This document is from Jean Church’s research.

Obituaries

From Primitive Baptist Association Minutes

Held with Center Church, Wilkes Co. N. C.

October 24 and 25, 1924

Adams

Joseph Alfred Adams was born July 19, 1831. Died November 16, 1923, age 92 years, 3 months,

and 27 days. He joined the church 50 odd years ago at Liberty Grove. After the constitution of Center he moved his membership there and lived a member till death. He was married to Nancy C. Adams December 14, 1876.To this union were born 6 children; 5 boys and 1 girl.
Weep not my children, my life is past
Your love was dear to the last.
Weep not for me, but pity take,
And love one another for my sake.
Death breaks the ties of strongest love,
Fills many hearts with grief and pain,
But those that meet in heaven above,
Will never part again.

Caudill

Walter Garwood Caudill, son of B. H. and M. E. Caudill, was born April 28, 1923, Died Feb 5, 1924, making his stay on earth 9 months and 7 days.
No flower that ever bloomed in the garden or out in the wild,
Was half so precious to mother, as this sick little child.
She knew by the frail little body and pale little face,
That he soon would be taken from her arms to another place.
To the Elysian fields of eternal joys and infinite love;
Where his Angel will behold the face of the Father above.
Weep not mother, weep not father, because of his death,
For he has gone where there is no struggle for breath.
When he was here he was under the appointment of death,
In a world where he must eat bread by the sweat of his face.
When nest you see him, he will be in the best of health;
Clad in white, surrounded in luxury and wealth.
A crown for his forehead, equal to those of the angel band,
No more crying, tears wiped away by God’s soft hand,
I know how sad the parting, how great the pain,
So prepare to meet Garwood and never part again.
Written for the bereaved mother by A.C. S.

Ellis

Claud Ellis, son of Smith and Adelaid Ellis, was born about 1893. Joined the church at Piney Grove about 1908 Moved his membership to Round Mountain Dec. 3, 1921. Died March 10, 1924.
Every one that knew Claud believed him to be a Christian.
The golden gates were open,
A gentle voice said come:
And with a farewell unspoken,
He calmly entered home.

Elledge

Bertman Elledge, son of Rev. J.C. and Almedia Elledge, was born 16 August 1894. Departed this life Jan. 7, 1924.

Joined round Mountain church Feb. 16, 1909 by baptism.

His stay on earth was 29 years, 4 months and 21 days. His last two years he served as church clerk. He was a good teacher for several years.
The dear one from us is gone.
The voice we loved is still;
A place is vacant in our home,
That can never be filled.

Hawkins

Sarah Hawkins, whose maiden name was Harrold, was born Oct. 12, 1840. Died July 10, 1924. Age 83 years, 8 months, 28 days.

She professed a hope in Christ in early life and joined the church a Zion Nov. 4th Sunday, 1882, where she remained a faithful member till death. She was first married to William Brown about 1855.

Unto this union was born 2 children, 1 yet living. She was deprived of her husband about 1860 by his death. She married Joseph Hawkins about 1863, unto this union were born 3 children, two of whom are living. He last days were filled with pain,
She is here on earth no more,
She’s gone to the other shore
To dwell with loved ones gone on before.
Written by J.M. Harrold
Hincher
Freelin Hincher was born Jan 19, 1889. Died Jan 19, 1924.

He was married to Sarah Sebastian Feb. 5, 1899. To this union were born 9 children, 8 living and one dead. Three of them have professed a hope in Christ and are member of Cane Creek church.

He professed a hope in early life and joined the church at Dehart. Afterwards moved his membership to Zion, moving from here to cane Creek and becoming a constitutional member of Cane Creek church, where he remained a faithful and Consistent member until death. He was ordained a deacon of Cane Creek church and served in that capacity until death.

His last days were days of suffering, but he bore it with patience. He said he was willing to die and had a hope that he would be better off after death.
A good and faithful brother from us is gone,
WE will badly miss him on and on;
Dearest brother thou has left us here
Thy loss we surly feel.
‘Tis God who has bereft us.
He alone can our sorrows heal.

Lunceford

Nannie Lunceford, whose maiden name was Alexander, was born October 23, 1837. Died July 9, 1924, making her stay on earth 86 years, 8 months and 16 days. She leaves two brothers and two sisters and a host of friends to mourn their loss.

She professed a hope in Christ and joined the Baptist church before the Civil Was. Aunt Nannie was loved by all who knew her, and she took great delight in telling people how to live. She loved her church and filled her seat as often as she could. She had the Holy Spirit with her. She took great delight in her younger days, in feeding the people of God and the poor. May we all be ready to meet Aunt Nannie in heaven.
And when we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun
We’ll have no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun.
Written by Eld. A.C. walker and D. I. Holbrook

McBride

Martin Green McBride was born Nov. 6 1844, and died Sept. 27, 1924. Age 70 years 10 months and 21 days.

He was married to Sarah Jane Harris Feb, 15, 1866, and unto this union were born eight children, six boys and 2 girls, all of whom are now living.

He professed a hope in Christ in early life and joined Swan Creek Baptist church (Yadkin Co. NC) about 1860. Later he moved his membership to Roaring River church where his membership remained until death.

His health began to decline several years ago, bur his final illness covered a period of only a few weeks, while his suffering was intense it was borne with a noticeable degree of fortitude.

He procured an honest living for himself and those dependent on him, by hard toil and well laid plans of the council of his own good judgment.

The courtesy and exceptional hospitality shown by him to the humble Christian soldier, and especially the ministry, made his home a lodging place for those people.

Among his last visits to his home church, during a revival, after the congregation had adjourned, he stopped by the aisle of church, seated himself and asked those in the house to come near and sing “Hoe Firm a Foundation Ye Saints of The Lord” during the song he gave us his hand, while the tears coursed their way down his furrowed cheeks, and said I cannot meet with you many more times.

