Fayette County GaArchives Obituaries.....HEFLIN, MD, Wilson Lumpkin August 13, 1910 ************************************************ 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: Candace (Teal) Gravelle http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00023.html#0005680 October 18, 2005, 12:56 am "THE ROANOKE LEADER" Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, August 17, 1910 DR. WILSON L. HEFLIN DEPARTS THIS LIFE FOR THE LAND OF REST BEYOND (photo of Wilson L. Heflin included with article) One of the most prominent and picturesque characters in all this section of the state passed from the scenes of life when Dr. Wilson Lumpkin Heflin breathed his last at his home in Roanoke at 4 o'clock last Saturday afternoon. Impelled by that indomitable spirit which made his long life one of remarkable activity, Dr. Heflin persisted in working at intervals on his little farm in the edge of town, contrary to the wishes and entreaties of his children, and it was while thus engaged that he was first attacked last Wednesday afternoon. The attack was in the nature of apoplexy but not until the following afternoon was his condition considered serious. Only one son, Robert L. Heflin, was with him at the first, but in answer to a hurried summons came Hon. John T. Heflin, who was with the educational campaign speakers Drs. Wyatt and Howell Heflin and Hon. Harrington P. Heflin of Birmingham and Congressman J. Thos. Heflin of LaFayette. The two remaining sons, Walter W. and Marvin R. Heflin were attending the University in Chicago and only arrived in time for the funeral. Mrs. H.B. Reid, the only daughter of the deceased, was unable to leave her home in Kentucky. All efforts possible were made by friends and physicians in Roanoke, members of the family and a professional nurse was brought from Birmingham, to save the life of the aged patient, but all were futile. Gradually he sank into the last long sleep. At intervals he gave evidences of recognition and interest in his surroundings, and only a few hours before his spirit's flight, he undertook to sing an old hymn, "Shall we gather at the river." After all was done to prolong the life of the beloved patriarch and the fight was lost, the body was embalmed and placed in a metallic casket and Monday morning was borne to old Concord church, near Louina, in whose cemetery rests the dust of the deceased's sainted wife and his distinguished brother Judge John T. Heflin. Here is the scene of the old Louina Camp ground, now only a memory, but which Dr. Heflin did so much to make a power for good in its day. Fully one thousand people had assembled from far and near, a most representative gathering, including old and young and members of both races, and scarcely a one but felt a sense of personal loss in the departure of the good man whose body rested before them. Fittingly enough, the services were held in the grove near the church, a number of chairs and pews being placed for the family and close friends. Thus the last scene connected with the history of this man who had lived so near to Nature's heart was held in the temple of Nature itself. The service was most impressive. The old songs were sun which were favorites of the deceased. The service was in charge of Rev. S.L. Dobbs who was assisted by Rev. R.W. Anderson, a former pastor. The prayer offered by the former and the address by the latter will live in the lives as well as in the memory of many who heard them. Brother Dobbs also paid a beautiful tribute to his deceased friend. In conclusion Elder William Parrish, an old friend of Dr. Heflin, delivered a touching eulogy to his long time neighbor and departed comrade. After the large concourse of the white race had filed past the flower laden casket for a last look upon the reposeful countenance of the man whose labors had meant so much to them, the negroes were invited to pass by. A most pathetic incident was the approach of an old, decrepit former slave of the doctor "Uncle Boss" Heflin, who with his faithful wife, stood weeping over the bier of him who had shown them so many kindnesses in sickness and in health. With the interment of the body of Dr. Wilson L. Heflin, closed the history of a man which, if rightly written, would form a volume teeming with salient facts of the stirring scenes of the four-fifths of a century and more through which this man moved and in which he played a busy part. It would afford a story rich in romance, charming in sentiment and abounding in the choicest and rarest of humor. Such a book would stand without a counterpart, for Dr. Heflin was peculiarly an original character and occupied a unique place in the history of this section. The deceased was born in Fayette County, Georgia 82 years ago the 21st of March last. He came to Randolph county in boyhood and spent the remainder of his life among the people. He practiced medicine for 63 years, the longest record probably of any practitioner who ever lived in Alabama. Living in the days when this country was sparsely settled, the extent of the territory he covered was amazing. Only a man of gigantic constitution and heroic will could have endured the labors and hardships he underwent. The rich and the poor alike received the faithful ministrations of this man, the fame of whose skill called him far and near. It is doubtful that any call ever failed to receive his attention, regardless of renumeration. One evidence of the great amount of charity work he did is found in the fact that nothwithstanding he had such an enormous practice through so many years, he accumulated no fortune and died a