Eighty-Ninth Birthday

Mrs. Sarah Stegall, at Emerson, Gives a Birthday Dinner to Her Friends.

We were permitted to meet with those who assembled to celebrate the anniversary of Mrs. Sarah Stegall’s 89 th birthday. She has lived in this county since 1836. Her maiden name was Lackey, and she was born and raised in Lancaster district, South Carolina, where she embraced religion at a Methodist campmeeting when she was young. Her father, Robert Lackey, and family, were Methodists. He died long years ago triumphantly. This was an earnest, intelligent, Christian family.

Sister Stegall was a bible student and a devoted Methodist, and she was so interested in having a church in her neighborhood that she mounted the wagon, went out with neighbors and helped to bring in material with which to build a Methodist church where she lived, which was for long years known as Stegall’s chapel. The writer and many others used to preach in this church. A new church was built near by, which is continued still.

She lives at Emerson, Bartow county, Ga. She married Emsley Stegall in April, 1841. Four children were born to them, two of them still living, Robert and John; the others died while young. Her husband died years ago. She makes her home at her son John’s, at Emerson, and Robert lives near Chattanooga, Tenn.

This good mother in Israel will not continue much longer with us. It is well that her children and friends meet once a year in honor of her memory and to cheer her and make her heart glad. Let her feel that her friends appreciate her and have not forgotten her worth, and drive away her loneliness. God bless these faithful old women and men who remain among us. They are still interested in us and testify of God’s goodness and His faithfulness to His people. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of them all. May she feel that she has not labored in vain in the Lord. May her days still be happy and her acceptance and fellowship with God and His people be sweeter than life and stronger than death.

But a few weeks ago our own dear father was taken from labor to rest, in his ninetieth year, full of faith and good works. We have had many happy reunions with him on earth which were occasions of great comfort and joy to him and blessings to his family and friends.

He died in great peace, on the 20 th of January last.

May the children and grandchildren of this good sister, together with those of our dear old father, Rev. S. G. Jones, remember to walk as they walked and die their happy death in the end. Bless the Lord, O, my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name, amen and amen.

R. H. J.