The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-17
Wednesday, April II. 1907.
Death of Mrs. Sue Barksdale.

Death of Mrs. sue Barksdale.
After a brief illness Of pneumonia Mrs. Su
san Ann Barksdale, OF this vicinity, died last
Saturday night. April ID. 1907. She was bur.
led at Long Cane in the presence OF a great
multitude Of friends. Dr.. Neville conducted
the religious services.
The story of Mrs. Barksdale's career would
make a narrative which would read
more like a romance than a recital OF facts
Her life has been marked by happiness, by
disappointment, and by a constant activity
that never tired nor rested. She exhibited
activity in childhood, and the energy Ct
after years attested her usefulness and
her goodness of heart.
Her hand was sought in marriage by many
lovers, and she was three times al the maj
rlage altar, and three times she was called to
bury her hearts best beloved. A strange ia
tally seemed TO follow her. But for all that
she kept a brave heart and never gave up IL
repining.
She was, perhaps, the only woman In Able
willie count who was married three times,
and yet lived the greater part OF her lie b
widow.
She was the only woman In Abhe Vile coun'
ty to write and publish a book Of the Incl
dents and heart affairs OF her own lie.
She was the only woman 10 compound
medicine, for which great merit Was claimed
She was the only woman In the county to
take the road to sell any medicine.
She is, perhaps, the only woman, aftt ]
reaching three score and ten years, through
her own exertions to pay off a mortgage CT
her farm.
Although paralyZed after reaching old age
she, instead of whining, went to work with
renewed energy and accumulated q comps
tency.
When she was young she was notable foi
her beauty, and in manner she was most al
t~ractive. In old age she was courageous. II
her last illness she made a brave fight for life
and she never lost faith in her recovery t.
live q hundred years, but she lost out; she IL
now with the spirits beyond the River.
The Press and Banner OF May, 1888, made
the folio wing announcement:
Mrs. Sue A. Barksdale. Her serious afl!c-
ton. A life OF usefulness lin the past. Mrs
Sue A. Barksdale, widow OF the late B. D
Barksdsle, was brought bone q few evening".
ago partially paraly Zed. Mrs. Barksdale Is q
very remarkable woman. anu the history O,
her life work would furnish the foundation
Tor a story which would be OF great Interest
and would touch any heart. In her younger
udJb II " 10 iiSh IL LhIo o HOOOo, u
her personal beauty gave her a power and 0
charm among her associates which was re-
markable. All her lie she has been imbued
with the idea that she had q mission TO pei
form and that she must do good to The poor
and all suffering humanity. She was mar
ried three times, but she has been q widow
the greater part Of her life. Her home has
ever been the asylum and refuge OF orphan.
and the poor, and her great life work has been
the training and education Of orphan chill
dren. She gave TO all, not only her persona
TAMIL hnt Eho nSnnnHnG rNNnrp IN b
rearing OF the helpless, and she now has lht
consciousne ss OF knowing that she has done
good al her Own financial cost. Havir e speDI
the greater part Of her life 10 caring Tor iiIti,
children, she Is now under the hand OF :fflu-
ton, and u Is hoped that IN bier feeble cuudi-
ton she " Ill have no cause 10 regret her gen D.
eroeity In former years. She went 10 speno
and while ON Broad street 1 that city heI az
Fiction came"
In the last chapter in the career OF d lonl
and useful life, we find these sentiments II
Mrs. Barksdale's own words:
Some OF my unworldly frieud Dis Furthermore,
have expressed the apprehension t6At l all
becoming worldly minded, that I think to,
much about The value Of a dollar. l have
been about the world euongh to learn ID
value OF money. The helpless, moDeyl.ss VI
fortunate Is 10 be Pulled above all Others. ~.
prosperity friends abound. In adversely The,
cannot be found" I would rHlher die u hun.
dred deaths than TO be a helpless Invalid d.
pendent ON the bounty OF friends. Durint
my travels l have met with strong hodieU
men and women, with some aiiI ht y ftlicIi0i
begging from door TO door. Though u crippl.
l have TOO much spirii TO beg from any man.
and often do l refuse to accept protfered cnaI-
ity. While God continues TO me The use o
body and mind ! prefer 10 make my ownisuI-
port. To do this II Is necessary to take cait
OF what l make. By doing this and 10y extr.
clsing good business sense, by strong will
power and untiring Industry i have lived al
my owp expense. have redeemed my proper
nate needy, and have helped others mucl
stronger than myself BY making and TAX
ing care OF money L have so improved my d
nancial status, Than If rendered unable t'
make another dollar ! could live the remain
der OF my days without asking money from
any one. This I have been able to accom-
plish, chiefly since receiving the stroke OF pa
ralysis. / have aeen many come 10 wan
through wastefulness, indoIepce, or the fall
ure TO appreciate the value of money. l pre-.
fer to work. take care OF my earnings, live n
dependeptly and have plenty.
Notwithstanding ali my SORROWS and tri..l
and Gil the sin and wickedness 1 have seen II
my long lille, l am not soured on The world. |
take a bri BIT view Of life.
In the Introductory Of her work, she says OF
herself:
My lie has been 8 very remarkable one, ant
many and varied are The experienced through
which l have passed. Al the age o. eight ]
was LETT without a father, AMI In later Year.
the care and support OF my . fhtcted mothe,
ucNOlNou upon me. WlLQlD q period OF ten
years l was three times married and my pres
emit covers at This time q score Of
years. A stroke of paraly Sis six years ago.
which my friends thought would result IL
death, disabled my right side and deprived
me entirely Of the Use of my right hand. Yet
after q partial recovery l 60 where / please,
with the aid OF q orutch, write and sew With
my left hand and earn as much money as the
average man. Since my affection l have sup
ported myself. paid Of the mortgage on my
property and contributed TO the comfort and
support Of others. l have suffered much, bui
have enjoyed rich blessings. My life has
been q conspicuous Illustration of Gods love
and providentisl care, and In all the years OF
my chequered existence I have been sustain
ed by Him whose compositions fail not.
Much OF my life has been devoted to The care
OF others. ] have reared orphan children.
visited and relieved the sick and endeavored
TO make my life a blessing to humanity. !
DO not claim 10 be perfect, but I know that
with the help and blessing Of God 1 have
done much good.