Edgecombe County, NC - Nanie Baker Letter ¤¤¤¤¤¤ Edgecombe County Letters Letter written and placed in Zion's Landmark Primitive Baptist Periodical. Written by Nannie Woodard Baker about her mother who had passed away the year before. An original copy of this Periodical is owned by Joan Thorne Stott, Cattail Rd, Wilson County, NC. Zion's Landmark May 1, 1934 Mrs. Beadie Varnell Woodard It is with a sad heart and trembling hand I attempt to write the death of dear mother. She was born June 6th, 1858, and died February 3rd, 1933. She was the daughter of the late William Varnell and Sallie Barnes Varnell of Edgecombe County that lived near what is now Macclesfield. She was married to James S.B. Woodard, December 25th 1879 and to this union were born 7 children, the baby boy dying at the age of eight years old. All the others were married except one. They are as follows: Mrs. Sallie Walston Mrs. Mary Webb Mrs. Nannie Baker Mrs. Beadie Ellis Gray Woodard & William Woodard I feel I am not worth to write of one so good as I thought Mother was. She was a great sufferer for many years, with a sever skin trouble. All physicians that treated her said it was eczema. She could get but little relief from any Doctor, so she put her trust in GOD, the only one that is able to heal. So many times I have heard her say if she could not get any relief she was willing and ready to die. And she would say mine is another case almost like poor old Job, but she said she could not have the patience he had, but wished she could. We children miss her so much, for as long as she lived we felt that we had a place to go, but since she is gone I feel like I have no place I can call home except mine, for when mother is taken away, home may be ever so humble, but it is only a stay place, it is never a real home for what is home without a mother. I often went to see her and especially after she was confined to her bed and she would say I know you children get tired of coming and doing so much for me and I am no pleasure to myself or you either, for I don't know why the Lord is keeping me here. And I would tell her it was a pleasure to have her to go to see and do for, but I hated to see her punished, but Christ suffered all the agony of pain that anyone could so he did his suffering here and I told her she was doing the same and I hoped I could. She is always a great believer in the Primitive Baptists from childhood, but never united with the church until a few months before she died. I think it was about the 12th day of October 1933, we had preaching at her house by Elder R.H. Boswell and J.W. Weaver and she joined and five others, but she was not able to be baptized with water, but I feel assured that she was baptized with that Holy Spirit; which is the only one that saves. I should have written this long ago, but I have had so much on my mind and many trials and troubles since loosing her, so my desire was to write for she is as fresh in my memory as when she died, but I feel like our loss is her eternal gain. She bore her suffering with much patience for she was in so much pain there were always tears on her face, and she would say am I the most sinful person in the world that I am punished so and I would tell her it was not that, for see what she suffered and it was nor for the wrong things he did. But I feel like it is to make us have more faith in God. After the death of my father, her health got worse all the time for she never became reconciled to her loss for they always lived a peaceful life and were devoted to each other. I feel like they will meet again in that great beyond where there is peace and happiness and no more parting. I felt like loosing father was hard enough to bear, but the loss of Mother was worse, for she was all that kept home together for us all and she could always give us good advise as long as her voice and mind were good, but she got so she could not talk for us to understand, but very little she said several weeks before she died. She had a very bad throat trouble. Besides her 6 children, she leaves to mourn their loss two sisters and one brother, as follows; Mrs. Treasa Sharpe of Wilson and James Varnell and Sallie Webb Varnell of Macclesfield and twenty grandchildren, also five great grandchildren. Sleep on, dear Mother, take thy rest, We could not have you with us always For God loved you best. How we miss you, mother dear, None but God Alone can know, He can heal our broken hearts, Till we meet on a brighter shore. We do not wish you back In this world of sin and war. We hope to meet you again On a brighter, happier shore. Our journey here will not be long, We do not care to stay. We hope we'll find a home beyond As you did, mother dear. But, dear mother, thou hast left us. And our hearts are filled with pain. Though we hope in that great city, That we may meet again. May God in his rich mercy guide and protect each of us children through life and give us sufficient grace to understand that He doeth all things well. The funeral was conducted at her home by Elder R.H. Boswell, whom she loved to hear preach so well. All was done for her that kind hands could do and especially the one who nursed her so well and was so kind, Ethel Pittman, whom we all thank. Written by her loving daughter, Mrs. Nannie Baker ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Charlotte Beck ___________________________________________________________________