Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS

     Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS , daughter of Allen Mark CHAMBLISS and Elizabeth Jane WHITEHEAD, was born on 31 October 1850 in Old Kingston, Autauga County, Alabama.¹ She was also known as Sallie.²

Sarah married William Henry HUNT, son of Henry Harrison HUNT and Sarah BURT, on 20 April 1870 in Autauga County, Alabama.²

William died on 14 September 1904 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 73 leaving Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS as a widow.³

Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS was identified as his surviving wife in William Henry HUNT's obituary in the Prattville Progress dated 16 September 1904, published in Prattville, Alabama.^4,5

Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 23 April 1910 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as Sarah R. Hunt, a 59-year-old widow and mother of 8 with 6 living. Living with her were her children: William A. Hunt, a 34-year-old retail grocer, Emma and Ella Hunt, 26-year-old twins. They lived at 401 Chestnut Street.⁶

Sarah left a will dated 6 October 1932 in Autauga County, Alabama. Her executrices were her daughters Emma and Ella. Also named were her sons James A., W. A., W. H., and A. J. Witnesses were Amelia Alexander, Myrtis J. Rice, and Guy Rice. The will included her land between Tichnor Avenue and 3rd Street, which was bound on the west by store lots of B. W. Moncrief, Northington Musgrove, and James A. Hunt. The will was probated 24 May 1937.⁷

Sarah Rebecca CHAMBLISS died on 25 March 1933 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 82.³ She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama.

Sarah's obituary was printed on 30 March 1933 in the Prattville Progress newspaper, published in Prattville, Alabama. It read: "Noble Woman is Called by Death-- Prattville and Autauga County lost one of their sweetest spirits Saturday night when the soul of Mrs. Sarah Rebecca Hunt returned to its eternal home at 11:15 o'clock. Death came to this aged lady following a lengthy illness during which she had been a patient sufferer.

Mrs. Hunt was a member of one of Autauga's pioneer families. She was born on October 31, 1850 near Old Kingston, the daughter of Allen and Eliza Whitehead Chambliss, who came to this county in the early days of its history from North Carolina. Her early life was spent at Kingston. On April 20, 1870 she was married to Mr. William H. Hunt, prominent Prattville merchant, and came here to live. For many years she and her husband were prominent in the business, social and religious life of our town. Mr. Hunt died in September, 1904. Mrs. Hunt died in the home on North Chestnut Street which she had occupied for the past 61 years. She was the oldest member of the local Methodist church, and her family, her home and her church, was the absorbing interests of her life.

Surviving the deceased are four sons, J. A., W. H., and A. J. Hunt; two daughters, Misses Emma and Ella Hunt, of Prattville; two brothers, W. T. Chambliss, of York and W. Y. Chambliss, of Marbury, and one sister, Mrs. Emma P. Myrick, of Marbury.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 10:30 from the home, with Rev. R. J. Mills officiating. Internment was at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pall bearers were Messrs. Guy Rice, W. A. McKay, C. D. Wadsworth, Geo. W. Killough, L. D. McCrary and D. P. Bateman.

Out-of-town people here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chambliss, Goshen; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hogan and daughter, Speigener; Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Hunt and Mrs. H. C. Peterson, Birmingham; Mrs. W. Y. Chambliss, Mrs. Emma P. Myrick and Mr. Hobson Nelson, Marbury; Mr. William Roe, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Chambliss, Mr. and Mrs. D. D. James, Mr. and Mrs. McDade and Mr. John Chambliss, of Montgomery."