◦Obituary of Elizabeth Hamon Hatcher

Mrs. Elizabeth Hatcher was born December 6, 1842, and departed this life at midnight July 21, 1923, aged 80 years 7 months and 15 days. She was a Miss Hammons (ed. note: variant of usual spelling HAMON) before being united in marriage in the year of 1861, to the now deceased C.L. Hatcher, who preceded her to the Great Beyond nine years ago. To this union was born twelve children, namely P.M. and J.C. Hatcher, Mrs. Jane Good, all of Belgrove; Mrs. Ellen Parsons, of Charleston; L.M. Hatcher, of Coal River; J.S. Hatcher, of Charleston; Mrs. Matilda Harris, of Belgrove and R.N. Hatcher, of Fletcher, the latter with whom she stayed. Four small children have preceded her to the better land. She also leaves about sixty-nine grand children and sixty-five great grand children. Mrs. Hatcher professed faith in Christ early in life and joined the U.B. Church to which she belonged through life. No night was ever too dark or cold and no noon day sun was ever too hot for her to visit the sick in her community, as long as she was able. She had been a great sufferer for several years and bore her afflictions with as much patience and christian fortitude as she could. She was almost entirely helpless for about eight months. She passed away so quietly and gently one hardly realized when her spirit took it's flight. She bade the family and the writer a loving farewell, and among her last words were "Dear Saviour, take me home." She often expressed a desire to pass away and be at rest. She will be missed by her children and grand children and by all when they enter the dear old home and see the vacant chair where mother always sat. No more will they see and greet her there, so weak and feeble, for she is through with suffering and sorrowing, through with trials and troubles of this world, gone we trust, to a fairer country where she will meet with loved ones and all the redeemed ones, where God will wipe away all tears from every eye, where sin, sickness, sorrow and death can never enter, and they have no need of sun for God himself shall be the light.

Burial services were conducted by Brother Joseph Kiser, and remains were laid to rest in the Hatcher cemetery.

When we reach our home eternal,
Reach that city bright and fair,
When we stand among the angels
Will our mother know us there?

Mother's face has been a beacon
O'er a sea of dark despair,
We shall look for her up yonder,
For we're sure she'll know us there.