The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-01-31
LIFE OF MRS. DODD|NS
SPAWNED ALMOST CENTURY
WOMAN OF REMARKABLE CHAR
AcTER GOES TO FINAL REST
AND ETERNAL REWARD.

In the death of Mrs. Jane c. Dob
bins last Thursday at her home in tht
Williamsport community long life o.
usefulness was brought to a close .anC
many of the leading families of Maury
county were saddened by the loss
Mrs. .Dobbins was 81 years old and
throughout her long life into her lat
ter days she maintained a mentality
that was the marvel of ner friends
and relatives. She was a woman OF
devout character and one who made
her home shrine of comfort and love
for others. She possessed unusual
business qualifications and attended
to her affairs with the acumen of q
person of younger years.
Mrs. Dobbins was twice married
her first husband being the late
Henry Sowell, to which union were
born five children, the eldest OF
whom, daughter, died in infancy, a
son, Henry Sowell, died at the early
age of II, another son, John C. Sow.
ell, died only about three years ago
and two daughters are surviving, Mrs
James Dobbins and Mrs. Eva Jones,
of Williamsport Her second hus
band was the late James Gardner Dob
bins, who died about 80 years ago, to
which union no children were born
but the children of Mr.. Dobbins by a
previous marriage were taken into the
home as her own and were reared as
such. Three of Mr. Dobbins' children,
Albert Dobbins, Mrs Evelyn Borum
and Wilson B. Dobbins are deceased
and three, Mrs. Dave Watkins, John
D. Dobbins of Columbia and James
Dobbins, are surviving. Augustus
Sowell, Sr., son of Henry Sowell by
his first marriage, also was reared in
the home and is surviving. In add.
ton to her children and step-children,
two others who are now substantial
citizens of the county received in her
home the training that marked their
career through life. They are Harry
Borum and John Davis, both OF
whom attended the funeral of Mrs.
Dobbins and with the others spoke
of their deep affection for the ven
cradle lady who was laid to rest. She
also nursed with tenderness and care
through old age and illness her par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. John c. King, and
two relatives, Mrs. Bone and Mrs
Priscilla Moore.
Mrs. Dobbins was for Is years pre-
sident of the Womans Missionary
Society of the Cross Bridges Metho.
dist church during the years she re
sided in that community. She was a
native of Maury county and resided
in this county throughout her life
which spanned almost century. She
lived through the dark days of the
Civil War and reconstruction and as
a true woman of the Old South she
helped to preserve the morale of her
people so that they could rebuild
upon the ruins of wrecked splendor
the present fabric of modern civiliZa-
ton.
Mrs. Dobbins was as devoted.
owed by her step children as if she
were their mother and to those who
did not know they had every appear
ance of being her own children. This
bond of love extended also to Mrs.
Augustus Sowell, Sr., who at the fun
eral mourned the loss of one who
was as mother to her. The bright
and cheerful disposition of this good
not only perVaded the at
of her own home, but also.
spread as a benediction to those of
her neighbors and upon all who came
in contact with her.
Attended by scores of relatives
and friends Of the deceased the fun
eral was held Friday morning from
the home, conducted by the Rev. Mr.
Spurlock, pastor of the Williamsport
Methodist church, and the remains
were laid to rest at the family GENE
terry.