Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-12
Funeral of Colonel WilIOughby
williams.
Nalhville American, llth.

The remains Of the late Colonel
Willoughby Williams arrived in the
city yesterday morning aud we're con.
veyed TO the residence Of Colonel A.
5 Colyar, and thence, at 2 pm, to the
First Presbyterian church, where the
funeral services we're held. The con.
gregation was composed largely Of the
representative men of the city, many
OF whose heads we're white with age,
aud some OF whom had known the
deceased from his early manhood.
The remains were conducted into
the church by Colonel A. s. Colyar,
Judge Joseph y. Guild, Judge Ma
thaniel Baxter, Judge John NJ. Lea,
sx- Governor James ID. Porter, Messrs.
A. G. Adams, Anson Nelson, NJ.
Burns and james NJ. Hamilton, who
acted ss pail bearers. Many OF the
children and grandchildren Of the
deceased, forming line Of mourners,
followed the remains to the church.
The casket was laden with exquisite
floral designs, composed of the
rarest flowers. Conspicuous among
the pieces was a large pillow bearing
the words REST" and surmounted
by a pure white dove. Another wa
rich crown placed at the head and
still another, star, at the foot Of the
casket, while wreaths aud crosses, and
a ripened shock OF wheat covered it
entirely. After the casket was de-
posted in front Of the altar the sacred,
solemn tones Of that beautiful funeral
hymn, "Thy Will, o Lord, Be Done" T"
was sung by the choir, and when its
cadence died away Rev. 7. A. Hoyt
read two appropriate chapters of
Scripture. This was followed by the
singing OF the nineteenth Psalm.
DIR. j. B. McFerrin aud Rev. @. D,
Elliott occupied the pulpit with Rev.
7. A. Hoyt.
Dr. Hoyt chose as the basis of his
remarks the words from Romans,
xiv, z: For none Of us liveth to
himself and no man dieth to himself"
He said that this was especially
true of Colonel Williams, who in his
long lie had witnessed so many
changes and was the father Of so large |
and influential family. Eighty four |
times this earth had made its circuit |
about the. sun, and the circles had
formed a crown Of honor upon the |
head Ol the deceased. The speaker saw |
it stated that since the war Colonel |
Williams had paid a debt Of 100000, |
security for his friends. Here was a |
lesson. An old man, broken in for
tune and old in years, with strict
integrity and unbounded energy, that |
even the State might copy, paid in |
full the enormous debt. And |
another incident showed the char |
acter Of the deceased. Ae had |
business relations with an old friend, |
extending over forty years. Settle
ment had been postponed from time |
to time and yet neither friend ever
mistrusted the other. At last the |
friend went to Louisville, and there
the two old gentlemen went over the
long line OF figures together. The
amount involved was about 81 800, 900,
and yet the two accounts tailed TO
within three or four hundred dollars
in favor Of the DECEASED. There was no
distrust between the two friends, no
suspicion, but perfect confidence. DR..
Hoyt spoke of the perfect trust and
belief Colonel Williams had in the
Savior, but it was to be regretted that
he had never connected himself with
any church. This might beaccounted
for by the want Of permsnency in his |
hpm6.
Dr. Elliott made few remarks. |
saying that Colonel Williams was of a |
very undemonstrative disposition. To
his friends, and even to his family, he |
was not fond of displaying his emo, |
tions. H
DR.. McFerrln spoke to the old men |
present in connection with remarks |
relative 10 the deceased and warned |
them that they, as we'll as he, was fast
ripening for the grave, and it was we'll |
that they should be making prepara-
tions for the latter end. .
After singing the hymn, "ThOu Art
Gone to the Grave" the body was
taken in charge by the pail bearers,
and long line of carriages filed with |
friends Of the family followed the
remains to Mount 0livet, where they
were deposited in the vault Of Mr.,
Anson Nelson and the Gnal benedic- |
lion pronounced. Thus has passed |
away one of the old time citizens, who
was, as remarked, in his funeral dis
course one of the limbs binding the