NORTHERN NEW SALEM OBITUARIES 1959
SECOND ANNUAL SESSION

 Collins, Steve    By request I will try in my weakness and by the will of the good Lord to write an obituary of a beloved brother and father in the Lord, to-wit:  Brother Steve Collins.  He was born January 22^nd, 1866, deceased this life May 8^th, 1959, making his stay on earth 93 years, 4 months, and 16 days.  Brother Steve was the son of the late L.B. Collins and Kattie Collins, born and raised in Floyd County, Ky.  He was first united in Holy Matrimony y to Oma Oney.  Unto this union was born 10 children, namely:  Fred and Howard Collins preceded him in death; Leck Collins, Columbus, Ohio; Banner Collins, Plymouth, Ohio; Tip Collins LaGrange, Ohio. Ted Collins, Grafton, Ohio; Rudie Collins, Plymouth, Ohio; Claudie Parks, Louisville, Ky.; Melcine Bailey, Warner Robin, GA and Fleedie Cole, Dayton, Ohio.  On April 30, 1918, the death angel came and took from him and his children his dear companion.  In April 1922 again he was united in marriage to Sallie Bailey.  Unto this union was born one girl, Wilma McLot, now living in Alabama.  Brother Steve joined the Old Regular Baptist Church about the year 1920, and lived faithful for 39 years.  He also served the church as Deacon.  In the year of 1947, I became acquainted with Brother Steve.  During this time I have had the pleasure of enjoying his company.  His conversation was mostly talking about the goodness of God.  Very seldom I visited his home that he usually wanted to sing and have prayer.  He seemed to enjoy good meetings so much.  You could see the Fruit of the spirit and tears of joy dripping from his eyes.  So to this family and many good friends, I believe I can truthfully say he was a good husband and devoted father.  His sudden passing away came as a shock, leaves a vacant place in the home and in the church. And in our hearts that cannot be filled.  The Lord has been good to him and let him stay with us almost 94 years.  These words seemed more appropriate to him; come ye blessed of My Father, enter unto the Joys of the Lord.  His spirit has entered there amid the shouts of the angels and the glorious ones of Eternity to be forever blessed.  Again the Scriptures say:  Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, yea sayest the spirit they do rest from all their labor and their works do follow them.  So dear children, many good things I could go on and say about your blessed father.  Time wouldn’t permit to write all the things I could say.  I sincerely hope you won’t forget the pattern your father laid before you.  Again I will say we will miss him but I believe our loss is Heaven’s gain.  In order not to be too lengthy I will bring this obituary to a close.  So May god Bless all of you, my weeping friends.   Farewell

Written by his Brother in the Lord    Elder Claude Ousley

Howell, John D.    I will try to write an obituary of a dear brother and loved one, whom I miss so much.  John D. Howell was born January 6, 1883, and passed from this life October 26, 1957.  He was the son of George Howell.  He leaves 10 children, one brother and one sister, together with a host of friends and grandchildren to mourn his loss.  I believe that he is now at rest.  I was very close to him and I can bear witness that he lived a true Christian life.  Children, take heed unto his counsel, and to what I say.  If you ever want to see daddy again, you will have to repent of your sins, and live for the Lord.  Brother John has visited me in dreams, and he was always dressed in a beautiful white garment.  He always loved for his brethren and sister to come and stay, and eat with him.  May the Lord bless you all is my fervent prayers.

Written by a broken hearted sister,    Maggie Stewart

Howell, Nancy     to my brothers and sisters:  I will try to write a short sketch of our mother’s life.  Nancy Howell was born January 3, 1881, and departed this life November 27, 1958.  She joined the Old Bethel Church of Regular Baptist in 1936.  She was a strong believer in the Lord.  I miss going to church with her so much.  Sometimes I can almost feel her by my side.  Let me say to you children that have not professed a hope in Christ, the last words that mother said was:  “I wouldn’t mind to die, if I knew that my children would live for the Lord” So dear brothers and sisters, if you ever want to see mother again, let me persuade you to fall out with sin and live for Jesus, who holds your life in the palm of his hand.   I feel that I will see father and mother again some sweet day.  May the good Lord bless and keep you is my never ending prayers. 

