Obituary of Tabitha Roark, 1917 - Pittsylvania co. VA


TABITHA ROARK (2 October 1836 - 25 September 1917)
AGED LADY CROSSES THE GREAT DIVIDE

Mrs. Tabitha, wife of Mr. James E. Roark, who have lived for forty-six years 
at their home, one and a half miles east of Motley, died on Sunday last at 
eight a.m. Mrs. Roark had been in feeble health for several years, but did 
not give up until two weeks before her death. On Sunday night, Sept. 16th, 
she was paralyzed, and never spoke or apparently knew anything until her 
death a week later.
Dr. Smith, of Altavista, her children, her aged husband, and neighbors and 
friends did all that loving hands could do, but death claimed its own.
She was born and reared at Chalk Level, in Pittsylvania County. Before 
marriage she was a Miss Shields. She was married sixty years ago last 
February, having married in 1857. They had six living children, 43 
grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren. The living children are, Messrs. 
John A. and J. B. Roark, of Altavista; Mr. Sherman Roark, of Level Run; Mrs. 
Virginia Short, of Hurt; Mrs. D. A. Walker, who lived on an adjoining farm to 
her father's, and Mrs. Sallie Hurt Adams, of Spencer, N. C.
Mrs. Roark had been a member of the Methodist Church for 36 years, and had 
she lived until the third of next month would have been 82 years old. She 
was devoted in her church and to the cause of Christ.
She was laid to rest in the family burial ground on Monday afternoon, after 
religious services held in the home by her pastor, Rev. W. L. Mays, assisted 
by Mr. John Allen, a life-long friend of the family.
The pall bearers were six of her grandsons--Messrs. James Roark, James Adams, 
Dodson Short, Parker Short, Burt Short, and Thomas (misprint ? - tiful). 
Friends from every directon brought beautiful flowers, one of the most 
beautiful of which was a wreath presented by the Red Men of Altavista. 


Submitted by Cindy Taylor <Tcindy@aol.com>

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