Obituary: L. A. Smith Howard, 5 Apr 1894 - Smith County, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts 18 January 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, May 31, 1894, p. 7, c. 6 HOWARD.—Sister L. A. Howard, daughter of Bro. C. H. (Uncle Caleb) and Elizabeth Smith, was born August 17, 1853, in McNairy County, Tenn.; professed religion under the ministry of Bro. J. S. Mathis, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Bascom Chapel, Smith County, Texas, July, 1868; was married to Bro. B. A. Howard October 22, 1876, and died April 5, 1894. It was my privilege to be well acquainted with Sister Howard from childhood. She was always a consistent, good girl, embracing religion in her sixteenth year, and having the superior advantage of wise Christian counsel at home and in the Church in which she lived, there was reason to hope for a well-developed Christian life, which was surely attained and enjoyed in her Christian experience. As a Christian woman, all who knew her had great confidence in her religion. It was said at her burial: "We have lost one of our best women." She was one of the best women I ever knew. There was not a more faithful member of the Church to which she belonged, always present ("when able") at preaching, prayer-meeting, class-meeting and Sunday-school. She will be sadly missed in these departments of Church work. She dearly loved her sweet communion, solemn vows. Many times have I heard her sing, pray and shout the praise of God in the Church militant; but God has taken her to the Church above, where she will watch and wait for us. She was the mother of five children. One with her in heaven; four still living, three of whom are members of the Church. To the bereaved we would say: "Daughter, sister, wife and mamma is not dead, but sleepeth." Imitate her Christian example, who said: "I am clinging to Jesus." May the blessings of God rest on the bereaved, and especially on the dear children left behind, and may they meet in heaven. P. O. TUNNELL