Freestone County, Texas Obits [Note - original is torn down center of first column that obsures some words. I took educated guesses at some of the words.] [2nd wife of W.N. Sneed Sr. ] [Born Oct 16, 1860 married Oct 27, 1891 Died May 23, 1894] Submitted by Billie Bournias Fairfield Recorder Friday, May 24, 1894 Death of Mrs. Valena D. Sneed "Coming events" may sometimes, "cast their shadows before", but how much oftener do they throw their grief[?] behind them! Where are a t[??] and hopes and joys that were wished? Where are the strife that were like ripples of sunshine, and the tones that whisperer of love? Where are the sweet dreams that have made our hearts beat faster, the castles that o[???] fancy reared and filled with a blessed contentment, and the vast fields, spread out before us, wrapped in a halo of glory, where honor and fame unfurl their banner and urge us on in life's conflict? How often, Oh! how often in the flow of the morning, is one heat of the noon-tide, and the soft stillness of the night, we ??? the cold and spectral hand of ???iny pointing to us to the words "Remember, thou art mortal." Our hopes go outin darkness and our joys are scattered like the forest leaves; our smiles ????anished to the realms ???men?? and the tones of love ???? and l??? far away-echoes from ???? tor??? the sweetest dream lives ????y in???? farewell that it speaks, ???? ca??? of the fancy crumble, and the ???eld of ambition becomes scorched desert and bleak. If we had to trust to man for constant sympathy in the dark hour ???e wail of humanity would your throughout the earth and return to echo in a comfortless breath. But it makes me glad to remember that He who created life ???ated a pauacea for every woe. It makes me sad to write ofthe ????? of my fellow men, and the consolation that I would now offer the sorrowing family is nothing ???. It has been here since the ???? stars sang together. It's ??? in Him who created all. Mrs. Valena D. Sneed was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisana, Oct the 16th 1862. She came to the county in 1882 and lived with her brother, Mr. L. D. Lillard until her marriage with Dr. W. N. Sneed which occured Oct the 27th, 1891. She was a member of the Baptist Church, which she joined when about 16 years old. She died Wednesday, May 23rd, at 3 o'clock, a.m. Her funeral services were conducted at the Baptist Church, Wednesday evening at 3 o'clock p.m., Rev. E. J. Brown officiating. As the sound of the bell mingled with the solemn tread of the pallbearers, the sympathy of many a heart went out to the sorrowing husband and to the brother who has been so heavily afflicted; and when the man of God rose to speak of her whose slumbers would be broken on earth no more, there was a stillness, such as reigns only in the presence of death. When the services were finished, the long procession proceeded slowly to the Fairfield cemetery where her remains were interred to await the coming of the Master. She believed that she was going to die, and while she did not feel unprepared, still she wanted to live; live for her husband whom she loved devotedly; having no children of her own, she was, still, a mother to her step-children; she loved them and did not want to leave them; she did not want to leave her brother, whom she loved very dearly, who had been as a father to her, and into whose home she had carried so much sunshine and joy. High above the storm clouds of earth and time; enthroned where mortal vision does not see; AEsculapius could not reach it, Orpheus failed to woo it hither, Newton could not grasp it, Shakesphere could not bring it to earth, the eloquence of Cicero, of Buke, of Pitt, or the sweetness of Pericles never gave it to the children of men; fable never found it, science never unfathomed it, and art never brought it forth; there is the peace that lives for the mations of earth; thence, from the bosom of Omnipotence, must come the only balm for hearts like these. When we stand by the graves of our loved ones, when we pause where the righteous sleep, how weak, how insignificant seem our efforts to speak of their worth! She was gentle and kind and good. Her pure Christian character was worthy of imitation. To her husband and step-children, she was affectionate; to her brother, she was loving; to her friends, she was, in the fullest sense, a friend. Surely she rests well. "Is it not sweet to think, hereafter, When the spirit leaves this sphere, Love, on deathless wings, will waft her To those we long have mourned for here? Hearts from which 'twas death to sever, Eyes the world can ne'er restore There, as warm as bright as ever, Shall meet and be lost no more." R. L. W. ================================================ Dallas Morning News May 26, 1894 edition Page: 3 MORTUARY MRS. W. N. SNEED Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., May 23 - Mrs. Lena Sneed, wife of Dr. W. N. Sneed and sister of L. D. Lillard of the Fairfield Recorder, died here last night. MRS. G. T. BRADLEY Fairfield, Freestone Co., Tex., May 23 - Mrs. Bradley, wife of George T. Bradley of Steward's Mill, died to-day.