Butts County GaArchives Obituaries.....Williams, T. L.  May 1897
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Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 June 26, 2006, 1:53 am

Jackson Argus - May 14, 1897
T. L. Williams

Mr. Editor  -  It is seldom the lot of any man to witness a death more tragic 
than that of our fellow townsman, familiar to his friends as Tobe Williams.  
Only a few weeks ago the community was startled by the sudden announcement of 
his incurable disease, and that he was under sentence of death from that 
highest court from which there is no appeal and whose executioner was even then 
proceeding without further delay to carry out its decree.

It was under these circumstances that I call to see him in company with other 
sympathetic friends, and well do I remember the sense of helplessness that came 
over us as we sat there realizing we were in the presence and power of the 
inevitable, and as I revolve in my mind the question what can I do to help 
him?  Only the echoing answer came welling up in my heart what would I not do 
to help him if I could?
There he sat, the strong, brave confederate soldier with his shirt sleeve 
eloquently empty at his side, talking cheerfully to his friends, making no 
complaint and facing death as bravely as he had often done before on may a 
battlefield.  At that time, however, it was under the sublime inspiration of 
heroic action, amid the shouts of victory, the cheer of comrades and a noble 
ardor in his country’s cause.  Now he was called on to face it in the passive 
role of patient suffering, with none of the material and powerful inspiration 
that steeled his courage before the cannon’s mouth.  He met the ordeal manfully 
and as became a true soldier.   But with all his heroic patience and fortitude 
there was just a tinge of sadness in his voice, and air of sorrow in his 
manner.   Was the courage any less true now than when with bleeding arm he 
laughed defiance in death’s face with the shout of victory on his lips?  Ah, 
no!  to his most intimate friends, those who knew best this tender, loving, 
manly man, this sorrow was not for self, but for the devoted, yet helpless 
wife, and little ones, out of whose life all hope had fled, because of his 
untimely death.   As we left his room we realized that here was his real 
trouble and that is we wanted to help Tobe, we should stand by his wife and 
little ones and to day to him in the spirit world this will be sweeter proof of 
sympathy and friendship, than empty words of praise spoken over the new made 
grave.   Now, Mr. Editor, that I may no be accused of closing this article with 
only empty eulogy, I desire to propose to the friends of T. L. Williams to do 
as much for him as we did for Chas. F. Crisp and others high in office, viz: 
give to his family the remainder of the income from his office for his 
unexpired term.  I understand Mr. Levi Ball one of his old comrades in arms is 
willing to do the work on these terms if elected.  To my fellow populists I 
would say, that one touch of nature makes the whole world skip and in endorsing 
the above sentiment they will not only honor a brave soldier, but as they have 
proven their patriotism to be broad, herein shall they slow their magnanimity 
to be greater and their humanity broader.

Jackson Argus – Butts County
Week of May 14, 1897


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