M I K 0 E I A I
i
OF
Mrs. Annie L €. Stephens,
L4TE OF 1UKEK COfJWTY, GA.
G-riffin Star Joto Print,
1867.
OBITUARY.
Departed this life, in Baker County, Georgia, on Sabbath,
the 2nd of September, 1866, MRS. ANNIE L. C.
STEVENS, wife of Dr. J. P. Stevens.
When the news reached us, that this christian lady was
no more among the living, we were filled with unfeigned sad¬
ness ; for we knew well, that a remarkable woman, a devo¬
ted wife, a tender mother, and a true child of God, had de¬
parted this life, and that an aching void had been made,
never to be filled in this world. And our eyes were held
waking far into the silent hours of the night, as we thought
of her many virtues, her protracted illness, her unwavering
faith, her peaceful end : and then, of those beloved hearts,
and that desolate home, of which she was the light, the joy,
and the abiding comfort.
Mrs. Stevens was born in Liberty County, Georgia, on
the 26th day of March, 1825. She was the youngest child
of Mr. Louis LeConte, a man of rare intelligence and great
simplicity of character. She lost her mother in tender in-
4
fancy. She was educated principally in her native county.
Although delicate in constitution, and frail in body, she
vwas remarkably elastic and enduring.. She combined in a
singular manner, the stronger and gentler graces of charac¬
ter. Her excellent understanding was highly cultivated, and
well disciplined. Her prompt decision was guided by a good
judgment, and balanced by affection arid gentleness. Her
prudence and carefulness were associated with humanity and
benevolence. Her love of the beautiful was not more con¬
spicuous than her love of order,, and both were apparent in
.all her plans to adorn and make her home happy. And her
energy was limited only by her delicate health.
But the distinguishing feature of Mrs. Stevens' charac¬
ter, was her deep, pervading, constantly growing, cheerful,
useful, attractive Piety ! ! Her life was, as the path of the
just, that shineth more and more, unto the perfect day. She
professed the Savior seventeen years ago ; and one who
knew her well testifies, "that her experiences of a change of
heart were very decided and satisfactory, and attended with
much peace. Nor has she been harrassed with doubts about
the work of grace in her heart.'"' But, her piety was emi¬
nently atctive, as well as peaceful. The writer of this notice
well remembers how greatly his spirit was refreshed, and
his heart encouraged, by the coming of Mrs. Stevens to
Southwestern Georgia in the Fall of 1863. As he was la¬
boring, almost solitary and alone, in a needy wilderness, he
was enabled to thank God and take courage, from her cheer¬
ing words and active example. She was alive to the salva¬
tion of souls ! and most earnestly did she labor for her ser¬
vants, and most abundantly were her labors blessed in a
number of conversions, ranging from early youth to three
score years and fen. Her interest in her people, and the
.work of grace among them, is strikingly expressed in 1 lu-
follorwing extracts from, one of her letters to a friend :
"When I came here, I found the negroes on this plantation in a
state of moral degradation, which astonished and distressed me. I
felt my own ignorance and umvorthincss so deeply, that it was with
fear and trembling that I undertook a regular course of instruction
with them. But I am not strong, ;and cannot expect to live many
years, so I must work while my strength lasts. I have enjoyed such
.excellent religious advantages all nay life, that I ought to have made
more progress, both in knowledge and in grace. J3ut my conscience
.compelled me to make the effort ; and God has indeed blessed it in a
most wonderfpl manner ! ! I have done nothing more than any one
can do, who is able to read. I have only read the Bible to them, ac¬
companying each verse with a fe<w imperfect explanations, and also
taught them Jones' Catechism. And yet, God has been pleased to
bless such weak efforts by a wonderful out-pouring of his spirit. 1
take no credit to myself ; it is the blessing which God has given to Hix
.own word, which hath done all this. Every heart on the plantation
has felt the influence, from the gray-rheaded man of thee-score years
and ten, to children of thirteen or fourteen. Christians have been re¬
vived, backsliders recalled, sinners converted ! And those who have
not yet professed conversion, are earnestly seeking the way of salva¬
tion. I feel absolutely overwhelmed by a sense of the responsibility,
for I know that so much judgment is required at such a time. The in¬
quirers have been very open and free with me, in personal conversation)
and I have been enabled to meet many errors which may lfave proved
fatal : such as trusting in their own efforts to live right, as a ground of
hope ; and looking upon dreams and visions as evidences of a change
of heart. I have endeavored to make them realize that the
Holy Spirit alone can convince them of sin, and change their hearts ;
.that Christ, and Christ alone, can take away their burden of sin ; and
that when they learn to trust and love him, they will obey his com¬
mandments, not because it makes them acceptable, but because they
love Him.
