Mary Della Colbert

 
The Weekly Cartersville Express
Cartersville, Georgia
March 1, 1867, Page 3
 
Transcribed by:  
 

Obituary.

MARY DELLA COLBERT, eldest child and daughter of Thompson, and Mrs. Martha Colbert of Stilesboro Ga., was born in Hancock Co. Ga. June 21st 1849; born again and united with Mt. Zion Baptist Church, then under the pastoral charge of Rev. M. A. Clontz, in 1862; and died near Cedartown Ga. Dec. 28th 1866, at the residence of her uncle, Capt. Julius Peak, where she was making a short visit.

Seldom has a community been so shocked and startled, as by the sudden announcement of her death.  A few nights before, she had met with us at the closing exhibition of Stilesboro Institute, and participated in the vocal and instrumental music and social glee of that occasion; started the next day on a visit to some relatives but a few miles off, when lo, the announcement came back “she’s dead’ –‘prepare her grave.’  That stout form of blooming young womanhood, a few days previous so vigorous, was brought back to spend the last night at home, a livid corpse, yet beautiful and lovely even in death.  The long train of relatives and friends that followed her the next day to her last resting place, through drifting snow and chilling winds, as well as the many tears of beloved schoolmates and acquaintances, on taking a last, farewell view, attested the high esteem in which she was held by them all.

How sad it is to see one so young in years, so vigorous in health and so buoyant in hope, so suddenly called away:  To see the bright morning sun of human life, so suddenly eclipsed and instantly go down in the dark night of the tomb.  But there is hope, bright hope beyond it all.  For as it is encouraging to know that the sun is ever shining with brilliant beams beyond the darkest storm cloud that ever mantles earth – so when the bereavements of Providence and troubles of life fall like a cloud around us, it is equally consoling to know that the smiles of a heavenly Father’s face are bright above and beyond them all: that he is too wise to err, too good to be unkind.

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.”

The greatest consolation we could have at the grave is the hope that the deceased was prepared for the change.  That consolation we have in this bereavement.  For well do we remember when she gave her young heart to God.  And we trust that, aided by his grace, and by the godly examples and fervent prayers of pious parents and friends, when the sudden summons came, at the early watch, “Behold the Bride Groom cometh, go ye out to meet Him” – that she was standing with the “wise virgins,” with lamp trimmed and burning, ready to enter into marriage supper of the Lamb forever.

Letters of friendly greeting from her numerous friends at a distance, unapprised of her death, directed to her, are yet received by her sorrowing parents.  This will bear them the sad intelligence that their much esteemed young friend DELLA COLBERT is no more. – “Those who would hereafter find her, must seek her in the grave.”  “Be ye also ready – for in an hour that ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

The writer, having been her teacher from early girlhood, knew how to appreciate her in life, and can now realize some of the parental sorrow of her death, and bids her a life-long farewell ‘till we meet again in the great school of Christ above.
William Cunyus
Stilesboro, Ga., Feb/ 12th, 1867
N. B. Christian Index and Ladies Home, please copy, and oblige the many friends of the deceased. – W. C.

 

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