Rhea-Unknown County TN Archives Obituaries.....Woodward, Malinda J. [Francis] (Mrs. Edward L.) March 12, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace (Teal) Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net September 21, 2006, 10:08 am "The Jacksonville Republican" Jacksonville, Calhoun Co., Alabama NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 18, 1882 LOCAL News Mrs. Malinda Woodward, wife of the late E.L. Woodward, died ___ [Sunday - see obituary below] night, rejoicing in the triumphant entry into the glory land and reunion with her companion of a life time, who passed away but a few weeks ago. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 25, 1882 OBITUARY OF MRS. MELINDA J. WOODWARD The saddest duty we have to perform in life is to stand upon the water's edge that separates time from eternity and bid a final farewell to those we love and admire. Yet chronology records our presence here, as the waves of oblivion roll over us, as they have rolled over untold millions in past generations.... Mrs. Melinda J. Woodward, the subject of these thoughts, was born in Ray [sic] county, Tenn., on the 15th day of August 1812 and died in this place at the residence of her daughter Mrs. Gen. Wm. H. Forney, on March 12, 1882. She was the daughter of educated and intelligent parents; educated and graduated at the Female College at Knoxville, Tenn. in 1831; married Mr. E.L. Woodward, a Virginian, in 1832 and came to Alabama and located in this place in 1835 where she lived until her death. She made a profession of the christian religion when a young lady and connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal church in which she remained until the organization of the M.E. Church, South in 1844 when she, with her husband, joined this branch of the church, in which she remained a consistent, devout and zealous member until her departure to that "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Her walk in life for more than half a century was worthy of her faith and profession. But few ladies have I ever known whose character was so beautified and adorned with all the christian graces as hers. Modest and unassuming, yet bold and defiant in the denunciation of immorality and vice, at the same time logical, persuasive and forcible in her efforts to lead others into the path which leads to eternal life. She was a lady of fine conversational powers, of a noble and gentle bearing, affable and pleasing in her manner; cultured in intellect, genial in companionship and strong in her friendships. She did much to mould and lay the foundation of the cultivated and refined society of which Jacksonville has ever been so justly proud. Kindness had written its law deep in her soul. She sought to make others happy. It was her delight to give cheer to the sorrowing and help the needy. Many are the families who knew her but to love her for her many and untiring attentions to the suffering. Many hearts beat in grateful remembrance of her soothing words of love and sympathy and acts of kindness and self denial around the couch of the sick and dying of some loved member of the family circle...She was faithful to her God, true to her husband, affectionate toward her children, and kind to all. Mrs. Woodward was an invalid for more than twelve months. For five months she was confined to her room and mostly to her bed, yet she never murmured or complained, but being sure and steadfast in her faith, she calmly and with much resignation, awaited the summons to cross "over to the other shore." Her husband preceded her only four weeks. The vine was left bleeding. She followed him to the bank of the river, he passed safely over, leaving her waiting for the Master. Truly she could in the laguage of the Psalmist say "but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together and walked into the House of God in company." She knew of death's near approach and talked of it as if it was but the welcome invitation to leave this "vale of tears and sorrows" to join her redeemer, to join her husband, children and friends on the "other beautiful shore", leaving only four children behind her, three of whom were with her. She asked her youngest and only son to remain by her while she entered the "chilly dark" waters that would separate them but for a short time, when they too, would take passage for the "bourne from whence no traveler ever returns", and urged them to strive to be reunited in one family circle around Jesus, where there would be no more sickness and death, no pain and anguish of the heart, no more separation, and without a seeming regret or struggle, she fell asleep in Jesus. Truly blessed are they who die in the Lord. J.D.H. ----- Additional Comments: Obituary for Malinda's Husband - He died just a few weeks before her: "The Jacksonville Republican" Jacksonville, Calhoun Co., Alabama NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, FEBRUARY 18, 1882 DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN Mr. E.L. Woodward died at his home in this place after an illness of some weeks, Monday the 13th inst. Mr. Woodward was one of the earliest settlers of Jacksonville and Calhoun county and during his long life in this community he enjoyed the respect and confidence