  Mary Aurora Turner 29 July 1859 - 15 May 1912 w/o J.F. Turner The Whitewright Sun Friday, May 24, 1912 pg. 6 MEMORIES OF MOTHER Mary Aurora White was born in Maury County, Tennessee July 29, 1859. Among the beautiful mountains and clear streams she grew into beautiful womanhood. Lovely, not only in form, but also in character. She, with a brother younger than herself, were left without a mother's tender love at the early ages of fifteen and twelve, respectively, and a few years before that their father had also been called home. Though tender in years and at a time when it seemed they so much needed a mother's counsel, they met their sorrows bravely. They had been blessed with Christian parents and never forgot their many words of love and admonition. At the age of sixteen years mother was married to Briton Evans, and after eleven years of happiness he was laid to rest in the Pilot Grove Cemetery. On February 6, 1887 she was married to J.E. Turner, and seven children were born to them; six of whom are living, and little Thelma Aurora, the baby-child, went on to a heavenly home at the age of six weeks. Mother was a patient sufferer for many, many years but never allowed herself to grow despondent; instead, she was always bright, cheerful, and hopeful even to the last. She underwent an operation some three months ago, and for a time was thought to be doing nicely, but for the last few weeks, we could not help seeing that she was gradually growing weaker. As a last resort she was advised to visit her daughter in Chillicothe, hoping the change would prove beneficial, and though all that loving hearts and hands could do was done for her, she was told that there was not much hope. Her next thought was to try to gain strength to come home before the last, and she was preparing to come when she suddenly grew worse. Her heart had failed her and she knew that she would never again on earth see four precious boys she worshipped. She called her daughters to the bedside and told us not to grieve for her. She said, "Darling, I know that I shall never get home again, but I am going to a better home. Do not grieve for me for everything is all right and I shall be at rest." She then sent messages of love to the absent ones and went to sleep Wednesday, May 15th. Her request was to be brought home; and at 3 a.m. on the 16th we reached Whitewright with the cold and silent but precious form or our datling mother, and slowly wended our way to the old home where husband, brother and sons awaited the home-coming with sad and aching hearts. She was laid to rest at 11 a.m. in the Vittitoe Cemetery, after a beautiful and impressive talk by Elder Willie Carter; and her last resting place was covered with a profusion of fragrant flowers she loved so well. The parting from this our idolized mother is, indeed, the saddest hour in our lives, but we are comforted by the happy thought that she has only gone to rest. She was baptized into the Church of Christ at the age of twenty, and we knew her to be a true and faithful follower of our Saviour, who is now our comforter in this great sorrow. Oh, the thought is sweet to us, that we will all be reunited in a world where sickness and death are not known. We cannot, as yet, fully realize our great sorrow, but there will never be a day when we shall cease to miss her precious voice and form. Our darling mother! Always interested in our childish woes, as well as joys; and in later years our companion and confidant, giving us in her sweet way many beautiful character lessons. Her whole life is a beautiful example to us, and we must strive always to direct our steps as she has taught us. For while our hearts are aching and the loneliness is so great, we know that our precious mother is at rest and our loss is her eternal gain. The many sweet memories of mother shall always be dear to us, and shall be an incentive to ever press onward and upward to a better life, that when the summons comes to us, as we know it must, we may be prepared to go. May God richly bless the friends who so willingly came to us at this sad parting. Her Children.
 Vittitoe Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
