Tuesday, April 24, 2012

John Presley Fletcher




In Lonoke, Ark, Sept. 4, of congestion of the brain, John Presley Fletcher, son of Wm. P and Ella Fletcher, aged 3 years and 8 days.
The silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl is broken, and the spirit of little Jhonnie has winged its flight to the Paradise above. A tender blossom has been taken from the chilling blasts of earth and transplanted in the celestial gardens.

“But not in cruelty, not in wrath.
The Reaper came that day.
‘Twas an angel visited the green earth
And took the flower away.”

To the bereaved and grief stricken parents, I would fain to offer words of consolation, but there is no healing for such wounds. save the balm of Gilead so lavishly poured forth by the Great Physician. I can only commend them to him who doeth all things well and who doth not willingly afflict the children of men. May they be enabled to say, “The lord gave, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” D.A.E.

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
October 11, 1883

Barker Halbert


At Prattsville, Ark., on 7th day of Feb., of typhoid-pneumonia, Miss Barker Halbert, in the 42nd year of her age. Miss Halbert was born in the State of Mississippi, in the year 1840. She moved to this State with her parents when quite young and in the year 1859, professed faith in Christ, and was baptized into the fellowship of Philadelphia church, by Elder Joel Watson, she remained a consistent member until the day of her death. In all her relations of Christian, sister or friend in all the varied vocations of life, Miss Barker was the same genial, gentle spirit, the same kind sister and affectionate friend. She leaves many brothers and sisters to mourn her loss, but we feel assured that this separation will only be temporary, and that her many friends will soon, yes possibly soon, meet her where parting will be no more.                                                            A. Baptist

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
June 21, 1883

Ben.Timms


Ben. Timms

Our deepest sympathy to Dr. T. B. Timms and his wife Mrs. Mira Timms of New Edinburg, Ark., we record the death of their infant son, Ben Timms, born April 23rd, 1882 and died Oct. 12, 1883. Ben was a remarkably sprightly child and will be greatly missed. But God has taken him home to rest with him forever.

His Pastor

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
October 25, 1883


A.E. Lovelady


Sister A. E. Lovelady was born the 4th day of March, 1839 in Noxubee county, Mississippi. She professed religion in her 14th year at a Methodist meeting held by Brothers Box and Calloway, after which she joined the Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized by Brother William Lloyed.
She was married to G.O. Lovelady the 23rd day of March 1869. Then moved with her husband to Arkansas in March 1872 and settled in Logan county, there she and her husband put their letters into the Missionary Baptist church. There she lived until death.
The cold hand of death overtook her=August 19, 1883.
She and her husband lived together 24 years, 4 months and 27 days.
Sister Lovelady was a faithful member of the church about 27 years, She was faithful unto death, and the good book says: “ I will give thee a crown of Life,” Rev. 2:10. “ Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.
Oh, blessed thought to the faithful follower of Christ. When absent from the body they present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5:8.
Sister Lovelady was a good wife and a good mother. She a husband and four dear children, and a host of friends to mourn her loss, but we realize that our loss is her eternal gain,
From her pastor, friend and humble brother.

 W.N. Womack

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
September 29, 1883

Lizzie Toone


Lizzie Toone, on the 4th instant at Plum Bayou, Jefferson county, Ark., wife of George W. Toone, formerly of Tulip, Dallas County, Ark,
The fatal malady was an ulcer in the stomach. Her sufferings were long and painful; but she endured her afflictions with Christian fortitude and resignation, and died triumphing in the faith and hope of the gospel.
Her husband and children have our sincere condolence. “We sorrow not as those who have no hope” for ”Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”

“A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come, And we shall be with those who rest,
Asleep within the tomb.
A few more stuggles here,

A few more partings o’er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more.”

R. M. Thrasher

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
August 30, 1883

Louisa M. Lang





Louisa M. Lang, wife of B.F. Lang, on the evening of July 17th, after an illness of two weeks.
In the life and death of this dear sister, Jesus has had another faithful and efficient witness, the effect of whose testimony will continue while time shall last. Sister Lang leaves a sorrowing husband, and four children, an aged mother, brothers and sisters to mourn her loss. She was a member of Shiloh church; having professed faith in Christ more than twenty years ago she joined the Missionary Baptist church, and has lived a life of devotion to her church and the cause of Christ, is but to give utterance to a truth well known by all who knew her. May God help us to imitate the many Christian virtues of our departed sister. May our faith in Christ be as abiding and our prospects for heaven ever as bright as were hers.  

