man, when the lamented Rev. Warren was pastor, and was married by him to Miss Tero Licette in February, 1889, with whom he lived happily till death came so suddenly while in the discharge of his duty as an engineer on the Southern road, the engine, becoming derailed near ---- were ------ overturning and crushing ---- the manly form underneath. Five years ago he went to Birmingham and accepted a position with the Southern railroad. He seemed to realize that he was a stranger in a strange land, but God’s people are everywhere, so he joined the Y.M.C.A. and was an enthusiastic worker in the Master’s vineyard the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Personal Workers class, which met every Sunday morning at 8 o’clock; also belonged to class No. 26 of the First Methodist Sunday school. He was brought to Macon and buried from the old home of his childhood. He intended taking a vacation after that trip and making a visit to his four sisters and the one brother in Macon. He had planned a reunion at the old home and on Sunday, the 11th inst. all were there but dear Will was cold and still in death, his body bruised, scalded, mangled so that we could not see him, but his pure sweet spirit was rejoicing over a happy reunion in heaven. In the home circle around the fireside, he was at his best. A devoted husband, a fond father, an affectionate brother, he will be missed by all, but oh how much more in the little home which was always brightened by his presence. Our hearts are crushed and we cannot understand this mysterious dispensation of God’s providence, but we mourn not as those who have no hope, for his Christian life is sufficient evidence that he is now rejoicing in heaven with loved ones who have gone before. A nobler, purer, truer heart than Will Cherry’s never throbbed neath human breast. He leaves a devoted wife and three sweet children, four sisters and one brother to mourn their sad loss. He was buried in beautiful Riverside cemetery by the side of the three little children who were once the light of his home. May God help us so to live that we will meet him in the sweet haven of rest. How joyful is the tho’t that lingers, When loved ones cross death’s sen, That when our labors here are ended, With them we’ll ever be. ONE WHO LOVED HIM Information provided by: Leonora Dawn Besancenez 7401 S. Grand Ave. St. Louis, MO 63111 E-mail: tomsgal@sbcglobal.net