The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-03-14
OUR CORRssPONDE NTs
CULLEOKA.
Death Of Three Aged and Most EstImabI.
Women.

Death of Three Aged and Most EstimabI.
Culleoka, March 1O.-Near the hour
of eleven ON Friday right. March Z,
1902. that beloved hand maiden of the
Lord. Mrs Martha Bell. fell asleep &c
awaken to eternal life with her Master.
To her watchers il was a gentle closing
of the eyes. hushing of the labored
breath. giving of that which God
denanded-to them twas death. To
her twas but passing from earth s
stony pathway, thro' the gate of pearl
to the street of shining gold, where
she might bear the palm she merited,
enjoy the perfect peace she sought.
For many, many years she had clamly
trusted in the Savior's grace. A more
complete Christian life we have never
known: nobler woman never lived.
Richly endowed with mental gifts and
all things that go To make up a fine
character. she filed great mission in
the world. No one came from her
presence but he was richer for the
going. The child had heart glad
dened by pretty picture or book. the
comfort or bunch of fresh flowers
q
poor and needy had such gifts as were
good for them, but best of all was the
sweet realization of the presence of
Jesus in the kind, generous woman
To saddened lives and homes she was
holy messenger on earth. On Satur-
day at one clock she was buried at
Friendship burying ground. in the
shadow of the little church where she
delighted to worship. She never moved
her membership from her church in
England, but worshipped freely with
all Christians, feeling the same presence
of her Christ everywhere. She left
behind her her husband, Mr.. Philip
Bell. her daughters. Miss Daisy. who
lives here Mrs. Pratt in st Louis,
and son and daughter in England,
besides a number of grandchildren.
There was strange coincident con-
nected with Mrs. Bells death and
burial While she was being buried,
death came to two of her best known
friends, Mrs. Mary Ann Shaw and Mrs
Charlotte Booker Smiser the ages of
the three differing very little.
Mrs. Shaw was q longtime member
OF the Baptist church, and generous,
loyal supporter of all its works. Those |
about her knew best her noble charac- |
ter, for her life was spent mainly in |
her own home. where duty called her. |
Sadly bereft of her only child and her |
husband, her last years were saddened, |
but the spirit of her Lord strengthened
her, and comforted her in her last long
illness. Her pastor Rev. Howse, con-
Quoted the funeral service at the resi-
dence Sunday afternoon. and the body
was placed beside the husband and son
in the family graveyard.
Neither was Mrs. Smiser's death I'M
expected. Long did her loved ones
follow with her thro' the pain, thro'
the anguish of the way, trembling in
the darkness as she passed into the
Eternal Day. Until age and affection
dimmed the beauty, she was perfect
type of intelligent cultured, christian
womanhOod, that impressed itself on
all who came in contact with her. 1t
made her revered in her own house
hold, where wife and mother were
given the willing homage due her.
Bereft of her husband a year ago,
there was an increase of love and
attention on the part of her children,
lit an increase were possible), and
while they couldn't ask that she be
left to suffer longer, they grieve for
the vacancy left in their hearts and
in the home. To the noble, stalwart
sons her beautiful life will always
be sacred influence to be treasured
and contemplated as the sweetest,
learest memory of their hearts. To
the only daughter. lying SO i'll. the
grief over the loss will be less poig
nant by the. memory of the bright
light of the mothers love in the years
past, the gentle words and example,
he sweet cOmpanionship, and her own
'ortitude in hours of adversely. The
burial service was conducted at the
rave by Rev. A. p. Walker and the
emains were placed by the grave Of
Ter husband, gentle hands covering
he cold clay mound with beautiful
fragrant flowers. Z
God grant that each of these three
,ood women let fall their mantles
pom others that may arise and take :,
heir places in the community. Z
Mrs. William Bruce came out from g.
pring Hill Thursday to see Mrs. Bell !.
Mr.. Nit Digger got the star route 4
FORK in the contest for the carriage of y
ne mail to and from Lewisburg. C
Mrs Matt Sheriff. and Miss Ruby =,
Wilkes are visiting relatives here. ~ :,
Mr.. Charley Williamson has been at - =.
ONE from Vanderbilt for little visit 0'
BARBARA. +,