Thomas Co., GA - Death Notices from the "Southern Enterprise" Copyright (c) 2002 by Diane Saunders saundersd@mindspring ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Neither I nor the USGenWeb project makes any claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that it is always necessary to check official records to substantiate any information. For MORE information be sure to visit the Thomas County page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~gathomas/ ************************************************************************* Wednesday, May 16, 1866 Death of a Citizen Mr. Thomas Steele died at his residence near Boston, in this County, on the 7th instant. Mr. Steele was a native of Richmond County, N.C., but has for a number of years been a resident of Thomas County. He was a thorough-going farmer, a gentleman, and highly respected by all who knew him. He has ever been truly devoted to his family, and to them his death is a terrible and irreparable loss. =================== Wednesday, June 6, 1866 Died Near Darien, Ga., on the 14th of May, of Croup, Kathleen Shine, aged four years and six months; only daughter of Norman G. and Hattie S. Gignilliat. "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven." In Thomasville, on Monday, May 28th, of Inflammation of the Bowels, Jefferson Davis, second child of R. W. & C. V. Murray; aged three years and eleven months. "The Good Shepherd has found His Lamb." ===================== Wednesday, June 13, 1866 Death in a Church Sip Miller, a colored man, died suddenly of Asthma, in the Baptist Church in Thomasville, on Sunday last. He was held in high esteem among his people, and being a member of the colored society organized here, they buried him on Monday with great pomp - - the funeral procession eclipsing anything ever seen before in these parts. ====================== Thursday, October 18, 1866 Died At 3 o'clock a. m., Wednesday the 17th instant, in Thomasville, Emily Levenia, infant and second daughter of L. C. & Emily F. Bryan, aged nine months. "Suff little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Funeral The friends of Mr. And Mrs. L. C. Bryan are invited to attend the Funeral Ceremonies of their Infant Daughter, at the New Cemetery at 4 o'clock p. m., Thursday, Oct. 18th. Thursday, November 1, 1866 Obituary The Death Angel has been abroad in the land and many have fallen; but amid this general desolation, when all have been bereaved, it is peculiarly sad to see an aged father and mother left alone in the winter of life, just as they had hoped to repose in the arms of those whom they had reared from infancy, but who, alas for human hopes! Are cut down in the prime of early manhood. Charles J. Rice died of disease of the Spine, in Edgefield, S. C., on the 29th of March, 1865; aged 27 years, 11 months and 24 days. He was at the time a member of Company A, 57th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, in which command he had served faithfully during the late war; and as that great struggle was closing he died in the hospital, where he had been left when the Regiment passed through the Sate of North Carolina, after the disastrous campaign of Gen'l Hood. He left a wife and three children to weep for him. James A. Rice died of Cholera, at Cedar Keys, on the 13th of September, 1866; aged 20 years, 9 months and 9 days. He was a soldier in the same Company with his brother, and after having passed through the bloody scenes of the revolution he was called away suddenly, as he was pursuing the avocations of peace. "Who can fathom the mysteries of Providence?" Both these young men expressed their willingness to abide the decree of the great Judge, reposing their confidence in Him who never failed to sustain the believer in the awful hour of dissolution. They are gone home. Father, mother, wife! You should not repine. You will soon be going too; and then who can describe the joy of that meeting beyond the tomb! It is a sad but fitting task that one who was with them when the leaden hail hissed through the writhing atmosphere, and who heard with them the horrid din of maddened armies, should sit down in the calm autumn evening, and pay this last tribute of respect to those whose lives are with the eternal past. Peace to their souls. Thursday, November 22, 1866 Another Death Wade F. Sanford, a well known citizen of Thomas County, died at the residence of Mr. C. C. Bell, in Thomasville, on Wednesday evening last from the effects of an overdose of morphine. Thursday, November 29, 1866 Died At eight