Thursday, October 18, 2018

Death Toll Includes Matthews, Thompson, Dunston, Dail, Nethercut, Shearin, Henry, Whitby, 1918

Obituaries from the Roanoke Rapids Herald, Oct. 18, 1918

Paul V. Matthews

Many hearts were saddened Monday night when the news that Paul V. Matthews of Rosemary had succumbed to an attack of Spanish Influenza at 7:30 p.m. spread over our community. Mr. Matthews was one of the early victims of the ravages of the epidemic that swept over our community some two weeks ago, and not being very strong of body, gradually surrendered his life to his keeper.

Mr. Matthews was cotton buyer for Rosemary Manufacturing Company, well known and highly esteemed in both Rosemary and Roanoke Rapids. He had been a resident of Rosemary 17 years and several years ago was married to Miss Johnson, this union being blessed by six children, all of whom together with two brothers and two sisters and other relatives, survive him. He was 42 years old and a son of Dr. and Mrs. G.E. Matthews, late of Halifax County.

The funeral services were conducted from his home in Rosemary and interment made at the Roanoke Rapids Cemetery Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock, Rev. Mr. Carter, his pastor, officiating, being assisted by the Rosemary Council of the Junior Order of American Mechanics and Carolina Lodge No. 255 I.O.O.F. of which he was a faithful member.

Those who saw the many beautiful floral offerings, expressing in their beautiful language the esteem of his fellow man, can indeed realize that P.V. Matthews numbered is friends by the score, and that he was a man that will be greatly missed among his relatives and numerous friends.

For several years the deceased was our faithful correspondent at Rosemary and it is needless to say that his weekly letters will be missed. The entire staff of The Herald, together with the entire community, extend to the bereaved wife and orphaned children their deep sympathy in this dark hour of great stress.

Mr. T.T. Thompson

Mr. T.T. Thompson of Rosemary died Sunday, October 17, of Spanish Influenza. Mr. Thompson was born 47 years ago in Southampton County, Virginia, and is survived by his wife and three children and other relatives. His remains were taken to near Drewryville, Va., Monday for interment.

Mrs. J.W. Dunston

Died, Sunday afternoon at her home near Rosemary, Mrs. J.W. Dunston, aged about 30 years. She is survived by her husband and other relatives. Interment was made Monday in Roanoke Rapids Cemetery, Rev. Raleigh L. Topping officiating.

Mrs. Mattie E. Dail

Mrs. Mattie E. Dail of Rosemary departed from this life on Thursday, October 11, after a short illness of Spanish Influenza. Mrs. Dail is survived by her husband and other relatives. Her remains were taken to Raleigh and interment was made in Oakdale Cemetery.

Mr. Geo. E. Nethercut

Mr. Geo. E. Nethercut died at his home in Rosemary October 17, a victim of Spanish Influenza. Mr. Nethercut was 24 years old and married. His remains were taken to Dixie, N.C., for interment.

Charlie A. Shearin

Mr. Charlie A. Shearin, a former resident of Warren County, but recently of Rosemary, died at the latter place on last Sunday of Spanish Influenza. He was married about two months ago and is survived by his wife and other relatives.

Mr. J.E. Henry

Standing prominently in the sad news of the week is the death of Mr. J.E. Henry of Pattersontown, which occurred Thursday of this week. Mr. Henry had been a resident of this community for about three years and was well known and respected here.

Some days ago he was stricken with Spanish Influenza, followed by pneumonia, which terminated into acute Bright’s disease, from which he was relieved by the death angel.

He is survived by his wife and three children and several members of his immediate family.

Interment will take place today at the Roanoke Rapids Cemetery, Rev. Stanley White of the Presbyterian Church conducting the funeral services.

Miss Maude Alma Whitby

Sunday, October 13, marked the close of the young life of Miss Maude Alma Whitby, 15-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Whitby of Rosemary. For several weeks Miss Whitby had been suffering with whooping cough and later fell victim to Spanish Influenza, the ravages of which were too strong for her youthful body to overthrow. Her remains were laid to rest in the Roanoke Rapids Cemetery on Monday afternoon, Rev. Mr. Lance of the Rosemary Methodist Church conducting the services.
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From the editorial page, a tribute to Paul V. Matthews by J.T. Stainback, editor.

It is with the deepest regret that the Herald this week chronicles the sudden and untimely death of its friend and fellow-worker Paul V. Matthews. It takes the far removal of death to enable us to perceive accurately the worth of a man to the community in which he lives. Clearer vision is lost in contact, obscured by the myriad complexities of temporal life, but to a degree far less than usual this was the case in the life of Paul Matthews.

Some one has said that the greatest joy of living comes from having friends. Judged by this standard, Paul Matthews’ life contained as much of joy in the few decades of his earthly existence as many who have reached the allotted span of three score years and ten. He made friends because he loved his fellow man, and to those who were privileged to share his friendship, his untimely going is a grievous thing.

Through years of personal knowledge, we never knew him to do an unkind thing. He was a faithful friend, a devoted husband and father, and although one may sorrow for his family and his friends, the conviction grows that sorrow is useless for him who has gone on to a wider plane of love and friendship than even his faithful spirit could achieve on earth.

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