Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-10

mination kind IN Ms sAvics, constant IN
doing something. and ala not tolerate In
dolence around him. The frivoiifies ex-
~travagance. and dIssipatious OF youth re-
ceived no c~ountenance from MIN. mis-
fortunes did not deprsss OF prosperity
elate him.
He had great confidence IN the recuper-
alton and development Of this section or
Virginia, and was the larGcse landowner
of his county. In Charlotte. Aeckssnsurs.
Halifax, and Lunenburg, he owned
nearly 10000 acres. and also hundreds Of
acres In Mississippi. He thought an m
heritance of valuable lands BY his child
rem would prove safer n more rensuner-
alive than stocks. bonds. and securities
OF uncertain and fictitious values.
At his home he was generous and nos-
pitable. He had been q member ct An
tioch Baptist Church, situated within one
mile of his residence. for ffty-stx years-
He was truly the pillar OF his church. IN
he Sunday school and councils of his
church his wishes and suggestions were
the guide of his brethren. Ample pecun-
AIRY assistance was freely bestowed by
him whenever occasion required. When
he told the minister his salary would b
promptly paid. nothing more was neces-
sary. His loss to his church. and moral
and religious influence In the community
can not be estimated.
To the poor he was truly a friend. In
times Of crop failures or other misfortunes
his ~neighbors confidently relied upon help
from him. One remarked to tho writer
on the day of his death: 81 do not know
what the poor people In this community
win do now, as there isnobo dy TO take
the place OF Mr.. J~eifress. for they all
looked TO him I'm time of need" His
charities were freely extended, but ne
never spoke OF them. If they became
known. others gave the Information, not
himself. He was not fond OF o~stentation
| or ~self-laudation. IL he could not speak
we'll OF a he rarely said anything.
He always showed characteristic retic-
ence about the motives and actions OK
| others. Against HIM no Ill VIII was en-
| tertained. and 10 him personal difficult
ties or estrangements were unknown.
His illness lasted four weeks. and ne
| bore his sufferings with the calm fortitude
| and cheerful resignation OF a Christian,
| and from the first he had n premonition
| of approaching death. He said during his
| illness that he seldom read his Daily Dis
| patch. that he did not see the names OF
his old friends with whom he had busi-
ness relations fer from forty to fifty
| wears. whose death was announced. ana
| his own end was not far Off. His death
was calm and placid, without a struggle.
| "a his life had been peaceful and method-
cal. and without n ripple OF excitement
During his sickness he said to his Wire.
~ do not wish to die. but l am NOT
afraid to die"
He had been married three times, and
| leaves a widow and eight children. Two
OF his sons. John ID. J%efiress, or Jenress.
& Shelton. and Thomas II. Jeffress. sec
retary of the Ginter & Allen Company,
live in Richmond. His last wife. to whom
he was married nearly five years ago.
is a sister of Judge Asa ID. Dupuy and
Hon. w. Z. Dupjuy, Of Roanoke. The
| children are those OF his first and second
| marriages.
An appropriate and impressive funeral
! m was conducted at his church.
to which no was so devoted. by MS
| pastor. Rev. Mr.. Thompson. OF Halifax.
( The church was filed with his ~neighoors.
| relatives and friends. and tho gallery
| and doors crowded with his old servants
| and colored people OF the community. who
| manifested their respect and grief for
| their departed benefactor.
He Is dead. but his memory lives In the
| hearts OF those who knew him best. He
was inferred in the old family cemetery
near the grave OF his father.
His life was one radient with brightness
and usefulness. His sun has set, not
behind q darkened west. but one efulgent
with rays of beauty. and leaving for all
the twilight OF a shining example.
Full of years, blest with the rewards OF
honest toll. soo:hed IN his declining years
with the promises OF his Saviour, and
crowned with the confidence and love or
his fellow men, he goes down TO MS grave.
like one that draws the drapery OF
his couch about him and lies dow TO
rleasant dreams." CRATER"
Chase City, Va, Sept. s. 1893.