Rhea-Unknown County TN Archives Obituaries.....Woodward, Malinda J. [Francis] (Mrs.
Edward L.) March 12, 1882
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Candace (Teal) Gravelle tealtree(a)comcast.net September 21, 2006, 10:08 am
"The Jacksonville Republican"
Jacksonville, Calhoun Co., Alabama
NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 18, 1882
LOCAL News
Mrs. Malinda Woodward, wife of the late E.L. Woodward, died ___ [Sunday - see
obituary below] night, rejoicing in the triumphant entry into the glory land
and reunion with her companion of a life time, who passed away but a few weeks
ago.
----
NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 25, 1882
OBITUARY OF MRS. MELINDA J. WOODWARD
The saddest duty we have to perform in life is to stand upon the water's
edge that separates time from eternity and bid a final farewell to those we
love and admire. Yet chronology records our presence here, as the waves of
oblivion roll over us, as they have rolled over untold millions in past
generations....
Mrs. Melinda J. Woodward, the subject of these thoughts, was born in Ray [sic]
county, Tenn., on the 15th day of August 1812 and died in this place at the
residence of her daughter Mrs. Gen. Wm. H. Forney, on March 12, 1882. She
was the daughter of educated and intelligent parents; educated and graduated
at the Female College at Knoxville, Tenn. in 1831; married Mr. E.L.
Woodward, a Virginian, in 1832 and came to Alabama and located in this place
in 1835 where she lived until her death.
She made a profession of the christian religion when a young lady and
connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal church in which she remained
until the organization of the M.E. Church, South in 1844 when she, with her
husband, joined this branch of the church, in which she remained a
consistent, devout and zealous member until her departure to that "house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Her walk in life for more than
half a century was worthy of her faith and profession. But few ladies have I
ever known whose character was so beautified and adorned with all the
christian graces as hers. Modest and unassuming, yet bold and defiant in the
denunciation of immorality and vice, at the same time logical, persuasive
and forcible in her efforts to lead others into the path which leads to
eternal life.
She was a lady of fine conversational powers, of a noble and gentle bearing,
affable and pleasing in her manner; cultured in intellect, genial in
companionship and strong in her friendships. She did much to mould and lay
the foundation of the cultivated and refined society of which Jacksonville
has ever been so justly proud.
Kindness had written its law deep in her soul. She sought to make others
happy. It was her delight to give cheer to the sorrowing and help the needy.
Many are the families who knew her but to love her for her many and untiring
attentions to the suffering. Many hearts beat in grateful remembrance of her
soothing words of love and sympathy and acts of kindness and self denial
around the couch of the sick and dying of some loved member of the family
circle...She was faithful to her God, true to her husband, affectionate
toward her children, and kind to all.
Mrs. Woodward was an invalid for more than twelve months. For five months
she was confined to her room and mostly to her bed, yet she never murmured
or complained, but being sure and steadfast in her faith, she calmly and
with much resignation, awaited the summons to cross "over to the other
shore."
Her husband preceded her only four weeks. The vine was left bleeding. She
followed him to the bank of the river, he passed safely over, leaving her
waiting for the Master. Truly she could in the laguage of the Psalmist say
"but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took
sweet counsel together and walked into the House of God in company." She
knew of death's near approach and talked of it as if it was but the welcome
invitation to leave this "vale of tears and sorrows" to join her redeemer,
to join her husband, children and friends on the "other beautiful shore",
leaving only four children behind her, three of whom were with her. She
asked her youngest and only son to remain by her while she entered the
"chilly dark" waters that would separate them but for a short time, when
they too, would take passage for the "bourne from whence no traveler ever
returns", and urged them to strive to be reunited in one family circle
around Jesus, where there would be no more sickness and death, no pain and
anguish of the heart, no more separation, and without a seeming regret or
struggle, she fell asleep in Jesus. Truly blessed are they who die in the
Lord. J.D.H.
-----
Additional Comments:
Obituary for Malinda's Husband - He died just a few weeks before her:
"The Jacksonville Republican"
Jacksonville, Calhoun Co., Alabama
NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, FEBRUARY 18, 1882
DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN
Mr. E.L. Woodward died at his home in this place after an illness of some
weeks, Monday the 13th inst. Mr. Woodward was one of the earliest settlers
of Jacksonville and Calhoun county and during his long life in this
community he enjoyed the respect and confidence of the entire town and
country.
