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April 1, 1922 THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN
(Contributed)
Mr. W. L. Jesse died at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Amburgey, on Highland Avenue, in Norton, on Sunday morning, March 26 about two o'clock. He had reached a good ripe age old age, being 84 years old at the time of his death. He was born near Cleveland in Russell County in 1837. While he had been in poor health for some time, the immediate cause of his death was a fall which broke his shoulder and injured his hip.
His wife died six years ago. They had lived happily together for the exceptionally long period of 55 years. He had spent the most of the time since the death of his wife with his daughter, Mrs. Amburgey.
He was an old confederate soldier. He was distantly related to Gen. Robert E. Lee and followed him for four years and was present at Appomatox when he surrendered. He was laid in his casket with his bronze war medal on the lapel of his coat.
He was of a family of twelve children, having sevel brothers and four sisters. There is only one of the twelve remaining, Mrs. John Jesse of Wilder, Va. On account of bad health funeral.
Mr. Jesse had only two children, Mrs. Amburgey of Norton and Mr. S. R. Jesse of Big Stone Gap, both of whom were present at the funeral.
He was a member of the Baptist Church and had been an earnest, faithful Christian ever since his youth. A large crowd of relatives and friends attended his funeral at Cleveland and bore loving testimony to this fact. He attended the Baptist Church at Norton after his hearing was so impaired that he could not understand a word of the sermon, telling his pastor that it did him good to be where the gospel was preached even if he could not hear it.
His daughter, Mrs. Amburgey, and her family accompanied his remains to Cleveland for the funeral on Monday, March 27. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. F. H. Fuller of Lebanon, assisted by Rev. D. M. Simmons of Norton, who went with the family to Cleveland. Rev. Fuller who was Mr. Jesse's nephew and who had been his pastor for seven years, had promised his uncle to conduct his funeral service and he paid a loving tribute of respect to the good old uncle. His address was both eloquent and full of pathos as he related many touching incidents which had drawn them close together.
The remains were laid to rest beside the remains of his wife in the little cemetery in Cleveland.
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