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Vertitia Massey was an Earnest, Active, Wise Christian Worker

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Today's obituary comes with a bit of a tip. Don't think your search will surely be fruitless if you scour newspapers for an obituary well after a death date. I always, always look for at least a full month after the death date, and here's an example of an obituary published almost five months after the fact. Her name was Vertitia Massey, and she was laid to rest in Memory Hill Cemetery at Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia.

Union Recorder (Milledgeville, Georgia)
8 August 1899 - pg. 7 [via Georgia Historic Newspapers]
OBITUARY.
MASSEY. -- Mrs. W. A. Massey, nee Miss Vertitia F. Harrell, was born August 8, 1856, in Milledgeville, Ga., joined the Methodist Church 1874, under the ministry of Rev. A. J. Jarrell; married W. A. Massey Nov. 24, 1880, and died triumphantly March 23, 1899. In many respects sister Massey was a remarkable woman. For twenty-five years she was not only a member of the church, but an earnest, active, wise, Christian worker, in the vineyard of the Lord. She abounded in every good word and work. She loved the house of God, and was always in her place when her health permitted. She was for some time president of W. C. T. U., and was enthusiastic in promoting the temperance cause in the community. Perhaps her best work was done as treasurer of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. In discharging the delicate and responsible duties of this office her zeal never failed. Her heart went out in a Christ-like love for those who had never heard the blessed gospel of the son of God. Though feeble in body for many months, she faithfully and efficiently discharged the duties of her office, and only committed it to other hands when too week [sic] to attend to it herself. With sweet fragrance her memory will linger in the hearts of her sister co-workers and stimulate them to unceasingly carry on the work in which she so nobly participated while with them. As a member of this society she was invaluable; how that band of consecrated women will miss her! In dying she made provision for the continuation of her contribution to this noble cause. Her husband, catching her spirit, and in memory of her unselfish devotion to the missionary work of the church, is supporting a Bible woman in China. So, "she being dead yet speaketh." To her husband she left the ever-enduring legacy of a love unselfish, uplifting, Christ-like. God will bring him safely to her and to heaven. Her distinguishing characteristic was her unselfishness -- shining brighter as the end grew nigh -- she literally loved the church and others until her voice and heart were stilled in death. Calmly, peacefully and triumphantly she passed into the heavens to be forever with her Lord. -- W. R. Branham.
"All is Bright
Have No Fears for Me"

My Wife

Vertitia Harrell
Wife of W. A. Massey
Born Aug 8, 1856
Died Mar 23, 1899

Blessed are they that die in the Lord for
they rest from their labors and their works
do follow them.


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The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)