Obituary transcribed by Kay Parrish Thompson (46967117)

The Tattnall Journal - April 26, 1923

Tattnall's Oldest Citizen Passes
James A. Stanfield, 93 years of age
Died Last Fri. Afternoon-Buried
Watermelon Sun. Afternoon


Mr. James A. Stanfield,93, years of age, the oldest citizen of Tattnall county, died at his home in the Tyson community last Friday afternoon. He was buried in the Watermelon church cemetery Sunday afternoon at four o'clock, more than twelve hundred relatives and friends gather to witness the ceremony. About one thousand people passed by the casket to view the body of the deceased just after the funeral sermon had been preached, by Elder O.B. Rustin and before the Masons took charge of the remains. It was one of the largest funeral gatherings ever assembled in this county, and marked the high esteem in which Mr. Stanfield had been held during his life, and the respect felt by his friends at his death.
Thus ended the earthly career of one of the pioneers of Tattnall, and of whom friends and relatives loved and revered. The history of the county was intimately connected with his life, and with the lives of those other pioneers who, with him had carved settlements out of the wilderness and turned forest and primeval woods into habitations for man. In the olden days, when the aristocratic landlord viewed his holdings by the mile, and directed the work of the black slaves, Mr. Stanfield, with others of his day, was rich in the world's good and lands and chattels.
At the conclusion of the Civil War when he was with his comrades had returned from the front and found their holdings swept away, their land of little or no value, their slaves freed men, and nothing with which to tend the wide areas so flourishing before he bowed his head in humble submission and under took the task of working victory out of defeat and bringing order out of chaos; providing sustenance for the less fortunate and wooing again the smile of prosperity upon the broad lands of his fathers.
How well he succeeded, and with what respect his fellows looked upon him may be judged from the fact that they sent him to represent them in the general assembly during the two years after the close of the war. Returning after fulfilling his mission there, he again went to his work and for years his was the guiding influence toward better living, better conditions, better civilization, and finally, to this good day, a better county.
The numbers of lives which his influence touched and became a factor in is problematical. His own descendants number more than 250 and his association throughout the long number of years of his life with his neighbors and the public must have made his perhaps the most potential of all the influences for the betterment of the county. His friends and relatives swore by him, his neighbors looked to him for advice and guidance, and the people of the county wanted to know, " What does Uncle Jimmy think about it?" whenever any questions involving the future was brought up.
Mr. Stanfield was twice married; first in 1852, to Miss Miriam Priscilla Strickland. Eleven children born to this union and the wife died in 1902. The 2nd time to Mrs. Mahala Anderson, in 1903. Mr. Stanfield is now 93 years of age.
Only five of the eleven children are living now, and they are: H.A. and J.L. Stanfield of near Glennville, Mrs. G.Q. and Mrs. C.W. Anderson and Mrs. E.H. Brown of Glennville.


Additional information contributed by the family in the same Tattnall Journal edition:

Mr. James A. Stanfield was born Nov. 1, 1830 and died April 20, 1923. He was a son of the late John and Patty Stanfield, whose descent was Dutch-Irish; coming here from North Carolina, and becoming settlers and residents of Tattnall county.

He served one term in the Georgia Legislature, 1856-66. For more than forty years he was the justice of the peace for the 40th District.

Mr. Stanfield joined the Rising Sun Lodge of Mason at Reidsville in Oct, 1854, thus being the oldest Mason in Georgia. He later moved his membership to Philadelphia, at that time located near Glennville, for the purpose of aiding in instituting that lodge. This was later moved to Glennville where it is now located.

He is survived by the following:
His widow.
Two sons, H.A. and J.L. Stanfield, Mrs. G.Q. Anderson, Mrs. C.W. Anderson, and Mrs. E.H. Brown, all living near the old home place near Glennville.

In addition to the immediate family named above, the descendants surviving number 47 grandsons; 29 granddaughters, great-grand children 174; great-great grandchildren, 14: making a total of 269 lineal descendants.

Funeral services were conducted by Elder O.B. Rustin and Elder W.L. Griwn, at Watermelon Church cemetery.
The pallbearers were V.W. Beasley, J.A. Dasher, J.D. Knight, Iva Anderson, O.O. Rustin and J.L. Tippins.