Yalobusha County MsArchives Obituaries.....Jackson, Walter Mitchell August 27, 1884 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ms/msfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meredith Clapper http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002801 April 22, 2013, 3:17 pm Atlanta Constitution 3 Sept 1884 Death of Walter M. Jackson, Esq. From the Water Valley Progress. It becomes our painful duty as a public journalist to chronicle the death of Walter M. Jackson. The subject of this article was born in Athens, Ga., on the 31st of July, 1855. He graduated in the literary department of Mercer college, Macon, and in the law school of the Georgia State university. In the fall of 1877 he moved to Water Valley and began the practice of his profession, the law, since which he has been an active and successful practitioner. In the year 1883 he united himself with the Presbyterian church. Walter Jackson was a young man of rare attainments, gifted far beyond the average in intellect; an eloquent, sprightly and fluent speaker, a close reasoner, an argumentative and ready debater. It is said that death loves a shining mark. Such was found in the person of Walter Jackson, cut down in the prime and vigor of young manhood, with bright prospects of a brilliant career open before him; a finely cultivated and well balanced mind was vividly portrayed by the charming manner in which he expressed his ideas both in writing and conversation. All that human power was capable of was done for him. Despite medical skill and science, and the most careful attention of loving friends, after a painful illness of some ten days, about 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning, August 27th, 1884, death conquered and claimed its victim. Into the hands of an all wise Creator we resign him who was the light of his circle of friends and to his venerable father and bereaved relatives we tender our deepest, heartfelt sympathy. The funeral services of the late Walter Jackson were performed by H. M. Sydenstriker, at the Presbyterian church, on Thursday, from thence they were conveyed to the city cemetery, accompanied by a large concourse of friends. As a respect to his memory all the business houses were closed during the funeral exercises. Additional Comments: Sunny South (Atlanta, Ga.) 6 Sept 1884 p 8 The Death of Walter Jackson A Touching Letter From His Distinguished Father The death of this well-known and promising young man carried great sorrow to many hearts in Georgia. He was making rapid progress in the footsteps of his honored and illustrious father, and like him, would have risen to eminence in his profession. He was the son of Chief Justice Jackson, of Georgia, who is loved and honored by all Georgians for his great learning and unswerving piety. The following touching letter from him on the death of his son we clip from the Constitution of this city, and it will be read with general interest: Messrs. Editors-I have as little disposition as right to obtrude my private griefs upon the public; but on the return of my wife and myself from the grave of our only son, I saw your kindly lines in praise of him and sympathy for us, which make a public expression of our appreciation of it not inappropriate or presumptuous. Accept the thanks of a heart in which those words of yours will remain st__ped. They are cherished more as words of neighborly kindness towards a fellow citizen than of condolence with a public servant. In both capacities I can say no more than emphasize the words, I thank you. While thanking you, will you permit to make your widely circulated journal the medium of thanks too, to the many friends of Walter in Water Valley, whose tears mingled with ours over the grave of our boy and whose friendly acts to him during the years of sojourn with them can never be forgotten. The spot which covers his body is in the family lot of Mrs. Mays, where her husband lies and where her own body will be interred; and our sorrow that the condition of the body, from the extreme heat of the weather, prevented its interment in the soil of his ancestors, was softened by the certainty that on it, where it lies, flowers would blossom and tears would fall as long as she lived who had been a mother to the stranger boy she took to her home, and when she was gone, her children, when they visited their father and mother's graves, would not without a glance of love towards his who for years was an inmate of their home and their constant companion. The tears which her daughters shed over his corpse are the best evidence that they will remember his grave. May God bless this saintly woman and each one of hers. Nor can I forget to name in this return of thanks Captain and Mrs. Brown, at whose house he boarded when he died, and whom they desired to move from his room to their house that she might nurse him there. At that hospital mansion we were entertained and from its parlors his remains were taken to the cemetery. May God bless them and their children. Dr. Grant the beloved physician and friend of my son, how can words express our thanks to him? I am so glad he knows God and God has blessed him and will bless him, I feel, always. But I cannot enumerate those from whom Walter received kindness in his Mississippi home. From the ministers of the gospel, Presbyterian and Methodist, to the colored boy who waited on him in health and in sickness the seven years he lived in Water Valley, all are commended to the God of all grace who loves and rewards every kind deed. One word more. Let no man think that I cherish the slightest rebellion against this providence of God. If my son had not been a changed man-a new creature by the grace of God-I should have bowed my head in submission to the judge of all the earth, who cannot do wrong. But, blessed be His holy name, He has put me to no such trial of faith. Some two years before his death, God prepared Walter to die. Under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Hoyt, a Presbyterian evangelist, he was convicted (sic) powerfully and converted and became a member of that branch of Christ's church. Every body in Water Valley whom I interrogated testified to the radical change in the man's life. He would not take a drink of whiskey when offered to him even medically, stating he had rather die. He was active in the work of the church, prayed in public when called on in his own church and in the Methodist church, whose prayer meetings he attended. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Therefore, I humbly thank God that the cup he gives my wife, my children, and myself to drink, has much of sweetness in the very bitterness of the draught. Thanking you again gentlemen, I remain, respectfully yours, James Jackson. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ms/yalobusha/obits/jackson63nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/msfiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb