One of the Best Known Citizens of the County at Rest

(From Sunday's Daily Register)

Mr. Abner W. Sparrow, one of the best known citizen's of Pittyslvania County, died at his home, near Statesville, at 12 o' clock yesterday, aged 68. Just a little over a year ago he was thrown from a buggy and seriously hurt and since then he was never very well and he suffered a great deal.

About three years ago his wife died. Seven of his children survive: Mrs. A.C. White, Mrs. S.I. Gardner, Mrs. J.T. Hodnett, and Miss Jennie Sparrow of Pittyslvania County, and Messrs. J.B. J.D. and E.F. Sparrow of Martinsville. Mr. Sparrow was a prosperous farmer and spent all of his long and useful life in this county. In fact he lived always and will be buried today within a half mile of where he was born.

It is no exaggeration to say that Abner W. Sparrow was in all aspects, one of the very best citizens of this county, an old-fashioned, God-fearing, high-toned Virginian Christian Gentleman, whose word was as good as a bond, whose influence was always for good, whose chief aim was to serve his Master and his fellow man and the work of his life was well calculated to make the world better for having lived in it. He was hospitable and kind and his home was always open to those worthy to enter, and, was especially known as the "Home of the preachers."

In his early life he became a Christian and joined the Baptist church, of which he was ever afterwards a consistent member. He was an active worker in the church and a leader in its councils. He was the leading spirit in the organization of the Mount Tabor Baptist Church, one of the strongest churches of that denomination in the county. He loved the church work and in was prominent every branch of it, from the Sunday school up, as the records of the Mount Tabor church and of the Roanoke Baptist Association abundantly show.

From Tuesdays Daily Register (Danville, Va.)

The funeral of Mr. Abner W. Sparrow whose death was announced in Sunday's Register took place at Mount Tabor Baptist Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. There was an immense crowd of people, neighbors and friends who knew and loved Mr. Sparrow. In his lifetime, present to pay the last tribute of respect and love.

The casket was born into the church by Messrs. John White, P.C. Reeves, William E. Terry. William Ragedale, Jerry White and Wade Adams.

The funeral sermon was by the venerable Rev. W.C. Wood, who for many years the pastor of the deceased.

Taking for his text the words: "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith", the minister made a running sketch of the active and useful life of the deceased and paid an eloquent and deserved tribute to his worth as a citizen, a Christian and a church worker. The lesson to the young, which the minister drew from the life and good works of Mr. Sparrow was inspiring. After the service at the church, the body was borne to the grave at the homestead and there with appropriate service, laid to rest.

GIRL, 4 YEARS OLD, BURNS TO DEATH

Still in her outing ‘nightie’ and feeling child, little 4-year-old Gladys Blair moved --------open grate fire and in an instant was enveloped in flame Friday morning at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. – Blair, six miles west of Chatham. She died shortly afterwards.
She had arisen from her bed at the usual time and going to the fire place, preparatory to dressing, the little girl is believed to have gotten too close to the flames.
She is survived, besides her parents by six brothers and sister.
Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock with Rev. Mr. Keese of the Green Pond Baptist church officiating. Internment in the family burial plot.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

WILLIAM JENNINGS DIES NEAR BLAIRS

The death occurred Sunday morning at 6:40 o’clock of William Jennings at his home near Blairs, in Pittsylvania county, following a long decline in health which began about four years ago.
Deceased had many friends in the country, having been a life-time resident of the Blairs neighborhood.
Deceased was a farmer, who was never married, he having made his home with his brother, J.T. Jennings, who survives him, also another brother, R.J. Jennings, of Greensboro, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Murphy of Danville.
The funeral was held this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the home at Blairs, interment being made in the family burial grounds.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

B.F. DODSON DIES AT BACHELORS HALL

News was received here this afternoon of the death at Bachelors Hall of Benjamin F. Dodson, prominent resident of that section, at the age of 82 years. Death was attributed to the infirmities of age.
Although he had been in feeble condition for some time. Mr. Dodson became worse a week ago and passed away this morning at 11 o’clock.
He is survived by his wife and two sons, B.W. Dodson and O.L. Dodson, all of Bachelor’s Hall.
The funeral will be conducted tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock from the residence.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

FUNERAL OF MR. COLLIE

The funeral of Jason Collie, who died on Sunday, was conducted from the home near Kentuck yesterday afternoon at three o’clock by Rev. T.E. Peters, assisted by Rev. C.J. Parker, of Danville.
The obsequies were largely attended. Interment took place in the family burial ground near the home.
The pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased. Earl Bankenship, Clyde Thornton, Everett Collie, Garland Collie, Jason Collie and John Collie.
The flower bearers were Mr. Collie’s grand daughters.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

