The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-02-04
Death Of Mrs. Mary J. Kicks.
Written for The Commonwealth.

Mrs. Mary J. Kicks, the last Of
one of the best known and most
highly honored families in North
Carolina, died Sunday morning at
ten O'Clock at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Bette Nelson, after
an illness of about two weeks. The
funeral services were conducted
Monday morning by Elder P. D.
Gold, of Wilson, and the burial was
made in the Episcopal cemtery at
eleven o'clock, The following were
the pall-bearers: E. L. Brown, r.
J. Mauney, B. F. Weaver, Ferd
Harrison, G. C. Weeks and E. J.
Proctor.
Mrs. Mary J. Kicks was born in
Edgecombe county August 26, 1925.
she being the fourth child of James
w. and Sarah Routh Fender. She
was sister of the famous Confed-
crate chieftain, General w. D. Pen
der, who was wounded at Appomat-
tox, Va, in 1863 or ga, and died
soon afterwards from the wounds.
She was also sister of the late
David and Robert H. Pender, prom
inent in the business life Of North
y Carolina for many years.
= In early life Mrs. Kicks was mar
n ried to Isaac Kicks, who died in 1858.
e Two children were born, son and .
n daughter, both of whom are still
n living and were present when she
K died. After the death of her hus-
band she lived with her two small
n children for year with her parents.
}. after which she went to Wilson,,
J. where she remained until the mar
j. rage of her daughter, and then
J. came to Scotland Neck, where for
l. more than a quarter of a century
/ she has made her home.
r While Mrs. Kicks never connected
h herself with any church, her faith
p in spiritual thinge was strong, and
st her life was an example worthy OF
m emulation. True hearted, she new
es er allowed any one to suffer wher
tn she could possibly alleviate the sui
h. fering either with tender ministra
ye tons or with more substantial things
lie she frequently preparing daint.
in dishes with her own hands for he
friends and neighbors. She neve
forgot, the old-time hospitality o
her forefathers.
Mrs. Kicks was possessed with
: remarkable memory, and man
-, times has she been consulted by his
7'o torians and others looking for dat
ne regarding events of the long ago.
of Her life spans long and EVENT..
,ty period. she being eighty-nine and
half years of age at her death. ST
saw the State and the South {
ny through the devastation of the wa
err the period of reconstruction, ar
is finally the babilitation and the CO.
am struction into the new order. II.
it's. stories of the days of the war we
ON indeed interesting, and she was ne
rem er happier than when telling
the these stirring events to compal
os of young people. Passionately fol-
uld of company, those of her frien
hen who could do so never lost an oppc
to tunity of listening to the stories
ish- the early life of this good wom
red and of the absorbing days duril
also the war.
;rst Mrs. Kicks often referred to t
childhood days of herself and brot
ose- er, General Fender, one of her fave
her ite stories being on one occasl
anq when they were playing together
er" the bank of creek near their hon
tho and Dorsey. as she affectionat
called him, fell into the water, q
r in she, at the risk of being drown
noe went in after him, thus saving
tho life for the Yankees to take, as
her put it.
Che One of her last thoughts was
bon her son, Mr.. w. R. Kicks, who Ii
-, IN in Tarboro. She instructed
hon, daughter to tell civilian to alw
she be square in his dealings and ne
to mistreat any one; to live the
don+ she had taught HIM to live, and
]an,s Lord would bless him as He
nice, blessed her.
g The heart of the entire commu1
q r. goes out in tenderest sympathy
. +ho the grief-stricken son and daugh
die who have for so many years tend
and affettionately ministered to
Mrs least desire of Mother.
marks "
;rews Wanted TO Remove Bone in
) not