The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-12-07
A Gentle Spirit Called Beyond.

A Gentle Spirit Called Beyond.
Mrs. Maggie Sue Sibley, aged forty
one years, eldest daughter of the late
Lieut.. John j. and Mamie (Caldwell)
Meares, a native of Bossier Parish, died
at five O'Clock Monday morning at her
home in this place and her remains were
laid-to rest Tuesday in the Sibley old
family burial place, some miles east,
Rev. McClain of Belcher conducting the
funeral service.
During February, 1887, the deceased
was united in marriage with Mr.. William
R. Sibley, also native Of Bossier Par
ish and member of large and influen-
tial family. AS result of this union
there were six children-Lucille, Aileen,
Curtis, John, Mamie and William-al1 of
whom survive her. She is also survived
by her grandmother-Mrs. Margaret
(CochreD Caldwell, one sister and two
brothers-Mrs. Berta M. Wyche, Will
liam C. and John J. Meares- and large
number of other relatives.
Mrs. Sibley was prominently con-
nected and her grandparents were among
the pioneer settlers of the parish. Mr..
Thomas j. Caldwell, her grandfather,
was member of the Constitutional Con-
vention of 1868, and her father enjoyed
an enviable record as gallant Confed-
crate soldier and officer. Both were
men of mark locally and numbered their
friends by the score.
Another friend and neighbor has been
taken from us. A noble Christian wo-
man, whose ties in our midst were un-
numbered, whose love was unbounded,
and whose succor to friend and the
needy was measured only by the scope
of physical endurance and resources has
answered the call of Death and crossed
over that mystic border into the great
beyond. A sister is deeply grieved, a
grandchild is forever lost here on earth
to devoted grandparent; mothers
place is vacant-a mothers love is
keenly missed-a mothers voice is
hushed until that day Of the resurrec-
tion-a mothers eyes are closed in
death and sweetly she sleeps under the
sod of quiet country burial place where
the pines softly murmur throughout the
seasons and in spring sweet flowers and
creeping vines spring up to lend theil
charm and fragrance to the spot. Sc
surely as will the birds linger near hel
grave to chirp their carols to Heaven
so surely as the violet and the wild rose
will grow around her grave in homage te
a sweetly lived life, so surely as the
soft south winds of summer will whisper
messages DER this spot from loved ones
left behind, as surely do we. feel tina
an all-wise Creator has gathered he
spirit into His sheltering arms. There
she awaits the coming of friend AMI
neighbor, sister and brother, grand
mother and children.
How sweet the thought! and indeet
how sad to contemplate the thought o
never having known a mothers love. 4
mothers love is the purest thing, tn
sweetest thing and the most enduring
thing on earth. To one who has neve
known such love our heart goes out il
sympathy. These six children, no,
both fatherless and without mother
knew the true love of a mother and to
day they appreciate the depth of it "a
never before. You have not lost tina
love, fond ones, for sacred in your heart
you cherish it. 1t is enduring. Their
is in heart always mothers love and
will in after life be your greatest solac
in time of affection. You have only los
her presence here on earth. In this 20
have our deepest commiseration. S
, live that you will all some day be gath
: cred around that great White Throne
All things happen for the best, and re
member that "God tempers the wind
, the shorn lamb"