Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


[This is Mary Frances Barnett, b abt 1859, d Sep 1897, m 11 Oct 1887 to 
  James William Compton in F.C., TX. She was the daughter of Dr. John 
  Allen Barnett & Sarah Ann (Johnson) Barnett.]

Fairfield Recorder - 10 Sep 1897 issue

In Memoriam

After a lingering illness of several months duration, Mrs. Mary F. Compton died
at the residence of her father, Dr. J. A. Barnett, near Mills where she had 
been conveyed by loving friends in the hope that a change might prove beneficial. 
That she constantly grew weaker day by day and all that medical skills could 
offer and all that sympathizing friends could suggest proved to no avail, for 
her soul passed into the great beyond where her precious child had already 
proceeded her scarcely two months ago.

Mary F. Compton came to Texas with her parents from Mississippi in the year 
1886 locating near Dew on Avant Prairie.  She was married to J. W. Compton, 
Oct. 11, 1887.  Two interesting children blessed the married life. Jimmie, a 
loving little girl who was first taken and Felix, a bright boy of six, who is 
now alone left out of the little family of three to comfort his bereaved father. 
Sister was a member of the Methodist Church and esteemed by who that knew her.

Such in brief, closes the earth of one of the most lovable characters who ever 
adorned and dignified womanhood. I never knew a better woman-faults she may 
have had, but in looking back upon bygone days, I failed to recognize them. She 
was always the same gentle and loving spirit whether in sunshine or in shadow 
and even when sudden grief bowed her soul she submissively bore her cross. When 
her darling little daughter Jimmie was laid to rest where now her own body 
sleeps, she was in silent in her woe and only the agonized look of patient 
sorrow told to others the hidden pain that was almost bursting the mother's 
heart.  Though death had saddened her house, though the voice of her cherished 
child was forever hushed, though reckless disease had fastened its icy grasp 
upon her own delicate frame, yet for the sake of her husband, parents, brothers, 
sisters, and friends who still were left to sympathize and comfort, she 
heroically endured the disease until the death angel mercifully liberated her 
spirit from its pain racked casket. As I stood by her bedside and silently 
watched the ebbing of her fast wasting life and realized that soon the dread 
messenger would come, my heart sank within me and in sorrow and humility, I 
bowed my head upon her dying pillow, but when the end came at last the burden 
of sorrow seemed to be lightened for I knew that my sister was at rest and that 
her pure spirit had gone to join her little girl, Jimmie, in the mansion of the 
blest. Just before she died she said to her husband and myself who at the time 
were sitting by her bedside: "I hear them singing, come up higher".  Yes, she 
has gone up higher and now let us whom she loved live as she would have us live 
so that we too when our summons come may hear the angels singing "come up 
higher".

S.M.B. [Stephen Miller Barnett, her older brother]