Bibb-Taylor County GaArchives Obituaries.....Layfield, Eddie Pauline November 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 June 20, 2005, 6:06 pm The Butler Herald, November 15, 1917 The Butler Herald Thursday, November 15, 1917 Page One Death of Eddie Pauline Layfield Mourned By Many One of the saddest deaths we have been called upon to chronicle in a long while was that of sweet little Eddie Pauline Layfield, the beautiful 11-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Layfield, of Macon. Following an illness of three weeks from typhoid fever an angel appeared Thursday morning and bore the spirit of this lovable child away to forever dwell with the Master of the Universe. Attended by relatives from Butler the funeral service and interment took place at Macon Friday. May God’s purest angels guard her slumbers is our earnest prayer. Every home in Butler has been deeply touched by the death of this child. To the grief-stricken parents and relatives the town extends profound sympathy. The Macon Telegraph gives the following account of Eddie Pauline’s death, and to which is added a beautiful tribute, expressive of the fondness with which she was held by those who knew her in that city: There died in Macon Thursday afternoon a little 10 year-old-girl. Ordinarily such a death would wring only the hearts of the parents, and they would have the sympathy of their immediate friends. The bare announcement of such an event is ordinarily all that need go the public. Heaven is constantly being peopled with little angels. But this little girl was an exception. Her passing deserves more than mere mention, it deserves a high tribute, for from the time her first words were framed in prattle and her sweet nature began to unfold, she was beloved by all. She was a ray of sunshine, and seemed to have been sent on earth on a mission of making people happy. Was Queen of Parade At the tender age of 7 years her unusual brightness won for her the distinction of portraying the part of queen on the occasion of the spectacular parade of the Knights of Khorassan, and not only did she win the hearts of the many Knights of Pythias who followed her train as she so gracefully wielded the scepter, but of all who saw her in that roll. A year later, on the occasion of the departure to Marietta of the first president of the Macon Rotary Club, when the club gave him a farewell banquet, this little girl, in her childest treble, sang a paraphrase of the popular song, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” substituting the word Marietta for Tipperary. Every Rotarian who heard her longed to press her to his heart in admiration of her charming rendition of the song. This and many other instances of her talents and charm made everybody love little Eddie Pauline Layfield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Layfield, of 874 First Street, whose death occurred Thursday afternoon after an illness of three weeks. There will be sadness at Alexander school, where she was a pupil, in the Sunday school of the First Street Methodist Church, in the neighborhood in which she lived and throughout the city where she was known and loved. The funeral was held Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Street Methodist Church, Rev. J.P. Wardlaw conducting the services. Interment at Riverside. Six of her little girl friends served as an escort. The pall bearers (boys): Walter Burke, Charles Eagle, Morris Thomas, Charlie Holmes, Joe Steed. The pall bearers’ escort (girls): Margaret Otto, Elizabeth Holmes, Gladys Meyer, Tommy Robinson, Mozel Fuller, Anastasia McKenna. Final Tribute The funeral of little ten-year-old Eddie Pauline Layfield occurred at First Street Methodist Church Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The church was full when the funeral procession arrived from the residence across the street, Rev. J.C. Wardlaw, pastor of the church; Dr. J.M. Glenn, presiding elder of the district, and the Rev. J.T. Adams of Butler, preceded the little white casket covered with flowers and escorted by the little girl’s Sunday School class and pall bearers from among the boys of the school. Following were a large number of relatives and friends of the family. W.O. Stevens, Mrs. Stevens and Miss Ione Stevens played and sang during the ceremony the old familiar hymns, “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” Dr. Glenn read the service, Mr. Wardlaw spoke and Mr. Adams offered the prayer. Beautiful Floral Offerings In the course of his talk the preacher referred to the hundreds of offerings of flowers that overflowed the home and the rostrum in the church as a testimonial of the love and esteem in which the little girl was held by men, women and children in all walks of life, not even the colored people forgetting her. In all his long experience, the preacher stated he had never witnessed such an outpouring of sympathy and love to one so young. Reference was made to the active part which the little girl took in Sunday school work as well as the work of the church. She was a favorite with all and was the means of leading many to the cross. An unusually large number of those present followed the body to Riverside cemetery, and witnessed the ceremony as the little casket was lowered to its last resting place, just as the sun was shedding his departing rays across the hills. It was a fitting close to a beautiful little life and the rising sun will be typical of the entry of that pure soul into the land where the sun never sets. The Butler Herald Thursday, November 8, 1917 Page Four Local News Mrs. J.T. Adams and Mr. T.F. Layfield were called on by telegram to Macon Tuesday on account of the critical illness of little Miss Eddie Pauline Layfield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Layfield. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb/obits/l/layfield7229ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb