The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-04
FUNERAL OF MRS. vAss.
The Remains of This Highly Esteemed
Woman Followed to lakewood by
Host of Deeply Stricken Friends.

of the late Mrs. W. W. Vass took place
yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the
First Baptist church in this city.
Long before the tolling of the bell be-
gan, a stream of sympath zing friends
began to pour into the church, and by
the time the last chime had ceased to
vibrate the building was thronged to its
utmost capacity. All demon nations
were present and their faces betokened
that one had passed the river who had
left the impress of @her pure christian
character upon the whole community.
At the home of Major Vass had as
sembled a number of perso al friends
The choir of the church over which Mrs
Vass had presided for years had assembl-
ed there to attend 10 body as a mark
of respect, the choir for the occasion
hauing been selected one with Mrs. r.
B. Raney as organist and composed of
some of the most noted vocalist of the
city, Mrs E B. Barbee, Miss Alice Jones,
Miss Minnie Tucker, Mrs. W. S. Prim
rose and Mr.. Will II. Jones.
The class of schoolmates, also, of Miss
Eleanor Vass attended in body.
The pail bearers were Messers. Chas.
E. johnson, I. Fl. Briggl, r. FL. Battle,
Jos. B Bachelor, Ed. Chambers Smith,
Jno. w. Hinsdale, W. N. Jones, ]. d.
Boushall, Herbert Jackson, Judge Walter
Montgomery, Mr. Spier Whitaker, Mr..
Thos. S. Kenan, DR.. f. r. Haywood, Mr..
S. A. Ashe, Gen. F. H. Cameron and DR..
A. B. Hawkins.
The large organ and entire front of
the gallery of the church were draped in
mourning and the front of the church
was beautifully dressed with palms and
rare foliage plants.
AS the procession reached the church,
the choir in most feeling manner sang
the hymn, ''Asleep in Jesus" Prayer
was then offered by Rev. Chas. E. Tay-
lor, after which the hymn, ut is not
death to die, was beauti ully rendered
Rev. DR.. Thos. E. Skinner then read pas
sages of the Scripture from Genesis,
John and Revelations, followed by a
hymn Rev. DR.. Daniel then offered
prayer and Mrs. E. B.. Barbee rem
dered that most beautiful sacred
solo, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought. ="
Her exquisitely lovely voice filed the
church with its sweet melody. As the
casket was beiag borne out, the choir
sang Nearer by God to Thee.
The long procession then followed the
remains to lakewood cemetery where the
body was laid to rest. There the Rev.
DR.. Skinner performed the last sad rite
and the choir sang, "Abide With Me, "
just as the sun was sinking in the West,
and shedding its golden rays over the
city of the dead. The floral offerings
were beautiful and SO profrlse that the
grave was literally covered. A most
beautiful piece was design sent by the
choir Of the church, in the shape Of
harp of flowers, symbolic at nee of the
music and fragrance of the spirit of the
dead one, so tenderly lanented by those
who will miss now that touch at the or
gan which gave its own sweetness to the
hymns of days, of days. too, that are
dead.
The following sympathetic memorial
was prepared, by request, By Rev. DR..
Thomas Skinner, who having known
the deceased in life is well fitted to tell
the beautiful story that is here told Of
her life;
At the residence of her husband, in
this city, on September list, 1895, at
1905 a. m, Lillius Margaret Mcdaniel,
the beloved wife of Major William Wor-
rell Vass, and sIc )nd daughter of the
late Rev J mes Mcdaniel, D. d and
of the late Anuie E Smith, of Fayette
vile, N G passed from earth to heaveu,
while thousands rise up and call her
blessed.
The happy couple were united in mar
riage on October 9Th, 1866, which uuion
was blessed by three surviving children,
namely, william Worrell Vass, Jr,
Eleanor Margares Vass and Lila May
Vass.
Two sisters of the deceased survive
Mrs. Sophia Louise Cotton, OF Knoxville,
and Miss Lidie Mcdaniel, of this city.
Mrs. Vass, the greatly beloved organ
list for twenty nine years of the First
Baptist Church of this city, has left
naught but the sweetest memories after
her consecrated and useful life.
Her home circle completed an unbro
ken membership in the church which she
SO much lOFeu, anu WHICH sic 50 QcNOuCiy
served.
No one can fill her place, in which she
served her generation well This she
accomplished with singular success. God
will raise up another, not to fill hers, but
their own place. We cannot fill each
others places.
Mrs Vass was remarkable person in
every feature of her character. Highly
endowed with the purest culture, with
an enlightened conscience, she measured
every step of her life by the highest
moral as well as religious obligation.
Such character shines brightly in
world darkened by evil
Her home duties were ever first; as a
keeper of home "she learned first to show
piety at home, and her children rise up
now and call her blessed.
This excellent quality of mother and
wife did not, however, circu scribe her
activities. Sc was only the better quail
flied by these private duties to undertake
the public services of a deeply pious and