The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-10
AN OLD-TIME "MAMMY."
The Tender Regard With which She
Was Laid to Her Last Rest


Was Laid to Her Last Rest
Athens, Ga, Oct. 9.-Caroline Cary
Holt, faithful old black NANNY"
who has lived in Athens for the past
So years, died yesterday morning at
Cedar Hill, the ante-bellum home of
Mrs. Martha Atlanta Lumpkin Comp
| ton.
This old negress was a we'll known
inquire in Athens. Not only on account
Of her being a typical character of the
slave regime, but also from the fact
that since her birth she had been de-
voted servant of the lady for whom the
city OF Atlanta was twice named.
Mrs. Compton is the daughter of the
late Gov. Wilson Lumpkin, who was
Governor of Georgia during the early
years of Atlanta's existence In the
early forties it was decided to change
the name of that village which was
then known as Terminus Mr. Mitchell
VINO owned the greater portion of the
land upon which Atlanta now stands,
wanted to name the place Lumpkn,
but Gov. Lumpkin would not hear to
It, They were determined to compli-
ment Gov. Lumpkin and so they named
it Marthasville, after his daughter
of the event Mr.. Mitchell gave Miss
Lumpkin two lots, where the Kimball
House now stands, in Atlanta, which
were disposed of in a few months at
what was then considered a fair price.
In due course of time the town out
grew the name of MarthasVile and it's
name was changed to Atlanta. BY the
merest coincidence, the middle name of
Mrs. Compton was adopted
~ 70
Compton has lived at her home, "Ce-
dar HILL" her only companion being the
faithful old negress who died yester-
day morning. Aunt Puss," as Mrs
compton always called her, is the fifth
generation of her people in the Lump
kin family. Five generations back her
ancestor was brought from Africa, and
became the slave of the ancestor of
Mrs. Compton. Many, many years
ego number OF the darkies in this
family belonged to the celebrated Carys
or virginia. The ancestors of Aunt
Puss" came down. generation after
generation, in the Lumpkin family I'M
I'll Aunt Puss' representing the fifth
generation, the last before the aboli-
ton OF slavery, became the property of
Mrs. Compton. Aunt Puss" was sc
years of age at the time of her death.
When she was but two years of age
she was given to Mrs. Compton, who
raised her and was always warmly at
tached to her, shes being her favorite
slave. When the slaves were freed
Aunt Puss" refused to leave her mis-
tress, and for nearly forty years since
that time has been her constant COM
panion, attending to her every want
with that beautiful. fidelity that marked
the old time black nanny"
Aunt Fuss" was a typical ante-bel-
lum darkey. She had no use for the
new tangled ways of the modern ne
gro. She was brought up in a differ
emit school and steadfastly adhered to
the old customs and the old rules.
The funeral of aunt Puss' was con-
Quoted yesterday afternoon at the Col
ored Baptist church on Broad street.
quite number of white friends being
present. Perhaps the most sorrowing
mourner present was the aged lady de-
scendant of one of Georgia's most illus
trious families. who knew better than
any one else the sterling worth and
tender heart of the old negro woman.
whose funeral was being conducted.
Inc colored preacher, during the course
OF his remarks, took occasion to nav
beautiful tribute to the noble woman
who for more than three score wears
had been so warmly attached to her
faithful old servant. At the conclusion
OF his remarks Prof. David C. Barrow.
OF the University of Georgia, a relative
OF Mrs. Compton, arose and in a most
appropriate manner, paid a graceful
tribute to the old family servant, who
represented in her life a class of ne
groes now fast disappearing
The remains of Aunt Puss' were in
TERED in the colored cemetery. and in
the procession that followed them tc
their last resting place were a number
of the prominent white citizens of
Athens.