Written by a broken hearted daughter, Maggie Stewart

Roark, Arnie    I hope and pray that the Lord will be my guide as I try to write an obituary of a dear sister in the Lord, to-wit:  Sister Arnie Roark.  She answered the death summons May 26, 1959.  She was the wife of Brother Lew Roark.  Unto this union was born 13 children, 6 boys and 7 girls. The boys’ names are: Harley, Carmel, Joe, James, and Mark.  They together with three girls, Eula, bonnie, and Thelma, are still at home.  Three girls are married.  Oma Mae Ahouse, Versailles, Ind., Danafay Craig, Milan, Ind., and Ola Fay Simon, Osgood, Ind.  Sister Arnie was the daughter of Jep and Eva Caudill. She was born April 17, 1916, and fell asleep in the arms of Jesus May 26, 1959, making her stay here on earth a short 43 years, one month, and nine days.  Sister Arnie joined the Little Memory Church of Old Regular Baptist at the October meeting, 1958.  Although her seat in the Little Memory Church will be empty, we feel that she has gained a more excellent seat in Heaven.  I wan to say to Brother Lew, that I know it is a lonesome time for you, and your little children.  No doubt your heart is heavy, and the burden seems almost unbearable, but press on—the grace of god is sufficient to make you strong.  In that sweet hope that you have, you have the assurance that you will meet sister Arnie again in a land where you will not have to say farewell anymore but will reign together throughout all eternity.  Children, let me say to you from the depths of my heart, you must fall out with sin, and put your faith in the same god that your blessed mother had faith in, if you ever see mother again.  Her God is our God, the father of us all.  Depend on no man to say you, but seek the true and living god, before whom we must stand and give an account of or our own deeds, and not those of another.  So while life and opportunity affords you time, get Jesus on your bond.  Brother Lew, I know that you miss Sister Arnie, and as the days go by you will miss her more.  She was a true and faithful wife, and a kind and considerate mother toward her children.  I am glad, and I feel that you are also glad, that god fixed it so that you and all the children can see her again.  As the prophet said; “She can’t come to use, but by the grace of god we can go to her.”  Let me beg you all to not be the one to break a circle that has started in Heaven.  Live as the men of old lived—“let others do as they may, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”  I feel that the spirit of god hovered over me as I wrote.  There is much more that I could say, but space will not permit.  So may God bless and save every one of you is my prayer. 

Written by an unworthy brother in hope, Elder Sollie Miller

Shepherd, Lillie    By request of her husband and children I will try to write an obituary of a good wife and mother, and a sister in the Lord, to-wit:  Sister Lillie Shepherd.  She was born June 26, 1906, and departed this life May 31, 1959, making her sty on earth 52 years, 11 months, and 26 days.  She was the daughter of Elidge and Zepha Potter.  She was married to Johnie shepherd May 30, 1924.  And unto this union was born 10 children, 7 boys and 3 girls.  Three sons and one daughter preceded her in death.  She joined the United Baptist Church in October, 1933, and lived a faithful member until death.  She left a dear husband and six children to mourn her loss.  Her passing was a great shock to the family, that will never be forgotten, but I feel that our loss is Heaven’s eternal gain.  I believe that her souls is now at rest in Christ Jesus, and that in the morning of the resurrection her body will come forth out of the grave, purified and changed, and made like the body of our Lord.  She enjoyed filling her seat in the Old Baptist Church, and was kind to every one she met.  When there was sickness around her, she was always ready to lend help, and tell of the goodness of god.  Bless her sweet soul—it’s so hard to stay sway from her.   Let us beg the good Lord to give us the faith, as strong as she had, that when we have to lay down the works of this life, we can go to meet with mother where separations are never known.   Let me say to you children, if we ever see mother again, we sill have to fall out with sin and walk in footsteps of Jesus as mother did.  To bear her part of the cross was joy to her.   Please, children, heed my counsel—fall out with and be assured of being with mother and your brothers and sisters around the great throne of god. I hope to meet you all there when it comes my time to go.

Written by her husband   Johnie shepherd,   Munith, Michigan