On same stone with Nina Geneva Adkisson.∼My great-uncle Meredith, 6, and my great-aunt Nina, 23, were buried in the same grave due to the two-day interval between their deaths that were identical in cause: "bronchopneumonia following influenza" (as listed on their death records). His epitaph on their joint headstone reads, "God gave He took He will restore," (there are no commas), while hers reads, "Thy memory shall ever be a guiding star to Heaven."
Nina was engaged to a lieutenant soldier from Chattanooga, Tennessee, named Westover (his last name) when she died. She had met him while working as a checkout clerk at an army base there during 1917-1918. She was teaching at the Jackson School in the Back Valley Road area of Coalfield, Tennessee, when she succumbed to the flu.
The following newspaper tribute was primarily about Nina but also mentions Meredith (its source is unknown):
"IN MEMORY
"Miss Nina Adkisson of Coalfield, Tenn[.], died Oct. 17 [16], 1918. Her death was due to Influenza [sic] followed by Pneumonia [sic]. Her little brother Meredith was a victim of the same disease preceding her [at] home, only from Monday until Thursday [Wednesday]. Little Meredith was a sweet child and was a favorite of this Sister [sic], But [sic] when the summons came for her little brother, Nina did not sum to realize the separation very much, She [sic] was suffering such pain, and it was only from Monday until Thursday morning and the end came and she passed quietly and peacefully away to her brighter home on high.
"Then she was laid to rest with her little brother, beside an elder sister who preceded them to the bright beyond, several years ago.
"Indeed it seems hard so hard to see the dear ones go out of the home at once. But God knew best when he claimed them. Miss Nina was about 23 years old [she was 23] and to have seen her a few days before she was stricken with that disease, one would have thought she would be one of the last, as a victim of the grim reaper of death.
"Nina gave her life to Chrit [Christ] about five years ago. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church[,] a leader of her S.S. and an active worker in the Christian Endeavor. She was also a teacher in of the Schools [sic] near Coalfield. She was a brilliant girl of a sweet disposition, she was very popular among the young people, was fond of innocent pleasures. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an affectionate friend, a loving sister and daughter, her many kind acts are a memory to remind us that she was just here for a brief time. But may we meet her in the sweet beyond, where no sorrow and partings will ever come, but all is bright eternal. Miss Nina leaves a mother and father, three sisters and two brothers to mourn her loss, besides a host of relatives and friends[.] These Darlings [sic] are silently sleeping[,] their spirits are gladsome and free, these souls were just lent thee not given, to their home with the Angles [sic; angels] have floan [flown]. For such is the kingdom of heaven, and God will take care of his own."
A miscellaneous entry of my great-grandmother Artelia (Davis) Adkisson's that was dated February 16, 1913:
"Sunday evening. We are at home. The children and I. Bertie is writing. Nina is reading. Meredith is sitting on Nina's lap. Victor, Glenna and Ralph are playing in the yard. It is such a pretty day and I feel so lonesome. I wish I knew where we will be at today one year from now if we are all spared and I hope we will be spared to see another Feb. 16."
My great-grandmother once told charter church member Armethia (Wiggins) Lively (1926-2013) that she had given birth to triplets and that Meredith had been a twin. In view of the 1910 Morgan County, Tennessee, Census and my grandmother Helen's birth record (which identifies her as the last of twelve children), the only conclusion is that my great-grandmother must have miscarried very early during this pregnancy and later discovered that she was still pregnant with him.
Nina was engaged to a lieutenant soldier from Chattanooga, Tennessee, named Westover (his last name) when she died. She had met him while working as a checkout clerk at an army base there during 1917-1918. She was teaching at the Jackson School in the Back Valley Road area of Coalfield, Tennessee, when she succumbed to the flu.
The following newspaper tribute was primarily about Nina but also mentions Meredith (its source is unknown):
"IN MEMORY
"Miss Nina Adkisson of Coalfield, Tenn[.], died Oct. 17 [16], 1918. Her death was due to Influenza [sic] followed by Pneumonia [sic]. Her little brother Meredith was a victim of the same disease preceding her [at] home, only from Monday until Thursday [Wednesday]. Little Meredith was a sweet child and was a favorite of this Sister [sic], But [sic] when the summons came for her little brother, Nina did not sum to realize the separation very much, She [sic] was suffering such pain, and it was only from Monday until Thursday morning and the end came and she passed quietly and peacefully away to her brighter home on high.
