Pontotoc County, Mississippi
Genealogy and History

Obituary of J. R. Caldwell

Aug. 1935

J.R. Caldwell Was Buried At Bethel, Aug.10

J.R. Caldwell, 76, for twenty-seven years a resident of near-by communities, died at his home one mile west of Anson at 120p.m. Friday, August 9, after several weeks of serious illnes, resulting from complications or effects of old age, and was buried in the Bethel Cemetery Saturday, following services conducted from the Bethel Baptist church by Rev. L. A. Doyle, pastor of the Anson Baptist Church, assisted by Rev, Kelley Barnett, pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church, at 1030 a.m.

Pallbearers were Sid Gentry, Wardell Coker, Irvin Sanders, Jess Roberts, Julius Heald, and Bert Shields. A number of friends of the family were named as honorary pallbearers.

John Rufus Caldwell was born March 27, 1859, in Pontotoc County, Miss., in which State he and Miss Martha Ann Gambrell were married on Dec., 16, 1880. The family moved to Collin County, Texas, in 1901, and after two years, to VanZandt County where they remained four years, or until 1908, when they moved to Jones County. First locating in the central eastern part of the county, after one year, they moved to near Anson.

Mr. Caldwell was converted at the age of 15, and although he never affiliated with any church, he was of the Baptist faith and often attended services, which he enjoyed. For the last several years he has been a familiar figure on the streets of Anson, since age creeped upon him, and especially on Saturday afternoons when he delighted in seeing his friends and shaking hands with them.

Mr. Caldwell leaves five children Misses Mantie E. and Esther, Jack, and Melvin Caldwell, all of Anson, and Mrs. Clifford Goostree (given name Rufie Elizabeth), of Mckinney Texas. All were with him during his last illness.

One child died in infancy. Mrs. Caldwell passed away June 11, 1930 and was buried in the Bethel Cemetery.

Surviving also are two grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann and Clifford Goostree of Mckinney, and one sister, Mrs. Fannie Clark of Pontotoc, Miss.