Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Bogart, Mary E. Barrett, 1921 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ MARY ELIZA BARRETT BOGART MRS. MARY E. BOGART DIES AT HER HOME HERE Mrs. Mary E. Bogart, wife of the late John H. Bogart, died at her residence, "River Lawn," Franklin, August 16, 1921, in the 72nd year of her age. Mrs. Bogart was a daughter of the late Richard Barrett and Mary Murfee Barrett, and was born July 6, 1850, at the old Barrett homestead, which comprised all the central part of the present town of Franklin, and had spent practically her entire life here. She was married in 1868 to John H. Bogart, for many years an important official of the Seaboard Air Line, owner and manager of the Albemarle Steam Navigation Company, and one of Virginia’s most prominent and useful citizens. Mrs. Bogart’s death came after several years of declining health, and as the culmination of an acute illness of several months. Having been so long and favorably known in this town and community, and so intimately associated with the growth and social, intellectual and religious development of Franklin, her life history merits more than mere passing notice. At the beginning of the war between the States, her home being within the present limits of the town, she witnessed and had often described graphically to her friends many interesting events connected with that period, from the drilling, parading, and marching away to the battlefields of the Southampton Cavalry - the officer in command wearing around his neck a rose-wreath woven by her childish fingers - to the gunboat raids up the Blackwater, and the approach of the Federal Cavalry from Suffolk. Not only a witness, she was often in various ways a participant in those thrilling scenes and events until her family removed for safety to North Carolina. Returning here after the close of the war, she married, and after some years took up her residence in the house which she occupied at the time of her death. Throughout her life she was prominent in all public movements of the community, setting in motion and fostering many social and philanthropic organizations. An ardent Southerner and a devoted lover of the Lost Cause, she organized, named, and was through many years president of Agnes Lee Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Through her efforts a fund was started for the erection of the first Confederate monument on the county, and her interest in the work of the Daughters never flagged. She was the first and for many the only resident Episcopalian in the town; and through her instrumentality services were held from time of time in the various churches or in other buildings and occasional Episcopal visitations took place. Finally, the Episcopal Sunday school, the nucleus of the present church, was organized in her home, and for some time was conducted in the little schoolhouse at the foot of her lawn. Thus closely identified with the infancy of Emmanuel, she has remained throughout its history to the present, a loyal and faithful communicant, her unwavering devotion and unfailing efforts being ever at its disposal. For many years she served it most acceptably in the capacities of president of the Woman’s Auxiliary, Sunday school teacher, and organist, and she secured the first contribution toward the purchase of the organ now in use. In the social life of the town, she was always a potent factor, and as long as her health permitted she was the dispenser of a most charming hospitality, her home being the center of a delightful social intercourse enjoyed by young and old, and which will long be remembered in Franklin. Never wearying of the society of her friends, she enjoyed to the fullest extent, about a month before her death, a little birthday surprise party held on the shady upper porch where she spent many of her last days. She was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Franklin Book Club, which was planned at her house, and a participant in its activities as long as her health permitted. Possessing unusual musical gifts, she naturally gathered around her people of similar taste, and the many charming musical evenings at her home were a source of enjoyment which those privileged to participate in will long remember. In addition to serving in her own church, she was organist in both Baptist and Methodist churches in the early days of the town, and her talent was constantly in requisition on public or social occasions. Many will recall with pleasure the little informal dances at her home, even in recent years, when she would play the piano tirelessly, except when her grandchildren, or some of her young friends, would eagerly seek her as a partner in the dances. Trained under the old regime, she possessed in a remarkable degree, all those accomplishments of Southern womanhood which made themselves constantly evident in her housekeeping and home-making. These and many lovely Christian graces beautified her life and endeared her to all who know her. The loss of her loving ministrations and winning presence will be sorely felt, and her family and many friends have our warmest sympathy in their bereavement. She leaves a daughter, Mrs. R.A. Pretlow, a son, Mr. W.O. Bogart, two brothers, Messrs. R.C. and T.O. Barrett, and four grandchildren, all of this town, and a large number of nieces, nephews and more distant relations. The funeral was at four o’clock Wednesday afternoon, the 17th, from Emmanuel Church, and was conducted by the Rev. George S. Vest, a former rector of that church, assisted by Rev. M.A. MacLean of the Baptist Church. The choir, composed of Mr. Edgar Weede, organist, and sever nieces and nephews of the deceased, sang "Lead Kindly Light," Mrs. Bogart’s own selection, "Peace, Perfect Peace," and at the conclusion of the services at the family plot in Poplar Spring Cemetery, "The Christian’s Goodnight." The pallbearers were: active, Dr. J.C. Rawls, Dr. W.H. Arthur, Roger I. Beale, Judge Jas. L. McLemore, E. Frank Story, M.H. Moore, Geo. H. Parker and Paul Scarborough; honorary, H.W. Lloyd, S.R. Nicholason, J.E. Moyler, L.R. Jones, W.C. Watson, B.B. Garrenton, R.H.B. Cobb, Charlie Webb, J. Tom Butler, A.L. Gardner, Dr. J.L. Lawless, C.C. Vaughan, Sr., L.L. Manry, J. Wm. Ridley, Rev. C.W. Scarborough, Dr. E.A. de Bordenave, J.B. Gay. "From the worn brow the lines of care are swept, As if an angel’s kiss Thee while she slept Had smoothed the cobweb wrinkles quite away, And given back the peace of childhood’s day; And on her lips a smile as if she said ‘None know life’s secret but the happy dead’." Mary Elizabeth (BARRETT; Mrs. John H.) BOGART, civic leader, organist, b. 6 Jul 1850, Franklin, d. 16 Aug 1921, at home "Riverview," Franklin, interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Section 1, Plot 36*), Franklin, 17 Aug 1921, "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Aug. 19, 1921, p. 1 *Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS}, Cemetery Project, Poplar Spring list: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/poplar1.txt Additional information: Her husband's obits ("Alexandria Gazette," May 24, 1893 & "Richmond Dispatch," May 25, 1893) are posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/b263j1ob.txt John H. Bogart, 26, Single, b. Norfolk Co., res. Southampton Co., sn/o William S. and Jane H. Bogart, Student Mary E. Barrett, 18, Single, b. & res. Southampton Co., dt/o Richard and Mary R. Barrett m.lic. 12 Nov 1868 by Dep. clerk James R. Tyler; cert. signed by Jno.H. Bogart m. 17 Nov 1868 Southampton, by John W. White (ret's 1871) (Southampton Co. MB1A:280; M.Reg. p. 27 #99) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/b263m1ob.txt