The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-12

the funerals l nave ever aCCeHueu,
or at which I have officiated, this
is the most happy one. That state
ment demands an explanation which
I gladly accord:
About eighty-four years ago the
deceased was born of noble parent
age and richly endowed with a
thoughtful mind and a believing
heart. Her early training was splen-
did, and proficiency marked her
school life. She graduated with
honors from Limestone College, be-
ing at the time of her death the
oldest living alumna.
As magnet attracts, so character
magnetically attracts of it's own like
ness, and she was wooed and won
by DR.. Franklin F. Gary, who was
destined to become greatly distin-
guished in his state. He was elected
first president of the Abbeville Med
ical Society of Abbeville County.
Later he was appointed President
of the South Carolina Medical AS
sociation, and at the same time
chairman of the State Board of
Health. Another honor he wore in
this period of his illustrious life
was being elected a member of the
State Legislature in which body ne
served as chairman of the medical
committee. In Masonry he scared
with the same brilliance and served
his state lodge as most excellent
Grand High Priest of the Grand
Chapter of South Carolina. At the
time of his death, on Dec. 81, 1887,
he had been elected a delegate by
the National Mediccl Association of
America to the Medical Worlds
Congress to meet in Gepeva, Swift
erland. Before that important
world-body met, death claimed him
and ended his earthly brilliant ca
reer. Through all that wonderful
life his wife was helpmeet, admirer,
sweetheart, and inspirer. Her large
brain and noble character. were al
ways his fortress and his. shield. 1t
is safe to say he would never have
risen to his high place of eminence
if he had not just such noble and
worthy wife and companion.
To this intellectual and other
wise happy union four children
were born. I mention them in mod
esty as three sit before me this
evening. l mention them to proper
" eulogize her. There were three
boys and one girl. One of those
sons has arisen to the head of the
Judiciary of this State and stands
there with indisputable right to
wear the toga of this signally high
and exalted office. Both the other
BOYS became leaders as circuit
Judges in the State. Judge Ernest
Gary presided with signal ability
and dignity for about twenty-five
wears when death took him to the
abode of his illustrious father. Judge
Frank B. Gary still lives to grace the
bench and to add lustre to his State
alongside of his distinguished bro
ther. To the talent. love and fdel-
ity of motherhood of her whose re-
mains. are to be laid beneath the
sod today, must be ascribed much OF
the success of that wonderful trim
lty OF manhood.
Mrs. Gary's life was given for
humanity through the rearing of her
children. The trenchant saying that
"the hand that rocks the cradle rules
the world" never found a more
concrete illustration than in this
life. Mrs. Gary did not aspire to
to be a lawmaker, but she did aspire
to rear boys who would make worthy
lawmakers. She did not aspire to
be a lieutenant governor nor a
! United States Senator, but to rear
boys who would grace and honorably
fill those exalted stations with cour-
age and humane craftsmanship. She
did not aspire to become a Jurlst,
but to rear boys who would exalt