Obituary - Clarence Smart 1914

Obituary - Clarence Smart

July 14, 1914

Submitted by Jan Johnson Barnes

This newspaper obituary was found in a scrapbook belonging to Lela Smart Johnson.  Lela ( born March 15, 1892, died April 15, 1989)  was the daughter of James Marion Smart and Nina Belcher.  She married Martin Luther Johnson on November 1, 1910.   

A Sad Death

Clarence Smart, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Smart, was struck Tuesday, July 14, 1914, 4:30 p.m., by passenger train No. 5 and was instantly killed.

The place where he was killed was Mallorys, Tenn., three miles north of Franklin, Tenn., where he was at work for his brother-in-law, Austin Crafton, foreman of the section crew at Mallorys. The section crew was on the west side of the track and the hand car on the east, and why Clarence crossed over to the hand car was unknown by all.

Clarence, a prominent young man of Portland, had only been away from home about three weeks and was expecting to return home Saturday, July 18th, accompanied by his sister, Mrs. Austin Crafton, who lives near Mallorys.

Clarence is survived by his parents, three sisters, Mrs. Austin Crafton, Mrs. Luther Johnson, Miss Lizzie Smart and one brother, Lillard Smart. He was 23 years, 11 months, and 3 days old. He was a member of Halltown General Baptist Church and lived a faithful and true Christian life. When Clarence was with you he never failed to speak of Christianity. He showed his Christian life at his blessed home and abroad and he proved it out true to the end.

His remains were brought to Portland Wednesday a .m. on train No. 8 and carried to the home of his parents accompanied by a large crowd. Funeral services were held at Halltown Church Thursday morning at 10:30 o'clock by Rev. G. H. Austin, pastor of the church.

Clarence will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends and at home and especially by his dear brother, who loved him dearly. Clarence has gone where he can't come back to us, but we will prepare to meet him in the great beyond, where there is no more parting and no more death. Weep not, dear father and mother, for we all know where Clarence is resting.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, Come unto me and rest; Lay down thou weary one, lay down thy head upon my breast.  I come to Jesus as I was - Weary, and worn, and sad;  I found in him a resting place,  And he has made me glad.

Written by one who loved him dearly.


Sumner County, Tennessee Obituary Index

Genealogist's Companion to Research in Sumner County, Tennessee