Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-10-23
FUNERAL OF
EUGENE NELSON

and Mrs. Harry E. NclSor was held
Monday afternoon at $3.50 at the
First Methodist Church, the pastor,
Rev J. H. Elder, assisted by the Rev
Bruce Nay, pastor of the Central
Christian Church, officiating.
The school children from his grade
the second, of the Second Ward school
were in attendance in a body under
the care of their teachers AS the pro-
cession neared the church, the chill
dren formed line on either side and
up the steps to- the church door; as
they left the church the children again
lined up and as the casket approached
bearing their play fellow, they strew-
ed the way with flowers.
Music was furnished by quartette
composed of Mrs. H. A. Owens, Mrs.
M. E. Whitman, Mr. Burr Stokoe and
J. H. Elder They song "What A
Friend We Have In Jesus" "Beauti-
full Isle of Somewhere" and "Safe in
the Arms or jesus.
Rev. Nay read as a lesson from
the tenth chapter of Mark and the
18th chapter of Matthew and offered
touching prayer.
The pastor then spoke of his life,
so short, yet long enough to find a
place in the hearts of many, especial
ly those of the church and Sunday
School which he attended. He has
been a regular attendant of the First
Methodist Sunday School for five
years, and was on his way home from
Sunday School when he met with the
accident that caused his death.
He then spoke a few words from
the words of Jesus as recorded in
Matt. 1914 "But Jesus said, Suffer
Little Children, and forbid them not,
to Come Unto Me; for of such is the
kingdom of Heaven" He spoke of the
peculiar sadness of the death of child
rem, because of the possibilities of
their lives had been spared. But on
the other hand there is bright side,
because they are saved from the cares
and sorrows of this life. Neither do
they have any pangs caused by per-
sonal sins and their salvation is Sc
cure, because Jesus said, "Of such is
the Kingdom of eaven". Then he said
as we have a kind Heavenly Father
who doeth all things for the best we
should be reconciled. He closed with
the beautiful words of Longfellow:
There is a reaper whose name is death,
And with his sickle keen,
reaps the bearded grain at breath
And the flowers which grow between
Shall I have nought that is fair? saith
he;
Have nought but the bearded grain?
Though the breath of these flowers
is sweet to me,
| will give them all back again.
He gazed at the flowers with fearful
eyes,
He kissed their dropping leaves
1t was for the Lord of Paradise
He bound them into sheaves.
My Lord has need of these flowers
gay,
The reaper said, and smiles;
Dear token of the earth are they,
Where he was once a child
They shall bloom in the fields of light,
Transplanted by my care;
And saints upon their garments white
These sacred blossoms wear
And the mother gave in tears and
pain
The flowers she most did love;
She knew she would find them all
again
In fields of light above.
o, not in cruelty, not in wrath,
The reaper came that day:
Twas an angel visited this green
earth
And took the flowers away.
-Longfe1low
- n - It u
The pail bearers were from the Sec
ond Ward School of the seventh grade
and consisted of the following: Her
man and Therman Ellis, Leroy Dun
can, Gordon Stevens, Verma Ray
Chaple, and E1zin Russell.
The floral tributes were abundant,
the casket was covered and the altar
rail literally hidden with beautiful
wreaths and bouquets of beautiful
flowers. The tributes from the depart
ments in the Sunday School and the
Second Ward School of which he was
a member, were especially noticeable.
The church was filled to capacity
with many standing, all wishing to
express their sympathy for the be-
reaved parents.
He leaves to mourn their loss, faith
err, mother, brothers, sisters, two grand
mothers, aunts, uncles, and a host of
relatives and friends. All will miss
him very much.
His remains were tender1y laid to
rest in the beautiful Evergreen Gem
etery, to await the Judgement Day.