Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-23
HoNORs TO An OLD NANNY.
4 Scene In which the Old south Was
blended with the New.


MARTHA.-The relatives and friends
OF Mr. and Mrs. g. -. Howard are invited
20 attend the funeral Of their faithful
servant. MARTHA, from their residenCe,
242 Richardson street at o clock THIS
AFTERNOON. The pall-bearers will be
Mr. G. b. Howard. his sOns-Narreh'
Chessly. and TrOup-his grandson, How
ard Mathews. and nepheWs-Richard ana
Robert Lockhart.
The old black nanny was dead The
faithful service Of nearly threescore years
was at last finished. one more remnant
OF the old South was gone.
Martha was born in Liberty county. Be
fore the war this section OF the tate was
the most aristocratic part Of Georgia, ana
its historic scenes are identified with many
well-known families She was the proper
Is OF Major Thomas Shackelf0rd. and was
given over by him as maid 20 his daush-
ter. Miss Caroline ShackelfOrd. Both were
the same age, and Martha became maid
when she was about Il years old. The lit
tie negro was as was the custom in those
days, the constant companion or her
young mistress The maid was generally
lifted above the level of the common me-
NAL. She occupied the relative position
Of bodyguard and handmaiden. 1t was In
this capacity that Martha served, and
when Miss Shackelford went OF TO school
the young negro girl went also. Their
lives were closely identified Martha pre-
sided at the marriage. and was the happi-
est mortal at the brilliant occasion Wheh
Miss Shackelford became the wife of Col
onel G. 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 or by the hatter.ng cry OF freedom.
Her freedom was Ina the service on the
family with which she had been 50 IONS
associated. Her emancipation was ia
being allowed 10 perform the simple
duties daily allotted 10 her While others
OF her race Went off I'm irenzed drlBht
to enjoy that freedom newly found ana
reach ont for new conditions, Martha
remained. quiet in her demranor, undls-
turbed I'm her faithful devotion.
soon afterward Colonel Howard moved
TO New York. Martha was carried with
the family. she was one Of the Family;
she shared its fortunes. az would any
other member Of the household. she
never received wages. She did not desire
compensation. Her wants were suppilel
as were those OF any other immediate
member OF the household. Her attach
ment 10 the children was equal 10 "A
mothers devotion. She presided at their
birth. She nursed them iu infancy. Hhe
watched them In youth. She saw them
careers with maternal pride. What sue
cess they had she attributed Ion part TO
her care. What misfOrtun-s they met
with called ont her sympathy. Hers was
a life OF love.
Worn with age shattered with the IN
frmiues Of many years. several weeks
ago she slcken.d, and IL was soon seen
that her malady was fatal. Those cnli-
dren whom she had nursed were In CON
slant attendance upon her bedside, sup
plying every want.
She died on Saturday at the home Of
Colonel Howard. on Richardson street.
Last sunday came the funeral II was
n scene OF striking pathos. Gathered
about the grave N the specia! lot In
Westview were those whom she had
served i'm life. The services Were per
formed by Or. Davis, OF ST. John
Methodist church. in simple and I'M
pressive way. The pa.l-beare's were the
Sons and neohews OF Colonel Howard.
Teuderly they lowered the coffin into the
earth. sadly they stood with barred heads
while the last sad rites were read. Their
grief was deep. ~
AMI So came the funeral Of Martha.
II was simply glimpse OF old southern
iife-a strange scene in this busy ola
world Of to-Idy.