Macon beacon., 1896-04-04

MISSISSIPPI has lost one OF her best and
most enterprising citizens--I speak Of Mr..
John r. Cockrell. of Noxubee equity
whose earthly remains were buried in Ma
con cemetery on Monday last, March SOth.
1895. Bro. Cockrell was born Sept. 10th,
1897. His parents were BENZ. and Eliza
Cockrell, He was married to Miss Mary 4.
Wells OF Noxubce county, Sept. 9th, 1865.
This was happy union which ended only
by bis being s.ilcd to hrs hcae ,nly home on
Saturday night, March 2sth, 1896.
BIO. Cockrell was a successful farmer and
manager of free negro labor, and no better
evidence could be adduced to prove his
Kindness to bis laborcrs than the large num-
ber of his former servants who attended
his burial, coming sixteen or eighteen
miles oyer the rough prairie roads (, not as
idle spectators but as genuine mourncrs,
weeping with the distressed family. To
my mind no higher compliment could be
paid the memory Of any man than th of
his subordinates dropping the tear of gem
uine sorrow on his grave.
Few men have made greater success az
an all around farmer than he. What
pleasure TO visit his home and have bin as
guide and conductor to show one around
What palace home What large, nice,
comfortable barns, beautiful southdowns.
nice, smooth, fat Jerseys, fine, fat, slick
hogs, otc. What beautiful horses and mules
and all the different kinds OF stock. always
showing that those large barns were never
empty. While his cotton crsp always ran
up into the hundreds Of bales. he was one
OF the very few southern farmers who ncv-
or neglected his grain and hay and stock
crop TO give extra attention to cotton. Few
men possessed the indomitable energy of
our departed friend.
As a citizen MIR. Cockrell was high
toned, honorable gentlcmn, one who would
scorn TO 90 questionable thing, But
would speak Of him as christian. 1t was
my privilege to witness his first public pro-
ifession of faith In Christ. 1t was in, the
summer OF 1883 Mt New Bethel Church.
lTaere was no great demonstration but a
bright profession. 1t was IN an experience
meeting. when to the surprise OF many Out
not to mc) Bro. CocLrcll stood UP and spoke
out in q few pointed words, telling us Of his
feelings anu Of his determination for the
5utiire. A few weeks after this he joined
the Cumberland Presbyterian church and
While Bro. Cockrell was pronounced y.
+. he loved all christians and was fond Of
all the preachers. Nothing seemed to nf-
ford him moro pleasure than to have the
preachers visit him at his home. This wri-
ter has often enjoyed the sunshine OF his
happy home. Shall speak OF Mr.. Cock
rcI in his home life? One would only have
to cross that darkcned threshold, as this
writer did on yesterday, TO see that bright
/ light had gone out; TO feel that darkness
had fallen on its inmates. There sat the
trusting wife who in sunshine and storm
had been his conrtant companion for thir-
ty-six years, feeling the keen anguish OF
her awful loneliness. There was dear sis
tor Wells, tho aged mo.hcr-in-law, past her
three score and ten years. who had ever
found In bro. Cockrell true and affection
ate son, feeling her sad bereavement; thero
were tho ncices Misses Hutchinson and
Aiorehead, all SO lonely; and yet, thank
God, not NIL alone, for enthroned in each
heart sits the Saviour of the world, tho
Christ that Bro. Cockrell loved aud served,
speaking the words OF comfort thut no one
else can speak. This writer has lost u
friend, and whilo ] would lay aHower on
his grave, l would tender to his loved ones
The sympathy Of a true friend.
B. i. PEihIJPS.