Pike County
Mississippi
MSGenWeb
Morris
Both of the following obituaries were printed
in a Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), Arkansas newspaper. The obituary of
Benjamin Earl Morris was written by Reed Fletcher, a lawyer and newspaperman
there at the time. Benjamin Earl Morris was born in what is now Pike County in
1810. His wife, Martha Ann McCrary Morris, was born in Lawrence County,
Mississippi and was the daughter of Matthew McCrary who is listed on the 1813
tax list in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Morris died 19 days apart.
Benjamin Earl Morris was the son of Rev.
Nathan Morris, born July 09, 1780 in Marlboro, SC and died September 24, 1849
in Lexington, Holmes Co., Ms. Rev. Morris is buried in the Malone Cemetery
there. The wife of Rev. Nathan Morris was Penelope Edwards born July 19, 1777
in Marlboro, SC and died January 09, 1835 in Coxburg, Ms. She is also buried in
the Malone Cemetery in Holmes Co. Rev. Morris married two other times after
Penelope died: 2) Louisa C. [Unknown] and 3) Mary Bull. It is believed that all
of Rev. Morris' children were from his first marriage to Penelope Edwards.
Obituaries transcribed and submitted by Ann Harwell
Parker, great granddaughter of the couple.
Obituary of Mrs. Ann Morris consort of
Benjamin E. Morris died 15 November 1882, of pneumonia aged 66 years. She was
born 31 August 1816 in Lawrence County, Mississippi and imigrated to this state
in 1858. She was a lady of rare accomplishments, and such was the amiability of
her character that she drew the drapery of death about her without an enemy in
the world or the voice of malevolence to whisper an unkind word. The Bible was
her constant companion, and no night passed that she did not peruse its
comforting lessons. She was a devout member of the missionary Baptist Church.
Obituary of B. E. Morris aged 72 years; born
on December 4, 1810. Died December 4, 1882 in Whitesville Township, Jefferson
County, Arkansas.."Like the aged oaks of the forest which had grown up in
close proximity, their hoary branches entertwined, breasting the storms of many
winters, the fall of one breaks the surrounding surface and exposes more than
ever to the pitiless winds the remaining one; so, when the chilling blast
destroyed the aged wife, the surviving partner of her bossom, who had shared
with her so much of sunshine as well as cloud, in utter lonliness and
desolation, calmly bowed before the stroke, and in nineteen days after the
death of his companion, they filled a common grave. The deceased was 72 years
of age. Though utterly unobtrusive, he was better acquainted with the political
and constitutional history of this country than any one the writer ever knew.
In his advanced years he also kept pace with current events, and was a constant
reader of his local newspapers as well as all the leading foreign periodicals.
He was born in PIKE County, Mississippi. He was a consistant member of the
Primitive Baptist Church. He was the most lovable old gentleman I ever knew,
full of the milk of human kindness, and every attribute that embellishes and
makes enteresting human characters. After a life of usefulness he verified the
sentiments of Job; "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a
shock of corn cometh in its seasaon." Peace to the just man's memory. It
will grow greater with years, and the example of his pure life excite to
emulation his surviving decendants and his large circle of admiring friends. Written
by: Reed Fletcher, Lawyer and newspaperman of Pine
Bluff, Arkansas.....
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copies of this file may be
made for personal research use by individuals as long as this notice appears on
all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format
for profit or other presentation without the written permission of Ann Harwell
Parker.