Submitted by Timothy Hudson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Home Advocate Friday, 19 June 1885, page 2, column 4 IN MEMORIAM. At the residence of her brother-in-law (Mr. W. E. Smith) Memphis, Tenn., Mrs. Fannie E. Goldsby, wife of O. P. Smith , of Ouachita city La., departed this life on 22d. ult. [May 22], surrounded by her daughter (Olive) mother, sister and brother. The subject of this sketch was born near Marion, in this parish, Oct. 21, 1847, being 37 years and 1 day old at her death [sic - should include 8 months also]. She was reared and educated within our midst, and grew up a beautiful, lovely woman of splendid literary attainments. Many of her schoolmates well remember the period she attended the Farmerville Female Institute while in her teens, and the rapid progress she made in her studies. Endowed with a brilliant mind, she grasped everything within her reach with an avidity that only characterizes an ambitious person of strong intellectual powers, winning for herself the highest en comiunis [sic] of her teachers and the admiration and love of schoolmates. After attaining womanhood, she was married to O. P. Smith, of Ouachita City, La. in 1869, and assumed the duties and cares of a happy family. "Hope's daintiest artist had frescoed a future of golden beauties and love almost divine in its purity" for them. With every moment sparkling with joy, and every hope gemmed with a happy realization, they launched forth upon the broad sea of married life, with every ripple full of melody, happiness and promise. As a wife she was true and devoted; as a mother tender and affectionate; as a friend generous and kindhearted. Fifteen short years blessed them with three bright, beautiful little girls, (Olive, May and Birdie.) the pride and hope of loving parents, which gave life new ties and home new attractions. She joined the M. E. Church of Ouachita City several years ago and since that time lived a consecrated christian [sic] life and manifested great interest in the advancement of Christ's cause. She bore her long suffering with christian [sic] patience and fortitude and expressed a perfect willingness to die. Her desire to live was to rear up her little children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," to see them grow up to be useful women, pillars of the church and ornaments to society. But these happy anticipations were cut short by that most dreadful of diseases - consumption, from which she had been an invalid for a year or more, and with that hope so characteristic of the disease, felt that a change of climate and seenery [sic] would be beneficial, and accompanied by her sister and daughters left Ouachita City for Memphis. After her arrival, she seemed for a time to improve, but alas! That improvement was only temporary and short lived, and on the fatal night of 22nd ult. about 9 o'clock, sustained by the christian [sic] faith and illuminated by that hope that modern philosophy had never dimmed, she gently passed away. It was the good pleasure of the writer to know her from his early boyhood and to be the recipient of many kind evidence of her pure friendship. He can never forget the sweet memory of one who, but a few short months age, while confined to his sick-bed, assembled her little family around the family alter and lifted her weak, dying voice in invocations to God for his recovery. To the bereaved husband, children, aged mother, sisters, and brother, we tender our sincere sympathy and mingle our tears and grief with theirs. We commend her spirit "to God who gave" and who in His wisdom and goodness has seen fit to take away. The dear children we commit to the loving kindness and tender care of Him who said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." J. M. S. Farmerville, June 8, 1885. # # #