The morning news., 1894-10-22
PASSED PEACEFULLY AWAY.
Mrs. Charlotte s. Branch's Life Ended
at Four Score Years.


at Four Score Years.
Mrs. Charlotte S. Branch passed quiet
~ away at 2:40 o'clock yesterday morn
ing at her home, No. 126 South Broad
street The deceased was in her Slst
year. Her peaceful end marked the close
of long and useful life the greater part
of which had been spent in the service
of others.
There was no person in the city more
widely known or more highly respected
for her many good deeds and kindness
of heart. Her devotion to the memory
of the Confederate dead and her solicit
tude for the survivors was especially well
known, and the news of her death will
bring sadness to the hearts of many vet
Grams, who were the recipients of kind
attentions at her hands, some upon the
field of battle, and who have witnessed her
devotion to the memory Of the heroes of
the lost cause
Although somewhat enfeebled by age,
Mrs. Branch had recently enjoyed very
good health for a person of her advanced
years. Thursday afternoon she attended
the weekly prayer meeting at the Inde-
PtAutlll IICSDg leIldH CuuICHt OF WllCn
she was a devoted member. That night,
about 8 o'clock, while making a cup of
tea in her room, she stumbled and fell,
receiving a severe shock. She lay
upon the floor of her room for several
minutes when her means were heard by
Mrs. DR.. Hops. DR.. and Mrs. Hops en-
tered the room and finding Mrs. Branch
upon the floor placed her upon her bed
and at once sent for her physician, DR..
J. D. Martin, who responded Immediately.
Dr. Martin found that while there were
no serious physical injuries as the result
of the fall, the nervous shock had been
very great, and that her condition was
serious. Although given every attention,
her age was against her. She lost con-
sciousness Saturday night and passed
away early yesterday morning. Her son,
Capt. II. NJ. Branch, and several friends
were with her until the end came.
The deceased was a native of Savannah,
having been born September 20, 1914. Her
home was here during her entire life. She
was a Miss Sawyer and married Mr. j.
H. S. Branch, a merchant, who left her a
widow with three sons nearly half a
century ago. 1t was after the storm of
war had burst upon the country that the
qualities Of mind and heart which were
destined to make Mrs. Branch noted
among her fellow townsmen first demon
strated themselves. Her three sons, John
/. Branch, Sanford w. Branch and Ham
ilton NJ. Branch, left for the front with
the first company to leave Savannah, the
Oglethorpe Light Infantry, which had the
famed and lamented Barlow for it's COM
mander. When the news of the first
battle of Manassas, telling it's story of
victory and glory for the south came, it
brought with it it's burden of sorrow and
weeping.
Among the other brave boys of the Ogle-
thorpe Light Infantry, who gave up their
lives with Barlow on that bloody field,
was John L. Branch, adjutant OF the
Eighth regiment of Georgia Volunteers.
As soon as the news was re-
ceived, Mrs. Branch left for the
battlefield, where, in spite of her own
great sorrow, she won honor and renown
| by her unwearied attentions upon the
Confederate wounded. So constant was
her attention upon the wounded that
she won for herself the name of Mother
of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry" Her
work was well known and was frequent
! ly mentioned by the war correspondents,
! who alluded to her as the Mother of the
! Gracchi" on account of her three sons,
| all of them superb soldiers
on her return from Virginia she brought
| with her the body of John l.. Branch,
! which was laid to rest in the family lot
! in Laurel Grove cemetery, and since then
/ every token of love and affection has been
! lavished upon his grave. Upon Confed-
/ crate Memorial day especially, the dec
orauons of the Branch lot were famous
/ for their taste, and beauty, the miniature
/ Confederate flags in flowers painted upon
! the laurel wreath at the head of the tomb
| being especially noted.
| In January, 1891 Sanford w. Branch, the
! second son, and a well-known and popu-
! lar citizen, died and was laid beside his
/ brother in Laurel Grove. Capt H. NJ.
. Branch is the only surviving son
Mrs. Branch was very active in the
. work of the Ladies Memorial Asso,.a-
tion, of which she and thetlate Mrs. John
| Williamson were the moving spirits
| There was never any danger that any
! confederate soldiers grave would 10
. without a laurel wreath on decoration day
| as long as these two ladies survived Mrs.
/ Branch was an active member OF tho In.
. dependent Presbyterian church, and took
| an active part iH all its charitable work,
I TO which she devoted great energy and
tact. Her kindness Of heart and her char.
. table nature were we'll known, and the
| recipients of her kindness who will mourn
her death are many.
the funeral will take place this after.
noon at $3.50 o'clock. The services win be
| held at the Independent Presbyteriar n
/ church, after which the deceased will be
/ laid TO rest beside her soldier sons I'm
| Laurel Grove cemetery. The Oglethorpc
I Light Infantry viii evince its respect for
1 her memory by attending the funeral In
/ fun uniform, but without arms.