of the entire town and country. In times past, the people have delighted to honor with him offices of trust. In the early settlement of the county he established himself at Jacksonville in the mercantile business and amassed a large fortune which was lost by the reverses of the War. Both in prosperity and adversity he was the same, calm, philosophic, christian gentleman. His sense of honor in the discharge of debt was of so fine character that he cheerfully consented to part with the last remnant of his once fine fortune to satisfy obligations when he stood only in the relation of surety of friends. When in the enjoyment of fortune and as long as his ability lasted, he was one of the main stays in support of his church here. To the day of his death he was an active, zealous, christian worker. Later, as disease gained mastery over him, his once clear intellect was to a degree clouded, but never to that extent that he could not comprehend the dealings of God with him, and he died in full faith of a glorious resurrection. A good man has gone! ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 4, 1882 IN MEMORIAM OF EDWARD L. WOODWARD In yonder village cemetery lies the mortal remains of Edward L. Woodward, one of our oldest citizens. In life, he was an honest, upright man; and in death, as in life, a christian, unshaken in the faith of his fathers, ripe for a better world beyond. His death caused the tear, the sob, the bitter pang of anquish to the hearts of family and friends; but his life, for nearly a half century, teaches a lesson not to be forgotton by those among whom he lived so long. Mr. Woodward was born in Stafford Co. Virginia on the 20th day of May 1807 and died in this place, on the 13th of February 1882. He came to Alabama in 1825 and did business with his brother Y.C. Woodward in the town of Blountsville. On the 25th day of Nov. 1832 he married Malinda J. Francis of Tenn., who survives him, and in 1835 settled at Jacksonville where he continued to reside up to the time of his death. Mr. Woodward was a remarkable man. Naturally of delicate constitution, his life was prolonged beyond "the three score and ten" allotted to men, by self-denial and by temperate and methodical habits. From the early settlement of our county till after the War, he took front rank among the active, intelligent business men of the times. Everything he gave his attention to was characterized by energy, self reliance, deep convictions and devotion to principle. As a merchant, his success was great. He amassed for this county, a large fortune by close application and by administering his affairs upon principles of strict business integrity. He had the confidence of all men who knew him. His "word was his bond" and no one was deceived by it. But active and successful as he was in business, he was none the less so in church and all matters that tended to the public good. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than fifty years and as long as health permitted, was found a zealous working member of the congregation. For nearly forty years he was Superintendant of the Sabbath School and the love and veneration in which he was held by the children is a monument to his ministrations. He was the friend of education and not only gave of his means to promote the cause, but gave what many others do not, the moral force of his personal presence to every enterprise intended for the moral and intellectual advancement of the young. As a man, he was even tempered, moderate, conservative, but always firm and true to his convictions. He was full of the courage of virtue. He did right for right's sake, because it was right. As a citizen he was public spirited and prompt in giving voice and hand to all matters intended for the public well. Many of our people remember the time in the history of our county when the books of our "county finance" were in the utmost confusion. The public mind gravitated with one accord to Mr. Woodward as the man of all others to relieve us from threatened financial ruin. Although he was immersed in successful business, he yielded to the solicitations of the public and took hold of the County Treasury. By the same patient toil and systematic devotion applied to his own private affairs, the same fearless discharge of duty which characterized him elsewhere, he soon brought "order out of chaos" and by system and precedent, established a standard and guide for those who have so worthily succeeded him. But how changeful is life! The crest wave of success is ours today, tomorrow we are submerged. The late War came and swept away the fortune of Mr. Woodward, but it did not take his honor! It left him the wealth of a good name. After disease and suffering had done their work, Death came for the good man. Why should we sorrow, for: "What is death, to him who meets is with an upright heart? A quiet haven, where his shattered boat, harbours secure, till the rough storm is past, Perhaps a passage overhung with clouds, But at its entrance, a few leagues beyond Opening to kinder skies and milder suns, And seas passive as the soul that seeks them." File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/rhea/obits/w/woodward339gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 10.8 Kb