The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-05-28
MISS MARTHA MERRIAM.
Tribute to Beautiful Young Woman
Whose Death Occurred Lately.

The Chattanooga, Tenn, Times Of
May q. contains the following report
of the sudden death of Miss Martha
Merriam which occurred at her home
in that city Tuesday. May Is:
One of the saddest funerals of re-
cent years in Chattanooga was that
of Miss Martha Merriam. which took
place yesterday at the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. |. B. Merriam,
on Vine street. The news of Miss
Merriam's death, after an illness of
less than two days, was an inexpressi-
bic shock to the community Al
though she had contracted a heavy
cold last week, with characteristic I'M
selfishness she made no complaint of
feeling i'll, and as late as Monday
morning was about the house as US
ual. Then for the first time forced to
give up she yielded to her suffering
and consented that a physician be
summoned. But it was too late. The
weakened system was unable to with
stand the malady. and lungs and
heart both succumbed TO the strain.
When she herself realized Tuesday
morning that death was near. she pit
eously begged her parents and the
physicians to save her.
i don't want to die" she said to
her weeping mother, and that mother,
knowing that the end must come,
could only reply that there was hope
in Jesus and they must ask him to save
her. AS she took her mothers hand
the dying girl whispered:
ftT mt NV truct in him 1ouo oo
Those who knew her best say that
Martha Merriam's life was one of the
sweetest and most unselfish. Popular
and admired as she always was in
society. her social success did not
spoil her, and it was in the home that
she was ever at her best. The only
daughter. the relationship between
her and her mother was peculiarly
close and tender To her four broth
ers she was almost a sweetheart, and
she Was never SO happy as when plan
ming for their comfort and pleasure.
The bereaved family have. in large
measure, the deep sympathy of the
community in which her passing will
leave sense of personal loss in many
hearts
The funeral services were in charge
of her pastor Dr J. C. Massee, who
was assisted by the Rev. j. A. Baylor,
of the Centenary church, and by the
Rev. Howard l. Jones, former pas
tor of the First Baptist church. Dr.
Baylor read the scripture lesson and
offered prayer.
DR.. Masses remarks were espe-
cially appropriate and sympathetic
He spoke in touching language of the
dead girl and of the loss her death
would be to her family and friends
But he pointed out the fact that death
is not all-powerful. 1t cannot take
from US, he said, the memory of those
who have gone before, nor can it de-
Stroy the soul the real self And as
he looked upon that beautiful body, |
lying in the casket with a smile upon |
the face. the speaker said he could |
not but feel that death was also pow
erless to do real harm to our physical |
part. The closing prayer was offered |
by Dr. Jones.
r was rendered by the quartet I
choir of Centenary church, Mrs. A. S. |
Dickey. Miss Wauneta James. Mrs. L. |
b. Hatcher and Mrs. NJ. S. Relfe. The |
three hymns sung were: Sometime :
Well Understand, +" Il Cannot Always |
See the Way and Just a Little |
While" The casket, as it was borne |
to the cemetery, was completely hid |
den in the many beautiful flowers I
sent by sorrowing friends here and in /
neighboring cities
Interment was in Forest Hills.
The pallbearers were c. NJ. Willing
ham. Charles Hall, Leon Bailey, Wal
ter Mills, Ulrich tia and Charlton
Howell.