Surprise Reunion of Revels Family. . . 59 Relatives Gather at Home of Mr. W.R. Revels on His 73rd Birthday
As the sunset skies of a well-spent life were throwing their shadows of joy across the pathway of Mr. W.R. Revels on his 73rd birthday Thursday, April 15, and while he was quietly but honestly performing the duties of life, suddenly all his children rushed to his home with the equipment for a real picnic and presents to make the heart of an old man glad.
There were present, in all, the father, mother, six daughters, and two sons: Mrs. Ben Ward and husband, Mrs. James R. Corey and husband, Mrs. James H. Revels and husband, W.S. Revels and wife, Mrs. W.B. Harrington and husband, John A. Revels and wife, Mrs. Alonzo Rogerson and husband, and Mrs. Slade Stallings and husband, of Enfield. There were 38 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, in all 59. This was also the birthday of two of the children of Mr. Revels.
It is interesting to know that in all the family of eight children, the youngest is now past 30, there has never been a death, nor has there been a death among the grandchildren except three infants and two accidental deaths—one boy being killed by a falling tree, and another killed by the accidental discharge of a gun.
It would be interesting to study the life of W.R. Revels, who struggled with real hardships in raising his family. The small farm which he owned would not produce a living for the family, and back in the years gone by he was one of the men who worked for 40 cents a day; and those days rant from sun to sun and men worked. Those were the “good old days” when men worked because they needed something; they work now because they want something.
Neighbors tell of the time when Mr. Revels had a sick child, in the days when there were no automobiles and but few buggies. So Mr. Revels walked the 9 miles to Williamston to get a doctor. While the doctor was hitching up his horse, Mr. Revels concluded it would be better for him to hurry back to the bedside of the sick child, so we walked the 9 miles before the doctor could drive the trip. After the diagnosis was completed, the medicine compounded and the doctor had gone, and a neighbor’s dog, a mile away, was heard barking at the passing doctor, it was found that the family had failed to inquire the size of the dose of medicine to give, so Mr. Revels set out to catch the doctor, and overtook him before he was three miles away. It may be that this part of the story is stretched a little, yet the people who know the man best believe it most.
Although the life of Mr. Revels has been one of hard work and many struggles, he and wife and every child are loved and respected as good citizens and are ardent church members. All but two are members of the Primitive Baptist Church at Smithwicks Creek.
It is this type of service, honestly, and trust that makes men the salt of the earth.
The occasion was fittingly carried out in every detail, and was closed with an address by Elder W.B. Harrington, and the prayers of the entire host for many other such occasions.
From the first page of the Enterprise, Williamston, N.C., Tuesday, April 20, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-04-20/ed-1/seq-1/
