The Liberation of a Pure Spirit

Mr. John E. Ashford died Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock at his home on Green street (Gainesville) after an illness of about 10 days. The interment took place at Alta Vista cemetery at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning, Rev. B. F. Fraser conducting the services. He was 37 years of age and was a cripple all his life, but none had a more cheerful disposition or was freer from the contaminations of the world, with its tarnishing influences. No tares had been sown in his life; it was pure. He was an optimist and it was refreshing to talk with him. God had made him a cripple, and he was satisfied with God's work.. . . .

He leaves a devoted mother, Mrs. E. J. Ashford, two brothers, and four sisters.

In Memory.

Gainesville, GA June 26, 1906

John E. Ashford is dead! Did you know John? You may have seen him, but I doubt if you knew him. He was the most scrupulously honest man I ever knew in his life. For twenty years I have known John, and loved him, because he was always trying to make someone happy; he scattered so much sunshine and gladness all around wherever he went, and taught every one with whom he came in contact sweet lessons, and valuable lessons too. He never planted a thorn in his life; all that he planted was good, useful and beautiful. Not one of my eight children, but John has made happy, and those that are in Heaven will welcome him at the gates and give him with other angels a glad and an abundant entrance into that upper and better world.

I wish I could have made as many children happy as John has. In an old trunk, where my dead boy Tom's play things are kept, are some little toys that John sent him nineteen years ago, the day he became ill, and I have looked at them and thought how unselfish it was of John to deprive himself to make the children happy. And his life and conduct have made a much greater impression than I really knew until my good wife telephoned me just now this simple message, "John is dead." I can hardly realize that it is true, yet we have been expecting it for some days, for he was "never in the way, and never out of the way," and wherever he did he did good, and made others happy and taught them sweet lessons of patience which impressed all far more deeply than sermons from greatest divines.

I know that he has gone to that eternal rest, "where all is peace, and joy and love," peace to his soul!

Fletcher M. Johnson

Transcribed from a clipping pasted in a Merck/Wing scrapbook; no dates visible. Information in parenthesis has been inserted for clarification. Ellipses (...) indicate that not all of the article has been transcribed. Some information omitted for clarify and brevity.