Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-06-16
Fitzgerald Weeps
Toll the bell softly,
Mother is gone"

Never, since that day when, with buoyant
spirits and countenances radiant with hope, the
colonists drove the first stakes amid the pines
which marked the present site of our fair city,
has Fitzgerald been possessed by such profound
and universal grief as at present. and all because
of the death of modest, unassuming old lady.
''Mother Enterprise is dead the mes,
sage which OccasiOned tears of deepest sorrow on
every hand and as the news became generally
circulated marked air of sadness became appar-
ent over the entire city.
The first shock of the news was so great that
no details were obtainabe for time but later, it
was learned that Mrs. Hall had been suddenly
stricken with heart failure at about $3.50 O'Clock
Sunday morning, and had passed away before
medical assistance could be obtained. She and
her son, Truman, were at their home on west
Oconee street and Mrs. Hall had arisen in about
her usual health and was preparing the morning
meal when she felt the attack coming on. The
son hurriedly summonsed q neighbor lady and
went for physician, but Mrs. Hall steadily grew
worse and in about thirty minutes, ere the physic
ian had arrived, one of the grandest of earth's
characters had passed into the great beyond
Mrs. Hall was native of Kentucky, her
maiden name being Nettie G. Crabb She
twice married, her first husband being a Mr..
Wiems, a union veteran of the civil war, by whom
she had one son. The husband dying soon after
the war; she later married Mr.. Cleveland T. Hall.
Deceased resided some years in Indiana and later
removed to South Dakota, coming to Georgia in
1895 among the very first of the Fitzgerald colo
nists.
Mrs Hall early became member of tie
Methodist church and thus began the develop
ment of christian character which has been re-
plete with works of love and mercy throughout a
long life. While tender and loving as child, she
was woman of strong mentality and naturally
took up literary work as one OF the few avenues
open for the exercise of womanly genius In
newspaper work and i'll the lecture field she at
once acquired reputation for marked ability, and
as persistent and tireless worker for the up.lift
of humanity she was the peer of any, in whatever
station
''Mother' Hall was never so happy as when
wageing merciless war on some form of vice, and
during her residence in Dakota did effective work
for the cause of prohibition, both with her pen
and on the platform, being regarded as no small
factor in the final triumph of the prohibition fore
es. And oh, how she gloried in the rout of the
rum legions and the establishment of prohibition
on the statute books Of Georgia!
During her twelve years residence in Georgia
she has constantly been engaged in newspaper
work, having owned and edited the Fitzgerald
Enterprise for a number of years, and been con
nected with it's staff since that time until quite
recently, when she accepted a position as local
editor of the Fitzgerald Leader. AS editor of the
Enterprise Mrs. Hall came to be known as 'EMOth-
er Enterprise, and hundreds of grateful hearts
today testify to the numberless works of mercy
and kindness of Mother Enterprise ~
Her only son was d railroad man and lost his
life in the line of duty and this will explain why
her great mother heart ever thrObbed in sympathy
with the craft and why cher railroad boys we're
the constant objects of her love and care When
cher boys' learned that her loving heart was
stilled forever there were scenes pathetic beyond
descripton-great, strong men shook with uncon-
trolabe grief and tears flowed freely from eyes but
seldom dimmed thereby. There could be but one
result from this and that was the idolzing of
Mother by all the railroad boys, any one of
whom would have rsked his life for her at any
moment They sought permission Of her son Tru-
man to assume full charge of the funeral arrange
ments, and when granted carried them out on
scale of grandeur surprising anything ever wit
messed in this section of Georgia.
The funeral was from the Central Christian
church, several ministers assisting. The Eastern
Star, of which order Mrs. Hall was beloved mem
ber performed it's ritualistc rites while Mrs. Lulu
B. Ryman on behalf Of the w. G. T. e., read a
most excellent and touching biographical sketch of
Mrs. Halls life
Mrs Hall was 63 years Of age, and is survived
by two adopted sons, Truman, who is well known
in this city having resided here with his mother,
and John Brewer of Thelma, Washington.
And thus goes out in a burst of glory life
which was conspicuous mainly for it's modesty and
constant devotion to that portion of humanity
fy0m whom the smiles of fate seem in measure
withheld
And who of us may not well envy dear, old
'tMother'' the glorious reward she has surely
earned 4