Smyrna times., 1902-12-24
DEATHOF MRS. ELIZABETH CALDWELL

Wife of the Late Rev. John Caldwell D. !
D., Passes Away at the Home ofHer
Daughter Mrs. v. s. Collins.
Mrs. Elizabeth Thurston Caldwell,
widow of Rev. John Fl. Caldwell, d.
D., died at the residence of her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Vaughan S. Collins, at AS
bury M. E. Parsonage, of this town,
Monday, December %, at 11.40 a. m.
after lingering illness from general
debility in the 77th year of her age.
Mrs. Caldwell was the daughter of
John and Elizabeth Tigner Hodnett,
an old Georgia family, and was born
August 6, 1926. At twenty years of age
she was married to Rev. Caldwell, who
at that time was a youthful, but prom
ising Methodist preacher. The union
was singularly happy one, as both
were mentally and religIously well
suited to each other. Adevoted Chris
tian from early childhood training, fit
ted her to be the wife of an itlnerant;
and her husbands work, she made her
own. Nine children blessed the mar
riage, seven of whom still survive:
Frank H. Caldwell, president of the
Cahill Iron Works, at Chattanooga,
Tenn. J. Hope Caldwell, lawyer of
extensive practice in New York /;
John H. Caldwell, a cotton broker in
Boston; William H. Caldwell, a civil
engineer in California; Mrs. Julia A.
Sherrett, of Berkley, California; Mrs.
Vaughan S. Collins, wife of the present
pastor of Asbury M. E. Church
Smyrna; and Miss Mary r. Caldwell
librarian of the Jacob Tome Institute,
at Port Deposit.
Example Of a True Wife's Devotion.
During tine dark days of recon
structiOn, when her husbands life was
in constant danger because of his unior
sentiments from the "Ku-klux" arc
kindred associations, Mrs. Caldwell
showed her courage by persistently
accompanying him upon his dangerous
missions; and once while he wal
preaching to the colored PEOPLE, sit
ting behind him as she was was in the
temporary pulpit, she saw a ruffian ain
a gun to shoot him. Quick as a fasl
she rushed in front of her husband tc
shield him with her body. Such was
her devotion in those troublous days.
During the later years of her life she
has been a confirmed and helpless in
valid. While stationed at st. Paul'i
Church, Wilmington, she was stricken
with a severe attack of paralysis. which
rendered her helpless, and from which
she never recovered. Although un
able to go out among the people of the
charges to which she was sent as haC
been her custom, yet her interest il
her husbands success, and in the worl
of the Church never tagged, while he
own religious life seemed to soar high
er than ever. As her hold on this lif
weakened it seemed to increase he
grip on the things beyond, until dur
ing these last monthes she SCENE,
more of heaven than of earth, an,
longed to be away and to te at rest.
Death Came Peacefully After Long Illness
After gradually growing weaker TO
twenty-three years, in September las
it was noticed that a decided chang
had come, and she was now obliged I
remain in bed. The last three month
has been one continued struggle wit
death. Nurse, physician and friend
have been amazed at the vitality e.
, hibited. The last eleven days ha'
, been days of extreme darkness, I'll
darkness of Inconsistencies, with o.
ly occasional CLEANS of light for fe
minutes at time. The last three da,
were those of total eclipse with out
!. ray of light. Yet the end came peac
fully, quietly, without a struggl
The saint slipped out from the affiiC
ed body to awake in the land of endle
light. She had proved sat evenil
time it shall be light"
The funeral services were held Ii