The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-04-29
in MemOriam.

TIE following obituary notice from
the pen OF Rev J. L. MichauX, Of
Greens boro, appeared in Our Church
Record, last week:
Mrs. Leila Whitaker Harris, wife Of
Rev. W. l.. Harris OF the North Carolina
Conference of the Methodist Protestant
church, died at the Stallings hotel, En-
field, y. c., April 9th, 1897, in the 41st
year of her age She was daughter of
the late Ferdinand H. Whitaker, and his
surviving wife, Mrs. Lou Whitaker, OF
" hitakertOwn, and was reared amidst
the quiet and peaceful surroundings SO
characteristic of that well known com
munity From the date of her CONVEX
sion in early girlhood until the day OF
her death her name stood on the mem
bership roll at Whitaker's Chapel, in
whose beautiful cemetery, on April 9TH,
her body was laid to rest with the burial
service Conducted by Rev. E. f. Rose, OF
the NJ. f. Church, South, Hooking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious ap-
pearing OF the great God and our Savior
Jesus Christi
The deceased was married to Rev. ".
l.. Harris on the 1G OF January, 1889,
and at once entered upon the arduous
duties of an itnerant's wife, which she
discharged with singular credit and sue
cess, carrying with her in every commu
| nifty in which her lot was cast genial
| spirit and resolute frmness of purpose
| which made her favOrite in her sphere
Of life
From the beg inning her health was
never good, yet, being possessed with
unusual fUrtitude and will power, added
| to a firm faith in God, it was not until
| the early spring of 1896 that complete
| failure OF her health Grom tuberculosis)
| began to excite the alarm of her friends,
| who removed her to Chase City, Va.
with the hope that the medicinal waters
of that place would prove beneficial.
This hope, however, was realized only IN
part, for although some Improvement
Was dscOverable, it was not permanent.
| Her home being then at Enfield, it was
| fondly hoped that change to the upper
and mountainous portions OF the State
| might have a favorable influence; and
this was tried, the Annual Conference of
1896 assigned Bro Harris to the Surry
circuit, near Pilot Mountain. Here the
winter was spent, and the patient grad
ualy weakened under the disease, SO
| that, as the last resort Of u forlOrn hope,
| she was conveyed to st. Luke's Hospital,
Richmond, Va, where she spent two
| weeks, but this failing, she returned to
| Enfield, where, surrounded by scenes ia
miiar and attended by dear friends, her
! gentle spirit fiuttered loose from it's clay
and assembled to God.
Our deceased sister had Ell Dyed the adj
| vantages OF sound culture under the best
| teachers in private schools near home,
and was subsequently pupil in the ia
nous school OF the Misses LpScOmbe,
in Georgetown, b. C., and after that she
F. became il teacher herself, but in what
| places, and for how long We are not ad-
vised In her home church at Whitaker s
| Chapel. she was eminently faithful, and
| in the Sunday school, in which she took
| a deep interest, she did most efficient
work which will long bear testimony to
| her honor.
She leaves to mourn her absence, be-
sides a devoted husband and two little
| girls of two years and six years respect
lively, a widowed mother, three sisters
and seven brothers. She was the first OF
| the eleven children to follow their hon
| ored father, Ferdinand II. Whitaker,
| Senr., who departed in the early days OF
last Autumn for the home in heaven, to
which blessed Inheritance she is now
gone. AS daughter, sister, wife, mother,
| church member, neighbOr, friend, who
| that knew her can remember aught in
which she was wanting? Only the grace
| our Lord Jesus Christ can enable those
| who must miss her most to say, in the
spirit of meek submission, "Thy will, G
| Lord, be donr.' J. l.. NJ.