Lavina Judson McMurry Clemens

On Thursday, October 27th, as the shades of night gathered around the home near Grantsburg, Ill., and all nature was quietly donning her robes of night, the gentle spirit of Mrs. Juddie McMurry Clemens answered the call of that “small, still voice” and quietly slipped from its moorings, passed out into the great beyond to be again associated with that loved companion, Pinkney C. Clemens, who preceded her only a few months.
Many of her loved ones were over there to welcome her into that land of eternal day.
Funeral services were conducted by W. E. Baker at Mt. Zion church near her home.
The many floral offerings from Paducah, Chicago, Golconda and other places attested to the far reaching influence of this noble life and the esteem in which she was held.
All of her children except the youngest reached the home in time for the burial.  She left an unusually interesting family of children to mourn her departure.  Newt and Dee of Chicago; Will of Oklahoma; Mrs. Low Kidd, Paducah; Mrs. Annice Baker, Golconda; Mrs. Clara Felts, Grantsburg.  Three others, Minnie, Johnathan and Sophia, were awaiting her arrival over there.
Everything that loving hearts and willing hands could do for mother’s comfort and happiness, was gladly done.  In an especial way it was the privilege of the youngest daughter to be mother’s companion and daily helper for many years.
Mrs. Clemens was proud of her ancestry and, could they look down on the noble life she lived, they would have been doubly proud of her.  She was a descendant of James Stuart Earl of Murray, Regent of Scotland, who was a son of James V,  King of Scotland on her father’s side.  Through her grandmother, Mary Goodnight McMurry, she was a descendant of Sir Knight Baird of France, who was called Good Knight.  Two of her great uncle’s, Christopher and Christian Goodnight served in the Revolutionary War under Capts. Grady and Kensill.  Through her mother she was a descendant of her great grandfather James Campbell, who served as a Revolutionary soldier under Col. Shelby and Col. Sevier.  Her father, Isaac McMurry, was elected County School Commissioner of Crittenden County in 1870 and held the first teacher’s institute ever held in the county, Aug. 1874.
Quite a number of her cousins are instructors in our leading Universities _ Columbia, Peabody, Iowa State, Michigan State, Madison Wis., Bethel, Va., and others. 
The greatest characteristics of her life was her quiet, unfaltering faith in her Redeemer, the loving ministrations to every needy, sorrowing one and sacrificial love toward her family.
She was a great Christian character whose life will live on to bless coming generations.
Her obituary was written by her nephew, Fred McMurry of Sturgis, Ky. 
__obituary copied.Herald Enterprise

“MOTHER”

Levina J. Clemens was born in Allen County, Ky., Aug. 15, 1845, and died Oct. 27, 1927; aged 82 years, 2 months and 12 days.  She was the daughter of Isaac McMurry, a leading Missionary Baptist preacher in Southwest Kentucky.  She was married to W. P. Clemens March 15, 1865, and resided for years near Marion, Ky., but for the past 33 years they had lived on their farm near Dixon Springs, Ill.  To this union ten children were born, six of whom, together with eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Lon Olleman, of Chicago, and several nieces and nephews, survive her.
Words of comfort were spoken by Eld. W. E. Baker and J. G. Henley, after which her body was laid to rest in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, by the side of her husband, who preceded her in death one year and seven months.  She had been a faithful, loyal member of the Missionary Baptist Church since childhood days, and in her active life, her home gave hospitality to many faithful preachers.
O! how sad and lonely when dear Mother slips away, leaving an aching void this world can never fill.  We no longer have the wise counsel and advice she was always able and willing to give. Mother was always gentle and kind to both young and old, and loved nothing more than to be all the Bible means by “a keeper at home.”
None ever came in contact without being impressed with the fact that she fulfilled as nearly as possible the model of true Christian womanhood. We can find no words that so fully describe our mother as the following from Prov. 31: “A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no lack of gain.  She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life. She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth food to her household.  Her lamp goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle.  She stretcheth out her hands to the needy.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and praiseth her.”
Indeed she gave her life to her family. For so long she had faithfully and lovingly given her strength, night and day, to the care of our dear father who had been almost completely helpless for many years, until her tired body was waiting for this long rest.  Her children are heart-broken
because death took her away and they are called upon to plant the last kiss upon her brow and to say good-bye for the last time.  We all loved her, but Sister Clara was ever with her, and her love and faithfulness to her dear parents is a story sweet and tender. Surely the great God of heaven will reward this faithful daughter.
Mother’s prayer was that she might bring her children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and many times have we heard her sweet voice pray to her God that we might be saved, “without the loss of one.” We believe that when we come to cross the “dark valley of death” we will hear mother’s voice.  She will be there longing for a re-united family.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us so live that we may meet our dear parents and see our Savior and enjoy His presence and live forevermore in that beautiful home of the soul. ____Her children.

Copied from Herald-Enterprise 3 Nov. 1927.

contributed by Faye Bowman