Davidson-Rowan County NcArchives Obituaries.....Prim, Celia Ann Gallimore June 28, 1931
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Shirley Gragg gragg02@comcast.net October 11, 2008, 8:43 pm

The Dispatch, Lexington, North Carolina; Monday Feb. 22, 1932:
The following was printed in The Dispatch, Lexington, North Carolina; Monday
Feb. 22, 1932:

Mrs. Prim, Noted Woman Lived Almost A Century (By C. B. Wall)

On the morning of November the 11, 1831, the sun slowly wended its way up the
eastern skies, bedecking the earth with millions of diamonds, as it shed
beautiful rays upon the dew-laden grasses which surrounded Slash Cottage, a home
in which the bright smiles of a cooing baby girl were to soon be mingled with
this golden sunshine for almost a century hence.

This home was near Silver Hill, which at that time was far famed as a mineral
center.  The wee one first to enter into life’s journey on this bleak November
day more than a century n the past, was Miss Celia A. Gallimore, daughter of the
late Esquire Jesse Gallimore and Ruth Wright Gallimore.

Methinks I can see a smiling face, a dimpled cheek and hear a cooing voice in
attempt at lisping the sweetest earthly name tongue ever uttered – Mother.  Just
a few short months and one can hear the patter of little feet as they trip
lightly from early morning till the evening shades begin to lengthen, when sweet
sleep begins to enshroud wee ones with a robe of restful slumber.

Educated in Lexington:
This winsome lassie soon arrived at the age when an education was to be
considered.  While a girl in her teens she attended school in Lexington, which
was then only a village (1849) where she was under the tutorship of Rev. Jesse
Rankin, a Presbyterian minister and principal of a school.  At that time Rev.
Rankin was serving the church as pastor at Silver Hill and was very often
accompanied on his way to and from his appointment by Miss Gallimore, who at an
early age was much interested in the work of the Master, and enjoyed discoursing
with the minister, who often spent the night in the home of her parents.  While
in the home of this highly cultured minister-educator, this young lady was
priviledged to meet a brother of his, who with his wife was then a missionary to
India. 

Marries Captain Prim:
In a few years later after completing her education, she wed in 1854, married to
Capt. John M. Prim of Wytheville, Virginia, a graduate of Emory and Henry
college of that state.  After their marriage, the resided in Captain Prim’s
native state for two years, after which they returned to the native home of the
young bride at Silver Hill, where for sixty-two happy, blissful years they lived
together at Contentna, their beautiful home, where Capt. Prim passed away
seventeen years ago.

What can be more like entering the pearly gates than to enjoy the atmosphere of
a Christian home where God is at all times preeminant, where the sweet spirit of
harmony reigns supreme, yea, where Jesus dwells?

Mrs. Prim, who passed on to her blissful reward June the twenty-eighth, 1931,
should she have been spared just four months and thirteen days, would have
reached her one hundredth milestone in life’s journey, the anniversary of her
birthday being November the eleventh.  Can we not say of her passing as the
Master said on one occasion, “She is not dead, but sleepeth.”

Beside the dead I knelt for prayer,
And felt a presence as I prayed,
Lo! It was Jesus standing there
He smiled: “Be not afraid.”

“Lord, thou hast conquered death, we know;
Restore again to life,” I said,
“this one who died an hour ago,”
He smiled:  “She is not dead!”

“Asleep then, as thyself didst say;
Yet thou canst lift the lids that keep
Her prisoned eyes from ours away!”
He smiled: “She doth not sleep!”

“Nay then, tho’ haply she do wake,
And look upon some fair dawn,
Restore her to our hearts that ache!”
He smiled: “She is not gone!”

“Alas! Too well we know our loss,
Nor hope again our joy to touch,
Until that stream of death we cross!”
He smiled: “there is no such!”

Yet, our beloved seem so far,
The while we yearn to feel them near,
Albeit with thee we trust they are,
He smiled: “And I am here.

“Dear Lord, how shall we know that they
Still walk unseen with us and thee,
Nor sleep, nor wander far away?”
He smiled: “Abide in me!”

There were born to this union six children:  Miss Maggie Prim, Mrs. Myrtle B.
Davis and Mr. Estelle Stoner, who preceded their sainted mother to the holy city
a number of years ago.  Albert Prim, High Point, N.C., John M. Prim, and Mrs.
Will Johnson, Lexington, N.C., Rt. 6 who survive.

Mrs. Prim was the oldest member of Holloway’s church and an active member of the
Woman’s Missionary society for a number of years.  During the last few months of
her sojourn on earth, as she appeared to become more and more submissive to His
will, her beaming countenance reminded one very much of what we feel must be
that possessed by the angelic host of heaven, so happy, so calm, so serene – a
beautiful life.

We have in our possession an ancient book, which was once the property of this
sainted lady, and prized very highly by her during her active Christian life.
This antique volume entitled, “A Guide For Young Disciples,” bears date of July
16, 1832, as the time of writing prefactory address to same.  On the flyleaf is
inscribed the following words, Celia A. Gallimore, Slash Cottage, Silver Hill. 
The book is in a good state of preservation, showing that it was much prized and
carefully handled by its owner during her many years of study of this and many
other ancient Christian volumes.

Also we have a copy of Jacob’s Greek Grammar, which was once a text book in the
late Esquire Jesse Gallimore, father of Mrs. Celia A. Gallimore Prim.  This
volume is in good condition and much prized.

The Saviour said, “By their works ye shall know them.”  Also the literature
possessed and read by the sainted lady is an index to her Christian career
during her sojourn here on earth.

How thankful we are for the exemplary life of the one gone before, as we feel it
was as “A city set upon a hill, cannot be hid.”





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