The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-27
MANY ATTEND FUNERAL
Of ". ]. k|MBR0UcH
Last Rites Administered Over Body of
Prominent Citizen In Hanover
Avenue Church.
THE SERVICE is IMPRESSIVE
DIR. George W. Kemper, Pastor Of
Church, Pays Glowing Tribute to
Departed Member of His Large
Congregation

The funeral of w. J. Kimbrough, who
died very suddenly on Friday night.
at his home. 2o7 West Grace Street.
was held on Sunday afternoon at
o'clock in the Hanover-Avenue Chris
tian Church, of which congregation
the deceased was loyal and devoted
member. The services were conducted
by his pastor. the Rev. George w.
Kemper, and though simple and brief.
were very impressive. The large au-
ditorium OF the church was filled with
friends and admirers of the deceased.
who was universally popular with all
classes The pulpit and chancel was
covered with beautiful flowers, which
came from all the walks of life. as
mute testimony to the esteem in which
he was held.
The music was furnished by the
Hanover Avenue quartet. composed of
Mrs. Pendleton Shiflette. Miss Juanita
Horner and Messrs Floyd Huxter and
ID ". Riehwine. The selections used
by them were: 1T Is Well With My
Soul" I'm the Hour of Trial. and
Lead. Kindly Light" The Baraca
Bible Glass, of which Mr.. Kimbrough
was former teacher, attended the
services in a body. The City School
Board, of which ne was a member. was
also represented as was also Joppa
Lodge, 40, A. r and A. NJ The prin
cipals of all the schools in the city
were also present in body
The impressive service opened with
a hymn. which was followed by a
prayer by the Rev B H Melton. The
pastor DR. Kemper. then read quite
a number of appropriate Scripture Sc
lections and made a short address.
Among other things he said:
we meet this afternoon to pay
tribute to the memory of our departed
colleague, William Joseph Kimbrough,
and IT becomes me. as one who in life
called him friend, and who now loves
his memory. to find as best can the
words that will htlv and aptly ascriha
to him the virtues he possessed and
the rare gifts with which he was en-
dowed.
II am painfully conscious. however.
of the paucity OF the language at my
command for this purpose and of my
inability to do even the simplest jus
tice to the name he has left behind
him, and yet feel that am sus-
tanned in my undertaking by the knowl-
edge that his memory will ever live
in the hearts of those who knew him.
and that no charm of, rhetoric or
melody of speech can brighten II or
even picture II, as IL CLOVIS and lives
within us.
Perhaps it Is the common failing
OF humanity TO exaggerate the viz
tues of the dead without intent to
err in this way, ! can say in all sin
cerety that our deceased brother was
one OF the most perfect patterns OF
Christian graoes have ever known.
have seldom seen such inhexihle ad
herence to principle. such dignity of
character and such extreme humble
ness combined in one person.
Few men were better gifted than
he in the art Of making and holding
friends Warm and generous in his
nature he was as tender any SYM
pathetic as a woman. Always OF pro-
nounced convictions. he was slow to
obtruae them, and was ever charitable
to the opinions of those with whom
he disagreed, but loyalty TO his con-
yictions and his friends was a part of
his nature.
His hight character his charming
personality. his graceful manner, his
delightful comradeship-these are the
things that In the solemnity of this
occasion come close 10 our hearts.
Fashioned as he was. II was but
natural that he should draw men to
him. and hold them there with hooks
of steel This hold he had upon the
hearts of so many men In this city still
lives though he has gone from among
them.
Tn his home life. in his church life.
in his business life. no man was more
dutiful and Thoughtful. His love for
hts Savior and the church was with
him supreme His life was hid with
Christ in Cod He sought first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness"
He could well have said with Paul:
Il have fought good hght, have
kent the faith. / have finished my
course; henceforth there is laid up
for me crown of righteousness"
But. he is gone from among US.
We deeply deplore his loss. We long
In vain for the touch of the vanished
hand and the sound of the voice that
is still" We say to him now "NobIy
you lived and bravely you died, and
while we miss you and need you. oh.
so much we would not II we could
interrupt the peace and happiness that
you have so fairly won. We would
not bring you back to toll and strive
again. You have kept the faith and
paid the last great debt. and the crown
of immortality Is yours. We bid you
wear IT. while we, your friends and
loved ones, with unconcealed grief,
mourn your absence and sing reauiems
of praise to the peerless and priceless
memory that you have left behind for
us to cherish and revere. Then, rest,
dear friend. In peace; the peace of God
which passeth all understanding.
Some time, when all
Iife's lessons have been learned.
And sun and stars forever have set,
The things which our weak judgment
here have spurned,
The things over which we grieved with
lashes wet.
viii fash before us, out of life's dark