The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-10-24
Mrs. Elizabeth j. Brown.

Halifax. N. c., Oct. 1.-the death
of Mrs. Elizabeth J. Brown, relict
of the late John N. Brown, at her
home here last Friday morning at 5
O'Clock, has cast deep gloom over
this community and left vacant
place that cannot be filled.
Mrs. Brown was the daughter of
Thomas Spratley Simmons and wife,
Louisa, of Sussex county, Virginia,
but had lived here forty-fve years
with her husband, who settled here
soon after the war closed, and until
his death was engaged in the drug
business.
Mrs. Brown was one Of the most
lovely characters and did more kind
deeds and acts of charity perhaps
than any lady that has lived here in
a hundred years or more. There is
hardly a man or woman. white or
black, in the town who has not in
some way received some act of kind
ness or came word Of encourage
ment or counsel, or words of conso-
lation in time of sorrow or bereave-
ment from her. Her life was an
open book to the world and we VEN
ture the assertion that not many, if
any, ever heard her speak i'll of her
neighbor. She had the desire al
ways to see the good in every one
before commenting on the bad.
The doors of her home were al
ways open to her friends, and hers
was a home at any time for the
preacher who evea delighted to rest
under her roof. There are doubt
less many preachers now IN the
North Carolina Conference who will
bear witness to the fact that she
was noble and inspiring woman,
and lent help and encouragement
when and wherever needed, and
there are many pastors who have
server this work here, young and
inexperienced, who received much
encouragement and sound advice
from her and her noble husband
who walked hand in nand with her
for so many years.
When a young lady she connected
herself with the M. E. Church, South.
and from the very first became an
active and interested member of the
same. She never tried to live an
idle, aimless life drifting with the
tide of ordinary life as SO many are
prone to do who join the church and
cannot find things to engage thought
and time.
+ She assumed many church obliga-
tions and discharged them with the
utmost faithfulness according to the
capacity that she had, though she
never claimed that hers was greater
than anv ordinary Christian. She
eirnly did what she conceived to be
rioht and that would please her
Lord and Master. For long term
of wears she had taught class IN
the Sunday school, and ever tried
her best to teach them the very best
things, and not only by word OF
mouth but by example and practice.
and the result was that she held the
respect.and love of them all and had
the satisfaction Of seeing them one
hv one come into the church as
members before she died.
Hers was life well lived, ana
,,rec;ons will be the heritage to those
She was placed away on Sunday
beside the husband who precened
,,er inst a few years, and while her
farm has gone from US the beauty
and nobleness of her upright NE
and character remain as a httlng
monument to one who lived lie not
not in vain: o. Mrs II
Carraway, Hartford, n: T.. ana ~
Pew Geo. T. Simmons, OF the N. Z.
Conference. There are two sisters
d doad Mrs. Robt. B. Jarratt ana
Mrs J. M. Rhodes, and one brother
Barnard T. Simmons.
ber'la'o VIZ. CoPPEDGE.