The Washington bee., 1910-12-03
Death Of A Heroine
Laid to Rest in Payne's.


Some few days ago one of the old
est and most remarkable characters
of the Negro race passed into the
beyond. Way back in the dark days
when the conflict ragged hot between
those trying to retain slavery and the
other side believing that slavery
should no longer exist, the contra
bands fiocked into this city from
Maryland and Virginia, and were
cared for in the camp at 10th and K
streets. Here, too, were many wound
ed soldiers-bOys in blue. An angel
of mercy wandered up and down this
camp, preparing food, binding up
wounds, pouring in the oil of sympa-
thy, taking a last thought to be deliv-
cred to some loved one at home,
wiping off the death-dampened brow,
lowering the head and offering up a
last prayer, was Mother Daphney
Whitlow. When Freedmans Hos
pital was opened, she went from the
camp to continue her good work She
remained IN active service in the hos
pital until about 20 years ago, when
old age compelled her TO stop. She
had so endeared herself to all, and
done such good work, both as All
army nurse and a hospital nurse, that
she was sheltered in Freedman's and
cared for as tenderly as though she
was an infant All honor TO the ply
sicians and nurses who took such ex-
cellent care of this great woman.
Last Thursday, at 1926, the messen-
ger came and called her home, at the
ripe old age OF II2 years. DIR. War
field notified Mrs. Julia Mason Layton,
secretary of Department of Potomac
Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to
the Grand Army of the Republic
Mrs. Layton notified Mr.. Hawkins
senior deacon of Vermont Avenue
Baptist Church, who, in the name oi
her church, sent for the body. Mother
Whitlow had been a member OF the
Baptist Church for over 90 years
Mrs. Layton was present at Lincoln
Womans Relief Corps (white), or
Friday night, and announced the
death of this army nurse. Mrs. Street
of that corps, came forward and gave
Mrs. Layton a bill, and asked that {
floral tribute be purchased and placed
on her casket. Mrs. |. w. Ball. OF tht
same corps, presented to Mrs. Layton
a large flag to wrap Nurse Whit!ow
casket in, and let her be buried with
the Stars and Stripes.
The Young Peoples Shining Star
Club, Mrs. Mary Sewelk president
and the Missionary Society, Mrs
Maria Bias, president, assisted tn,
church financially in giving Mothe
Whitlow a Christian funeral. Sh,
having no relatives at all, these two
societies followed the corpse a
mourners. The church was packed Il
overflowing The choir was at it
best. Rev. ]. Anderson Taylor, as
sisted by RevS EnOCh Harris, GeOTgt
w. Brent, P. Barton, D. Wisemai
and s. P. Drew, paid high tributes Il
this aged warriOr-especlally DR.
Wiseman, who had known her in tn,
hospital for about 80 years. Mis-:
Florence Roots read an eulogy from
the church and club. 1t was an i'm
posing sight as the body was con
veyed in the church Miss Ami,
Grinnage, president of o. P. MOrto!
Corps, Miss Julia B. Collier, Mrs
Mary Douglass, of the same corps
and Mrs. Frances Frelinghuysen, o
Chas. Sumner Corps, on invitation o
Mrs. Layton, served as color bearers
and carried handsome silk flags a
half mast. They preceded the corpse
Mrs. Layton followed, carrying tn
flag and floral tribute tied with tn
National colors. At the close of tn
euIogy in behalf of the old soldier
and Woman's Relief Corps, the laj
was wrapped around the caSket
Other beautiful floral tributes from
the doctors and nurses, etc, restet
on the flag. In the audience wer
DR.. Warheld and little son, the De
partment president and members o
the staff, Miss Jordan, Mrs. Collie
and Green, and others members of TIL
Relief Corps. Under crossed flag
this immense audience passed aroun
to gaze for the last time upon tina
battle-scarred heroine and Negr
army nurse Peace to her ashes.