Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-02-17
Death of W. E. Cross.
Editor News:

Give us space. please, that we may
pen to the public the death of ouI
friend and brother, w. E. Cross. who
departed this life Feb. 10th. 1910. at
about two O'Clock, p. m. Willie, as
he was known by all who knew him,
was born, Jan. 20, 1872, and had liv.
ed 80 years, and 81 days when the end
came. Ye writer has known Bro.
Cross for 81 years-from his very boy
hood days to his death--so this is why
| wish to speak of him. Willie was a
good boy. None excelled him as an
honest, good boy. When he became a
man he was manly man, and all who
knew him say the same. He lived by
his labor. He was laborer in the
great vineyard of the Lord To know
Bro. Cross was to love him and his
every day walks. Bro Cross came to
his death suddenly. but. thank God he
was not killed instantly. He was run
over by car, crushing both legs from
which he suffered but about three
hours. am so proud of his testimony
OF the great beyond.
He prayed to live until his father,
Bro. A. Cross, could come to his bed
side and be there to witness the dark
hour, as he said, "It's getting dark
and am dying" Then he was, in
answer to his prayer, face to face with
bis father. He called him and said, II
was so afraid that you would not get
here. l want you to promise me you
will take care of Lizzie, my life
companion. An answer was given
in the affirmative, and then he brave
~ faced the last enemy of man, death.
He said, Papa, it's getting dark, | am
dying. hate to leave you all but
had dream last night. l dreame of
mother, and with his hand in his
fathers, said, 81 will soon be with
mother, it will soon be over and
shall see her, How sweet these
words are to me Oh, how much COM
fort they must be to the father, wife
and three sisters surviving him, to
know that while dying and realizing
his condition as he did, he so bravely
met the monster, Death, with such |
calmness, In these thoughts find so
much comfort for myself.
Bro Cross passed away as one of |
old, and I wish to say the people will |
AMI do deplore the loss, that not only |
the wife and father and 81 ster, but |
the country at large sustains great |
loss, and his church has lost much by |
bis death. There is a vacant chair |
that cannot be filled, but at the right |
hand of God our brother dwells.
How hard it is to give up Bro. Gross,
but how consoling to us it is to have
the noble character left with us that
appears to us reckoning hand and
we hear in our imagination the words,
Look unto Him that has the grace
for the whole world to die
and cross over the river that Bro.
Cross said was dark, but he was not
afraid to cross over. Thank God for
our eyes having seen and our ears
having heard what they witnessed at
bis bedside.
Mrs. Gross, my sister, you should be
consoled because of the
noble words said by Bro. Cross. Oh,
how tender were the words, Papa,
will you look after Lizzie? do hate
to leave you all but must. There
is mountain of thought to one who
saw his expression. Bro. Cross, all we
need is the same grace from the same
God that Willie served and then, when
the time comes, we can lay aside
worldly things, as our son and brother
did, and go bravely before the great
Judge of the soul of man, so let me
say, dry away all tears and look up to
that reckoning hand of our husband
and son and say, BLESSED be the name
If God, for he never takes but what he
gives. God gave Us Willie and be
has taken him to rest. that sweet.
blessed rest that awaits the people of
God.
May the sunshine of sweet deliver.
ince ever show its light on wife, faith
n and sister who are left to mourn his
oss. Willie, we weep not for thee,
or the bright saying dries away our
ears and causes us to look to him that
,ives the grace
j W. MORRISON.
Whitwell, Tenn Fb. II, 1910.