Talbot County GaArchives News.....A Tribute to Mrs. Alice Beall Mathews October 31 1907
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Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com October 20, 2003, 3:40 pm

The Talbotton New Era

The Talbotton New Era
Thursday, October 31, 1907
Page One

A Tribute To Mrs. Alice Beall Mathews On Her Anniversary

We have met this ideal morning to pay tribute to one whom we have all loved 
long and well. When invited to say a few words on this occasion, I hesitated on 
account of my inability to do the subject justice, but it was one so near and 
dear to my heart that I assure you I esteem it an honor to appear before you in 
this capacity, hoping, in the language of the school boy, from “time 
immemorial” to the present,

“If I chance to fall below, Demosthenes or Cicero,
Don’t view me with a critic’s eye, but pass my imperfections by.”

This lovely morning, Oct. 17, 1907, when all nature is redolent with the 
praises of the Creator, we lay upon the altar of love and friendship 
imperishable flowers, blossoms that have their roots deeply imbedded in the 
heart, and whose fragrance will live throughout eternity.  We will not wait 
until the “Grim Reaper” has claimed our loved one, but break our alabaster 
boxes in life, strewing the granary with the choicest exotics, smoothing, in a 
degree, the mountain peaks that lie in its pathway.  Enshrined in our hearts 
and memories are the name and good deeds of one who sixty-nine years ago today, 
was born of honored parents in the city of Macon, Ga., and one who for 63 years 
has lived in our midst.  Twice married to honored and prominent citizens of 
Talbotton, a close connection with the vital interests of church and society in 
our town, she is our own, our very own, and her name a household word in the 
refined and cultured homes of Talbotton.  She is one of the few remaining 
Confederate women who, by her untiring efforts, gave material aid to this noble 
cause.  She is one of the charter members of the “Ladies Memorial Association” 
of which there are only two surviving members.  She and her honored friends, 
Mrs. Dr. E.L. Bardwell.  For many years Mrs. Mathews has been president of 
the “Ladies Memorial Association”.  She and her contemporary, Mrs. E.L. 
Bardwell, were the founders or organizers of the United Daughters of the 
Confederacy in Talbotton.  May the mantel of these distinguished, loyal 
patriotic women fall on the daughters; may they teach to generations yet unborn 
fidelity to the undying principles for which their mothers labored and suffered.

The chapter of the U.D.C. organized in Talbotton, was named in honor of Mrs. 
Alice Beall Mathews.  She was elected vice-president at its organization and 
still retains this office.  The handsome Confederate Monument on the Courthouse 
Square, is a fitting tribute to her untiring labor and zeal in our lost, but 
worthy cause.  Mrs. Mathews is president of the Woman’s Home Mission Society in 
Talbotton.  The Methodist parsonage is also a monument to her, as it was 
largely through her individual efforts that it was erected.  She has ever been 
the champion of and helper in every good cause in our town.  The poor and sick 
feel her tender sympathy, and are recipients of her charity.  An ardent admirer 
of the young, her aesthetic taste and artistic skill render her dependable on 
all state occasions.  Oh! when feelings and thoughts are too savored and deep 
for utterance, ‘tis then that her kind and gentle ministrations knit her to the 
hearts of her friends as of “David to Jonathan.”  It would fail me to recount 
the numerous, noble and charitable deeds she has done in our community.  In 
life they are told as a memorial to her.  Verily her good works do follow 
her.  “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in 
the gates.”  Her symmetrical character and noble Christian deeds will live in 
the hearts and lives of the people of Talbotton and Talbot County when 
monumental shafts have crumbled into dust.

“How long we live, not years, but actions tell,
That man lives twice, who lives the first time well.”

If you excuse a personal allusion, I will beg the forberance of the U.D.C. and 
the W.H.M. Society while I lay one flower on the altar of love’s offering.

I have known, intimately, as friend and neighbor the subject of this tribute 
for over 20 years.  The luster of the friendship undimmed by the passing of 
time, but grown more brilliant as the swift-winged messenger takes his flight.  
As true, loyal and unselfish in the hour of her deep grief, as when the sky is 
unclouded, the sun shining brighter, or the birds singing their sweetest 
carols.  To us she came when our hearts were paralyzed, and worse than Egyptian 
darkness enveloped us.  In this hour, she came as an “angel of light”, and the 
beauties of her Christian character were indelibly impressed upon our hearts.

Were it in my power, I would weave a literary gem the most beautiful and 
stirring eulogy, whose formation would be truth, and lay it at her feet, with a 
laurel wreath encircling her brow.

 “But oh! no gifts like these are mine,
Nor else but love can I bestow;
And so the heart’s best gift is thine,
Love, while I linger here below.”

In behalf of the U.D.C. and the W.H.M. Society, I beg to present to our 
esteemed friend, benefactor and co-laborer, Mrs. Alice Beall Mathews, this 
little token of love and affection, in appreciation of her untiring zeal and 
invaluable labor in these grand and worthy organizations, with the sincerest 
wish that many years of usefulness and happiness may be added unto her; that 
when life’s warfare is ended, its labors over, she may receive an abundant 
entrance, a “crown of life,” in the “city not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens.”

Mrs. J.T. Perryman

**Note – Mrs. Alice Beall Mathews is buried at Talbotton City Cemetery formerly 
known as Oak Hill Cemetery.  The dates on her gravestone list her birth date as 
October 17, 1838 and date of death February 18, 1912.




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