Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-01-23
IN MEMORIAM.
Rev. DR.. SwindeII's Loving Tribute
to the Late Mrs. Siddie
Williams Smith,


The chronicles of the past hold
the record of many sad and seems
ingly premature deaths and of
young lives cut down at the
threshold of a promising and
happy future, when bright hopes
were entertained of them and
tender affections chung around
them.
Such was the subject of this
sketch. Siddie Best Smith, nee
Williams, was born in Greene
county, October IA, 1873, and
quietly passed out from this
earthly life. December %, 1895,
at the home of her aunt, near
Snow Hill.
Of her family on her fathers
side I Nm not in possession Of
any facts. On her mothers side
she came of one of the most
prominent, substantial and wors
thy families in the county. Her
grandfather Best was long inf1u-
entail both in Church and State,
and his children have succeeded
him in usefulness and devotion to
the Church.
Her mother died when she was
but eight months old, doubtless
leaving the precious babe with a
prayer of faith to the mercies Of
a covenant-keeping God, and to
the tender care of her sister, now
Mrs. Grant.
Under watchful and affections
ate training she grew to womans
hood knowing the loss Of a
mother only as fact of informa-
ton, for her aunt cared for he1
and loved her as if she were her
own child.
At an early age she was con
verted and joined the Methodist
church. She soon developed into
an earnest, active worker in the
Church, delighting in all things
that furthered the interests OF
Christ's Kingdom. Her pastor
found in her a ready helper, aid
ing him by her prayers, and en-
couraging him by her sympathy
and appreciation. He had nc
anxiety about her in reference tt
worldly amusements, for she was
too active and happy in Christian
work to turn aside to folly.
She was greatly useful in the
Church and in the community il
which she lived, and how much
the Church and Sunday school
was helped by her they vii
learn by sad experience. Hel
life was adorned by the swee
graces of the Spirit, the mos
prominent of which was love
Everybody seemed to love he
and she loved everybody" wa:
the testimony Of one who knew
her well. The law of kindnes:
was in her heart and mo unkine
word did she ever speak of an
other" was said Of her.
She was happily married OF
March IL, 1895, to Mr.. 4. L
Smith. All the lines Of the flu
; ture see ned to lie invitingly be-
fore her. But in the midst o
!, happy surroundings there cam
a message from the Lord, bidding
her to come up to higher AM
more abiding joys. The messen
ger found her prepared.
/ Peacefully as the summers da,
fades into night, gently as tn
evening wind goes to sleep on tn
bosom of the sea, she fell asleel
in Jesus. She quietly rests il
the dwelling place of the dead
and loved ones can write on he
t tomb: BLESSED are the dead VIII
die in the Lord"
The tomb holds it's treasur
only for a while. ''They that ar
ia the grave shall hear His voic'
and come forth" AS springtim
{ with her vestments of life all
| beauty follows the death AM
/ dreariness of winter; and as tn
golden glory of the morning sue
ceeds the darkness and silence O
the night, SO to those who slee'
in Christine unfading light an
glory of eternity shall follow tn
silence and repose of the grave
f Let those who mourn their los
be comforted by the assuranc
that to her death was gain, an
! to them is the hope of reunio
with her in the Fathers house
F. D. SWINDELL.
t GoldsbOrO. Jan. 81. 1896.