Josephine Topp Obituary

Source is probably either the Aberdeen Examiner or Aberdeen Weekly. Clipping was found in obituary notebooks at Evans Memorial Library in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

OBITUARY.
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Departed this life in Aberdeen, Mississippi, June 15th 1888, Mrs. Josephine Topp, widow of the late Major W. H. Topp aged 57 years and 4 months.

The character of this true woman was well known in Aberdeen. Her beautiful life was a daily witness to her worth, and the simple and unostentatious manifestation of her virtues was recognized by all who knew her.

She was a woman who feared God and served Him in truth and sincerity. Her faith in Jesus Christ as the only ground of her hope and acceptance, was simple and steadfast. She was true to her convictions of duty, as she believed them to be founded upon the will of God as revealed in His word. However others may have differed from her views, none who rightly knew her, questioned her fidelity to principle, or failed to respect and admire her consistency.

She was kind to all, and ever ready to lend a helping hand and show a sympathizing heart to those who were in any want or trouble. Her beautiful unselfishness was a prominent trait of her character, and her gentleness and humility impressed all who knew her. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which communion she was ever true and faithful, though her heart went out in love and sympathy to all who loved the Lord Jesus in truth and sincerity. To her Pastor and his family she was full of kindness and consideration, and her memory to them is sweet and precious.

In the providence of God, she was not permitted to hold converse with her kindred and friends in her dying hours, but that was not needed to assure our bereaved hearts of the readiness to depart and be with Christ. Her life was a noble testimony to her interest in the inheritance of faith, and as we laid her down to rest, it was with a steadfast hope and confidence that, having "fought a good fight—finished her course, and kept the faith, henceforth there was laid up for her a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, should give her."

"Life's duty done, as sinks the day,
    Light from its load, the spirit flies,
While heaven and earth combine to say,
    How blest the righteous when he dies."