Georgia:  Oglethorpe County:  Obituary and Tribute of Jabez Mercer
Brittain, 12 February 1912

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This file was contributed by:
Tom Brittain 
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Obituary of Jabez Mercer Brittain

The Atlanta Constitution, February 12, 1912

BRITTAIN FOUND DEAD IN HIS BED

Pastor of the Temple Baptist Church Succumbs to Heart Failure

Dr. J. M. Brittain, pastor of the Temple Baptist church, was found dead 
in bed from heart failure yesterday morning at his home, 9 Orange 
street.

He is survived by his wife, three sons, M. L. Brittain, state school 
Superintendent; W. H. Brittain, president and general manager of J. M. 
High Company, and Rev. C. M. Brittain, and one daughter, Mrs. Lillian 
Arnold.  The funeral will be held this afternoon, at 3 o’clock, at the 
residence, Rev. John F. Purser and Dr. John E. White officiating, and 
the interment will be in West View.  The deacons of the Temple Baptist 
church will act as pallbearers.

Pastor of Many Churches

Dr. Brittain was 69 years old.  He had been pastor of the Temple church 
for three years, having lived in Atlanta for nine years, six of which 
he spent as pastor of the Central Baptist church.  He had been pastor 
of churches in Eatonton, Ga., Barnesville, Covington, Conyers and Fort 
Valley, and was widely known all over the state.

He was a graduate of the state university, having left school with the 
famous class of 1862, which enlisted in the confederate service on 
graduation day.  Going to Virginia, the noted gathering of young men 
arrived in Fredericksburg upon the day of the historical battle, 
entering into the fight immediately after their arrival.  Rev. Brittain 
was soon selected captain of his company, and established a brilliant 
war record. 

He was a son of Henry Brittain, and was born in Oglethorpe county in 
1842.  He was an active Mason, and a member of the Royal Arcanum and of 
the local camp of the confederacy.

Rev. A. C. Ward’s Tribute

Rev. A. C. Ward last night paid him the following tribute:
“A pall of sadness hangs over the Temple Baptist church because of the 
sudden death of the beloved pastor, Rev. J. M. Brittain, D. D., who was 
found dead in his bed Sunday morning.  The ominous silence is only 
broken by the whisper ‘Our pastor is dead.’  The heartbroken members of 
the church, like a flock of sheep whose shepherd is not, are dazed and 
confused.  With bowed heads they can only cry out in their despair, 
‘Lord help us.’
“Dr. Brittain was loved as few men are loved.  His sweet, gentle, 
Christ-like spirit was demonstrated in everything he said and did, and 
all who knew him loved him for what he really was.
“His life was an open book and while his field of labor was a very 
arduous one he was faithful to all his obligations in the work he 
undertook.
“He once expressed to the writer a desire to be permitted, ‘to die in 
the harness.’  Some time between darkness of Saturday and daylight of 
Sunday the Lord gave him his desire.  Innumerable sad hears will recall 
the many loving words and kindly ministrations of Dr. Brittain, who 
through the long years has faithfully filled the office of teacher, 
preacher and pastor.
“Truly a great man has fallen on sleep.”