o'clock p. m., on Saturday, 24th inst., Robert Early, infant son of Robert H. and Mattie L. Harris; aged one year, one month and one day. - "Asleep in Jesus." Thursday, December 6, 1866 Now in Heaven Departed this life in Thomasville, on the 16th ult, after a very painful illness of several days, Effie Alexander, youngest daughter of A. J. and Mary A. Smith, aged four years and one month. "Thou wert so like a form of light, That Heaven benignly call'd thee hence, Ere yet the world could breathe one blight O'er they sweet innocence; And thou, that brighter home to bless, Art pass'd with all they lovliness! O! Hadst thou still on earth remained, Vision of beauty! Fair, as brief! How soon thy brightness had been stained With passion or with grief! Now not a sullying breath can rise, To dim they glory in the skies Thy grave shall be a blessed shrine, Adorn'd with nature's brightest wreath; Each glowing season shall combine Its incense there to breathe; And oft upon the midnight air Shall viewless harps be murmuring there. And oh! oft times in visions blest, Sweet spirit! visit our repose! And bear from thine own world of rest, Some balm for human woes! What form more lovely could be given, Than thine to messenger of Heaven!" Friday, January 18, 1867 Obituary It is with sad and profound feelings of regret, that we announce the death of Mrs. Cyrena C. Morgan, consort of Mr. Hampton Morgan, which occurred at the residence of the latter on the 7th of January, instant. After a very brief illness, she departed this life in the very bloom of womanhood, being only nineteen years of age. The deceased was a daughter of the Rev. Wm. A. McDonald, of Ware County, Georgia. She was a devout member of the M. E. Church, in which Church she embraced religion in early life and died with the hope of a blessed immortality. She leaves many friends and relatives to mourn her loss, as well as a devoted husband (although young) to endure the sad bereavement. Homersville, Ga., Jan. 15, 1867. Friday, February 1, 1867 Obituary Departed this life on the night of the 4th of January, Mary Gertrude Hardwick, only daughter of T. W. & M. E. Hardwick; aged thirteen years, 4 months and twenty-nine days. Full of life, endowed with fine intellectual abilities, and possessed of a most docile, amiable, and affectionate disposition, Fredie had closely endeared herself to all who knew her. Having faithfully accomplished her mission on earth, she has exchanged its scenes of disappointment, care, sorrow and death, for the more congenial and abiding home of the pure and blessed. God loved her and took her to himself. "Early, bright, transient, Chaste as morning dew, She sparkled, was exhaled, And went to Heaven." ============= Tuesday, March 12, 1867 Obituary Died in Thomas County, Feb. 28th, 1867, Mrs. Susan Mitchell Heath, wife of Richard W. Heath, and daughter of Pliny and Mary H. Sheffield, aged 42 years and 1 month. She left a disconsolate husband, eight children (one an infant), and an orphan nephew to mourn their loss. Death has taken away a fond mother, an affectionate wife and a kind benevolent, loving neighbor and friend; and the tears of the servants and freedmen gave vent to their feelings of love and respect which they bore to one who but a short time since, they acknowledged as their mistress. They said they had lost their best friend. Mrs. Heath, (like Dorcas), was an exceedingly prudent and frugal woman, and had made many garments for her children. It was tearful to behold them pointing out the garments made by their mother; and her husband would exclaim, dear Susan's fingers made all these. Mrs. Heath was not a member of any Church, yet she had put her home in order and had it garnished and swept. She had a premonition that she would die, and had so expressed herself while in health. She gave a farewell admonition to her husband and children as calmly and serene as if in perfect health. Death had no alarms for her. When asked by her husband if she was prepared and willing to die, she said yes; and also said her dear departed mother had been with her three days, and had arranged for her a beautiful home. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." A FRIEND AND RELATIVE. Tuesday, July 16, 1867 Obituary James C. Ross, Esq. A few days since we were pained with the intelligence of the sudden death of him whose name heads this brief notice. What a melancholy reflection!