Samuel Brister obituary, Brookhaven, Mississippi, The Brookhaven Leader, 30 May 1900, p. 3

Gone to Heaven

It is with a sad heart that we take our pen to chronicle the death of our beloved friend, neighbor and brother, Samuel Brister, who passed peacefully across the dark river, surrounded by a host of weeping relatives and friends on the morning of the 25th last, at his home near Bogue Chitto.

Bro. Brister never enjoyed good health and for two years passed it was sadly realized that his stay on earth would be short. With a seeming presentiment that the end was drawing nigh, he took his bed six weeks previous to his death, and said to his family, "I'll never get up any more." During these long days and weeks of confinement, he was unconscious much of the time. But on Sunday, six days previous to his death, he aroused to a state of consciousness, called his wife and nine children to his dying bed, and in a perfectly calm and composed manner, gave some family directions, after which in a perfectly calm manner as if going on a pleasure trip, he reached forth his pale thin hand and one by one, he bade them all a long farewell, exhorting them to meet him in Heaven, saying to his aged mother, "God bless you, I wish I could take you with me to Heaven, but you'll come soon." He then closed his eyes and never rallied any more. In the presence of a large assembly, the funeral service was conducted by Rev. J. E. Lowe, and the rites performed at the family burying ground near Pleasant Hill church, where his remains were laid peacefully away to await the resurrection morn.

Bro. Brister died in the fiftieth year of his age, was baptized into the fellowship of Pleasant Hill Baptist church 28 years ago, by Rev. W. H. Bailey, who is so soon to join him in a happy reunion above the skies. May God grant that those of us who are but stragglers from the main army that have already crossed death's dark river, one day be permitted to join them in that "Happy land far, far away."

"One army of the living God,

To his command we bow;

Part of the hosts have crossed the flood,

And part are crossing now.

O Savior be our constant guide

When e'er the signal's given.

Bid Jordan's narrow stream divide

And lead us safe in Heaven."

MILITARY

Name Samuel Brister

Enlistment Date 1 Mar 1862

Enlistment Rank Private

Muster Date 1 Mar 1862

Muster Place Mississippi

Muster Company H

Muster Regiment 33rd Infantry

Muster Regiment Type Infantry

Muster Information Enlisted

Side of War Confederacy

Title Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records