MUD RIVER ASSOCIATION
Old Regular Baptist of Jesus Christ
Mt. Zion Church
Pecks Mill, West Virginia
August 1962

OBITUARIES

Ball, Mary-It is with a sense of littleness and unworthiness that I undertake to write a short history of a precious aunt and Sister in the Church who has been a second mother to me in the days that are pact and gone. Mary Etta Ball, the wife of Samuel Gilbert Ball, was born April 8, 1867, departed this life Nov. 4, 1961, age 94 years. She was the mother of 9 or 10 children. Six children survive her departure. Four boys: Richmond, Lou and Bert, of Hewett; and Blaine, of Lake. Two daughters ,Mrs. Elizabeth Freeman, of Hewett, and Mrs. Martha Buskirk, of Coal City. Surviving are 39 grandchildren and 125 great grandchildren. The writer of this obituary doesn't know just when Aunt Mary became a member of the Mt. Zion Regular Baptist Church. However, I'm sure it was at an early age. I very well remember that she and Uncle Gilbert held family prayer each night. One praying one night the other the following night. One would have to search a long time to find anyone who has cooked and fed as many people. For many years their home was a gathering place for members of the Regular Baptist Church. I am sure no one was ever turned away, both saint and sinner being welcome. Aunt Mary lived to a ripe old age. She suffered much in the body but bore her suffering in much patience. She had the very best of care from her family and friends, and we believe she died in the triumph of a living faith. There are many wonderful Scriptures that come to my mind at this time. I will use two or three and bring this to a close. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit that they may cease from their labors and their works do follow them. For we know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved that we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal, and in the heavens. Aunt Mary has ceased from her labors, her body has been consigned to the tomb where it will return to dust from which it sprang, her Spirit to God who gave it, to await the Resurrection morn at which time body, soul and spirit will be reunited in one glorious body and caught up to ever be with the Lord. They laid Aunt Mary to rest in Ellis Cemetery overlooking their home. If you expect to live with Aunt Mary in that Holy City you must be prepared for that great day. The Lord is soon coming for that blood-washed throng who come up through great tribulation and wash their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. To one and all, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the uprighteous his thoughts and return unto the Lord and He will have mercy and He will abundantly pardon." Written by Wetzel Ball.

Goode, David J. -By request of wife and children, I will try to write the obituary of a dear brother in Christ, David J. Goode. He was born September 16, 1882, and deceased this life August 29, 1961, making his stay on earth 79 years. He was the son of the late Levi and Sarah Mitchell Goode. He was married to Sarah Wyatt, and to this union was born nine children, all of whom are still living. There are four daughters, Mrs. Elsie Mynes, Mrs. Goldie Smith, Mrs. Viola Armstrong and Mrs. Gracie McClure; five sons, Frank, Gilbert, George, Freeman and Walter, and his heart-broken wife, Sarah Goode, to mourn their loss. I want to tell his wife and children that your loss is Heaven's gain. He joined the Regular Baptist Church a number of years ago and took membership with the Little Laurel Regular Baptist Church. Bro. Goode was a faithful member, always filled his seat as long as he was able to come. He is missed by all who knew him, a seat is vacant that never can be filled. He was sick a long time but bore his suffering with patience until the good Lord called him home. We feel he fought a good fight, he kept the faith, and is now resting from his labor, and when the Lord comes on the Cloud of Glory, then Brother Goode will be caught up to meet the Lord, where suffering will be no more. The funeral was in Curry Funeral Home, of Alum Creek, and was preached by Elder Bert Hall and Elder Ernest Breedlove. He was laid to rest in the Hazlett Cemetery at Garretts Bend, W. Va. Sister Goode, pray on. It won't be long until we'll meet Brother Goode where there will be no sad farewells and all will be peace and joy, and may the God of all Grace bless you and your children is the prayer of the writer.  Elder Ernest Breedlove

