This entire post consists of a eulogy written by Nathan E. Burdine, of Russell County, for Roena Burdine, written shortly after her death in 1885.
Epitaph on the tombstone of Henry first child of Roena Burdine Decd, & purchased by her, & lines selected
Henry Burdine died Sept 5/53
Aged 1 year and 9 days
Loved in life, in death remembered
Roena Burdine was born in the Town of Abingdon, on the 9th day of April 1836, was brought to this county of Russell when some five year of age, then a healthy stout child of very uncommon bright intellect for one of her age and sex, which continued to grow as she matured to womanhood, but at full age was destitute of any book learning, having been so situated in life up to that time and after, gave her no opportunity to be otherwise, but her mind being so very clear and sound, she acquired quite a store of good manners, good conduct, nice modest ways, sensible language for friendly and religious conversation. By observation from those she was frequently with during her years of raising that she made choice to keep company with and hear talk, sought and obtained such company as often as her circumstances would permit until she was, for many of her last years fully capable & competent to converse fluently with educated ladies and gentlemen, always tried to shun bad vulgar wicked company.
For many years of her young age she was required to work in the fields, as the man with whom she lived was a farmer and with such weak male help that her assistance was much needed, and she soon had to do her full part at every kind of work that could be reasonably expected or done by any female and was a willing and extraordinary good hand. After she was some twenty five years of age, she was required to take the oversight and management of all the housework in and out of doors, as the former mistress of the house had lost her health, after which time she managed the work doing the principal part herself, such as spinning, coloring, weaving, making the course clothes, salting meat, preparing the lard, tallows, soap, and all such ready for the use of a family consisting of some twenty or thirty persons, and at the same time had the trouble and care of four or five of her own children, all of which she done to the satisfaction of those with whom she lived as she did the field labor when younger. She was then requested and imployed as a principal housekeeper with the care entire control and management of all and every thing that pertains to same which she has done in every way for the past eight or nine years as near to perfection as the same could be done.
Never was known to act in any way in the least dishonest during her life for the last ten years, or more. She often had access to property and money, to the amount of several hundred dollars, that she might have used in a dishonest way at her will, but never was known, nor suspicioned of doing so to the value of one cent at anytime. She was always ready and anxious to advise her children and other friends the best & most honest ways to persue in all things kind and accommodating to her children, friends, and neighbors, expecially those that were poor & destitute. Loved to go to church as a Methodist, paid liberally to the support of the Gospel, according to her means, was a consistent member of the Methodist Church South, and died as the same on the night of the 1st day of October 1885, leaving five of her children and many other relations, devoted friends, and neighbors to mourn the loss of so kind and noble woman, which is very grievous with one whose loss is greatest and all that can be born.
A short time before she died, she was talking to some of her friends about her probable departure and future prospects of heaven and became so much excited religiously that she became quite exhausted and worried, and was told by her friend to try and resist and refrain from such that she had not strength to exert herself to such extent. Well in praising God so loud & so much as her then feeble condition would not admit of such. When she replied that there was rest for the weary, that she would soon be permited to praise God more perfect with lungs stronger, & such as would not tyre nor wear out, with loved ones, and friends that had gone before her and that was waiting and watching for her at the beautiful gate.
The writer of these lines knew her and all her ways, from five years old until the day of her death and have often, as has other friends, saw her as happy in the enjoyment of religion when at her house & almost alive while engaged at her housework as ever she was seen at any Church at the greatest revival meetings, and from such undoubted witnesses from her repeated talk of heaven and immortal happiness that she so often said awaited the redeemed spirits, the writer of these lines who lost all his help and company in her death, has living hopes that our but more especially the loss of one that feel it most sorely, that the same has been her infinite and eternal gain, and expects so to hope and think until the misteries of eternity are unlocked to his knowlege but to know this now if it were possible to obtain such knowlege from the heavenly world, would give more consolation and satisfaction than is expected this side the grave but if he could his grief would then end but not his sorrow for himself.
Perhaps it was two months previous to her death, she went on a visit to Washington County principally to see some of her children, a distance of some twenty five miles, on horseback, over mountains and hills. The journey in going & returning was too tiresome & wearisome for her then feeble condition & she never recovered from it but continued after she returned to her home to work and direct the same as long as she could, as she was never inclined to idleness. Some two weeks before her death she was compeled to surrender to the affliction which three skilful physicians called congestion of the brain and although the three that was called to her relief the affliction baffeled all their skill. For some eight or ten days & nights before she died she fell into a stupor or sound sleep so that it was very difficult to arrouse her, the greater part of the time during this stupor she appeared to be almost intirely unconcious, so that when she could open her eyes and see such friends as was at her bedside she would fail to recognize them except her friend that she had lived with nearly all her life, her children, and a neighbor that had lived on the same plantation for many years, that she had great respect for, being raised near each other & by the same connection.
And after all this history and description of her excellent character & qualities as a Christian lady, and how ever grievous to the friend whose loss was so great and that miss and lament her death most grievious, on the night of the 1st day of October 1885, at near 3 O Clock, death came and there was no defense; and the one that feels the occurance of the death most has strong hopes that immediately thereafter her dear spirit met those of her loved ones of whom she often spoke in her religious exercises while here among us, and that beautiful gate was opened to receive her happy spirit that was permited to go in there in perpetual and more noble praises to God through an endless eternity. God grant that her redeemed spirit may know in eternity, the uses of waiting & watching at the same beautiful gate for those she loved best and left behind and all her dear friends.
All the preceding and succeeding lines have been, & will be written for a present to Jas. D. Burdine in memory of his dear Mother and other friends, which the giver hopes he will read, keep, and think to observe her good example.
Epitaph on the tomb stone of Roena Burdine.
Born April the 9th 1836 &
Died October the 1st 1885
Aged 49 years, 5 months & 22 days
She was a tender mother here
and in her life the Lord did fear
We hope our loss has been her gain
And that with Christ she gone to reign
Loved supremely in life & remembered sadly in death
Selected and written by a very near friend.
