The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-09
MRS. ]. PORTER SMITH

Wacahoota, Jan. IA deep gloom
was cast over our entire community
when the sad news was spread about
that the death angel had called the
spirit of Mrs. j. Porter Smith at 11:30
Sunday night, Dec. %, 1917.
We know she was ready for the
summons and prepared to go, but she
had been with US for so long and had
been as a mother and grandmother
to all in the entire community, and it
was so hard to give her up. Yet we
know "God doeth all things for the
best"
Mrs. Smith was Miss Drusilla Mick
Ter and was born at Dutch Fork, near
Columbia, S. c., in 1882. She was
married to Mr.. j. Porter Smith on
Dec. 5, 1848.
They moved to Florida and settled
at Wacahoota in November 1851, and
have lived here ever since. They
were among the first to settle in this
community and endured many hard
ships during the war and several at
tacks from the Indians 1t was like
reading an interesting historical
story to hear Mrs. Smith relate all
these incidents which she remember
ed perfectly.
Eleven children blessed their union.
Two little girls who were called as
little lambs back to the Father who
gave them many years ago, one son,
Mr.. James Smith, who was taken
just as he entered the bloom of
young manhood, and Mr.. T. N. Smith,
one of our most influential and best
loved citizens, who suddenly was tax
en- from Us several years ago, all
with the father, Mr.. j. Porter Smith,
preceded the mother to the beautiful
home not made with hands and were
no doubt waiting and watching with
beckonlng hands for the wife and
mother. The remaining children are
Mr.. v. P. Smith, with whom she lived,
Messrs. L. M. and C. NJ. Smith of this
place, Mrs. B. c. Bauknight of Jen-
nings, La, Mrs. C. C. Pedrick and
Mrs, James Bauknight of Gainesville
and Mrs. l. N. Rawls of Montbrook.
Mrs. Smith suffered severe fall
about three weeks prior to her death,
which fractured her hip bone and
caused her intense suffering all thru
her illness. But she bore her pain
with great fortitude and never failed
to ask God, her great physician, for
help to bear her pain. Everything
that physicians and tender nursing
could do was done for her. Mrs. ".
p. Smith and Mrs. B. C. Bauknight
were with her day and night and with
others helping when necessary.
Mrs. Smith gave her 6heart to God
when quite child and lived conse-
Grated, Christian life. She was
member of the Methodist church and
she and her husband were the main
ones in building the Methodist church
at this place. She was ever ready to
visit the poor and sick and gave
readily of her store and strength to
any who were in need of help.
She was laid to rest in the Meth
odist cemetery here at o'clock Mon
day afternoon, Dec. oath. Rev. T.
Williams, formerly of Micanopy, but
now OF Citra, oficiated and after
reading portion of Gods word, made
some beautiful and touching remarks
of the beautiful life which had left
earth with It's pain and sorrow, to
reign in heaven, where all is peace
and joy.
"Jesus, Lover Of My Soul" and
Gathering Home" were sweetly sung
during the service. After the service
the pail bearers, Messrs. j. o. Tyson,
John Edwards, C. r. Curry, S. E.
Bauknight, George Gibbons and J. w.
May, bore the casket from the church
to the cemetery, where it was laid
in its last resting place by the side of
her husband.
The floral offerings were many and
beautiful and a large concourse of
people gathered to pay their last re-
spects to their loved one. Besides