Roads So Bad, Rev. Chaffin Conducted E.J. Spence's Funeral at the Grave, Feb. 24, 1922

Roads So Bad, Family Couldn’t Get Minister for Funeral

Enoch Jordan Spence, a well-known farmer of Newland Township, was stricken with paralysis last Friday and died at 4:15 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 1922. Mr. Spence was 61 years, 11 months and 27 days old. He is survived by his wife, Mary R. Spence, six children, Ernest A., John A., E. Julian and Joseph F. Spence, Mrs. Walter R. McCoy, Miss Blanche P. Spence, and six grandchildren, all of Newland, one sister, Mrs. B.F. Burnham of South Mills, N.C., and two half brothers, A.L. Spence of Deep Creek, Va., and John A. Evans of Norfolk, Va.

He was buried Sunday evening at Whitney Cemetery. On account of the bad roads a minister could not be secured to conduct the funeral at the home, so Mrs. Frank Williams sang a touching solo as the pallbearers (the four sons) carried the body from the house. Rev. Chaffin of South Mills conducted the services at the grave.

From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Feb. 24, 1922