DEATH OF MRS. BARBER

Mrs. Eliza A. barber died at the home of her sister, Mrs. D.T. Pickeral, near Gretna, Sunday morning at nine o’clock.
Deceased has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. G.R. Hoskins of this city for the past 15 years, but had gone to visit her sister and was stricken with paralysis while there.
She was 88 years old and had been a consistent member of the Christian church since early childhood.
She is survived by the following children: Mrs. G.R. Hoskins, Danville; Mrs. R.Lee Worley and Mrs. A.W. Pickeral, Gretna and Mrs. U.S. Grant of Climax and 32 grandchildren, also 21 great grandchildren.
The funeral was conducted at the grave side last Monday and interment was made in the family cemetery near Gretna.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

WHITMELL MAN DIES THREE DAYS AFTER DEATH OF HIS WIFE

News received from Whitmell this morning brought word of the death on New Year’s Eve of Mrs. J.C. Elliott followed three days later by the death of her husband who succumbed twenty-four hours after contracting pneumonia.
Mrs. Elliott has for some years suffered from a complaint affecting her respiratory system, but it was only three months ago that her condition became serious.
She was 67 years of age. The day after Mrs. Elliott’s funeral Mr. Elliott, aged 75, developed pneumonia, passing away the next day.
Both were members of the Whitmell Methodist church in that they had shown keen and active interest for many years.
They were married forty-nine years ago and lived out their lives in that section being well known and popular in that community.
Mrs. Elliott’s funeral was conducted the day after her death her six sons being pall bearers and grandchildren the flower bearers.
A second sad pilgrimage to the family graveyard was then made, the sons and the grandchildren carry the pall and the flowers as in the case of Mrs. Elliott. Rev. Ralph J. Yow pastor of Whitmell Methodist church conducted the obsequies.
The surviving children are Mrs. George Herndon, Mrs. J.C. Hall, Dan Elliott, Jack Elliott, Beverley Elliott, Bennie Elliott and Walter Elliott of Whitmell and Henry Elliott of Danville.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

BENJ. F. DODSON IS DEAD AT 83 YRS.

The death yesterday at his home at Bachelors’ Hall of Benjamin F. Dodson remove- one of the oldest and most honored citizens of Pittsylvania county. Mr. Dodson had passed his eighty-third year and had retained his physical and mental powers remarkably well.
For forty years Mr. Dodson was successfully engaged in mercantile business at Bachelors’ Hall, and for the past three years he had operated a large dairy on the home farm.
As a youth he had served his State in the civil war to its end, and, like many another youthful veteran, he returned to his home impoverished by the results of that four years’ struggle and its consequences. He then took up the burden of life with the same courage and fidelity to duty and trust he had demonstrated as a soldier and began the task of recouping his fortunes and adding in the rebuilding of the State.
In all that pertained to his locality his county, the State and the ------ he displayed –he same activity that and marked his earlier years. In former years he was actively identified with the Masonic order.
Mr. Dodson is survived by his wife, Mrs. Emma F. Dodson, and by two sons, B.W. and O.L. Dodson, both well known and highly esteemed citizens, who reside at the old home
Funeral services will be held at the home at 3 o’clock this (Wednesday) afternoon and will be conducted by the Rev. W.H. Hollowell.
His life long friends from the neighborhood will carry the pall and the floral expressions of friends.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

MRS. ELIZA BARBER BURIED ON MONDAY

Mrs. Eliza A. Barber, widow of Thomas Barber, was laid to her final rest Monday afternoon near Gretna.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Baber of that place and interment made in the family cemetery at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A.W. Pickral.
The songs sung at the cemetery, favorites of the deceased were I'm Going Home, Jesus, Love of My Soul, Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown,” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.”
Mrs. Barber formerly made her home with her youngest daughter, Mrs. G.R. Hoskins, of this place. Living here 15 years she had many devoted friends who mourn her death.
She was at the home of her sister, Mrs. D.T. Pickral, near Gretna where she had a stroke of paralysis on December 30th which rendered her speechless.
Mrs. Barber was a native of Pittsylvania county and is survived by four daughters: Mrs. G.R. Hoskins, of Danville; Mrs. R. Lee Worley, of Gretna; Mrs. A.W. Pickral, of Gretna, and Mrs. U.S. Grant, of Climax.
She is also survived by 32 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and a host of friends.
She was a consistent member of the Christian church of Gretna, had been for many years. The deceased was in her 81st year.

From the Danville Bee
Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by: Shauna Williams

LARGE CROWD AT DODSON FUNERAL

Funeral services for Benjamin F. Dodson, old and widely known resident of Pittsylvania, were held at 3 P.M. yesterday from his late residence at Bachelor’s Hall and were attended by a large and representative gathering from that vicinity and from all over the county and this city.
The Rev. W.H. Hollowell officiated at the simple, impressive services assisted by Rev. J.M. Oakey, and at the conclusion of these the body was interred in family burial ground with the usual committal services.
Many friends of the family sent flowers as an expression of their sorry and sympathy with the family.
The pall was borne by Dr. G.O. Emmerson, W.A. Ragsdale, J.R. Hyler, J.J. Lynskey, W.T. Fulton, John B. Fulton, J.H. Oakes and J.W. Fuller.
Flower-bearers were G.W. Arnett, Miles Puryear, T. Bel- Fulton, Gaston Lynskey, Eugene Hatcher, C.J. Ashworth and P.R. Hatcher.