The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1907-11-28
An Appreciation of Mrs. RoXanna
Elizabeth Cole
ITO live IN hearts we leave behind
Is not to die"
By E. q. R.

In the beautiful sunset of long
eventful, and honored life, Ms
Roxanna Elizabeth Cole passed
peacefully away on Sunday night,
Nov. II, 1907.
Mrs. Cole was born twelve miles
southeast of Nashville, Tenn, near
the village of Nolansville, Aug. 3,
1925. Her father died when she
was six years of age, and her child
hood was spent with her widowed
mother near Franklin, Tenn. She
was educated principally in the
schools of Franklin and Columbia,
and III her journal speaks of the
time as "a beautiful and grateful
memory.
On Nov. %, 1912 she was hap
PLY married to Mr.. William Rus
sell Cole of Ripley, Miss. Here
she made her home for thirty eight
years, until 1880, when she moved
to Colorado. In 1888 her family
came to Conway, Ark. where she
resided the remainder of her life.
After the death of her husband
she made her home with her son,
Mr.. w. D. Cole, of this city.
Mrs. Cole was typical Southern
woman of strong character, bril-
liant intellect, cultivated mind
and kind, loving heart. She was
an artist by nature, and her intense
love of the beautiful manifested
itself in every act of her daily life.
After she was sixty years of age
she took up with peculiar interest
and enthusiasm the work of max
ing rag dolls, and SO beautiful and
artistic were her creations that she
became famous as the Rag doll
maker of Arkansas, and her dolls
were sought for and sold i'll almost
every land.
Mrs. Cole was the first president
of the Robert E. Lee Chapter, U.
D. c. of Conway, and at the time
of her death was vice president oi
the same. She attended with
great enjoyment the annual con-
vention of the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy held last month
in Little Rock and was a promi-
nent and distinguished figure.
She especially enjoyed her visit tc
the Confederate Veterans Home.
A collection of quilt scraps for the
wives of the veterans was founo
in her room after her death.
Mrs. Cole was a woman of exten'
sive travel in her own country
She attended all the great exposi'
tions and worlds fairs, and il
her latter years was fond of max
ing sudden trips away from home
by herself. No harm ever befel
her. When her friends expostula
ted with her she would answer: 81
do not worry-read Psalm 81, yer
ses Io-II-I2 Her trust in hel
Heavenly Father never faltered
and sne looked forward to death a:
the open door to a journey into {
beautiful land where all would bs
we'll.
Though she did not consider
herself sufficiently orthodox tt
unite with any church, she was o
deeply religious nature and iel
intensely on spiritual subjects
Here is one of many beautiful quo
tations from her journal dated 1885
Gods plans like lilies pure anC
white, unfold,
We must not tear the close shu
leaves apart;
Time will reveal the CalyXes O.
gold,
And, if through patient toll we
reach the land
Where tired feet, with sandal:
loose, may rest,
When we shall clearly know ane
understand,
| think that we Will say; Go(
knows the best.
The art of being kind wa
one O; her characteristics. Away:
bright, cheerful and loving, sh'
was generous and true to he
friends, a devoted mother and ;
faithful tender wife.
She was not old though
Time had set
His signet on her brow. y
Her beautiful snowy hair wa
but an aureole of glory about he
lovely face.
She was the mother of five chill
dren, four of whom survive her