The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-29
MRS. ABBIE STOKES GRAY

Gray, of Pennington, passed away |
very suddenly in Ocala Sunday eve
ming, April 23rd. She was a daugh-
ter Of r. D. Stoke osf Cater, and was
born there April 10; 1890. She was
married to Mr.. Gray April "a, 1921.
Miss Abbie," as she was best
known, leaves a husband, father, two
brothers, two sisters and a host of
friends and relatives over the county
and state to mourn her death. She
was a faithful, loyal wife, daughter,
sister and church member. She be-
longed to the Royal Neighbors of Am
erica at Mcintosh about six years,
and when the lodge went to pieces
there she moved her membership to
Rock Island, H., and was member in
good standing when she died. She
had been teaching in Marion county
for the past ten years and was con-
sidered one of the states best teach
ers by both patrons and pupils. She
taught in this neighborhood three
successive terms and we all loved her
bright and sunny disposition. Why
one so lovable and so much loved, and
needed, should have been called away
is one of the things sometimes We'll
understand" She was laid to rest on
her wedding anniversary, which made
it all the sadder for the devoted hus-
band.
She was one who never murmured
or complained at anything and was
perfectly happy in her little home at
Pennington and her sweet face and
pleasant smiles will be be missed by
both white and black in the little
store owned by Mr.. Gray. To show
how much she was loved in the home
while little girl growing up, the fol-
lowing is a poem written by her STEP
mother, who passed away two months
ago:
"Abbie"
I was busy meditating
/ Over things of long ago,
When in mind 1 pictured Abbie
! III SSdlOO1 OSCu W hIlO".
How she looked with books and basket
And her hair so long and black,
NEATLY braided, tied with ribbon,
Hanging down her little back.
Abbie was her fathers eldest
Of his little children three;
Their dear mother died and left them
All alone with him to be.
Now that mothers gone to heaven,
Tho't the child with plying heart,
| must care for baby brother
And for sister do my part.
Abbie often told her father,
"When I'm grown l mean to be
A school teacher; if you doubt it,
Wait till then and you will see."
With this aim in view, she studied
All her lessons each day.
I"How she's learning! Don't you think
500"
One might hear her teacher say.
Time went on and Abbie's father
| Sent her to Ocala high school,
:. Still to master every study
Seemed to be her daily rule.
Each year Abbie was promoted
To another higher grade,
Which increased her ambition
To reach the plans which she had
made.
Then she took a teachers normal
To prepare for, as she said
The coming June examination
Of which most teachers seemed to
dread.
Examination being over,
Then came the most important
feature;
When Abbie entered school that sea-
son.
She was not a pupil but a teacher
This being in the year of 1909
And Abbie being nineteen,
She heightened her dresses
To teach her first school;
SOitlS"IldC q
Resolving that order should be hel
rule,
So when the children got cross,
To be submissive they soon founc
best,
For their little teacher was boss.
She was laid to rest in the Elem
: ngton cemetery Monday afternoon
v April oath. The Methodist ministe
j of preacher preached her funeral il
the presence of many sorrowins
: friends and relatives.
r Mr.. Gray wishes to thank all of hi
and Abbie's friends for their kind
ness through her sickness and dealt
and for the many beautiful flower
that were placed on her and the littl
b baby's grave. Also the doctors an
. nurses for their kind attentions to hei