Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-25
THE LAST SAD RITES
Funeral Of Mr.. J. A. Williams
Yesterday Afternoon.
MANY PAY HIM TRIBUTE
NJ ssons, Policemen, Working M en- and Citi
zens In Ge n erat Attend the Obse-
0. quies. Beautiful Floral
Offerings.

Brawny armed workmen, Masons.
policemen and the citizens of Newport
News paid last loving tribute to John
Alexander Williams, the Christian.
gentleman and artisan, whose funeral
TOOK place yesterday afternoon from
Washington Avenue Methodist church
Not for many long day has the flu
neral of one man been SO largely at.
| tended as that of Mr.. John A. VIII
| liams. Long before the hour set for
lhe SAD rites people began to gather
| at the residence, No. 1l6 Twenty eighth
street to bestow one last look upon
| their dead friend. Peacefully he repos-
ed In magnificent casket half buried
neath floral decorations placed there
by loving hands. Men, women and
children came looked reverently on
the features of the dead man and 81
!ently glided away to make room for
others. Some fingered longer than 9TH
ers. They We're the mechanics at the
shipyard who had toiled many a long
hour by Mr.. Williams side, and as
they cast look upon the mortal re-
! mains tears clouded their eyes. They
had known him best. He was their
foreman. and they could appreciate his
true worth. his sterling manhood, his
kindly disposition. his sympathetic ma
ture- They knew he had been resolute
and firm and yet gentle and painstak-
Ing. That was why strong men stop
ped to drop tear on the coffin.
Al o'clock the funeral procession
was formed at the residence. The po-
lice force headed the column. Then
came the members of Bremond Lodge.
No. 241. "A. F. and a. NJ. members of
the common council, several hundred
Workmen and many citizens. The pro-
cession moved to Washington Avenue
Methodist church. Where a large con
course of people had assembled. Here
t1kAl doc. n ,,sf
George W. Wray. Of Petersburg, and
Rev. Bernard F. Lipscomb officiating
The services We're simple. being con
Quoted according to the custom of tbs
church. This was followed by the Ma
sonic ceremony. conducted by Worship
full Master John D. G. Brown. AT the
conclusion of the services the casket
was taken to the Chesa peake & Ohio
depot, where 1t was expressed to Oak
land, Cal. and when the westbounn
train moved out of the sation toward
the setting OF the sun In the western
sky the Masons and policemen an
covered their heads. Thus the last trib
ute of respect was paid to a good man.
Mr. Thomas NJ. Benson, representi:A
the Masonic fraternity, and Mrs. Rose
IA Williams mother of the deceased.
accompanied the remains.
Active-A1essrs. ]. L. Marye, Jr., and
+: NJ. Braxton. representing the Board
OF Police Commissioners: Messrs John
G. Livezey and w. J. helms. of WASH
Afessrs. w. H. Quigley and Elias Pey-
Ser. of Bremond Lodge, A. F. & a. NJ:
Councilman j. F. Doherty and Joseph
Webster, of the shipyard.
Honorary-Mayor w. A. Post, Judge
T. J. Barham. DR.. A. C. Jones, Alessrs.
L. B. Aianville. T. Dewitt Crane. ).
A. Willett, J. W. Davis and j. r.
Swinerton.
There was profusion of floral offer
tngs. The outfitter's department a the
shipyard, of which Mr.. Williams was
the superintendent. made two beaut,
full and appropriate offerings. The
first was an anchor about twenty
inches In length of exquisite yellow.
pink and white roses and maiden hair
fern. Across the bottom was the ap
propriate inscription:
OUR CHIEF.
The other was a representative OF a
bronze four-blade propeller about eigh-
teen inches In diameter and composed
of yellow and pink roses, burnt orange
astors and maiden hair fern the colorA
harmonizing so as to present the colo,
of a bronze propeller. This design wae
emhlematic OF Mr.. Williams lifelong
occupation.
One of the most beautiful designs
was the PILLOW of Rest a tribute of
the Royal Arch Masons. 1t was made
Of pink and yellow roses, Gala lilies
and rising from the back OF it was a
Noral design of the Masonic compass
and square. In a bed of white roses
IN the center of the pillow was the in
scription:
HOLINESS TO THE LORD,
MIR Williams was prominent in Y.
NJ. e. A. work and the tribute from
the association was an armfull Of
white roses tied with wide white rib
bon. I'll.
Mayor and Mrs. Walter A Post pre-
scented huge floral wreath, composed
principally of purple and white sweet
peas, white roses, maiden hair fern and
asparagus.