R.A. SEWARD 

RA. SEWARD, OF CHESTER, FATHER OF ER. SEWARD FORMERLY CHANCERY CLERK OF CHOCTAW, DIDED ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK OF DROPSY OF THE CHEST, SO WE ARE INFORMED BY MR. AJ. HOLLAND, THE CESTER MAIL-RIDER.

1887 WALTHALL PAPER

MISS CAROLINE COOKE, JAN 5 1887

WAS BORN MAY 20TH 1822 IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ALABAMA. PROFESSED RELIGION AT THE AGE OF 17 YEARS, AND JOINED THE CAHABA BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1839, WAS MARRIED TO MR. JOHN RITCH IN 1840, AND IS THE MOTHER OF 10 CHILDREN. SEH DIED IN CUMBERLAND JAN 5 1887, AGED 48 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF HER MASTER. ONE WHO WAS INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HER FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, SAYS "IF THERE EVER WAS ACHARGE AGAINST OR HARSH EXPRESSION ABOUT HER, FOR FROM ANY ONE HE NEVER KNEW IT". TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SISTER RICH, I WOULD SAY WEEP NOT FOR DOUBTLESS, "SHE RESTS FROM HER LABORS AND HER WORKS DO FOLLOW HER."

T.H. MIDDLETON--CUMBERLAND MISS.

ELLEN E. PITTMAN ---JANUARY 20TH 1887

MRS. ELLEN E. PITTMAN, WIFE OF REV. J.W. PITTMAN OF THE M.E. CHURCH SOUTH, AND DAUGHTER OF REV. G.S. BRADFORD OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WAS BORN IN HAYWOOD COUNTY TENN, AUG 22ND 1845. MOVED WITH HER PARENTS TO CARROLL COUNTY MS IN 1849.  PROFESSED RELIGION AND JOINED THE M.E. CHURCH SOUTH, IN SEPT 1863, AND LIVED A CONSISTENT MEMBER OF SAME, UNTILL CALLED BY DEATH TO THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT. SHE WAS MARRIED TO J.W. PITTMAN DEC 20TH 1866, AND DIED AT HIS RESIDENCE NEAR CADARETTA, WEBSTER COUNTY, MISS JAN 20TH 1887. SHE LEFT SEVEN CHILDREN THE YOUNGEST OF WHICH IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. TWO HAD GONE BEFORE TO LIVE WITH GOD. HAVING ENJOYED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH HER AS HER PASTOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HER LIFE I FEEL SAFE IN SAYING THAT SHE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN MERELY BY NAME; SHE WAS SUCH PRACTICALLY. AS A METHODIST SHE WAS INTELLIGENT. SHE KNEW WHY SHE WAS A METHODIST. SHE LOVED HER CHURCH AND MAIFESTED AN INTEREST IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OF ITS WORK. THIS INTEREST HOWEVER WAS BY NO MEANS CONFINED TO HER OWN CHURCH. SHE LOVED ALL CHRISTIANS, AND REJOICED IN THE PROSPERITY OF ANY SISTER CHURCH. HER PASTOR, AS DOUBTLESS ALL HER PASTORS WILL TESTIFY, HAD IN HER A TRUE FRIEND. SHE KNEW NOW AND WHEN TO SPEAK A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT. HER PIETY WAS MARKED AND DEMONSTRATIVE. AS A DAUGHTER SHE WAS LOVING AND OBEDIENT; AS A SISTER, SHE WAS SYMPATHETIC AND KIND; AS A MOTHER SHE WAS THOUGHTFUL AND TENDER; AS A WIFE SHE WAS IN AN EMINENT SENSE WORTHY--A HELP MATE INDEED. "WHAT I AM AS A PREACHER," SAID HER HUSBAND, "I OWE TO HER. HER INFLUENCE HAS NEVER BEEN OTHERWISE THAN TO ELEVATE ME." SHE DIED OF CONSUMPTION, FROM WHICH SHE HAD BEEN A SUFFERER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. FREQUENTLY, AND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ALMOST CONSTANTLY, HER SUFFERING WAS INTENSE. THE GRACE OF GOD THAT QUALIFIED HER FOR USEFULNESS, SUSTAINED HER IN HER SUFFERING. SHE WAS EVER GRATEFUL TO HER FRIENDS FOR THEIR KINDNESS, AND TO GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS IN GIVING HER FRIENDS. SHE APPRECIATED LIFE AND WANTED TO LIVE TO BE USEFUL, BUT WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT THE END WAS NEAR LIKE PAUL SHE COULD SAY "I AM READY". I VISTED HER A FEW DAYS BEFORE HER DEATH. SHE KNEW SHE WOULD DIE SOON. AFTER REQUESTION ME TO PREACH HER FUNERAL, SHE ASSURED ME THAT SHE COULD WELCOME DEATH AS A SWEET RELIEF, AT ANY MOMENT; ALSO THAT SHE DID NOT CLAIM HER ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD AS A RESULT OF HER GOODNESS, BUT ASCRIBED ALL THE PRAISE TO CHRIST. I PRAYED WIT HER AND LEFT HER HAPPY, AND THUS SHE CONTINUED TO THE LAST. THE FUNERAL SERVICES ON THE 22ND WAS LARGELY ATTENDED. THE PARENTS OF THE DECEASED, THOUGH AGED AND FEEBLE, WERE ABLE TO BE PRESENT.

W.C. HARRIS