In times past, the people have delighted to honor with him offices of trust.
In the early settlement of the county he established himself at Jacksonville
in the mercantile business and amassed a large fortune which was lost by the
reverses of the War. Both in prosperity and adversity he was the same, calm,
philosophic, christian gentleman. His sense of honor in the discharge of
debt was of so fine character that he cheerfully consented to part with the
last remnant of his once fine fortune to satisfy obligations when he stood
only in the relation of surety of friends. When in the enjoyment of fortune
and as long as his ability lasted, he was one of the main stays in support
of his church here. To the day of his death he was an active, zealous,
christian worker.
Later, as disease gained mastery over him, his once clear intellect was to a
degree clouded, but never to that extent that he could not comprehend the
dealings of God with him, and he died in full faith of a glorious
resurrection. A good man has gone!
----
NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, MARCH 4, 1882
IN MEMORIAM OF EDWARD L. WOODWARD
In yonder village cemetery lies the mortal remains of Edward L. Woodward,
one of our oldest citizens. In life, he was an honest, upright man; and in
death, as in life, a christian, unshaken in the faith of his fathers, ripe
for a better world beyond. His death caused the tear, the sob, the bitter
pang of anquish to the hearts of family and friends; but his life, for
nearly a half century, teaches a lesson not to be forgotton by those among
whom he lived so long.
Mr. Woodward was born in Stafford Co. Virginia on the 20th day of May 1807
and died in this place, on the 13th of February 1882. He came to Alabama in
1825 and did business with his brother Y.C. Woodward in the town of
Blountsville. On the 25th day of Nov. 1832 he married Malinda J. Francis of
Tenn., who survives him, and in 1835 settled at Jacksonville where he
continued to reside up to the time of his death.
Mr. Woodward was a remarkable man. Naturally of delicate constitution, his
life was prolonged beyond "the three score and ten" allotted to men, by
self-denial and by temperate and methodical habits.
From the early settlement of our county till after the War, he took
front
rank among the active, intelligent business men of the times. Everything he
gave his attention to was characterized by energy, self reliance, deep
convictions and devotion to principle.
As a merchant, his success was great. He amassed for this county, a large
fortune by close application and by administering his affairs upon
principles of strict business integrity. He had the confidence of all men
who knew him. His "word was his bond" and no one was deceived by it.
But active and successful as he was in business, he was none the less so in
church and all matters that tended to the public good. He was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church for more than fifty years and as long as
health permitted, was found a zealous working member of the congregation.
For nearly forty years he was Superintendant of the Sabbath School and the
love and veneration in which he was held by the children is a monument to
his ministrations. He was the friend of education and not only gave of his
means to promote the cause, but gave what many others do not, the moral
force of his personal presence to every enterprise intended for the moral
and intellectual advancement of the young.
As a man, he was even tempered, moderate, conservative, but always firm and
true to his convictions. He was full of the courage of virtue. He did right
for right's sake, because it was right. As a citizen he was public spirited
and prompt in giving voice and hand to all matters intended for the public
well. Many of our people remember the time in the history of our county when
the books of our "county finance" were in the utmost confusion. The public
mind gravitated with one accord to Mr. Woodward as the man of all others to
relieve us from threatened financial ruin. Although he was immersed in
successful business, he yielded to the solicitations of the public and took
hold of the County Treasury. By the same patient toil and systematic
devotion applied to his own private affairs, the same fearless discharge of
duty which characterized him elsewhere, he soon brought "order out of chaos"
and by system and precedent, established a standard and guide for those who
have so worthily succeeded him.
But how changeful is life! The crest wave of success is ours today, tomorrow
we are submerged. The late War came and swept away the fortune of Mr.
Woodward, but it did not take his honor! It left him the wealth of a good
name. After disease and suffering had done their work, Death came for the
good man. Why should we sorrow, for:
"What is death, to him who meets is with an upright heart?
A quiet haven, where his shattered boat, harbours secure, till the rough
storm is past,
Perhaps a passage overhung with clouds,
But at its entrance, a few leagues beyond
Opening to kinder skies and milder suns,
And seas passive as the soul that seeks them."
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