"I am anxious for Mr. J. to converse with them all individually,
tfor I know that there is great danger of deception amongst a people
spignorant as they are."
This interesting extract evinces, most fully, the earnest
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zeal, the tender solicitude, and the sound evangelical view*
of Mrs. Stevens, in laboring to win souls to Christ. It was
our privilege to visit repeatedly the scene of her labors, and
we found it a field ready for the harvest. And we shall
never forget those favoured days (Saturday and Sabbath) of
June, 1864, vwhen.Mrs. Stevens, in the absence of her hus¬
band, brought her servants—many, of them young converts—
and aided us in.organizing our Refuge Church in the wilder¬
ness, on the,banks of-the beautiful Nochaway. Her sweet
•voice led ,our music 1 ft was a hqppy day for us all, when
we were permitted to enjoy the first communion in our tem¬
porary .exile, and the first Presbyterian Communion ever
• witnessed in Baker County.
Mrs. Stevens .continued her attentions to the colored
people after their political change, of condition ; and it was
in the performance of this labor of love, that she contracted
-the cold vwbieh was the beginning of lier protracted fatal
sickness.
It wtfts not our privilege to witness the closing days and
scenes of our esteemed friend; but they are told most touch-
ingly, in a letter received from an honored Baptist Brother,
Rev. H.*A. Duncan. Ke thus writes :
"It was my privilege to visit Mrs. Stevens during her last illness ;
and on each occasion, I realized more fully than in all my previous]life,
the power and preciousness of the Gospel. It was indeed a privilege
:to be with her. When on my first visit, I proceeded as a Minister, to
draw from the Scriptures and my own experience, such considerations,
as would comfort her heart, and strengthen her faith. But I soon per¬
ceived that the whole order of things was reversed ! I felt that I had
nothing to do.but listen ; and I did listen, with an interest as intense
as it was gratifying. Her knowledge of the Scriptures, her perfect
familiarity with the whole scheme of mercy, her ripeness of experience
her calm resignation to all the will of God, her unshrinking faith, her
hope of Meaven. her exultation at the prospect of soon heing with har
•»
Savior, were wonderful beyund all 1 «had eveu seen or heard. And all
Jhis in the midst of sufferings, such as few in this world arc called to
endure. For five months she was confined to bed t and yet, during
this long period, a murmur was never heard to escape her lips ; nor
did a single doubt distarb the holy serenity of her soul. A devoted
wife and mother, and remarkable for the strength of her attachments,
she nevertheless succeeded in detaching herself from all earthly ties,
and awaited only the summons of her Heavenly Father. "
"She seemed to retain her consciousness to the last, and realized
almost to the letter, the wish of her heart, that she might fall asleep
and awake in heaven."
A few hours before she passed away, her devoted hus¬
band said to her, "You have entered the dark valley, do you
feel happy in the prospect ? Does your Savior support you ?"
"Oh, yes !" was her reply.
She gave explicit directions about the disposal of her
remains ; and desired that they should be deposited in the
Macon Cemetery, in a cool and shady place, in a retired spot
where her friends would plant flowers on her grave, and told
what kind of flowers would flourish in the shade.
Such was this noble, christian woman, this model wife,
mother, friend, and mistress ! Her life was distinguished1
fbr affection, intelligence, decision, energy, cheerfulness,
faith, and efliciqncy. *
Her death was remarkable for unfeigned submission to
the Divine Will, unwavering trust in her Savior, and a calm
beautiful serenity, as she passed into the valley of the
shadow of death.
Mingled emotions of sorrow and joy, will ever cluster
around her memory : sorrow that her sun went down in its
bright meridian, and that she hath left vacant a large place
never to be filled. Joy, that we have been permitted to wit¬
ness in her life and death, the blessed influences of the grace
-of God.
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As one whom His Mothef comforteth, so may God, the
Holy Spirit, comfort the bereaved hearts of the stricken
husband and children. And may the teachings and exam¬
ple of the mother be so sanctified to her children, that all
of them shall, in the last day, rise up and call her blessed ! !