Death notices, death mentions and obits from the 1903 McNairy County Independent. Friday, 30 January 1903. McNairy County Independent. Sad Death. Lessie May, the three year old daughter of Mrs. Anna Hester, daughter of L. A. Lockman of the 2nd district, was drowned in a creek near her home about eight miles west of Selmer Wednesday. The little girl is supposed to have followed a dog with which she had been playing to the back water of the creek and stumbled into a deep hole and before assistance arrived was drowned. Friday, 6 February 1903. McNairy County Independent. To The Memory Of Mrs. B. F. Darby. The home of B. F. Darby has been saddened by the death of his devoted wife. She was born in South Carolina 65 years ago, was the daughter of W. M. Prather, one of the staunch farmers of McNairy county. She became a member of the Pleasant Grove Methodist church at the age of fourteen and lived a member thereof till death. She became the wife of B. F. Darby at the age of sixteen. Her husband and seven children survive her. Mrs. Darby was esteemed for her noble christian traits and will ever be remembered by her neighbors, to whom she so often ministered in time of sickness, sadness and death. Her husband cannot soon forget her devoted life, her sweet smiles and her lovely Christian character. Her children will ever think of her as the best woman who has ever yet lived, and the counsel of her sweet life will ever be a strength in overcoming the evil temptations of life. Such a life, suc! h a character will not, cannot die. Though her body lies in the silent churchyard at old Pleasant Grove, the life she lived, the examples she set, the character she builded, stand as perpetual reminders to her husband, children, grand-children and her innumerable host of friends that she still lives, and in their fond remembrance, will never die; but will ever think: There is no death, The stars go down on a farther shore, And in heaven's brightest jewel crown, And will shine forever more. One of the Children. Friday, 6 February 1903. McNairy County Independent. Bethel Springs. Mrs. Mary, wife of Clark Ethridge, died Wednesday morning. She had spoken to her son Prince of not resting well the night before but said she was not feeling sick. Born Mary Archer, 45 years ago, she was married to Clark Etheridge while yet in her teens and has borne him eleven children of whom three are grown. Reared in the Christian church faith, she lived to see her adult children following their parents' footsteps. The cause assigned for her death is heart failure as she was never known to have any disease from her childhood. Mrs. Etheridge was passing from one house to the other about her morning work when she fell. Her husband sprang to her aid but she died in a few minutes without rallying. The funeral is from the Presbyterian church to the cemetery at this place, the sermon to be preached by the pastor at Refuge, where she held her membership. The hour set, 12 noon Thursday, is peculiarly appropri! ate, for it was at noon of life that she was taken. Friday, 6 February 1903. McNairy County Independent. Dr. J. W. Flatt Dead. Dr. J. W. Flatt, of Stantonville, died at his home Thursday night, January 27th, age 47 years. He died suddenly from heart disease. He had recently returned from Hot Springs, Ark, where he had been for his health. He leaves a wife and two children. His remains were buried in the Clear Creek cemetery last Saturday. Dr. Flatt has been prominent in the county for several years as a physician; was a good citizen and his death will be deeply felt in that portion of the county. We tender our sympathies to his bereaved family. Friday, 13 February 1903. McNairy County Independent. Bethel Springs. Miss Lily Lane daughter of Crump Lane, died at 6 p.m. Wednesday, of heart disease aggravated by typhoid fever. The burial is at Mt. Carman. This beautiful girl was beloved by all who knew her and was just out of her twenties. Her loss is a sad blow to her devoted parents. She was an earnest Christian and a regular attendant upon public worship. Friday, 6 March 1903. McNairy County Independent. Joplin. The community was greatly shocked on last Monday night on account of the sad death of Mr. ___ Lain. He leaves a wife and nine children in sadness. He was a faithful member and ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. The church has lost a faithful member; the community a good neighbor and citizen; the wife a devoted husband and the children a kind and loving father. His life has been very useful and he has gone to his reward. A place is vacant in the home that no one can fill. His body was laid to rest in Mt. Carmel cemetery. (Could not read first name) Friday, 6 March 1903. McNairy County Independent. Died. Jeptha Fowlkes, nephew of S. K. Fowlke and brother to Mrs. T. Prather of Ramer, died Wednesday at the home of the latter of consumption. He had only recently returned from Texas where he had been for his health. He was a noble young man and we extend to the bereaved family our condolence. Jerry D Duncan