Tensas Parish, Louisiana Obituaries Writings of Josiah P. Scott Submitted by Edith Ziegler, March 2002 Extracted from the Tensas Gazette of February 7, 1936 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Miss Clara H. Whitney Scarce an issue of the Gazette now goes to its readers but carries a sad story, a tale of a vacant chair. Again this week we must chronicle another visitation of the Grim Reaper. On Thursday night, January 30, the soul of Miss Clara H. Whitney, released from its tenement of clay, returned to Him who gave it. A long and useful life has ended and a good and noble soul has entered into the rest of the faithful. Tensas has never possessed a more worthy character, and it may be truly said this gracious lady spent her life going about doing good. Miss Clara Whitney was born at Natchez in 1865 to the late Capt. Edward L. Whitney and Mrs. Eliza Curry Whitney, being the first of seven children born to this couple. Capt. Whitney located at "Villa Clara" plantation in this parish, immediately upon the close of the Civil War, having married Miss Curry in Natchez during period of war. From the time of them taking up their residence on this magnificent property, the home of Capt. and Mrs. Whitney became the scene of hospitality and gaiety, a mecca for gatherings of the elite of the parish. Here "Miss Clara" as she was familiarly and affectionately known to all, of every class and creed and color, grew to womanhood, and finishing her education, made her permanent home, long after both parents had been called to their reward here she remained to make a home for her uncle, the late Mr. Frank Curry and her brothers and sisters yet under the family roof, and here she reigned as the queen of the home - loved and honored by all who came within the radius of her delightful presence and uplifting influence. With the sale of the property in 1916 Mr. Curry and Miss Whitney moved to St. Joseph, where they lived in comfort and contentment until the close of his life in 1933. Following Mr. Curry's death Miss Whitney moved to Natchez and made her home with her youngest sister, (Eliza) Mrs. W. W. Mangum, who immedi- ately realizing her elder sister's condition, unsparingly devoted herself to her comfort and well-being. Gradually, daily, the decline was noted and after a long and brave fight, the patient sufferer, her life long since dedicated to Christ, yielded to the inevitable and peacefully and gently passed to her eternal reward. May her noble soul have that peace that passeth understanding. Soon after completing her education, Miss Clara in young womanhood, turned her attention to teaching and conducted a private school at St. Joseph, and later taught a public school in "the bend". In 1909-10 she became a member of faculty of St. Joseph High School, which later became known as the Joseph M. Davidson Hi, and taught continuously until 1928-29 session, when, very sadly, she realized that because of her ill health her school teaching days were ended and she reluctantly tendered her resignation to the Parish School Board and yielded her place in the local school to younger hands. The retirement of Miss Clara from Davidson Hi after 19 years of continuous service, cast a gloom over the entire school and over our entire community. But her withdrawal from the school room did not mean that her interest in the work that had engrossed practically her entire adult life was also ended. Not only as long as Miss Clara lived at St. Joseph, but until the close of her life at Natchez, she kept in constant touch with the St. Joseph school and its progress, and though absent in the flesh from the scene of her labors, she was ever present with her former pupils and co-laborers in the spirit. Decidedly above average intelligence, indeed a woman of unusual intelligence, indeed a woman of unusual ability, her leadership was recognized by all who knew her and her influence was ever used for the uplift of her fellow being. In the morning of life she consecrated her heart and her soul to her Saviour and followed His teachings. Her life was beautiful because of its simplicity and unselfishness; she taught the cardinal virtues of the Christian life and led the way. Her work is now ended but her influence will live and her memory wll ever be precious to all who knew her. When the tidings of this good woman's passing came at a late hour last Thursday night and was broadcast early Friday morning, a gloom settled over our town, indeed our parish, for truly "none knew her but to love her, none spake her name but to praise." The Joseph M. Davidson High School closed for the day, and the school flag was lowered to half mast as a mark of love and respect to one whose life was her school work. Nearly every section of the parish was represented at her funeral, the cortege extended several blocks and the flowers that covered her bier beggared description in beauty and loveliness. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Booth of the First Presbyterian church of Natchez, in which church she had place her letter after leaving St. Joseph. In the lovely cemetery at Natchez, beside her loved ones who have gone before, all that is mortal of Miss Clara Whitney now sleeps peacefully. Her soul is with God. Left to mourn her passing, of the once large family, are but two sisters, (Annie) Mrs. S. P. Hornsby and (Eliza) Mrs. W. W. Mangum both of whom live at Natchez. To these sisters, and to relatives less close, the loving sympathy of the people of Tensas parish is fervently extended.