SCHLEY COUNTY, GA -  OBITS  Mrs. Robert Burton

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The Schley County News  Thursday, May 17, 1894  No. 20
 
SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. ROBERT BURTON
Tuesday in the gray mists of early morning, the mystery
that we call death, came suddenly and gently to the
home of Capt. Robt. Burton, and stilted forever the
heart of the wife, who for fifty years has walked hand
in hand with him whose heart in now utterly crushed by
the terrible and unexpected blow.  Mrs. Burton seemed
in unusually good spirits all day Monday.  Her idolized
grand daughter "Annie Clair" had come up for a short
visitand she seemed so happy in entertaining her.  She
retired apparently in good health, but shortly after
midnight waked Capt. Burton and Mrs. Carter,
complaining of a pain in her chest and head.  She had
often suffered from these attacks of neuralgia and
begged them not to be alarmed, insisting that she did
not need a physician.  Capt. Burton however had Dr.
Cheney summoned about 3 o'clock feeling sure that he
could soon relieve her.  No one apprehended anything
serious and when the Doctor had administered medicine
to dull the pain, she seemed to fall into a peaceful
sleep.  But suddenly aroused up and the devoted ones
watching anxiously by the bedside, could only clasp her
for a moment in their arms, ere the spirit left its
tenement of clay.  Neuralgia has reached the heart and
instantly it ceased its throbbing.  Her death so sudden
and heart rending to her family, was a great schock to
everyone, and from all our people are heard the
tenderest expressions of sympathy for the bereaved Mrs.
Burton's was a long life of beneficense, the greater
part of it spent in Ellaville.

Year by year she dispensed charities and deeds of
kindness to her friends and neighbors.  She was indeed
the friend of the poor, and the Bible declares "He that
hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord."  A poor
cripple whom she had visited almost every day with some
delicacy wept bitterly when he knew his friend was
dead.  She grew rare flowers that she might give
pleasure to her friends and often have we seen her
recently with her hands full of blossoms carrying them
to brighten some sick room.

She went into obscure places with substantial aid to
relieve misery of the friendless.  A large crowd
attended the funeral services Wednesday morning at the
Methodist church, of which she was a member.  In low
sweet tones the sad notes of the organ filled the
church and the words of the music touched every heart.

Rev. R.F. Williamson delivered an impressive discourse
dwelling at length upon the many virtues of the
deceased.  On the casket were banks of lillies and
roses and other sweet blossoms, the floral offerings
literally covering it.  Every one who laid a flower
upon her coffin could recall many a time when they had
received from the dead hands rare and beautiful
blossoms.

Mrs. Burton's children and grand children were all
present at the funeral except the family of Speaker
Crisp.

If it had been possible for them to reach Ellaville in
time.  Mrs. Crisp was so prostrated by the shock that
she could not undertake the trip.  The loving sympathy
of friends in her girlhood's home goes out with
peculiar tenderness to this bleeding heart, but when we
turn to darkened home of our friend and neighbor, what
can we say?

In a time like this, human sympathy seems so cold.  The
devoted daughter, Mrs. Scarbrough and other members of
the family are with their stricken father bearing up
bravely for his sake, and from every heart in Ellaville
goes up the prayer "God bless Capt. Burton in his
lonliness."  May He speak words to the bereaved that no
human voice can speak so that their troubled hearts may
grow calm and peaceful as they look through blinding
tears up to Him. 

(Transcriber's note:  Mrs. Robert Burton was
Martha Ashurst Wilkinson.  She married Robert
Burton in Talbot Co., 12 Dec 1842.  The marriage
is recorded on page 188 of Book A of Talbot Co.
Marriages. The marriage was performed by Thomas
Sanford, MG.They had three children, Homer, Clara
Belle who married Chas. Frederick Crisp, and Ella
(for whom Ellaville was named) who married J.N.
Scarborough).