Edna Funderburk Offers Tribute to B.C. Ashcraft, Nov. 15, 1921

Tribute to Mr. Ashcraft. . . Folks “Over the Line” Will Miss His Genial Smile and Handshake To the Editor of The Journal:-- It is not often that an editor wins his way into the hearts of the people as that noble man who died in Monroe the other day. I suppose there is not another man in Union County whose death would bring more genuine regret to more people than did the passing of B.C. Ashcraft. Perhaps there is not a school boy or girl in Union County but that knew him and loved him. We all felt even here across the Eno that when we had a celebration of any kind, a Sunday school picture, or a public gathering of any note, that the program was not complete unless “Clegg” as we familiarly called him, was going to speak. He lives today in the minds of thousands who listened to his words of kindly wisdom and we believe he will live in the years to come in the lives of the young who heard his good counsel and advice. To my mind, one of the beautiful things about Mr. Ashcraft was his faith in his fellow man. He believed in man and lived up to that belief and inspired others to do so. I remember on one occasion, in making an address, he made these remarks: “It has been said that every man has his price. It isn’t true. I could go out there, break a watermelon and splash the juice on a dozen men who couldn’t be bought at any price.” I have often thought of these words, and they have helped me to believe that the race isn’t all so bad after all. Mr. Ashecraft said so, and of all people who ought to know, an editor ought. We shall miss his pleasant smile and genial handshake, and we are sorry but we are richer because he lived and moved among us so many blessed years. --Edna V. Funderburk From the front page of The Monroe Journal, Nov. 15, 1921