comparatively poor man. But he was rich in the prayers and good will of those had had served and the legacy of the good name which he leaves to his children is a fortune that cannot fly away. He did a good part by his nine children and their lives of usefulness vindicate the wisdom of his course in investing what he accumulated in the development of his offspring rather than in the perishing things of time. In return, no father was ever blessed with more loyal, devoted children. In their lives, representing several professions, and also the maker of the home, he still lives to bless mankind. One beautiful feature in the life of this man of rugged exterior but tender heart was his devotion to the memory of his wife, that fair and radiant woman who left him 27 years ago, called from the cares of the earthly home to wait and watch at the gates above. Never a knight paid more gallant devotion to his lady than this lonely lover laid as a living offering at the shrine of her departed spirit. The flow of the incense thus continually offered was noted with keen appreciation by those who were closest to him. More than this, it was known to some as a sacred secret that upon the return of each anniversary of the death of his adored companion, Dr. Heflin, regardless of circumstance, made a pilgrimage to her tombstone and to the old homestead, around which his affections still clung, and in the love and life of whose former days he lived so much in memory. But the past is gone and the pilgrimage ended. Home with him has been rehabilitated, in a land where shadows never darken, where love is forever illuminated and rest is his at last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, September 21, 1910 TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF DR. W.L. HEFLIN, written by a life-long friend who was born in the same county, Capt. B.F. Weathers. The Heflin family and the family of the writer of this sketch have been closely associated as neighbors and friends for over three generations. The two families were neighbors in Fayette County, Georgia in the early settling of that part of the state. Later both families left Georgia about the same time, both locating on High Pine Creek in Randolph County, Alabama, several miles apart. At that time the aborigines were in this country, the Creek Indians. Our fathers, by their associations with them, learned much of the Indian dialect and could speak the Creek idiom quite fluently. Dr. W.L. Heflin was the youngest son of Wyatt and Sarah Stell Heflin. He was born in Fayette County, Georgia March 21, 1828. His father moved into Randolph County, Alabama Dec. 11, 1836. Dr. Heflin was a boy, eight years old; from that date he has been a citizen of this county until the day of his death. After his father's death, the old homestead where he grew up to manhood, became his property. He was educated in the common schools of the country, partly at Wedowee, the country side; studied medicine while in his teens; entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in the year 1847, when but nineteen years of age. In 1851 he graduated at the medical college in Augusta, Georgia and located in Louina in 1855; lived there 37 years. He came home with a large field of practice before him. For fifty years he spent more hours in his saddle, visiting the sick, than out of it. He was a practicing physician in this same territory of the state continuously for sixty-three years. Through that long period of his practice he ever held the unsparing confidence of all the people in the large circle of his practice, even after doctors became more plentiful in the country. When the other doctors had a case that baffled their skill, Dr. Heflin was called in whether far or near. He was very successful in his practice. He attended all calls regardless of financial considerations, exposing himself to any and all conditions of weather. It was never too cold or hot, in rain or shine, by day or night, he went when called for. His indomitable will power, his iron constitution, his untiring energy, fitted and qualified him to endure most anything that came upon him. There are the fewest of men that could hold up under what he could. Dr. Heflin was a wonderful character in many respects; he excited the admiration wherever he appeared in any crowd of men or women. He possessed that most happy faculty of having a jovial, jolly disposition, entertaining and interesting in his conversation. While in his thirty-second year Dr. Heflin was married December 8, 1859 to Miss Lavicie C. Phillips, daughter of Harrington Phillips, at that time the wealthiest man and largest planter in the county. His daughter was the most beautiful and attractive young lady in all the country, and as modest as she was beautiful. She retained all of her attractiveness up to her death. To crown it all she was a most noble christian woman. She was a great benefactor to all the poor and suffering of her community and it is the opinion of this writer that the high standing and prominence of the Heflin children is largely due to the early training of their sainted mother. To Dr. Heflin and his wife, eleven children were born as follows: Wyatt Heflin of Birmingham, one of the most noted physicians of the state; Harrington P. Heflin, who is now the Democratic nominee of Jefferson County for solicitor to succeed himself, a position he has held for several years; Walter W. Heflin, a Methodist minister and a member of the North Alabama Conference; John T. Heflin of Roanoke, the Democratic nominee for the probate judgeship of Randolph county; Howell T. Heflin, a prominent