MRS. ABBIE STOKES GRAY

Mrs. Abbie Gray, wife of C. H. Gray, of Flemington, passed away very suddenly in Ocala Sundy evening, April 23rd. She was a daughter of R. D. Stokes of Gaiter, and was born there April 19, 1890. She was married to Mr. Gray April 24, 1921.

“Miss Abbie,” as she was best known, leaves a husband, father, two brothers, two sisters and a host of friends and relatives over the country and state to morn her death. She was a faithful, loyal wife, daughter, sister and church member. She belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America at McIntosh about six years, and when the lodge went to pieces there, she moved her membership to Rock Island, Ill., and was a member in good standing when she died. She had been teaching in Marion County for the past ten years and was considered one of the state's best teachers by both patrons and pupils. She taught in this neighborhood 3 successive and we all loved her bright and sunny disposition. Why one so lovable and so much loved, and needed, should have been called away is one of the things “sometimes we'll understand.” She was laid to rest on her wedding anniversary, which made it all the sadder for the devoted husband.

She was one who never murmured or complained at anything and was perfectly happy in her little home at Flemington, and her sweet face and pleasant smiles will be missed by both white and black in the very. Little Store owned by Mr. Gray period to show how much she was loved in her home while a little girl growing up, the following is a poem written by her stepmother, who passed away two months ago:

 

“Abbie”

I was busy meditating
  Over things of long ago,
When in mid I pictured Abbie
  As in school I used to know.
How she looked with books and basket
  And her hair so long and black,
Neatly braided, tied with ribbon,
  Hanging down her little back.
 
Abbie was her father’s eldest
  Of his little children three;
Their dear mother died and left them
  All alone with to be.
Now that mother’s gone to heaven,
  Tho’t the child with pitying heart,
I must care for the baby brother
  And for sister do my part.
 
Abbie often told her father,
  “When I’m grown I mean to be
A school teacher; if you doubt it,
  Wait till then and you will see.”
With this aim in view, she studied
  All her lessons each day.
“How she’s learning! Don’t you think so?”
  One might hear her teacher say.
 
Time went on and Abbie’s father
  Sent her to Ocala High school,
Still to master every study
  Seemed to be her daily rule.
Each year Abbie was promoted
  To another higher grade,
Which increased her ambition
  To reach the plans which she had made.
 
Then she took a teacher’s normal
  To prepare for, as she said
The coming June examination
  Of which most teachers seem to dread.
Examination being over,
  Then came the most important feature;
When Abbie entered school that season.
  She was not a pupil but a teacher.
 
This being in the year of 1909
  And Abbie being nineteen,
She lengthened her dresses
  To teach her first school;
Feeling somewhat as a queen,
  Resolving that order should be her rule,
So when the children got cross,
  To be submissive they soon found best,
For their little teacher was boss.

 

She was laid to rest in Flemington cemetery Monday afternoon, April 24th. The Methodist minister of preacher preached her funeral in the presence of may sorrowing friends and relatives.

Mr. Gray wishes to thank all of his and Abbie’s friends for their kindness through her sickness and death and for the many beautiful flowers that were placed on her and the little baby’s grave. Also the doctors and nurses for their kind attentions to her.

A. Friend

Flemington, Fla. April 27