D.C. WILLIAMS

Lincolnton received a severe shock when the message reached here stating that D.C. Williams was dead.

There have been few men in Lincolnton who took the active interest in church and civic activities that Mr. Williams did. He loved his church and labored for it. He gave freely of his means and time toward the building of the new Baptist church and the financing of it when it was in its infancy. His counsel was sought and his advice needed on matters pertaining to the church.

He was a business man of rare ability and keen foresight. He could speak and men followed. Success attended his every enterprise until he, like so many others, fell a victim to the over-inflated values during the war and was left with too heavy a load when the bubble bursted.

One of the most remarkable incidents in his life occurred after he left Lincolnton. He left here heavily in debt. He had lost practically all he had spent the better part of his life in gaining, but he told his creditors that he would come back and pay all he owed. He did that very thing and the News carried a story of the incident about five years ago. He made a trip to Lincolnton for the sole purpose of paying his debts and when he left to go back to Hope Mills, he had paid every cent which he owed in his home town. A keen sense of honor and a gift of sterling character impelled him to that noble deed. It lifted him high in the hearts of men and today, D.C. Williams may be said to have had as many friends as anyone.

Lincoln and Cumberland counties will miss him and the hearts of those who knew him wherever he had lived reach out in sympathy to the grief stricken family.

D.C. WILLIAMS

 Dear Editor:

In grateful memory and appreciation of our good friend D.C. Williams, who passed away on Wednesday of last week, we feel constrained to utter the following statements:

If the readers will pardon a personal reference, may I say that it was my good pleasure to know the man intimately, and to have his confidence. And without exception I have never known a bigger hearted, more benevolent person. Last winter during the days of much suffering and economic distress in Hope Mills his car was constantly seen at the door of destitute homes unloading provisions for the families in need. He believed that pure and undefiled religion was to visit the fatherless and the widows in their afflictions, and to do something for them.

He was a faithful member to his church and pastor and behind them with all his resources, and all of that untiring energy which was so characteristic of the man. He believed that the church of Christ is the hope of the world. To him, it was the greatest institution on earth. It never called upon him when he didn't respond.

When the writer was a student in the university, Bro. Williams sent to him monthly a liberal check to make possible his stay there. No exhibitionistic motive actuated him. He always requested that these things be kept secret. These good deeds might be multiplied, but space forbids. We might sum it all up in the Biblical phrase, "he went about doing good."

Our hearts are all broken and crushed down over his death. Truly a great heart has gone from our midst—A great friend to all in need. His going is a loss that cannot be repaired. May the God of peace and consolation comfort the aching hearts of his family, and give him a high place in Heaven for what he has done for us, is our prayer.

Curtis Brisson
Pastor of The Baptist Church
Hope Mills