Many people learned with sorrow of the death of Mrs. Martha J. Parker which occurred Monday morning, January 6, in St. Louis, Mo., at the home of her niece, Mrs. G. E. Egger. The body was accompanied to Lexington by Mrs. G. E. Egger, Mrs. D. M. Burner and A. Anderson. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. C. C. Anderson of New Holland, Ill., and one brother James Martin, of Los Angeles, Cal., and a host of nieces and nephews.
The attending physician pronounced the cause of her death acute dilatation of the heart. He said it was simply a "beautiful ending of a beautiful life."
She had told her friends that it made no difference how her illness terminated as she was prepared to go. The ending of her earthly life was consistent with her sweet, consecrated christian life. With folded hands she fell asleep to wake with Him whom she had loved and served so well.
She was born in Fayette County and reared in Lexington and spent her married life at "Stony Point", the historic old home on the Parker's Mill Road.
After the death of her husband, John Parker, who was once a prominent citizen of Fayette County, she moved to Lincoln, Ill. But continued to spend a portion of each year with relatives in Fayette County and retained the love and admiration of a wide circle of friends in this vicinity.
Mrs. Parker was in her eighty-fifth year of life of sacrifice for her fellow men and devotion to her Master that had been an inspiration to all who had come within the sphere of her gentle influence. She had been a member of the Baptist church thru-out her life and her Christian character had been as a shining light in that congregation. The victorious and peaceful death of Mrs. Parker closed the earthly career of a sweet, beautiful and useful life.
Of honorable ancestry, of brilliant mind, and of most unpretending simplicity and integrity of character, her influence will linger in the hearts and lives of her friends: wherever she was known she was admired by the consistency of her conduct, by the beautiful symmetery of her personality.
Falling asleep on the wings of pray gracious Savior, and awoke to find it all a blessed reality.
The funeral took place Wednesday January 8, at the cemetery chapel.
The service was conducted by the Rev. J. C. Stockhouse, whose words of consolation were accompanied by the singing of her favorite hymns. The presence of old friends and the silent ministry of beautiful flowers.
Jacksonville Daily Journal, Mar. 7, 1915
MORTUARY
Parker
Mrs. Nancy Redding Parker passed away at the family residence, 820 South East street, at 7:10 o'clock Saturday morning. Her death was due to paralysis from which she was a sufferer for a period of six weeks.
She was born at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Winter, oa farm a few miles southeast of Jacksonville on Nov. 1, 1841 and at the time of death she had attained to the age of 73 years, 5 months and 22 days. In early girlhood she was converted and became a member of the Asbury Methodist church where she was an attendant until her removal to this city to reside when her membership was changed to the Brooklyn church. She was united in marriage to David Winter who preceded his wife in death in 1906, and on Oct. 12, 1909 she was married to Thomas N. Parker who survives to mourn her death. Mrs. Parker was the mother of sixteen chidlren, seven of whom have preceded their mother in death. She is survived by her sons and daughters as follows: William T. Winter of Santa Cruz, Calif., James E. and Charles H. Winter of Aurora, Neb., Mrs. Sarah J. Barnhardt, Claude Winter, Mrs. Lillian M> Helliwell, Homer M. Winter and Mrs. Bessie P. Megginson, all of whom are residents of Morgan county and reside south of Jacksonville. She is also survived by one brother, F. M. Redding of Chandlerville, Cass county, and by 24 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in Brooklyn church and will be in charge of the pastor, Rev. W. M. Miller of Woodson.
Interment will be made in the family lot in Sheppard cemetery in the vicinity of the farm where for many years the deceased made her home.
Submitted by: Walter Warren Haley