The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1890-11-08
JAMES b. WALTHALL.

Born in Richmond, Va, February 1s 1sa
pied in Holly Springs Miss October s s5, iSf iSa
And thus has ended this life whic
with its share of joys and sorrows. ba
borne more than it's share of phvsic,
trials, ended peacefully as was mee
after much endurance, with the tea,
Of anguished relatives falling abov
him and the regrets OF sorrowing friend
embalming his memory. But there
something more of significance in thi
sad announcement than attaches to th
painful mention that death has mad
vacant the place of a useful and yalue
citizen. 1t is the raising of anothe
sodded mound to mark the severe,
connection between what was lust nov
the living present and the lingering as
& sociations OF an eventful past. Fo
although scarcely passed the age an
cepted as manhoods prime, his residence
in the home of his adoption covered ;
period almost dating back to the loca
ton of the town. AS early as the yeal
1885, his father, the venerated B, W
Walthall, removed with his family from
Richmond, Va, to this place, family
since SO pre-eminently identified with
all that is most to be remembered in it's
social life and in its contribution to dis
tinguished public services. In all of
these years with the exception of brief
soourns in Memphis and Grenada. his
familiar presence throughout the
changes from boyhood to ripe manhood,
has claimed daily greeting, and going
in and out before us he has met so fully
the demands which lie at the door of
the citizen and the friend. Demands,
which however exacting or laborious,
were invariably discharged with that
painstaking promptness which to him
made duty mentor, until the behests of
duty were fulfilled even though the
performance of that duty involved
bodily suffering and exhaustion.
Punctuality with him was self exac-
ion which grew into a rule; accuracy in
the uttermost detail of whatsoever he set
his hand to do, was as assured as care and
thorough acquaintance could be made
to serve his end. Educated under the
rigid discipline and high requirements
which characterized St. Thomas Hall
in the days of his wide spread fame, he
studied law and though never regularly
engaged in the practice, his fondness
for the profession led him to so close a
familiarity with the codes and the
current decisions, that few members of
the bar in active practice were oftener
approached when safe and prudent
council was sought. For many years
the servant of the people in responsible
official position as Clerk of the Chan
very Court of his county, early and late
at his post, he was never failing min
Rlligent efficient administration. No
Chancellor ever had occasion to utter
reminder or to criticise or correct
record or minute. His well-known
painstalling accuracy had long since
won for him the reputation of model
officer whose systematic records and
perfectly arranged files relieved court
and counsel and client of unnecessary
labor or delay. 1t was the repeated
comment of an appreciative Judge, who
long presided over his court, that if he
could only move him around through
his District it would lift the burden
from the sitting of many a wearisome
term. And this ambition to bear home
with him each night the consciousness
Of days duty to the utmost measure
fulfilled, gave mastery to the motive :
which actuated him to the end and en- l
ppaasized the truth of a remark of .
friend, who, on opening his desk after 1
his face had been turned for the last y
time from his Office door, said, ''you Z
Will lind here no uncompleted work; he
never left anything unfinished" OF >
oroad culture and fine literary taste, =
ne took great delight in his library, =
winch from time to time had grown in u y
70 valuable collection of the choicest =
books with whose contents his known u
familiarity marked him for frequent !,
reference as ready authority. Too o
modest to admit even to himself his y
vide acquaintance with current and ac- 0
epted authors and seldom because of .
ieeole health attending its meetings, 7
le y. took greater interest in the discus u
aohs u, OF the local literary club and IL IL
through the notes and comments fur W
ashed Its members made valuable con- O.
uioutlons to its entertainment and sue ~
eSs' In keeping with this sensitive oi
snrlhklng from all public participation, III
saVe such as his sense of obligation i'm
Nilea, l with his fond devotion to home al M
o. anu \ nhreslde-a home beautiful without u
W, y .ne touch of his tasteful hand in the :.
iul'ure i.a OF blooming flowers and trail VI VI
~ vines, and cheered and adorned =
" ,hisnln BY the tender grace of a happi- !e
Y welded love. IN In
i endowed with a natural mental r.
sslength ssp' and grasp which would have We We
s'sared ,aI.! TO him success in any under w, W.
@alng saa and with a degree of persever- til iii
tbOe tbO' IN IN endeavor which never tagged, hi hi
iaahg %Jugh the brain grew weary and the 20 r,
,poOle vsa u frame suffered, yet endured !; he ~
bas tr, content to walk his quiet, unob-
Ssusve Snat way, seeking no greater dis
tana ttavuoh than that which properly at !,
,,uus raua on faithful service, no higher re- ed
NJ u ~ .llan the esteem of his friends Id,
lomn lel ~ pleasure centering about the So
a.Dp N y. clfcie, whose members reserved su,
pes N nlm their gentlest loving greet
,aHooa aur number of years member and
rpto usor u The church, q staunch sup !
4nSoai h, u all OF its work, a faithful at !
ND" ioail. upon all of its services. his !
man, Man. no longer to be heard In the re- {
oinS igs I; Vi The earthly sanctuary, now
wev 1 u 1.-The the psalm Of rejoicing which !
bOlLu0 Sa'und ground the Throne Eternal. - fu,
- N'' to
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