PARSONS, Martha (Norton)

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The funeral of Mrs. Thomas J. Par­sons, notice of whose death appears elsewhere, occurred Tuesday afternoon at the residence on west Jefferson street attended by a large number of friends. Services were conducted by Rev. C. W. Lee of the Methodist church.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, March 24, 1893, page 2 column 2

OBITUARY.

Martha Norton, was born in the state of Kentucky on the 22nd day of July, 1828. She was married to Thomas J. Parsons, Oct. 19th, 1851, and to them were born seven children. The husband and five children are left to mourn the departure of the wife and mother. The city of Franklin has been their home for nearly thirty years.

She united with the church in her youth and for nearly twenty years she has been a member of the Franklin Methodist Episcopal church. She had been in poor health for years and very feeble for nearly six years, confined to her bed the most of the time since last July.

Mother Parsons was a patient suf­ferer, she had learned to be content. As the tree which Moses cast into the spring seasoned the bitterness of the waters, so the grace of God cast into her soul seasoned the afflictions of life. If she had an anxiety, it was not for herself, but her loved ones. So that when the last moment came she bid them good morning; and was not, for God took her. And we living stand by the open grave today whispering ten­derly the language of the poet:

“Here, in the place where once thy Savior     lay,
Where He shall wake thee on a future day,
Like a tired child upon its mother’s breast,
Rest, Sweetly Rest.”

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry