PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OBITUARIES 1932

Potters,Italy    It is with a sad and aching heart that I make this feeble attempt to write in memory of a loving wife, Italy Potters.  She was born March 15, 1892 and departed this life June 3, 1932, her age being 40 years, 2 months and 19 days.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs., Henry Ramey.  She was united to Alex Potters in marriage, January 23, 1909.  To this union was born 10 children, one departing this life in infancy, the remaining nine being left to mourn the loss of a loving mother, 3 boys and 6 girls.  She leaved a companion, 9 children, 3 grandchildren, 6 brothers, 2 sisters and many other relatives with a large circle of church fellowship and friends to mourn their loss though we believe our loss is her eternal gain.  She was baptized into the fellowship of the Philadelphia Association of Old Regular Baptist faith and order, the 3^rd Sunday in May, 1925, by elder Finess Adkins and took her membership with the Little Rose Church on Smith Branch, Greenup County, KY.  She is greatly missed by the brothers and sisters of the Little Rosa Church.  Now that mortal life has ceased, according to the teaching, “By their fruits ye shall know them”, we believe she is reaping the fruits around the Eternal Throne of God.

My loss is great to lose my mate.

I’m like the lonesome dove

I go alone to sigh and mourn

My dear and absent love.

Yours in Hope of eternal life              Alex Potters

Riffett, Juda     It is with a sad feeling that I make this feeble attempt to write an obituary of our dear sister, Juda Riffett was born May 9^th, 1865, deceased November 4, 1931, age 66 years, 6 months, 25 days, leaving a husband and seven children, 2 boys and 5 girls to mourn their loss.  To this union was born 14 children 5 boys and 9 girls, seven deceased and seven still living.  She has 36 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  She professed a hope in Christ and joined the Old Regular Baptist church about 45 years ago and was baptized by Elder D.F. Allen.  She lived a faithful Christian life until death.  She said there was nothing in her way and she was ready to go.  We feel that our loss is her eternal gain.  She leaved a wide circle of friends and church fellowship to mourn her loss.  I want to say to the children and her husband that if you ever expect to see her again, you must be born again.  We feel that she is at rest with Jesus.  I want to say to the children to strive to enter in at the Straight Gate.

Written by a brother in  hope of eternal life, Elder T.S. Skeens

Ruggles, Gracie Brown    She was born November 17, 1903, deceased August 9, 1931.  Was married to Roy Ruggles December 1, 1931.  To this union was born 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl.  She leaves a husband and 5 children, her mother, 4 brothers and 6 sisters and a number of friends to mourn their loss.  She united with the church of Old Regular Baptist about 6 or 7 years ago and lived a devoted Christian life until death.  We feel that our loss is her eternal gain, and that she is resting in the sun bight clime waiting and beckoning her loved ones to come on and join her in the praise to our Great Redeemer.

Written by a lonely husband    Roy Ruggles

Vanover, Mary Mullins     It is with a sad feeling that I make this feeble attempt to write an obituary of our dear mother, Mrs. Mary Mullins Vanover.  She was born October 10, 1858, deceased November 30, 1931.  Age 73 years, 1 month and 20 days.  She was married to Sylvester Mullins in the year of 1876 and to this union was born 8 children, 3 boys and 5 girls.  Father preceded her in death about the year of 19=892, and after about two years of hard struggle she was married to David Vanover in 1895, to this union were born 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl, making 11 children in all, 9 of which are still living, 2 preceding her in infancy.  Her last husband died December 31, 1914, so she leaves 9 children and a host of friends to mourn their loss.  She professed a hope in Christ and joined the Old Regular Baptist Church in 1885, and lived a faithful member until death. Mother and brother Jake lived at the old home place alone about 17 years.  We children all wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jake for his care and kindness to mother.  Her home was a home for the old time Baptist, and they will miss her, especially the new Mount Olive /church for she was a mother to that Church., she always filled her seat and was ready to assist in any that she could.  She was sick about one year before she died and she bore her sickness with patience.  She lost her speech about one week before she died, and about 4 hours before she died she spoke and said the meeting done started, this will make millions happy.  We believe that Mother saw that beautiful city where Jesus is and felt that she was going there to stay with Jesus and the angels where her troubles and sickness ended.  Mother only lived to see 4 of her children baptized to the fellowship of the Old Regular Baptist Church and I want to say to all the rest of the children.  If you haven’t made a start, if you ever expect to see mother again you must be born again.  If you ever go where Jesus you must life like mother lived.  Mother was the best friend we had on earth, so brothers and sisters let us strive to enter in at the straight gate.  You must be born again if you ever make heaven your home, so we can be with mother and loved ones that have gone on.  There is a vacant chair in the home that can never be filled and her seat in the Church is also vacant still.  She is resting form her labors, waiting for the trumpet’s sound.  When the dead in Christ shall rise first, from the cold and silent ground

Written by her oldest son,  Lee Mullins