The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-07-05
A Tribute.

The occupants of the second floor
of the west side Mailing building
are lonely and sad this Monday
morning, because our dear friend and
comrade, Mr.. Obediah M. Spradlin,
lies in earth's last resting place. We
would not call him back, but we miss
him more than we can tell. For ten
years Mr.. Spradlin had made this
building his home, taking his meals
at the Memo Hotel, managed of late
by Mr.. and Mrs. r. l. Miller, who
were so very kind to him. Mr.. Sprad-
lin was 70 years, months and 2
days old. His native State was North
Carolina. He has been the contrac-
tor in past years for many of the
houses here in Union City as we'll as
in other places. He was a man
of staunch character and regular
habits, ever thoughtful and consid-
crate of his friends, and always
ready and watching to do an act of
kindness. In fact, he drew his last
breath Immediately after performing
a deed of kindness for Mr.. Scott,
whose studio is opposite his room,
and who regularly read the daily
news to him. He was unselfish. On
cold winter mornings he urged those
whose fires were not yet warm to
come into Mr.. O.. Spradlin's office
and warm until their rooms were
comfortable. He was always here in
the building and when any one of
the Offices was vacant he took it up
on himself to look after that Office
and to see that nothing went wrong
regarding it. His was the most OPP
timistic nature the writer has ever
known. He was never discouraged.
For him every cloud had a silver
lining and he seemed to wear them
turned inside out. His speech was
clean as his mind. One looked
into his clear, deep-set eyes and
thought Gin him indeed is no guile. T"
But deeper and beyond all the above
is the knowledge that we know that
to-day he is present with the Lord
though absent from the body. About
ten days ago, in conversation with
the writer, he expressed a desire for
knowledge regarding the state of the
soul after the dissolution of the
body. He was greatly comforted and
satisfied with Paul's statment in II
Cor. So. More than once ne has
said, II am not afraid to die. That
is the smallest thing in all of life"
Although having been practically
blind for nine years, he never COM
planned, but was always thankful
for his extraordinary health. In
fact the morning before he went
away that afternoon he said to the
writer, ut hurts worse to be sick
when you are not used to it," And
then added, But l am so thankful
that have had such good health all
my life. Especially he loved to lis
ten and talk about the erucifixion.
One time he said, TITS all the cross
and the atonemcnt, isn't it?" 1t
seems to me that his home-going can
best be compared with the falling of
rich ripe fruit from the trees. The
years had ripened him and prepared
him for that garden, whose keeper is
the Lord. The day breaketh and the
shadows have flown away for him,
and now he is in the presence of Him
whom his soul loved, where the
sun blights not and the winter
breezes do not chill.
To dear Mr. Spradlin, who has
reached the end of the way, / am
sure that the trials of the road seem
nothing, for he has been safely trans
ported beyond deaths sea by the
captain of his soul, and his bark lies
securely anchored to the Rock of
Ages in the city that lieth four
square.
Besides number of grandchil-
dren, Mr.. Spradlin leaves four sons,
Messrs. Will, Jay, Jim and o. Sprad-
lin, the latter being of this city.
One Who Knew Him.
In addition to the above kind
eulogy we would like to add our ad-
miration of Mr.. Spradlin's splendid
courage and optimism. Notwith-
standing his Affections he never
seemed disheartened, but was always
ready to respond when hailed with
hearty salutation. We knew him for
years and do not recall an instance
when he either complained or spoke
unkindly of his fellowmen. He was
like diamond in the rough. There
were besetting influences, but with
1t all he had his secret charities and
confidential friendships. He was
generally and kindly esteemed.
Funeral service was conducted in
the offices of Mr.. o. Spradlin Satur-
day evening at o'clock, Rev. w. B.