The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-02-21
REV. w. z. n. mABRY
dead I'M ALABAMA
Was Four years Popular Pas
tor of st. James Church
Palatka.

Rev. W. E. H. Mabry, for four
years pastor of st. James Methodist
Episcopal church, south, in this city,
died at his home in Tuscaloosa, Ala,
on Monday, after an illness which
dated from December 1st.
The funeral was held the afternoon
of the following day at Birmingham.
Rev. W. E. H. Mabry served but
two charges in Florida-Palatka and
Tallahassee. He was transferred
from the Albania to the Florida Con-
ference in December 1895 and ap-
pointed to the pastorate of St. James
church in this city, a charge which
he served with signal ability and
success for the full term of four
years-the maximum pastorate un-
der the Methodist polity. Had the
church permitted and the matter lef!
to the vote of the local church, or in
deed to the people Of the city, this
eloquent preacher and faithful pastor
would have been elected to perma
nent pastorate. From this city. he
was appointed by the presiding BIZ Op
to Tallahassee.
Rev. Mr.. Mabry was not only q
graceful man in the pulpit but was a
natural and pleasing orator During
his ministry here there were no va
cant pews in St. James church. In
deed old members will remember and
tell you that in order to care for the
congregations in the years of his
pastorate, especially at the Sunday
evening services, chairs had to be
procured and placed in the aisles.
Mr.. Mabry was mixer; he wore
none of the outward evidences Of his
calling; he met a man once and the
next time he met him it was "Howdy,
Bill" He had a cheerful, winning
smile that was as natural as the sun
shine and his hand grasp was of the
kind that meant something. He
learned to know everybody and every
one knew him.
He was member of St. Johns
Lodge, X. of P, and went through
the successive chairs to that of Chan
cellor Commander. Several times
since his removal to Alabama has the
lodge here sent for him to come to
Palatka and make an address; he
always responded, and his return to
the city brought joy to all. His
presence seemed like the return visit
of departed member Of the Palatk2
family.
Mr.. Mabry was the son of Meth
odist preacher and for a portion of
his pastorate his aged parents resided
with him in Palatka. His father
passed to his eternal reward from
here. And it was during his pastor
ate that his wife also died.
One of Mr.. Mabry's sisters was
married in Palatka to the late q.
Pratt Deal, Palatka young man who
afterwards lost his life in a railway
accident in South Florida. Mr.. Ma
bry married the present Mrs. Mabry
in this city, and a sister, Miss Salll2,
has made this city her home since
the days of his pastorate. The News
mentions these incidents simply to
further establish the claim that the
eloquent man whom the older cltl.
zens are mourning today was a Pa
latkan. This city claimed him and
during his life he never repudiated
the claim. On the contrary he
seemed to feel a pride in it.
On completion Of his ministry IN
Florida Mr.. Mabry re-entered the
North Alabama Conference and for
several years past has been presi-
dent of the Tuscaloosa Female Col
lege. He relinquished this post last
year because of i'll health.
His sisters, Mrs. Deal and Miss Eli
zabeth lived with him at Tuscal loos&
Miss Sallie Mabry resides in Palatka,
He is also survived by his wife and
four small children.