The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-05-17
To the Memory of Our Boy.

| George Layne Jackson. son of W.
H. and Matte S. Jackson, was born
in Union City, Tenn, April 5, 1898.
He died in the service of his country
at Camp Green, Charlotte, N. c.,
April 81, 1918. Age 25 years and
22 days. Those of the readers of
this sketch who knew George, knew
him as a mischievous little boy of
five to ten years of age. And we
would have you know him as he was
in his young manhood. We trust
you will bear patiently with us, as
we hold up before you the charac-
teristics of which we are proud.
George was not perfect by any
means. He had his faults, as all of
us have, but they were meager, as
compared with the elements in his
nature that go to make up true and
noble manhood. The parent knows
the boy or girl as no one else can
know them. 1t is they who, with
anxious care and concern, search the
very secret chambers of their hearts
and watch every impulse of their
nature that they may know and
understand, nourish and strengthen
the weak and Objectionable and en-
courage the nobler. Hence, papa
and mama Gas he called u.s. knew
George as no one else could know
him and he was a character of which
we need not be ashamed.
Georges fault (if it be a fault)
was his impulsive nature, quick of
| temper and every ready to defend
what he believed to be right, and
resent with all his force a wrong
imposed. But back and beyond that
an honest mind ever willing to
weigh and consider and if in the
wrong the manhood to acknowledge
and make amends. He was a young
man that had the highest regard
for the aged and always held their
esteem. He was extremely courteous
to women. He never came in con-
tact with anyone whom fortune had
not favored, even as had it favored
him Cor the down and outs as they
are called) that he did not enter in
to sympathy with and when he
could would lend a helping hand.
He was always appreciative of any
favors granted, and a thank you for
everything. His parental affection
was as tender and as sweet as that of
girl, always giving out a word of
love to mama. During his illness
in camp for every attention given
him, In his sane moments he would
whisper thank you. George possess
ed an industrious and ambitious
mind, realizing his opportunities for
classical education unfavorable,
he applied himself diligently. He
was great reader, and remembered
what he read. In history he could
accurately quote dates and give de-
tails, as but few young men of his
limited opportunity could. Thoroly
conversant with the topics of the
day and could well hold his own in
a discussion of circumstances,
causes, etc, giving a plausible rea-
son for his views.
Yes, our boy has left us. He gave
his life that the principles of right
and justice might prevail on the
earth. But oh it is so hard for us
to give him up. He had his plans
laid for the future, should he return
home, and spoke of them frequently
before going away, and with words
of encouragement. He wanted and
hoped to be with us in our old age
that he might be a comfort to papa
and mama. But God has taken him
and we cannot understand the mys-
teries of Providence.
For twelve days and nights before
he passed away we were with him,
his mother during the night and l
during the day, and gave him every
attention possible for us to render,
and prayed with all the earnestness
of our broken hearts for his recov-
cry, but always with "thy will be
DONE" But God saw best to take
him. He was glad to have us with
him. Oftentime he would reach out
his thin trembling hands and with
them press my cheeks and say, l
want to kiss my dear papa, or kiss
me papa, and to mother many ex-
pressions of love that will comfort
her in her hours of loneliness. When
asked IL he was trusting God, he
said, yes, papa, l always trust him.
A few days before he died, having
come to himself he said, mother,
lay your head down on my pillow
and put your arm around my neck
and give me a long sweet kiss and
remember that If have to go I'll be
up there waiting for you.
Just at noon on the fourteenth
day of his illness, when the sun
shone it's brightest, our boy passed
away, leaving behind comforting
assurances that all is we'll with his
soul. Yet in our selfish natures it
is hard to say thy will be done.
Some coincidents connected that
seem to have consoling signifi- |
canoe: Before leaving Charlotte |
with the remains young mother, |
walking up and down the platform, |
holding in her arms sweet little |
girl of two years of age, and in her
little hand were two beautiful |
flowers. How long she had held |
them there / do not know, but in
passing along she threw them on the
box containing casket and body. A
little angel contributing a flower,
sweet and fragrant. When we were
changing cars at Atlanta and as we
Il 4