The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-10
IN MEMORJAM
Mrs. Carrie Bell Sterrett. Widow OF
DR.. Robert Sterrett
"a tribute by a friend.)

trlpute by fr1end.)
Mrs. sterrett was one of the pioneer
citizens of Birmingham. She was so
years old when she died, and she came
here to live when she was a young
married woman scarcely more than 81
years old.
My friend. Mrs T. T. Hillman. has
often told me of her first night in Biz
mingham. That was in the old DAYS
when the best hotel was of rough
boards. and with walls SO thin that
guests In one room, could not help
hearing what was said in adjoining
rooms.
es DR. and Mrs. sterrett. with their baby
son, occupied the room next to the
Hillmans. The Hillmans We're childless.
and she said that it pulled at their
sheartstrings to hear DR.. and Mrs Ster-
rett playing with their baby. She said.
oh. how We envied them. when we
heard the sound OF the love and ca
resses they lavished on their infant
SON.
Z DR.. Sterrett died when his wife was
young. Their only daughter. Roberta.
died on the threshold of wonanhood.
Then Mrs. Sterrett concentrated all her
love upon her son. William Cleveland
Sterrett His friends find him loyal,
faithful, honora BILE, steadfast. All these
qualities were fostered by his mother.
Few sons have been loved with more
Jealous. intense absorption. and no son
was ever more obedient and loving
Honor thy father and thy mother
is one of the. strictest tenets of his re-
.ligion.
For many years they lived in cot
itage called Sterrett Place, Their yard
was in the place where Terrace Court
now stands. In that cottage her
friends--and they were many-always
found welcome and hospitality. Her
self the descendant of a distinguished
southern family, her surroundings
were always in keeping with her per-
sonality, and her cottage showed evil
dence of a taste both elegant and re-
fined.
An untirng worker. this womans
character was such as to dignity any
form of labor. no matter how hum
Bile. Fer strongest characteristic was
love; love for people. for children. for
her church. for animals. for plants.
We have saying in the family that
II Mrs Sterrett planted walking
stick 1t would grow like Aarons rod
that budded. The secret of her success
with flowers was her intelligent care
OF them. Her home for several years
has been in Edgewood, and every por-
ton of her yard and garden bears
evidences of her love of plants and
flowers and shrubs and trees She
loved birds and knew their habits and
they came to build nests and rearztheir
young in her trees.
Her grandchildren were taught by
her to love God and to listen and
look for the secrets of the universe.
as evidenced by the things she helped
to grow in yard and garden.
She has known sorrow, pain. be-
reavement. and in the last few years
she knew adversely, but she never
and until the last she
worked.
For the past few months she has
been weak and i'll and has lowered on
the borderland where the flesh and the
spirit meet, and to her listening ear
and awaiting heart came the spirits
OF dear ones long since dead In fpar-
ttcular she fancied that the spirit OF
her friend, DR. Boland. lowered near
and she decided that when she died
she wanted her body taken to his
home
Almost in the hour preceding her
death Mrs. Sterrett gave orders to
have dug up and. transplanted into our
yard shrub I admired, called the
Burning Bush She felt very tired aft |
sr the exertion and taking the hand
81 her sons wife, said. Hold my hand !;
10 not turn me loose. ! am going to |
sleep And she fell into the long |
sleep from which is no human awaken
ng. W
We are glad that she lived to see |
he spring. glorious promise OF that |
i'll which she so firmly |
,elieved. Christ said: by their fruits |
se shall know them" Surely this WON
IN goes to the mercy seat, bringing /
N the sheaves." -
Among the profusion of flowers that |
covered her casket was a bunch of |
ilacs that were gathered from a lilac |
rec that was once tiny plant she I
gave to Gen. and Mrs. Fred $. Fergu- |
ion.
Christ said:S.I am the door" She |
believed it; and We believe that
through that door she has entered into /
he life eternal where is no sickness
lor pain nor SORROW. oh, death, 4
where Is thy sting! Oh, grave. where
: thy victory r III s..s ~ III. L
sALLIE 9. CONFER LATHROP.
March ., 1913.