The Skyland post., 1947-03-27
Appreciation Is Expressed For
Rev. James Floyd Fletcher
BY r.. l.. DOughtOn

his daughter, Mrs. w. r. Absher,
in North Wilkesboro, the long
and useful life of James Floyd
Fletcher, minister and citizen,
came to an end in his 86th year.
Born three years before the be-
ginning of the Civil War he, in
his early boyhood days, saw our
country PROSTATE as the result
of that unfortunate conflict, his
people without adequate mate
rial resources for the develop
ment of what was almost a
pioneer country, with roads,
school, churches and all inter-
nal improvements neglected and
in many communities non-eXiS-
tent. With the energy character
istic of his mountain people he
set to work to improve conditions
in his native county of Ashe and
at first embarked on a teaching
career which he abandoned at
the early age Of 18 years to en-
ter the ministery. In 1876 he was
ordained and at once entered up
on his life work, casting his lot
with the Baptist people who at
this time were building new
churches in Northwestern North
Carolina and creating new as
SOCiatiOnS for the advancement OF
the work Of the rural churches
In the organization of the Ashe
and Allegheny Associations the
then young minister took an &C.
tive and leading role, serving a!
member of the Committee tc
prepare AN Abstract of Prin
ciples,' preaching the closing
sermon of the Convention, help
ing in the formulation of all it.
principles and policies There
upon the Rev. J. F. Fletcher en-
tered more actively upon thu
varied duties Of long and usefu
life. He was pastor of churches
for more than so years; he ser
we'd under the General Board
of the Baptist State Convention
of North Carolina and of Virgini;
for more than 40 years. He wa.
moderator of the Allegheny AS
Sociatlon in 1908 and he visitec
and addressed the same aSSoci
alton in l945 in his 88th year Per
hapS more than any other mar
he knew the story of the Baptis
people of this mountain country
and he enacted leading part il
the making of this history. Fo
many years he was a careful in
vestigatior of this Baptist histor,
and 1885 he brought from th'
press his History Of Ashe, Nortl
Carolina and New River, Virgin
ia, Associations" Very little ha
ever been written on the his
tory of the BaptistS of Western
North Carolina, although it is ;
worthwhile and interesting story
Notwithstanding the fact tina
Rev. J. F. Fletcher was so clos,
to the men and events of his da,
that he became an importan
factor in the progress of tn,
churches and Of the whole com
munities in which he lived anC
wrought, yet in all his relation
he exhibited a fine sense of re
Stralnt, a modest self-effacemen
that characterized his whole life
To one who knew him for tn,
major part of lifetime a thou
sand pictures of the man, a thou
sand aspects of his life and labor
crowd upon memory, all clamOr
ing for recognition and all WOr
thy of high commentator Kind
| sympathetic, helpful, loving-h,
was the friend of all people of hi
beloved mountains. No person
ever sought his material or spirit
ual aid without receiving thi
boon in the fullest measure h,
was able to bestOW.
In the preparation of this brie
memorial of the life and service
of Brother Fletcher | have sough
to exercise a proper degree O
restraint and not to allow my