The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-09-06
Occupied Prominent Position
in Political and Frsternal
Circles.
ELECTORS MUST
NAME SUCCESSOR
Municipal Council Will Call
Special Election at an Early
Date.

After an illness of long duration,
Hon. VIM. C. Gunter, Mayor of
Columbus, passed away at his home,
No. 806 North Third avenue, about
10:l5 o'clock Tuesday night, and
his death while by no means unex.
pected, brought sorrow to many
hearts; for he was one Of the fore
most citizens of the community, and
the fact that he was called upon to
answer the final summons at the very
zenith Of useful and prosperous
career is universally regretted.
For more than a year past Mr..
Gunter had been in bad health, and
some time ago physicians, relatives
and friends were forced to a reluc
tant conclusion that the end was only
a question of time His condition
had recently grown more serious, and
several times during the past few
weeks he had hovered perilously
near the intangible line of demaka-
tion which separates the terrestrial
and celestial bodies. The sinking
spells which he experienced were
invariably followed by rallies, but
these rallies were of short duration
and he gradually became weaker
until the final dissolution took place.
Mr.. Gunter, who was about So
years old, was native of Pickens
county, Ala, but had been living in
Columbus nearly quarter of a
century, and had long been regarded
as one Of the city's most progressive
citizens. While evincing keen in
terest in politics, he never sought
political office until 1914, when he
entered the race for mayor, and was
elected. He was again a candidate
two years later and was reelected
having defeated several strong op.
ponents. The term for which he
was last elected does not expire until
January /, 1919, and it will be neces.
sary for the municipal council to
call a special election to fill the
vacancy caused by his death. He
was prominent in fraternal as well
as in political circles, having been :
member of the Masons, Knights OF
Pythias, Elks, Eagles and other secret
organizations. He is survived by his
widow, six children, Mrs. Cleve-
land Coleman, of Birmingham, Mrs
L. L. Stewart, Mrs. Lucille Watson,
Miss Mai Gunter, Miss Margaret
Gunter and Mr.. William Gunter and
three brothers, Messrs. R. ]. Gunter
of this city, Preston Gunter, of Den.
yer, Colo, and DR.. Leon Gunter, Of
Albany, Ala, and these together
with other further removed relatives
have the sympathies of countless
friends in the profound grief which
his death entails.
The funeral, which was in charge
of DeMolay Commandery No. 8
Knights Templar, was held at ths
First Methodist church at o'clocl
Yesterday afternoon. the obseouia
discourses having been delivered b,
the pastor, Rev. w. L. Duren. A
the request of Hon. d. S. McClan
ahan, acting mayor, the stores of tn,
city closed their doors while tn,
funeral was in progress and the cit,
hall was draped with black through
out the day in honor of the deat
mayor. The ceremony at the churcl
was followed by interment at Friend
ship cemetery, the following gentle
men having officiated as pal
bearers: Honorary, Messrs. T. Fl
Sharp, Perry Halbert, Gid d. Harris
W. G. Webb, Dabney Lipscomb, Os
car A. Quin and w. T. Lee. Active
Messrs. L. F. Swoope, T. w. Harris
S. L. Caine, J. A. Lipsey, D. S. Nc
Clanahan, C. F. Sherrod and J. N
Jamison.