The Atlanta constitution., 1896-05-18
The OLD SOUTH
Strange Scene at the Burial Of a ColCfsd
Woman Last Week.

MARTHA-The relatives and friends Of Nr.
and Mrs. e.. Il. Howard are l0NlitA lo
attend the funeral OF their fal5hIul setI5
Vant Martha, from their residence, -
Richardson street. at o'clock TINS al
tcrnoon Tho pallbearers VIII Ue Ait.
c. b. Howard his sons, Warreli 4 -.,.5r.i ,.'.ss
" and Tr0up his grandson, iio"at4
Mathews, and uepheWS, 4s.cHAtu d'iN
Robert LOckhart.
The old Black Nanny was dead. Inc
faithful service of nearly three score years
was at last finished. one more remnant OF
the old south was gone.
In keeping with the death notice above
came a funeral Sunday, week a-o-ah
occasion worthy of record as trlnule or
unsclhsh love for unselnsh love, an oc-
casion significant i'm its deep solcmnltE'
pathetic in its observance, demonstrating
in its highest sense the devotion OF master
to slave
In the rush and turmoil OF the present
time. in the fierce struggle for existence,
in the greed for gain, it has been SAID mat
the sentiment Of the south has oeeh sap
ped-that there exists no longer the inner
feeling which characterized q civilization
that has passed.
BE that as it may. hiatus was made
in the ceaselcss rush last week in Atlanta
and over the remains of an old negro wo-
man were shed tears Of genuine grief, and
gathered about her grave was the family
which she had served. Her life was the
life Of many who lived in the past genera
ton Her history is the history of many
families who hourished before the shock
OF war came.
Martha was born in Liberty county. Be-
fore the war this section OF the state was
the most aristocratic part of Georgia ana
its historic scenes are identified with many
well-known families. She was the proper
ty of Major Thomas Shackelford and was
given over by him as a maid TO his daugh-
ter, Miss Caroline Shackelford. Both were
the same age and Martha became maid
when she was about twelve years old.
The little negro was. as was the custom
in those days. the constant companion OF
her young mistress The maid was Scn-
orally lifted above the level of the common
mcniaL she occupied the relative position
Of body guard and hand maiden. 1t was
in this capacity that Martha served and
when Miss Sha6elford went off to school
the young negro girl went also. Their
lives were closely identified. Martha pre-
sided at the marriage and was the happiest
mortal at the brilliant occasion when Miss
Shackelford became the wife of Colonel <.
Il. Howard. She remained with the family,
constant in devotion and duty, attentive
to every need, rendering what household
services she could find TO do.
Then the war came. Martha was not led
OF by the tattering cry of freedom. Her
freedom was in the service of the family
with which she had been so long associated.
Her emancipation was in being allowed TO
perform the simple duties daily allotted
to her. While others Of her race went off
in frenzied delight to enjoy that freedom
newly found and reach out for new condi-
tions Martha remained, quiet in her de-
neanor, undisturbed in her faithful devo-
ton.
Soon afterwards Colonel Howard moved
to New York. Martha was carried with the
family She one of the family; she
shared its fortunes as would any other
member of the household. She never re-
ceived wages She did not desire compen-
sation Her wants were supplied as were
those of any other immediate member Of
the household. Her attachment to the
children was equal to mothers devotion.