-that in the vigor of life, one who was endowed with such goodness of heart, should by an apparent accident, lose his life, breathing his last breath amid the watery waves which a few moments before excited in him no dread of danger! In his efforts to rescue a boat which he had lost from the shore at Sunbury, Liberty county, he was unfortunately precipitated into the bay and was drowned. James C. Ross was of a noble, generous nature, with an intellect bright and flashing, full of vivacity and cheerfulness and possessing the finest social qualities, which gave him many warm friends. We do not claim for him exemption from error. Frail, erring man can claim no such perfection. He possessed some of the highest virtues, He never betrayed or deserted a friend; he was brave, courageous and manly. Born in Georgia and feeling that the South was oppressed, he volunteered as a Southern soldier in the late unhappy war, and never shrunk from duty when danger was present. Character is to be estimated in learning the inward impulses and promptings which constitute true nobleness, more than the external evidences which are frequently presented to deceive-resting upon no real virtue. Our friend never sought to deceive but was always frank and sincere. His true character was best understood by those who knew him best. A warmer heart never throbbed or ceased to beat than his. The impulses of his soul were goodness, reflected in a thousand ways through the frail tenement that surrounded it. He never stained his heavenly gift (the soul) by invoking its noble powers to teach the outward man to be a hypocrite. He was an imperfect type of a good man. When he moved to do good, evil was present. It was not the inward man. It was sin (the common lot of all) warring in his members. God knows how to deal with His erring children. The great office of mercy rests with God. Be it ours to hope and prepare, under a firm and settled persuasion, that living and dying we are His; that life is passed in His constant presence-that death resigns us to His merciful disposal. We know not what time death shall call for us! "Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers wither at the North wind's breath. And stars to set-but all, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, Oh, Death! A FRIEND. Tuesday, August 13, 1867 Died At Thomasville, Ga., on the 12th inst., William Lawson, son of J. L. & M. A. E. Stegall, aged eight months and seven days. "It is well with the child." Tuesday, September 3, 1867 Fatal Accident As we go to press we learn that William Adams, a youth about 17 years of age, and second son of our esteemed fellow citizen, Dr. S. S. Adams, accidentally shot himself with a gun while out sporting his morning. The charge took effect in the breast and produced instant death. We have not learned the particulars. The whole community sympathize with the afflicted parents. Friday, September 6, 1867 Died In this City on the 4th inst., little Jossie, aged one year, two months and twenty-two days; only child of Joseph C. and Sarah A. Peters. "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Tuesday, September 10, 1867 Departed This life In Thomasville, on Thursday evening, the 5th instant, after a short illness, Willie, infant son of Dr. Wm. P. and Mrs. Louisa V. Clower, aged about sixteen months. Willie was a sweet and promising child, and his death is a sore bereavement to his doting parents, their relatives and friends. But the High and Holy One, in his inscrutable dispensation and holy purpose, has thought proper to blast his infant prospects on earth, and translate him, a pure and immaculate cherub, to a world of spirits, to be forever about His throne in a happy eternity. Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Tuesday, September 10, 1867 Died - On Monday, the 2d instant, of congestive chill, Cynthia Eliza, second daughter of Eli and Elizabeth Jane Futch, aged two years and six months. Eliza was an interesting little child. The Allwise Dispenser has cropped this beautiful flower from earth to plant it in His Paradise in Heaven, where it will bloom in His benign smiles throughout the endless ages of eternity. Friday, November 1, 1867 Death of a Citizen James L. Everitte died at his residence in Fletcherville on Thursday morning at 3 o'clock, after several days severe illness from hemorrhage of the lungs. He leaves a devoted wife and several promising children with whom the community sympathize in their bereavement. Friday, November 15, 1867 Died At her residence in this city on the morning of the 8th inst., Mrs. M. J. Boughton, wife of S. N. Boughton, editor of the Federal Union. The deceased had for many years suffered