The following is a transcription of the obituary published in the Southern Christian Advocate on the death of Thomas D. Walker of Pulaski County, Georgia. Thomas, born 9 May 1808, was a son of George Walker II. Burial was in the Walker Family Cemetery, located in what is now Bleckley County, Georgia.
OBITUARY.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
For the Southern Christian Advocate.
Died, of bilious inflammatory fever, Feb. 22nd, 1847, in Pulaski co., Ga., THOMAS D. WALKER, in the 39th year of his age. His illness, though short, was attended by intense agony of body, terminating only, as his spirit took its flight. There is a strong foundation for the confidence, which his bereaved friends entertain, that his sufferings ended with the awful death-struggle. Terrible indeed was that struggle! but it is now passed, and he lives where there is no more death. About twelve years ago, he was received into the M. E. [Methodist Episcopal] Church, by the Rev. Samuel Anthony, whom he called his spiritual father, and ever afterward greatly loved. Bro. Walker was naturally a man of excellent spirit; which, being exalted and purified by the grace of God, made his character shine with peculiar loveliness during the three or four last years of his life. Many were his friends, and strong their attachment, of which no inconsiderable demonstration was given, by the multitude that attended his funeral, and mingled their tears and sympathies with the bereaved widow, and relatives. A man of weight in his community, his influence was felt as it should have been, on the side of pure religion. He was a Methodist from principle, and his acts showed that he loved the institutions, and cared for the interests of the Church, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. The society of which he was a member are ready to attest that he was one of their main pillars, and brightest ornaments. As a christian he not only found peace in believing, but he so walked in the light as to realize the fellowship divine; for a length of time, he had the daily assurance of his readiness, through grace, "to depart and to be with Christ." In a conversation with the writer, in October, 1845, he said in substance as follows: "Ever since last January, I have lived every day as I would dare to die," and immediately added, that if he were then called away, he felt that his home would be in heaven. This blessed assurance was afterward for a time interrupted, attributable, as he believed, to a want of due caution, and watchfulness on his part. Not long afterwards he regained his state of blessed assurance, and retained it to the end. On account of his extreme sufferings in his last sickness he could converse very little; but the day before he died, seeing near him his brother George, he asked him if he thought he was better. From his brother's reply, he seemed to think, that he feared to let him know the worst, and immediately responded, "George, I am not afraid to die: for some time I lived right, but I got a little off track. I think I got back to that point again while I was gone" (alluding to a long trip to the West, from which he had just returned.) He then made his will in a few words; and thenceforward, said scarcely anything of importance, until death closed the scene. Much that is good might be said of him as a husband, father, and master; but his many virtues in these relations, are indelibly written on the hearts of a deeply afflicted family. May the God of the fatherless pity his bereaved orphans, and may his almost broken-hearted widow, find Him the strength of her heart and her portion forever.
F. D. LOWRY.
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| SACRED to the memory of Thomas D. Walker, who was born May the 9th, 1808, and died February 22d, 1847. A useful Citizen, a generous friend, an affectionate father and brother, a devoted husband, a sincere Christian, his influence will be felt long after this stone shall have crumbled to dust. |
Other Southern Christian Advocate obituaries on the blog:
- Mrs. Sarah D. Willis (1795-1859)
- Myles Lafayette Green (1826-1865)
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