Ada Olivia Raper, 55, Buried in Winston, May 31, 1926

Mrs. Raper’s Body Buried Sunday. . . Wife of Beloved Pastor of LaFayette Street Methodist Church Buried in Winston Sunday

By Archie Galloway

Funeral services were held Sunday at 1 o’clock for Mrs. A.S. Raper, wife of Rev. A.S. Raper, who died at the Shelby hospital Friday afternoon.

Brief funeral services were conducted at the residence Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Dr. H.K. Boyer officiating, assisted by Rev. D.P. Waters, Rev. C.F. Sherrill, Rev. O.P. Ader of Kings Mountain and Rev. C.O. Kennerly of Dallas. The funeral party left Sunday morning for Winston-Salem, via Charlotte, Concord and Salisbury.

Ada Olivia Raper, nee Spaugh, was born October 4, 1874 in Davidson county, this state. The deceased was 51 years, 7 months and 24 days of age. She was baptized in infancy and at the age of 14 was received in the Friedberg Moravian church near Winston-Salem. She joined the Methodist church by letter February 24, 1901. She graduated from Salem academy (now Salem college) June 4, 1894, with honors, after which she taught school in Davidson and Forsyth counties.

She was married to Rev. A.S. Raper, member of the Western North Carolina conference, methodist Episcopal church, October 18, 1899 at high noon. For nearly 27 years this happy union existed and only death separated. To this union was born two infants, and death claimed them. With her husband she served the following charges: Watauga, Wentworth, East Greensboro, Bryson City, Randolph, (Epworth, Concord) Brevard Station, (Brevard street, Charlotte), (Dallas, High Shoals) and LaFayette, Shelby. Deceased is survived by her husband, one brother, A.A. Spaugh.

She had been in failing health for the past few years. In all her life she was loving, patient, kind, tender, sympathetic, and faithful in all good church work, and departed with a consuming desire to be spared to do more in the Vineyard of the Master, whom she knew and loved to obey Here was a beautiful and full life of devoted service.

Interment was held at Mt. Olivet Methodist church near Winston-Salem, the former home of her husband. Services were conducted by Bishop Ronthaler and her first pastor, Rev. James E. Hall, of Winston-Salem. Many friends from Shelby, Gastonia, Charlotte, Concord, Salisbury and other cities attended the funeral Beautiful floral tributes were sent from many cities.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., May 31, 1926

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