from a painful malady. Last summer she went to New York for advice and treatment, but getting no relief, she died a few days after her return home. Kind and amiable in all of her relations, Mrs. Boughton was greatly beloved by a large circle of friends. In early life she joined the Baptist Church, and lived the life of a sincere Christian. Her death will be long and deeply mouned by many kind friends and relatives, but most of all by her devoted and sorrow stricken husband. Tuesday, November 19, 18678 Another Death The numerous friends and relations of Mr. William W. Heir will be grieved to hear that he died on Sunday evening last at his residence near Duncanville in this county, after a brief illness. How truly has it been said that "in the midst of life we are in death." Only a few days ago the deceased was well and among his friends and relations-today he is in the grave. He was a young man of excellent moral character and a useful citizen, but, we regret to say, had not given his attention to religion. Let us commit him to the infinite mercy of that Being "whose wisdom is unsearchable and whose ways are past finding out." Friday, December 20, 1867 Obituary Died, at his father's residence in Thomasville, Ga., on the 16th inst., Edward Walter, son of Mr. And Mrs. J. C. Peters, aged two months and one day. My stay was short, Father, Mother- To a land of bliss I'm gone; There I'll meet my little Brother, From every pain and sickness borne. Come, dear Father, Mother, Friend, To this land of bliss I'm gone, And meet your little son's last end, Where you are saved from every sin. A FRIEND, Thomasville, Ga., Dec. 17, 1867 Here are some more obituaries from "In The Shadow of the Pines - Volume III" I thought it might help someone else in their search. I know I depend on the kindness of others to put any and all information out there. Will continue to submit obits to you as I run across them. Diane Saunders The Southern Enterprise - Wednesday, February 28, 1866 Death of an Old Citizen Thomas Dyson died at his residence in Thomasville, on the 14th instant, at the age of 70 years. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, a good citizen and much beloved by his brethren and friends. The Southern Enterprise - Wednesday, February 28, 1866 The obituary notice of Mr. Thomas Dyson will appear next week. The Southern Enterprise - Wednesday, March 14, 1866 Obituary Thomas Dyson Departed this life on the 16th of 1866, Mr. Thomas Dyson, Deacon of the Baptist Church, Thomasville, Ga. He was born in Newberry District, South Carolina, June 6th, 1795, but has been a citizen of this State from early manhood. He began life a poor orphan boy, but by industry, economy and perseverance, accumulated a competency. Throughout his long life, he maintained an unblemished character. He was baptized into the fellowship of New Providence Baptist Church, Monroe County, about forty years ago, and was contemporary with Job Taylor, Benjamin Brantly and others, of the excellent of the earth. He maintained to the day of his death, a strong affection for his mother Church. For several years he was engaged in the warehouse and commission business in the city of Macon, whence he removed to this section. His physical constitution was naturally weakly, and he was more or less the subject of disease all the days of his pilgrimage. About eighteen months ago, he was attached by a cutaneous disease, from which he suffered greatly and incessantly until death came to his relief. He was conscious of his approaching dissolution, and was fully prepared for the event. He had set his house in order, and talked freely and frequently with his family and friends on the subject, and was ready when the messenger came. His departure was so calm and peaceful, that those who witnessed it could not decide at what precise time he ceased to breathe. he literally fell asleep in Jesus. At his own request, made weeks before his death, his funeral sermon was preached by Rev. J. H. Campbell, to a crowded house, and a large procession followed his remains to the grave. "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his." The Southern Enterprise - Wednesday, March 14, 1866 Died On the 3rd day of March 1866, at his residence in Brooks County, Jacob Watson, in his seventy-fourth year. The Southern Enterprise - Wednesday, March 7, 1866 Suicide Crosby Horn, a citizen of Thomas County, died in the hotel at Thomasville, on Friday night last, from the effects of laudanum. It is not known why he committed the deed of destroying his own life.