Miller, Bro. Ezra-was born February 25, 1907, died July 10, 1962, making his slay upon the earth, God's footstool, 55 years, 4 months and 10 days, and the last 4 years of his stay here was one spent in great suffering. He is survived by his wife, Treacy Isaac Miller; two sons, Tommy and Arnold, at home; one daughter, Mrs. Lareda Huffman, of Chester, W. Va.; stepmother, Mrs. Nora Miller, of Hamlin, W. Va.; six sisters, Mrs. Dora Jones, Mrs. Lula McGomas, Mrs. Dessie Edwards, all of Huntington, W. Va.; Mrs. Oda Edwards, of West Hamlin, W. Va.; Mrs. Mary Tabor, of Buckeye Lake, Ohio, and Mrs. Blanche Watson, of Thornsville, Ohio; three brothers, Sam, of Patriot, Ohio; Leonard, of Buckeye Lake, Ohio, and Silmer, of Flatwoods, Ky.; two grandchildren, Vickie Huffman and Lecia Pluffman. Bro. Ezra was baptized 15th day of April into fellowship of the Laurel Church branch of the Regular Baptist. Bro. Ezra's presence will be missed not only by his immediate family but also in the church. I feel to believe that Bro. Ezra had a hope of a better home over yonder, where all suffering is over, where there won't be any heart aches, where God with His own soft hands will wipe away all sainted tears, where there will be great shouting and singing praises unto the God of all Grace. So, dear wife and family of Bro. Ezra, rest assured that Bro. Ezra has a better home up there and if you see father again you must be born again of God's Spirit, so strive in faith believing that God will redeem you from this unfriendly world. May the God of all Grace bless and keep you one and all from all harm.
Written by a Brother in Hope. Elder Dow Hurley
P.S. Bro. Ezra was baptized at the hands of Bro. Bert Hall and Bro. Dow Hurley

Miller, George -a native of Myra, Lincoln Co., W. Va., was the son of Adam and Martha Miller. He came from a family of eleven children. All except his brother Add have preceded him in death. Bro. George was married twice, both wives having preceded him in death. To the union of him and his first wife were born ten children. Three boys: James, of Buckeye Lake; Dowton, of Reedy, and Fred, of Yaw-key; seven daughters: Mrs. Martha Lowe and Mrs. Ann Plumley, of Spencer, W. Va.; Mrs. Lloyd Sowards and Mrs. Emma Miller, of Hamlin, W. Va.; Mrs. Everett Adkins, of Parkersburg, W. Va.; Mrs. Roxie Smith, of Yawkey, W. Va., and Mrs. Lucille Rose, of Miami, Fla. Brother George died in a Newark, Ohio, hospital. His body was brought to Koontz Funeral Home, Hamlin, W. Va., where it was prepared for burial. The funeral services were conducted by Elders Dow Hurley, Bert Hall and Wetzel Ball, at the above funeral home. He was buried in the Miller Cemetery, Myra, W. Va., close to his home and the church which he loved so much and served so long. He was a member of the Little Laurel Church of Old Regular Baptist, having served as Deacon and Clerk for many years, which offices he served faithfully and well. He was loved by the members of the Baptist Family wherever he went, whether in the Mud River Association or the corresponding associations, which he never failed to attend when possible. Many, many times has he gone with your unworthy, as delegate to the different associations in the several states where located, and in all these he was loved and respected as a faithful Brother in Christ Jesus, our Lord. It was your unworthy's good pleasure to have him in his home and often he spoke of his hope of Eternal Life and his face, while tears streamed down his cheeks, would brighten as a lamp in a dark room. Bro. George believed in Salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of a crucified, buried, risen and ascended Lord, that this same Jesus is coming again to gather us unto Himself, that where He is there may we be also, and at this time He will change these vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorified body. To us, who are living, Paul says, "To sorrow not even as others which have no hope." For, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. And we which arc alive and remain shall not prevent them which are asleep but at the coming of the Lord the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Just how many years Bro. George was a member of Little Laurel Church I do not know, but we hear the Scripture saying, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." "Be thou faithful over a few things and I will make thee ruler over many things." Paul says to those who have fought a good fight, who have kept the faith, that henceforth there is laid up a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to them that look for Him and love His appearing. To the many relatives and friends who are left to mourn the departure of Bro. George I will only say that he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God, and if you want to live in that country where people never die, that God commands all men everywhere to repent and except ye repent ye shall perish. Furthermore, He says: "Except ye believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the only begotten Son of God."
Written by Wetzel Ball.