Burnes – Margaret Anna Burnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Naugher, and wife of Wyly W. Burnes, is gone to be a dweller in a happier land. Far above all weariness and pain and care of this world's honoring, she needs no help nor comfort nor praise that we can give; it is for ourselves we write in grateful recollection, and for those who linger. Her life on earth began July 28, 1858, her life in heaven November 25th 1882. On Saturday evening at 2. o'clock her soul passed to where shadows come not, and the light of the Lamb endures forever. She joined the Presbyterian Church (at Carmel) August 13th, 1878, and was married to Wyly W. Burnes, Jan. 1st, 1882. White flowers affections last sad offering, decked the casket of the hallowed dust below; white robes, by her Redeemer given, adorned the saint above: It was meet that one whose heart was ever so tender to another's woe, should be mourned with many tears; and many fell to her of gentle memory. In justice we testified that she who slept, in life was sympathetic and affectionate, unselfish and generous, and faithful to friendship and to truth, as God had given to few. Upon the silence of sorrow the words of the preacher came appropriate, touching true. The dead of much love; the child of vicissitudes; the Christian of trials; refined through suffering, free from earthly ills; made perfect in holiness, and passed into glory. In the mellow sunlight of that autumn day, we followed to the place of peaceful rest. The body belonging unto God. We committed to his watch until that hour when it shall awake, all glorious, like unto His glorious body. How perfect to her eyes that picture, finished now appears. It is grateful too, to know that she who endured so much, but a few days, was at the end delivered in mercy from the sting of death. From usual slumber she passed, after a few hours, through consciousness, into her last sleep. "For so, he giveth his beloved sleep." Is it unlawful to believe that there was in that look, to her departing spirit shown, a door opened in Heaven and that to the brightening sight came glimpses of the throne, and of the rainbow about the throne; and to the spirit ear, a voice saying, "come up hither." Lo, him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne? Instantly her mortal eyes were closed. The ransomed spirit was within the door welcomed with joy unspeakable by husband, father, mother, sisters, brother, and all the angelic host, to the presence of her Lord. Let her alone, sad heart, in her abode of glory. Look up; be glad; behold her, even now, regarding, awaiting, with the same loving heart, the loved ones on earth – happy, radiant, perfected, in the immortal rest.
T.H.A.
Amberson, Ala., Dec. 13, 1882.

The Coosa River News
12 January 1883