R.H. Waddell
Wallaceburg. Arkansas

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, AR
August 9, 1883

James A. Barnes


The New Friendship church has sustained a great loss as we deem it in the death of Bro. James A. Barnes who died of Swamp Fever at this residence in Saline county. He was one of the most active and working members in the church; and a worthy and useful man in the community. We will miss him greatly, and yet we are assured that our loss is his eternal gain. May the bereaved wife and orphan children be blessed and comforted by him who is able to “comfort us in all our afflictions.” A.T.

Arkansas Evangel
December 10, 1885, page 3

C.C. Robinson



With a sad heart we chronicle the death of C.C. Robinson, sheriff of Bradley county, who died on the 23rd of April. We have known Mr. Robinson from a boy; and esteemed him highly. We tender our earnest sympathies to his bereaved wife, and aged mother and other relatives.

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
May 15, 1884, page 3

John Miller


Brother John Miller, aged 76 years and 8 months, died of heart disease April 29, 1884. Brother Miller had long been a member of the Baptist church, and will be greatly missed. He leaves a large circle of brethren and friends to mourn his loss. But their loss is his eternal gain.
R.M. Small

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
May 15, 1884, page 3

John Sidney Davis




John Sidney Davis, Infant son and only child of Eld. L.R.B. Davis and wife, was born Aug 23, 1884.
Little Sidney was a sweet child and his little feet will be missed very much by the lamented parents; but he is not dead; he is only gone before. The Lord had a right to take him, or he would not have done so. He makes no mistakes. Precious little one! He knew no sin; he had no fears in death, but with him death has lost its venom sting. His sun went down, while it was yet day.
Sweet bud of earth’s wilderness riffled and torn;
Fond eyes have wept o’er thee
Fond hearts still will mourn.
The spoiler has come, with his cold withering breath,
And the loved and cherished lies silent in death.

Mama
Hope, Ark

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
March 3, 1886, page 3

Willie Ingram


 Willie Ingram

On the 25th day of June 1885, God in his inscrutable providence saw fit to reclaim, and recall from the tenement of clay, the spirit of Willie Ingram. In so doing he has claimed his own, will we should at all times bow submissively. In Willie’s conduct, in attendance and observance of the requirements of the Sabbath school we find an example worthy of imitation. Having placed his faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, his death was triumphant, While we part with him in sorrow, we feel that “our loss is his eternal gain.” Therefore be it.
Resolved 1st, that we tender our sympathies to his almost heat-broken mother and other relations in this, their sad bereavement.
2nd. That this preamble and resolutions be spread upon the record of our Sabbath school, and that the secretary be instructed to furnish the mother of the deceased with a copy thereof.
A.W. Files
H.C. Hinton} Com.
Mrs. H.A. Laurie

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
July 16, 1885, page 3

Mrs. Cullins



In Independence county, Arkansas December 30, 1885 Mrs. Cullins, at the age of 29 years, 9 months and 21 days. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gay. She professed faith in Christ in 1874 and joined the Little Springs Baptist Church in Sharp county, Arkansas. Her father moved to Big Bottom and there she joined the arm of Center Grove Church and remained there until her death. The church has lost a beloved member, but our loss is her eternal gain. She left a father and brother and sisters to mourn her loss. O then let us be ready when God shall call we must go.

Arkansas Evangel, Little Rock, Arkansas
March 11, 1886, page 4

Louisiana Vann Evans


Louisiana, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Vann, and wife of James M Evans, was born December 17th, 1828, in Edgecomb county, North Carolina, and in 1837 her parents moved with her to Haywood county, Tennessee. In 1849, under the ministry of George H. Thomas, pastor of the Baptist Church worshipping at Zion, she was convicted of sin, and while at home she obtained a hope in Christ, and received a baptism at the hands of this pastor and united herself with the church at Zion. And on the 23rd of December 1851, she married her now bereaved husband, Jas. Evans, who in November 1866, moved to White county, in this state and settled near El Paso, uniting with Antioch church, where she remained until the day of her death, May the 28th, 1874. She had a long and protracted illness which is common in cases of consumption and was closely confines to her room for six moths before her death. Notwithstanding her afflictions were long and severe, she bore them with fortitude and patience, and was perfectly submissive, and on being interrogated in regard to her future prospects she always manifested that hope that ever characterizes the Christian, and in view of that hope her husband has selected, as a suitable text for her funeral the 24th-25th verses of the eighth chapter of Romans. Sister Evans was the mother of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, leaving four girls and four boys with the bereaved husband to mourn her loss. Weep, not husband, for while you are here to watch over the eight children living, she has gone to join the two in heaven, Remember that Christ said, “ I am the resurrection and the life.” C.

Western Baptist,  Little Rock, Arkansas
September 26, 1874, page 2