Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Mrs. Cynthia McClendon Childs [Source: Linda Mullens Her Source: Phase III A History of Freestone County page A -211-212] Obituary of Mrs. Cynthia McClendon Childs DIED.--Mrs. Cynthia McClendon Childs, wife of Rev. W.B. Childs, at her home near Fairfield, Texas, on the 18th of August 1888, at 9:30pm of pneumonia, aged 38 years and 8 months. “I am the resurrection and the life,”saith the Lord, “he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” “I know that my redeemer liveth.” “we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.” Again has the angel of death invaded the home of peace and joy, and taken from thence the light and life of that happy family, and in chronicling the death of this esteemed lady we can but pause and drop a tear of sympathy with the faithful and grief stricken husband and children. Mrs. Childs was a native of Bradley county, Arkansas, where she was born October 19, 1849. She was married to Rev. W. B. Childs in said county, August 12, 1868, and moved to Freestone county Dec. 24, 1877, where she had since resided. She was a devout member of the Baptist church, and while her husband was absent engaged in the arduous duties of his church, this faithful mother was at home inspiring the minds of her children with thoughts of piety and virtue. And in speaking briefly of her many noble traits, her kind, genial and self- denying disposition we can say that for her many domestic virtues and unswerving piety she was most appreciated by those who knew her best. She leaves a devoted husband, seven affectionate children and a large number of friends and relatives to mourn her loss. Her death was both sudden and unexpected, for until recently she was in the enjoyment of perfect health and was regarded by her friends as being in the meridian of life; but alas disease came and after a severe attack of measels(sic) she again partially recovered her usual health, and in this condition she remained for several months in delicate health until the 6th of August, when pneumonia singled her out for its victim, and after an illness of twelve days she bade farewell to her friends and passed over the river. She died in the full possession of all her mental faculties and though unable to speak for several days, just before her death she recovered her natural strength of voice, called her husband and children to her side and told them of her willingness to die and her supreme happiness in its anticipation; that these were the happiest moments of her life, but that she regretted to leave her husband and children, She then, with perfect resignation, committed her soul to the God who gave it and quietly passed away. And now that she is gone and left us for a season, why sorrow and mourn over her departure when we know that she now rests from her labors under the shade of the trees in the Paradise of God, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. On the last Sunday evening she was said to rest in Antioch Cemetery near Fairfield, Rev. E. J. Brown officiating. And there may her slumber be as quiet and peaceful as was her stay in our midst. Then let us no longer grieve but rather rejoice at her triumph over death, for How sweet it is to sleep where all is peace, Where sorrow cannot reach the breast, And pain is lulled to rest! No earthly clinging, No lingering gaze, No strife at parting, No sore amaze; But sweetly, gently She passed away From the world's dim twilight To endless day. “Tis slumber to the weary. “Tis rest to the forlorn, “Tis shelter to the dreary, “Tis peace amid the storm, “Tis the entrance to our home, “Tis the passage to that God Who bids his children come When their weary course is trod. Then Weep not for those Who sink within the arms of death Ere yet the chilling wintry breath Of sorrow o'er them blows; But weep for those who here remain, The mournful heritors of pain, Condemned to see each bright joy fade. And mark grief's melancholy shade, Flung o're Hope's fairest rose. -------------------------- [Phase III A History of Freestone County page A-210] The many friends of Mrs. W. B. Childs will be sorry to hear of her death which occurred near town last Saturday night. An extended tribute of respect to her appears in another column, which we let take the place of a notice we would have written. The remains of the deceased were interred last Sunday evening in Antioch Cemetery, seven miles east of town, by the side of a younger brother who died a few years ago. Funeral services were held by Rev. E. J. Brown, in the church near by, where the remains were first taken. Quite a large number of sorrowing relatives and friends were in attendance, and the tears of the older ones, blending with the sobs of weeping children who at the graveside looked for the last time here on the face of their dead mother made it a sad burial scene indeed.