Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1946-09-30
MIR. KALFORD LEE BURTON.
a TRIBUTE OF LOVE
nv W. II. Cullom

| came TO know the good man that
| am here referring to. He was then
a boy ten years of age, and I was
young man just beginning my work
as teacher of Bible in Wake Forest
College The Baptist Church at Mid
dlebure, North Carolina. asked me
at that time to spend one weekend
each month with them as pastor.
For fourteen years this relationship
was continued and many most pleas
ing and lifelong friendships were
formed. Kalford's ia:hnr and moth
er lived at Middleourg al that time
sand were in the very prime OF their
rich and beautiful lives. The whole
Purton family at once took their
place in my heart of hearts and have
occupied that place with tender.
strong, and ever-inCrcasing affection
from that day to this.
The only son 10 survive III that
family was Kalford Lee. whose name
heads this paper. From what
have said, his friends and mine will
understand that l have followed his
career with peculiar and cvcr-decp-
cning interest. His work in Rich
mond COLLEGE tnow the University
of Ricl:1-o nd) - his fathers Alma
Mater; his work with the Virginia.
Carolina Guano Company: his mar
riage TO Miss Ruth Abbot of Geor-
gia. one of the most choice spirits
that ] have known: their develop
ment of one of the great homes of
Vance County; his successful career
as officer in the Citizens Bank and
Trust Company of Henderson; his
place in the civic. religious and Gull
tural life of his community: his keen
and discriminating interest in world
af[airs-his whole life from the day
that | first knew him as a little
boy at Middleburg to the hour when
| Farham Hospital, June 81, 1916.
have all been as thoroughly and as
sympathctically shared by me as
one of his closest personal friends,
as if he had really been a member
of my own family. II will be seen.
therefore, that what | am trying to
say here is as far removed as pos
Sible from any suggestion of the
mere perfunctory. The plain. simple
truth is that Kalford Burton held
place in my heart and life through
, the years that no words of mine can
describe, and his going out from us
has left a vacancy that calls loudly
and strongly for further and even
eternal fellowship in what DR.. Ly-
mon Abbott has so beautifully de-
scribed in his great book, THE 9TH
Err ROOM.
il was a matter of deep and even
poignant regret with me that seri-
Gus illness kept me from his bedside
ana from his home during his stay
in the hospital and also from shar-
ing in person with his loved ones in
the beautiful, tender and loving
services at the funeral. But they
understand and know very we'll how
| felt ABOUT all of this and how I
feel toward them.
While in Henderson few days
ago l learned that Kalford's birth
day had just passed. The purpose
was formed then that as soon as I
felt equal to il | was going to offer
this word 10 his community paper
in the hope that what I might say
would suggest in a measure what I
should like to say. The One who
"spake as never man spake" said
on one occasion, 1.-THE good seed are
the sons of the Kingdom, This
means TO me that a good man Is
the biggest and richest asset that
any community can possess. In the
home going, therefore. of this good
man, not only his own home, his
own loved ones, and his closest
friends have suffered loss which
nothing can replace, but his whole
community and society at large have
lost that which nothing else can re-
place. And yet, II is all loss? Is
not the memory Of his example, of
his simple and unaffected modesty.
Of his loyalty TO the best things, of
his beautiful and consecrated life.
a legacy that will live on always to
enrich and bless all who knew and
loved him? Personally, I thank his
God and the God Of us all for my
association with him and with those
who knew and loved him best.
i Az w. r. CULLOM,
TIL Wake Forest N C.