The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-02-16
I'M
MRS. ELIZABETH GAYLE DUKE.

Mrs. Duke was the only child Of
DR.. Elijah Weems and Mary Jane
Horrcll and was born in New Ma
drid, Mo-, Dec. l, 1913. In early
childhood she was deprived OF a
mothers care. She was reared by
her Aunt, Mrs. Rachel Horrell
Gayle, a woman Of beautiful char
acter and exalted principles and
eminent1y fitted to fill a mothers
place. Mrs. Duke was educated in
New Orleans, where Mrs. Gayle's
husband was in business. Her girl
hood was spent in New Orleans and
Missouri; she also spent some time
at Bladen Springs and Mobile III
which latter place she married Mr..
Duke, Aug. End, 1870. After this her
home was at Scooba, Miss. Five
children were born into this happy
home, four of whom survive her
Jack G. Duke, Mrs. Rachel Watts,
Mrs. Sarah Anderson and Miss Bet
tie Duke.
The life of this noble Woman a
better be understood by those who
know her than expressed by words.
The writer has known her for TWEEN
ty yearsr during this time many
changes came into her life, but she
was always the same true, strong
woman. Hers was a beautiful life
of service and Kindness to all. She
WAS ever considerate of the poor and
needy and ready to relieve the sick
and suffering wherever found. Her
ideals were lofty, her purpose firm,
her Judgment true and righteous, a
well rounded character. She was u
power for good in her church and
community and her home was the
center from which radiated this in
fiuence. She was faithful in every
relation of life. OF gentle and re-
firing disposition yet all were drawn
to her by her intrinsic worth. A
helpful, considerate,, unselfish wife,
she wasssolicitous of her husbands
welfare to the last, charging her
children concerning their father.
AS a mother her fidelity impressed
all. Her children were taught the
duty of service, of kindness and
courtesy to their fellow men. L re-
cali the words of a poef, neglected
woman who manifested much sor-
row at the death of a son Of this
home; with much feeling she told OF
his kindness and thoughtfulness to
her; though but q child of twelve
years he possessed many manly
qualities and christian virtues tes-
tifying to the faithful and e~easeless
| efforts to have him follow Jesus.
This child had attended prayer
meeting, returning home he was
taken i'll. When removing him
from one room to another, in the
| deIirium of fever which caused his
death, he thought his mother was
putting him to bed and asked to be
allowed to say his prayers; this
must have been a great comfort and
reward to the .bereayed mother. In
the training OF her children this
mother was careful to secure the
best advantages and inhuences-a
strong helper and supporter OF
teachers, she controlled her children
wisely and they became faithful,
dutiful pupils. 1t was beautiful to
see the Difference and affectionate
consideration of these children for
their mother.
Her usefulness in the church in
creased year by year. She didmuch
to train the young girls in church
work. The Kings Daughters
noble band of workers-was organ
lied and maintained by her for
years. In the Sunday School she
had a class of boys with whom she
long labored faithfully. They are
men now, six of them bore her to
her last resting place.
The..ordinary lessons of Providence
she readily mastered, but there were
some problems in her life for which
she needed the patient and special
instruction of the Great Teacher.
But at His feet the light of solution
dawned upon her soul. She had ac-
cess to that grace wherein she stood
and that hope through which the
love of God was shed abroad in her
heart. This love did not fail but
was clinging and faithful unto death.
Her last letters were to ask the
prayers for divine help for her loved
ones. A few days before her death
she wrote a message to a Maynard
boy who was then in the hands of
the law. If thus s~solicitous for those
she loved with earthly friends-how
much more ferventsmust have been
her prayers to the Friend of Friends
who loveth at all times and sticketh
closer than a brother. Her strong
and abiding love begat love inmany
friends who now mourn her depart
ure, but believe it is better for her to
be absent from the body and pres
ent with the Lord. The Gardener
planted and made beautiful this
flower and transDlanted il to adorn