The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-12-06
Beautiful Tribute to Mrs.
w. N. Wagner, Formerly
of the Gap

of the Gap
Following is a part OF the beauti-
full tribute by Rev. j. w. Perry which
appears in the 1922 Holston An
nual to Mrs. w. N. Wagner, beloved
wife OF Rev. Wagner, who was pas
tor of the NJ. +. Church, South, in
the Gap, a few years ago. Mrs.
Wagner died September 25th, 1922.
at st. Thomas Hospital in Nashville.
Tenn, after lingering illness OF
several weeks:
Susan Frances Canter Wagner
was born of Christian parents of
Methodist faith in Fredcricks coun-
ty, Va, in the year of Grace, 1852.
on the Sth day OF February. 1t is
not surprising that from a child she
knew the Lord and at the age of l2
she made public confession of her
faith to him MS her Savior and united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, the church of her father,
Isaac Canter, and her mother. Susan
McCallie Cantcr
Susan Frances Canter grew up
under the influence and power of
that faith and illustrated in her life
its finest product and on October 10.
1850, was joined in holy wedlock
unto William n. Wagner to become
a faithful and happy itineran..
From her there was never COM
plant of hardship but expressions
of JOY in the opportunity for Christ
ian service. She knew how to make
the most of circumstances con
vert goods boxes into attractive and
tasteful furniture and to make a
poor parsonage a place Of comfort,
and attraction. OF this union were
born two daughters who with their
hcnored father survive. Ella Sue
Wagner, long time II faithful and
most efficient missionary in Korea,
and Mittie Wagner McAlullen.
Mrs. Wagner was OF itinerant
stock. An uncle was a minister in
the United Brethren Church, two
brothers, whose names are honored
in Southern Mcthodism, were mem
bers of the Baltimore Conference
and two nephews, W. /. Cantcr in
Western Virginia and II. NJ. Canter
in the Baltimore Conference.
When Il girl she yearned with n
fervent heart to become mission
AIRY, but there was no Women's
Board in her Church, no training
school, and no chance for her to go.
She gave her first born child to the
Lord TO use rs he would and her
testimony is "If have done any ser
vice on the mission field, owe it to
Mother more than to any human be-
ing"
1t is needless to say that the end
of such n life was triumph. One
who sat by her side the last hour of
her pilgrimage and ms she was cross
ing the mysterious stream that sep
arates our view of the eternal world.
when from st. Thomas Hospital in
Nashville, Tenn, on that beautiful
day on September 25th, 1922, her
spirit passed through the gates oil
pearl into that city that passeth not
away, wrote down some of the cx-
pressions that fingered on her lips
as she made the crossing.
Here are some of them:
My Faith Looks up to Thee, Thou
Lamb of Calvary, Savior Dcvine.' .
"a Clear Vision" "Pm in Heaven"
"iIeaven is Wonderful" Come on
Over" So passed the spirit OF this
devoted Christian woman, to wait at
the open door for the coming of her
husband, daughters, loved ones and
friends. If this be death, how won
derful, how welcomed
There is no death, the stars go down
no rise upon lovelicr cline,
-D-