Obit: Louise Maher Graves - Madison and East Carroll Parishes, LA Submitted by: Richard P. Sevier Midland, Texas ****************************************************************************** USGenWeb NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************ LOUISE MAHER GRAVES MADISON COORDINATOR'S NOTE: Louise Watson Maher Graves, Daughter of Philip and Caroline Maher, who were one of Madison Parish's largest and wealthiest landowners before the Civil War, died relatively young after spending the Civil War away from her family in a Maryland convent. She saw her beautiful plantation overrun by yankee soldiers, and finally lost most of it to the westward eroding Mississippi River. She apparently contracted Consumption early in her life and was an invalid for many years. In spite of her pain and misfortunes she had six children and lived a relatively full and extremely religious life. Louise Graves has over 150 descendants. Her grandchildren played an important role in Madison Parish with one marrying a longtime State Senator; one becoming Mayor of Tallulah and serving in public life longer than anyone else in Louisiana and one (along with his son) serving as Madison Parish Tax Assessor for many years up to the present date. In addition, her oldest daughter was the wife of one of New Orleans' early "Kings of Carnival". I am proud to be the great grandson of Louise Maher Graves. Lake Providence Banner Democrat Saturday, September 17, 1892 Vol. V - #13 Page 3 OBITUARY, --------------- Died in Lake Providence in the 47th year of her age, LOUISE MAHER GRAVES, beloved wife of John F. Graves, formerly of Madison Parish. The much loved child of fond parents, she was reared in a lovely home surrounded by all that wealth and affection could lavish. The tender years of her infancy and childhood were guided by these loving hearts, who ever instilled in her mind precepts of virtue and religion. As she grew and attained girlhood she was placed in a Maryland Convent, where her education was completed by the accomplished Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. This early piety, so impressed on her youth, she retained in after years; even when sorrows and misfortunes overshadowed her life, until at times there scarcely seemed to be left a ray of hope to cheer her path. An invalid for years, she never faltered, constantly clinging to her faith, feeling that it is only in the shadow of the Cross a soul is dear to God, repeating with Job: The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord! (Job.1c.21v.) She has left a devoted husband and six children to mourn her loss. May God comfort their sorrow-stricken hearts? "There is no death! What seems so is transition; This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysian, Whose portal we call death. In that great cloister's stillness and seclusion. By guardian angels led Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution, She lives whom we call dead!" Looking down the vista of time, I see a vision of a fair, blue-eyed, sunny-haired child, whose life was replete with happiness and blessings - the petted idol of the household, whose budding childhood gave promise of a life that knew neither care nor sorrow - but lo! the said tidings are received of her death, of her long and painful illness, of her many crushing misfortunes! Oh! How forcible we realize the wisdom of withholding the future from our view! Could we lift the veil, who would dare do so! God is good, just and merciful, and dying as she lived in the faith of the grand old Catholic Church, we believe her translated to the land where reign only happiness and sunshine, where the memory of what she suffered is swallowed up in the fruition of eternal bliss. May she rest in peace! AGNES (Morancy)?. Milliken's Bend, Sept. 1892.