Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Williams, Rebecca L. Briggs, 1923 

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REBECCA LOUISE BRIGGS WILLIAMS

   The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Rebecca L. Williams, departed the life 
December 20, 1922.  She was the beloved wife of A.A. Williams of Courtland 
and was in the sixty-second year of her age, having been born June 3, 1860, 
in Southampton County, and was a consistent member of old Trinity M.E. Church 
for a number of years, having joined the church in her girlhood days.

   She leaves to mourn their loss six children, two boys and four girls, Miss 
Laura Williams, Mrs. J.W. Rollison, Mrs. W.E. Edwards, Mrs. S.N. Cobb, C.W. 
Williams and W.S. Williams; two brothers, W.S. and B. F. Briggs and two 
sisters, Mrs. Annie Simmons and Mrs. T.B. Marshall.

   The pallbearers were Dr. E.F. Reese, Walter Reese, H.C. Edwards, W.E. 
Edwards, J.W. Rollison and S.N. Cobb.  Her mortal form was laid to rest in 
Courtland Cemetery after services conducted in her home by her Pastor, Rev. 
J.E. Brooks, assisted by Rev. J.R. Johnson of the Baptist Church.

   Sister Williams was a tower of strength to the Methodism of the community 
for a long course of years.  She united with the church in her teens and had 
been a faithful member and loyal support throughout life.  Her Christian life 
was rich to those most intimately associated with her when one unconsciously 
reveals character.  What a rich legacy of character she left her children and 
loved ones!  How few live that life these days?  It was the writer’s privilege 
to be in her home and he often availed himself of the opportunity.

   She bore her illness of fourteen months duration with Christian fortitude. 
She is not dead.  Did not Jesus say "Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me 
shall never die."  She was too good, too kind, too unselfish and fine a 
personality not to leave an indelible print upon those who have loved her. 
Instinctively I know that when death came to her she met it with courage and 
faith.  Doubtless her Master has a greater work for her to do in His kingdom 
above.  What a glorious privilege it was to visit her during her illness, who 
was anxious for her friends to come to see her and to come often.  When she 
was suffering so terribly she would say with a voice full of good cheer and 
her face wreathed in smiles, "Come in."  Her home was a Mecca for her friends 
who came more than anything else, to receive a parting blessing from her.

   All that could possibly be done by loving hands to keep her here was done 
but God thought otherwise and took her to Himself on high.  All who were 
associated with her during her last days now know the meaning of these works, 
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

"Servant of God well done,/ Rest from thy loved employ;/
 The battle fought,/ The victory won/ Enter the Master’s joy"  

By J.E. Brooks, P.C. 


Rebecca Louise (BRIGGS; Mrs. Alpheus A.) WILLIAMS, 
b. 3 Jun 1860, Southampton Co., d. 20 Dec 1922, 
interred in Riverside Cemetery (Episcopal Section, Plot 28), Courtland, 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Jan. 5, 1923, p. 8 

*Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Riverside list: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/riverside.txt 


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/w452r2ob.txt