Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-02-27

MANus JusrA MARQUIS.

The delicate tracery of the most facile
and gifted pens fails to portray in arts
tic lines the beauties Of . well-spent
life. In transcribing a memoriam OF
FRANCIS SKINNER, who passed away at
his home, = victim of double pneumonia
neal Memphis, Ala. on the 10th OF Feb,
1897, the writer feels this inability wit!
g~rievous and potent force. Mr.. Skin
ner was a South Carolinian, was born
in Darlington District, May ED, 1915,
came to East Miss. when hardly grown
and in his nineteenth year welded the
beautiful Miss Martha Belk, Two years
ago she died, and friends of the dullest
perceptions noted that life was changed
for him and the days were heightened
without her presence and association
Energy, persistence, and evenly bal
anced mind, cheeIfulness and kindness
were his forceful attributes. Mr.. Skin
ner was reared in the Methodist demon
nation, and in 1882 united with the
church at Hebron near his home. Cheer
fully and faithfully he supported her in
situations. being capable and ready as
sistant in every enterprise. No dream
of rationalism, realism nor skepticism
ever entered his heart, but with a full
acknowledgment of God as his Creator,
an acceptance of Jesus Us his Savior, and
an mistaken faith in the beautiful doc.
trine, II am the resurrection and the
life. - he felt the realism of those price
less truths when in his last illness he
looked to the meeting of his sainted wife
and sweet children. Mr.. Skinner was
fond of music and the songs that he sang
in his youth delighted him most. In his
pleasant home, his presence gave re-
newed zest to pleasures. His kind
th~oughtfulness of the pleasure of others
and utter forgetfulness Of self, made him
a prince of hospitality. He was patient,
sympathetic, neat and industrious, dis
playing considerable mechanical genius
and much Judgment i'll business, He
was a successful farmer.
Immediately after the war he moved
from. Noxubee county, Miss. to Pickens
county, Ala. Those were turbulent,
troublesome times, and Mr.. Skinner was
among the true and tried who stood un.
finchingly for the good of his communi-
ty and State.
His kindly care over his household,
his constant desire to arrange for their
comfort, prosperity and pleasure, his
buoyant, joyous nature all bespoke him
a fine and noble character, whose exam
pie is worthy Of study and imitation
Few such men haye lived, the kindness
in his heart was as conserved roses, and
the sympathy shown in the distress of
neighbors and friends viii linger in their
hearts as a sweet and blest memory as a
good citizen and a kind friend. Enco-
miums fall empty over such a life. In
his last illness he was nursed and soothed
by them whom he had reared, counseled
guided and loved. Friends gathered at
his bedside and every kindness was Of
fered and bestowed. His son, Mr.. K.
s. Skinner, and daughter, Mrs. W. S.
Deale, are his only surviving children.
He leaves three grand son and three
great grand children, all Of whom were
the recipients of his love and the joy Of
his life, Delicately sculptured, beauti
fully EMPOWERED, capped with immor
telles is the monument that he reared
with his own artistic shand. The in
scription is a rich heritage, greatest t.
be desired. precious and pure, chris
tened and sanctifed with the light o
heaven-a'good name!