One Word Tells The Story Of His Life

Epitaph:

One Word Tells The Story Of His Life
"Faithful."

Attached to:

- William G. White (1841-1885) at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia

Categories:

- Personal

O Happy Stroke!

[Originally posted at the Southern Graves blog.]

In Memoriam
W. B. Marshall
Son of Stephen & E. Marshall
Born May 16, 1796
Died June 24, 1874

O happy stroke! that burst the bonds of clay,
Darts through the rending gloom the blaze of day.
And wings the soul with boundless flight to soar,
Where dangers threat and fears alarm no more.

For fifty five years a member of the
church which in him ever found
a generous supporter.
A kind husband, father, and friend.
Useful, laborious and public spirited.
Ever he lived to do good to others.
His excellent sense, sound judgement
and inflexible integrity gained for
him many positions of honor and trust,
yet he never lost his native modesty.
His warm and generous heart gained
for him many friends who will ever remember
him with gratitude and admiration.

Waverly Hall Cemetery
Waverly Hall, Harris County, Georgia

All photos © 2008-2013 S. Lincecum

Another Gem in the Savior's Crown...

Epitaph:

Another gem in the Savior's crown,
Another soul in Heaven.

Attached to:

- Helen Welborn (1887-1914) at Blue Heights Baptist Church Graveyard in Mountain City, Rabun County, Georgia

Categories:

- Afterlife
- Religion

In the Dim Unknown Standeth God...

[Originally posted at the Southern Graves blog.]

James Exum Taylor
May 9, 1837
June 23, 1913

In the dim unknown standeth God, within the
shadow, keeping watch above His own.

Walker Cemetery
Bleckley County, Georgia

Photo © 2013 S. Lincecum

Early, Bright, Transient, Chaste as Morning Dew...

Epitaph:

Early, bright, transient, chaste as morning dew,
They sparkled, were exhaled and went to Heaven.

Attached to:

- Mrs. Polly Bryan (b. 1791) and her infant children at Walker Cemetery in Bleckley County, Georgia

Categories:

- Poetry

Notes:

- From "Night Thoughts" by Edward Young.

Death, Rigid Lord, Hath Claimed the Lifeless Clay...

[Originally posted at the Southern Graves blog.]

Photo © 2013 S. Lincecum

Martha, daughter of George and Martha S. Walker, was born 4 November 1828. She died less than twenty-one years later on 25 May 1849. "She was amiable, pious, and beloved in her life, and deeply lamented in her death."

Another portion of Martha's epitaph on her tombstone at Walker Cemetery in Bleckley County, Georgia reads, "Death, rigid Lord, hath claimed the lifeless clay; While joyously the youthful soul hath gone to take its heritage."

I found this same couplet in a book entitled New Cyclopaedia of Poetical Illustrations (pub 1872). The book was divided into categories, and the above lines were part of a writing by M. F. Tupper under "DEATH, Physical." I found it interesting, if a bit graphic:

Martha Walker tombstone, © 2013 S. Lincecum

Death is here in spirit, watcher of a marble corpse,
That eye is fixed, that heart is still, -- how dreadful in its stillness!
Death, new tenant of the house, pervadeth all the fabric;
He waiteth at the head, and he standeth at the feet, and hideth in the caverns of the breast:
Death, subtle leech, hath anatomized soul from body,
Dissecting well in every nerve its spirit from its substance:
Death, rigid lord, hath claimed the heliot clay,
While joyously the youthful soul hath gone to take his heritage:
Death, cold usurer, hath seized his bonded debtor;
Death, savage despot, hath caught his forfeit serf;
Death, blind foe, wreaketh petty vengeance on the flesh:
Death, fell cannibal, gloateth on his victim,
And carrieth it with him to the grave, that dismal banquet-hall,
Where in foul state the Royal Ghoul holdeth secret orgies.

There Remaineth Therefore a Rest to the People of God

Epitaph:

There remaineth therefore
a rest to the people of
GOD.

Attached to:

- George Walker (1793-1865) at Walker Cemetery in Bleckley County, Georgia

Categories:

- Bible Scripture

Notes:

- Hebrews 4:9