His funeral services were conducted by Revs. A. McKnight and G. W. Miles, after which his body was laid to rest in the Cemetery at Roaring River to sleep till the last trumpet shall sound.
Peace be to the dear widow in her lonely days,
To the girls, comfort mingled with joy and love,
To the boys, heed the Bible in all it says
Till you are all taken to the home above.
Far-well dear father, you are free from all Pain,
You can come to us never, never again.
But praise be to Jesus, who made the way plain
By his Devine help, we hope to heaven gain.
The circle is broken, the head took away.
May his life be to us as the sun to the day
To guide our footprints in the heavenly way.
To the re-union in everlasting day.
Written by G. W. Miles.

Miles

Margaret Miles, (whoses maiden name was Roberts) was born March 20, 1839, and departed this life February 25, 1924. Age 84 years 11 months, and 5 days, this being the same age of her husband (the late Eld. William Miles) at the same time of his death.

She professed a hope in Christ more than three score years ago and joined Woodruff Baptist church, but later became a constitutional member of Liberty Knob church where her membership remained till death.

She was the mother of nine children, six of whom are now living.

She was courteous, kind and cheerful and along the lines of industry, and efforts to provide the necessaries of life for herself and that of her family, had few peers in this vicinity.

She endeavored by upright living and parental admonition to put indelibly in the minds of her children and the young of the community, obedience to parents, the building of inflexible character and a full submission to the Divine leadership.

Her last days were days of much suffering but born patiently.

On the day mentioned above a few hours after the luminary had gone behind the western hills, the sun of her life went down, the pendulum of life stood still.

Her burial services were conducted by Elds. A. McKnight and A. F. Walker, after which her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery of Woodruff church.
Farewell good mother til the trump will sound
To awake us the dead that sleep under ground.
Then up from the grave your body will rise
And soar to Jesus, your Lord, in the skies
Your counsels and prayers, your life and tears
Will revive our prospects and quell our fears
Till we, too, shall fall victim to death
And conquer all in the last fleeting breath.
Teague
H. F. Teague, was born October2, 1861. Died August 224, 1924.
He wsas married to Mary A. Shumate. God blessed this union with five children, four living and one dead.

He joined the church at cane creek but later moved his membership to Zion where he lived a faithful member until death.
Heaven now retains our treasure,
Earth the lonely casket keeps
But the sun-beams long to linger
Where dear brother sleeps.

Walker

Marinda Gentry, was born June 28, 1843, she professed a hope in Christ and joined the church in early life. She was married to Wm. Counsil Walker March 10, 1870. Unto this union were born 7 children, 9 boys and 1 girl. She moved her membership to Double Creek some eight years ago where she remained a faithful member until death. She was afflicted with Paralysis about 2 years befoe her death on the 24 day of June 1924, when the Lord called her away from her sufferings to the unseen world above to join in the song of redeeming love and never dying grace.

Her stay on earth was 81 years lacking 4 days. Her husband departed this life July 15, 1915. Sister Walker leaves six children and a large connection to mourn their loss. She was a loving companion, a good mother and kind to all. She did not only profess to be a Christian but lived it. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” David said in Psalms 116:15. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

Oh, how she will be missed! These kind tender words with a smiling face we’ll hear or see no more. He seat is vacant in the house and in the church, that voice is silent. Her departure will cause her teaching to weigh more heavily on the minds of her loved ones.

I would say to the children and relatives weep no more.

Her burial services were conducted by Elders F. M. Osborn and A. C. Walker after which her body was laid in the grave beside her husband in the family grave-yard to wait resurrection morning.
Our sister had left us here below,
In this sad world of sin and care.
Her agony on earth was great.
As oft to us she did relate
.But now she has paid the debts we owe,
Ere long we all, like her must go.
Her heart was full of love,
Her life was full of love,
Her life was full of kind deeds.
To her reward she is now gone,
To rest in heaven above,
Oh, may the Lord prepare us all,
When from this earth the savior clls
Our spirits from this house of clay.
To meet the dear sister in endless day.
Near Double Creek church her body lies.
With relatives of closest ties.
But robed in white when she will rise,
To meet the Saviour in the skies.
Fare-well to our mother dear, if we, thy children faithful be
In heaven thy face soon we’ll see.
Written by Wiley Combs.
It is requested that a few lines that her deaf and dumb boy wrote be added to her Obituary.

The mother’s character: Here Mrs. Marinda Walker (Gentry) that great mother on earth. She did good work in her life and raised her own good family. But (Tyra) I want to tell all of you that mother had a hard time to raise a deaf, mute boy. And she did well with me, until a am a man O.K.

Her good character was worth the gold and glory. Now she has gone to Paradise with God, where Jesus promised to give her a happy home forever. Oh! No more sorrows on this earth. Though I tell her good bye, I will meet her up there when Jesus calls me there. Now all of you must remember her always and forever. I made this crown and cross of flowers to put on to show beauty. Great praises to God. His blessings are a comfort.

Tyra

Wood

Susan Wood, whose maiden name was Brown, was born August 18, 1851. Died December 13, 1923, age 72 years 3 months and 25 days.

She professed a hope in Christ and joined the Round Mountain church first, then moved her membership to Center December the first Saturday 1916 and lived a faithful member until death. She was married to Elze Wood June 16, 1871, unto this union were born four children, three are living and one dead.
Farewell dear mother, sweet be thy rest,
Weary with years and worn with pain
Farewell till some happy place
We shall behold thy face again.
“Tis ours to miss tee all our years,
And tender memories to keep.
Thine in the Lord to rest,
For so He giveth His beloved sleep.