"Then she was laid to rest with her little brother, beside an elder sister who preceded them to the bright beyond, several years ago.
"Indeed it seems hard so hard to see the dear ones go out of the home at once. But God knew best when he claimed them. Miss Nina was about 23 years old [she was 23] and to have seen her a few days before she was stricken with that disease, one would have thought she would be one of the last, as a victim of the grim reaper of death.
"Nina gave her life to Chrit [Christ] about five years ago. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church[,] a leader of her S.S. and an active worker in the Christian Endeavor. She was also a teacher in of the Schools [sic] near Coalfield. She was a brilliant girl of a sweet disposition, she was very popular among the young people, was fond of innocent pleasures. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an affectionate friend, a loving sister and daughter, her many kind acts are a memory to remind us that she was just here for a brief time. But may we meet her in the sweet beyond, where no sorrow and partings will ever come, but all is bright eternal. Miss Nina leaves a mother and father, three sisters and two brothers to mourn her loss, besides a host of relatives and friends[.] These Darlings [sic] are silently sleeping[,] their spirits are gladsome and free, these souls were just lent thee not given, to their home with the Angles [sic; angels] have floan [flown]. For such is the kingdom of heaven, and God will take care of his own."
A miscellaneous entry of my great-grandmother Artelia (Davis) Adkisson's that was dated February 16, 1913:
"Sunday evening. We are at home. The children and I. Bertie is writing. Nina is reading. Meredith is sitting on Nina's lap. Victor, Glenna and Ralph are playing in the yard. It is such a pretty day and I feel so lonesome. I wish I knew where we will be at today one year from now if we are all spared and I hope we will be spared to see another Feb. 16."
My great-grandmother once told charter church member Armethia (Wiggins) Lively (1926-2013) that she had given birth to triplets and that Meredith had been a twin. In view of the 1910 Morgan County, Tennessee, Census and my grandmother Helen's birth record (which identifies her as the last of twelve children), the only conclusion is that my great-grandmother must have miscarried very early during this pregnancy and later discovered that she was still pregnant with him.
On same stone with Nina Geneva Adkisson.∼My great-uncle Meredith, 6, and my great-aunt Nina, 23, were buried in the same grave due to the two-day interval between their deaths that were identical in cause: "bronchopneumonia following influenza" (as listed on their death records). His epitaph on their joint headstone reads, "God gave He took He will restore," (there are no commas), while hers reads, "Thy memory shall ever be a guiding star to Heaven."
Nina was engaged to a lieutenant soldier from Chattanooga, Tennessee, named Westover (his last name) when she died. She had met him while working as a checkout clerk at an army base there during 1917-1918. She was teaching at the Jackson School in the Back Valley Road area of Coalfield, Tennessee, when she succumbed to the flu.
The following newspaper tribute was primarily about Nina but also mentions Meredith (its source is unknown):
"IN MEMORY
"Miss Nina Adkisson of Coalfield, Tenn[.], died Oct. 17 [16], 1918. Her death was due to Influenza [sic] followed by Pneumonia [sic]. Her little brother Meredith was a victim of the same disease preceding her [at] home, only from Monday until Thursday [Wednesday]. Little Meredith was a sweet child and was a favorite of this Sister [sic], But [sic] when the summons came for her little brother, Nina did not sum to realize the separation very much, She [sic] was suffering such pain, and it was only from Monday until Thursday morning and the end came and she passed quietly and peacefully away to her brighter home on high.
"Then she was laid to rest with her little brother, beside an elder sister who preceded them to the bright beyond, several years ago.
"Indeed it seems hard so hard to see the dear ones go out of the home at once. But God knew best when he claimed them. Miss Nina was about 23 years old [she was 23] and to have seen her a few days before she was stricken with that disease, one would have thought she would be one of the last, as a victim of the grim reaper of death.
