Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-07
MRS. GEORGE W. FINLEY,
Funeral and sketch of Pastors Wife.

These were the comforting worn
with which DR.. A. NJ. Fraser com
mepced the sweet and solemn funera
exercises of Mrs. Geo. w. Finley a
Thinking Spring last Friday.
AS had been anticipated in a brie
notice last week of the death of thi
lady. a large concourse of people gath
cred at the church. Rarely have 81
many peoule from far and near beeI
seen there on any occasion and never
more sad and serious congregatlon
rhe heartfelt sympathy of each ont
went out to their pastor and the tear
upon the cheeks of many showed tina
they sorrowed too with him in t6ei
loss of lovely and true pastors wife
who had been dear also to them. Kew
J. N. Vandeventer of Augusta church
DR.. w. n. Scott of the Second church
Rev. T. J. Thompson of Buena Vista
and Rev. G.. r. SJribling of Waynes
ooro, sat in the pulpit and assis tee
DR.. Fraser who conducted the services
and Rev. A II. Hamilton of Mt. Car
mel with Rev. J. Z. BallOu OF Craigs
vile, assisted in the concluding exer
cises at the cemetery. Besides thes'
ministerial brethren of DR.. Finley
there were two other ministers present
with the family, Rev. J. E. Booker
of Lexington, the youngest brother Of
Tue deceased, and Rev. w. G. White o.
Warm Springs, son-iu-law, whll'
Rev. E. A. Repass the Lutheran min
lister from Bethlehem church, and Rev
q. L. Altfather of Bethel, were In the
congregation, with many other devot
ed friends of DR.. Finley from Staun
ton and other points in this and ad
jacent counties.
The honorary pall-bearers were three
elders of Thinking Spring, Messrs. W
f. Brand, W. F. GilkesOn and f. M
Bell, and three deacons, M essrs. JOhr
Leonard, }. B. Patterson and A. H
McCue. But the precious remains
were tenderly borne to their last rest
Ing place by her devoted sons and
sons in-law, all of whom were present
viz: Augustus G. Finley and Robert
DALEY of Harding, W. Va. John B
Finley of Parkersburg, William Ed.
ward Finley OF Fairmont, DR.. A. l.,
Tynes of A ugusta, Edwin NJ. GilkesOn
of Parkersburg, and Rev. w. Z. White
of Warm Springs. All her daughters
were present also, Mrs. Cora W. Gil.
keson, Mrs: Margaret E. Tynes, and
Misses LuciIla Elliott. Martha Wat.
kins, and Virginia Ruth Finley, and
her brother-in-Iaw Judge Robt. DALEY
of Romney, and sister-in- law, Mrs. j.
E. Booker of Lexington. Besides those
named Mrs. Finley leaves two sisters,
Mrs. Nelia Dupuy of Roanoke and
Mrs. Robert Daley of Romney, w.
Va. StOnewall jackson camp, of which
DR.. Finley has been a member ever
since his removal to the county, as
well as an officer, and to whom they
have been frequently Indebted for re
union addresses, annual sermons, and
other timely services, manifested their
sympathy and appreciation by sending
a large delegation of comrades and a
handsome floral design. Among those
present were Commander n. Erskine
Gay. Lieut.. Com. }. IL. Waters. and
Comrades II. M. McIlhany, VIM. N.
Scott, J. A. Templeton, j. A. Fauver,
VIM. A. Freed, G. b. COiner, John
Leonard, Seth Timberlake, ThOs. ID.
Ransom, J. n. Mcfarland, 8. ID. Tim
berlake and L. q. Morton.
Miss Margaret Elliott Booker. the
E. Booker, was born at Charlotte @.
II. Va, April Z, 1910. She was there
lore nearly SO years old at the time OF
ner death, March 80, 1905. The writer,
who Was privileged to know her from
remembers her as a beauti
ful and attractive school girl in Lex.
Ington, Va, where she was member
after the early death of her mother, OF
the family of her aunt and namesake,
Mrs. Margaret E. Morton, and attend
ed the old Ann Smith Academy under
the tutilage OF the Misses Nottingham
at which excellent institution she WAS
ed ucated. She was much admired bY
the students of old Washington College
and the cadets Of the V. M. l., and
there met for the first time her future
husband, Mr.. George W. Finley, then
a bright student OF Washington Col
lege, where he afterwards graduated.
Tnis AGO uaintance Tipened into life
long affection, which resulted In their
marriage May 4th, 1859, at the fine old
country mansion, Greenwood, OF her
relative, MIR. VIM. B. Green in Char
lotte county, Va, where Miss Booker
was THEN making her home. The young
couple lived at the home Of Mr.. Finley
at Portora, near Clarksville, Mecklen-
burg Co., Va, until May, 1861, when
he enlisted IN the Confederate army,
leaving his young wife with his moth
er and sister MRS. Potts. where
through the long four years OF trial and
separation she remained, waiting his
return, but with loyal heart, like the
true Southern woman, unwilling to
call him home, even from the Northern
prison, till his duty was done. That
was trial as by fire. from which the
young wife and mother came. a mature
womanly woman, and received home
the worn, but unconqured soldier,
with no regret for the sacrifices they
both bad made in a just cause. Mrs.
Finley, i'll January, 1866. accompanied
her husband, a theological student, To
Union Seminary She and her children
remained with him at the Seminar
and il the family of her elder sister
Mrs. DR.. EggieStOn, near by, TILL he
completed his course. For two years
they lived at Gerrardstown and Bruce
town, while Mr.. Finley served the
churches of Bunker Hill. Smithtield
and Gerrardstown,w where she first Will
youthful enthusiasm entered upon th'
duties OF a pastors wife. But 1t Wal
during the % years of the passionate a
Romney, where they went in 1871, tina
her character developed into the ear
nest, devoted, sympathetic, help meet
that the hard worked mountain pas
tor anG his widely scattered peop
found to be ministering angel. Her
most of their IA children were born
I boys and girls. The good mothe
| mad her troubles too as. one after Tn
other, three of her sweet babes wer
taken, but she bore up bravely. KEEP
TO her work at home, in the churcl
and among her people, and 1t could b
truly said of her, as the ofhclatln'
minister quoted last Fridey: HE
children arse up and Call her blessed
her husband also, and he praiset
her. Those were the living witnesse
who as they sat around the flower COY
cred casket the other day. bore sllen
and fearful testimony to the inspire
words of praise for the dear departe
saint.
Since 1892, the devoted wife an