SCHLEY COUNTY, GA - OBITS Mrs. W.D. Sears (Emma Battle)

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" 'DE MAMA' SEARS"
The Ellaville Sun by Raymond Duncan, May 9, 1947.
 
"De Mama" Sears, who died Monday night, belonged to
that rare company of people who attain legendary
stature while still in life.

Her love story was the sort all girls dream of.  When
she was 18 and was visiting Ellaville (from the
country), Miss Emma Battle walked into Dr. W.J. Sears'
general merchandise store to make a purchase.  The
proprietor's 24-year-old son, Will D., was keeping
shop.  He fell in love with the pretty customer on site
and determined, to use his own word, to "captivate"
her.  When he had completed his medical education, they
were married.

When the young doctor and his wife were married,
Ellaville's Baptist Church--which his father is
credited with establishing--had only five members.
Their principal interest outside the home was the
development of the church.  

Three years after their marriage, Mrs. Sears organized
the "Mite" Society to offer women an outlet to study
Christian teachings and to help the advancement of the
church.  This organization continued until 1913 when it
became known as the Woman's Missionary Society.
Through the 62 years that followed it's founding until
her death, Mrs. Sears maintained a leadership and
faithfulness to its activities.

"De Mama," who acquired her nickname from the tongue of
a baby grandson, believed marriage should be placed on
a literal Christian foundation.  She once told me, "We
dedicated our home to God with family prayer the first
night of our marriage and we have had prayer every
night since."  In their case "until death do us part"
meant almost 63 years.  They said they found ideal
happiness and attributed their blessings to the
goodness of God.

"De Papa" who was the superintendent of the sunday
school, always rang the church bell.  Then when the
preaching service opened he and "De Mama" would walk
down the left aisle and would sit on the third row of
the left seats.  From my earliest recollections they
did this, and their presence in this pew seemed to me
as permanent as the building itself.  For they never
missed without providental reason.

A little more than two years ago, "De Papa" ceased to
come to his old pew, but his companion always went down
the aisle to the same place.  At 85 she remained sprite
of step and full of enthusiasm for living.  Her
devoutness was inspiring, especially in a time when few
people can rightly be called devout.  But even more
inspiring, to me, at least, was the fact that she
appeared so eager to enjoy the simple pleasures of the
world in which she had lived so long and was so
thoroughly prepared to leave.  That was because I have
known many people whose faith in another life seemed to
diminish their interest in this one.

All of us who loved her, and the number is great, will
miss her, but in our memories she will live on in the
fascinating legend that was woven about "De Mama" and
"De Papa," even while they were alive.  Being a
sentimentalist, I fancied a thrilling scene the other
night.  For I think when "De Mama" appeared at the
doors of the great white temple one of the saints who
ushers there came forward and escorted her down the
long left aisle to the third row on the left side, and
that "De Papa" was waiting there for her.

MRS. W.D. SEARS, ELLAVILLE, DIES The Atlanta Journal
Wed., April 7, 1947

Special to the Atlanta Journal

Ellaville, Ga.,   April 6---- Mrs. W.D. Sears, 85,
member of a well-known family in this section and a
life long leader in the Baptist church here, died at
her home Monday night of a heart ailment.  She had been
ill for two weeks.

Sixty-two years ago Mrs. Sears formed the church
women's organization known as the "Mite Society" which
later became the Woman's Missionary Society.  She also
taught Sunday school classes for many years.

The former Miss Emma Battle, of Schley county, she was
married in 1882 to Dr. W.D. Sears, a well known
Ellaville physician who died two years ago, shortly
before their sixty-third wedding anniversary.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Bessie Lou
Lightner, Ellaville;  Mrs. B.T. Rainey, Buena Vista;
Mrs. Harold Heard, St. Petersburg, Fla., and a number
of grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Funeral
services will be held at the Baptist church Wednesday
at 11 a.m. with the Rev. E.W. Dupree, of Hapeville, and
the Rev. l.M. Spivey, of Ellaville, officiating.