"Nina gave her life to Chrit [Christ] about five years ago. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church[,] a leader of her S.S. and an active worker in the Christian Endeavor. She was also a teacher in of the Schools [sic] near Coalfield. She was a brilliant girl of a sweet disposition, she was very popular among the young people, was fond of innocent pleasures. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an affectionate friend, a loving sister and daughter, her many kind acts are a memory to remind us that she was just here for a brief time. But may we meet her in the sweet beyond, where no sorrow and partings will ever come, but all is bright eternal. Miss Nina leaves a mother and father, three sisters and two brothers to mourn her loss, besides a host of relatives and friends[.] These Darlings [sic] are silently sleeping[,] their spirits are gladsome and free, these souls were just lent thee not given, to their home with the Angles [sic; angels] have floan [flown]. For such is the kingdom of heaven, and God will take care of his own."
A miscellaneous entry of my great-grandmother Artelia (Davis) Adkisson's that was dated February 16, 1913:
"Sunday evening. We are at home. The children and I. Bertie is writing. Nina is reading. Meredith is sitting on Nina's lap. Victor, Glenna and Ralph are playing in the yard. It is such a pretty day and I feel so lonesome. I wish I knew where we will be at today one year from now if we are all spared and I hope we will be spared to see another Feb. 16."
My great-grandmother once told charter church member Armethia (Wiggins) Lively (1926-2013) that she had given birth to triplets and that Meredith had been a twin. In view of the 1910 Morgan County, Tennessee, Census and my grandmother Helen's birth record (which identifies her as the last of twelve children), the only conclusion is that my great-grandmother must have miscarried very early during this pregnancy and later discovered that she was still pregnant with him.
Nina was engaged to a lieutenant soldier from Chattanooga, Tennessee, named Westover (his last name) when she died. She had met him while working as a checkout clerk at an army base there during 1917-1918. She was teaching at the Jackson School in the Back Valley Road area of Coalfield, Tennessee, when she succumbed to the flu.
The following newspaper tribute was primarily about Nina but also mentions Meredith (its source is unknown):
"IN MEMORY
"Miss Nina Adkisson of Coalfield, Tenn[.], died Oct. 17 [16], 1918. Her death was due to Influenza [sic] followed by Pneumonia [sic]. Her little brother Meredith was a victim of the same disease preceding her [at] home, only from Monday until Thursday [Wednesday]. Little Meredith was a sweet child and was a favorite of this Sister [sic], But [sic] when the summons came for her little brother, Nina did not sum to realize the separation very much, She [sic] was suffering such pain, and it was only from Monday until Thursday morning and the end came and she passed quietly and peacefully away to her brighter home on high.
"Then she was laid to rest with her little brother, beside an elder sister who preceded them to the bright beyond, several years ago.
"Indeed it seems hard so hard to see the dear ones go out of the home at once. But God knew best when he claimed them. Miss Nina was about 23 years old [she was 23] and to have seen her a few days before she was stricken with that disease, one would have thought she would be one of the last, as a victim of the grim reaper of death.
"Nina gave her life to Chrit [Christ] about five years ago. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church[,] a leader of her S.S. and an active worker in the Christian Endeavor. She was also a teacher in of the Schools [sic] near Coalfield. She was a brilliant girl of a sweet disposition, she was very popular among the young people, was fond of innocent pleasures. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was an affectionate friend, a loving sister and daughter, her many kind acts are a memory to remind us that she was just here for a brief time. But may we meet her in the sweet beyond, where no sorrow and partings will ever come, but all is bright eternal. Miss Nina leaves a mother and father, three sisters and two brothers to mourn her loss, besides a host of relatives and friends[.] These Darlings [sic] are silently sleeping[,] their spirits are gladsome and free, these souls were just lent thee not given, to their home with the Angles [sic; angels] have floan [flown]. For such is the kingdom of heaven, and God will take care of his own."
A miscellaneous entry of my great-grandmother Artelia (Davis) Adkisson's that was dated February 16, 1913:
"Sunday evening. We are at home. The children and I. Bertie is writing. Nina is reading. Meredith is sitting on Nina's lap. Victor, Glenna and Ralph are playing in the yard. It is such a pretty day and I feel so lonesome. I wish I knew where we will be at today one year from now if we are all spared and I hope we will be spared to see another Feb. 16."
My great-grandmother once told charter church member Armethia (Wiggins) Lively (1926-2013) that she had given birth to triplets and that Meredith had been a twin. In view of the 1910 Morgan County, Tennessee, Census and my grandmother Helen's birth record (which identifies her as the last of twelve children), the only conclusion is that my great-grandmother must have miscarried very early during this pregnancy and later discovered that she was still pregnant with him.
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