physician of Birmingham; J. Thomas Heflin, of LaFayette, the Democratic nominee for congress to succeed himself from the 5th congressional district; Sophia E. Heflin, died at Louina at the age of one and a half years; Robert L., Heflin, who remained with his father and was his close companion up to the last moment of his father's life; Mrs. Lavicie Reid who lives in the state of Kentucky, the only member of the family absent at their father's funeral; Marvin R. Heflin, also a Methodist minister and a member of the North Alabama Conference. Cenus Heflin, the youngest child, died in her infancy at six months. In all, eight boys and three girls. All the boys are living and have one sister living. Dr. Heflin and wife joined the M.E. Church, South, and were baptized by immersion in the Tallapoosa River at Louina by Rev. Daniel Howell, a noted Methodist minister of the country, on September 16, 1869 and became the main pillar of the church to which they belonged, always faithful to the church's interests. Their home was the home of all the preachers far and near. They did not wait for an invitation. All knew that the door latch hung on the outside and that they were welcomed at any and all times. Dr. Heflin was the prime mover in establishing Louina camp ground and its strong supporter so long as it was kept up. He is no longer seen among the walks of men. On the 15th of August his mortal remains were carried to old Concord church cemetery, and there laid by the side of his departed wife, to rest unto the morning resurrection, when the dead shall rise; the righteous shall rise first, put on immortality and dwell forever with the saints in glory. The Concord church, its cemetery and Louina Camp ground are close together. On that forty acres is a fine spring. In the early days of the county while the land belonged to the government, a man set up a grogshop near where the church now stands. It became very unpleasant to Dr. Heflin's father, Wyatt Heflin, so he himself, Harrington Phillips, Frank McMurray, Peter Mitchell and John Chewning decided they would move it. None of them wanted the land, so they put in ten dollars each, the government price, entered the forty acres, donated and deeded it for church purposes, and it is so used only to this day. This happy and prosperous family received its saddest blow when the grim reaper invaded the home and took from the doctor that which was dearest to him of all earthly treasures, his wife and companion, the joy of his life, the queen of his household. November the 3rd, 1883, her immortal soul was severed from this earthly tabernacle of clay and borne away on angels' wings to glory, the felicity of heaven prepared for the children of God. When this sad catastrophe came upon him, the Doctor gathered his little ones around him and said in his heart "I will assume all the cares and responsibilities both of father and mother." So he did and brought them up to maturity, an honor to his name, educating them as best he could. How well he performed that duty, the prominence of his children is the living and gratifying testimony. We find among them doctors, lawyers, preachers, statesman and farmer. The Doctor was a good disciplinarian. He believed in training children to work. When his boys were not in school he had them at work on the farm, though he was financially easy in circumstances. He did not allow any one around him that was able to work to eat bread in idleness. He was a hard worker himself. Yet no man was more loyal and devoted to his children than he was, and they equally to their father. He was a great benefactor to all classes of people in the country. He gave the poor and hungry bread; he alleviated the pains of the suffering and sick. He joined the Confederate Army at Notasulga, but was sent back home to minister to those left at home. In the early days after the civil war, when the whole country was devastated, no schools in the country, a few of Roanoke's enterprising men determined they must establish a good school in Roanoke. Dr. Heflin was one of the men to subscribe his hundred dollars, at a time when it was harder to raise a hundred dollars than five hundred now. The building of that school is the bed-rock of what Roanoke is today. Dr. Heflin left Louina and moved to Roanoke on Feb. 5, 1892 where he remained up to the time of his death. He died with that full triumphant faith in the doctrines of Christ. He evidenced it but a short while before his immortal soul took its flight. In that last home he saw the long vistas open and angels descending to bear his soul away. He was heard in a low tone humming that sweet song, "shall we gather at the river." The Doctor was a fine, original character. He believed in men telling the truth, that his word should be as good as his bond, that they should work and be honest. His heart was like unto a bold spring of pure water, a gushing fountain of noble sentiments. I have often thought that if it was God's will in his providence to let such men live on and on, what a blessing it would be to the world of mankind, especially the subsequent generations. The life and character of such men are a great beacon light of inspiration to the young men of the country in helping them to mold and form a good character for themselves. A life friend, B.F. Weathers. Additional Comments: Alabama Death Index (1908 - 1959) Name: W L Heflin Death Date: 13 Aug 1910 Death County: Randolph Volume: 23 Certificate: 476 Roll: 1 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/fayette/obits/h/heflinmd7650ob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 17.2 Kb