Arminda Hodges Brister obituary, Brookhaven, Mississippi, Brookhaven Leader, 28 December 1898, p. 1

The saddest time in all the history of a Christian home is when the heartbroken husband and father, with his grief-stricken children, stand and look for the last time upon the face and lifeless form of that one who has been the stay and staff of his life. The one who has faithfully shared all the toils and sacrifices incident to the life of all fathers and mothers, upon which have rested the grave responsibilities of rearing children in this world. It is under this dark cloud of affliction that our friend and brother, James Brister, has been recently called to pass. His noble Christian wife was suddenly taken from him and he is alone in the world. Sister Brister's suffering was of short duration, only about 48 hours. For some time she had complained of neuralgia, but it was not thought to be serious, but when it settled around her heart all that physicians and friends could do was of no avail.

The writer remembers with pleasure the visit she and her husband made to his home only a short while previous to her death, which sad event occurred at their home, on the night of the 14th last, some four miles east of Bogue Chitto. Her remains were laid peacefully away in the family grave yard, near Pleasant Hill church, where they silently await the resurrection morn. Tenderly and in a sympathetic manner the funeral services were conducted by her aged pastor, Rev. B. A. Crawford. To the sorrowing family we would say:
"There was never a path so rugged
That has not the print of faith"
The rugged way along which you are now traveling has been bedewed with tears and marked by the footprints of many sorrowing ones who have trod life's journey before you.

Thank God, our aged mother is still living. She is now in her 81st year. We cannot refrain from weeping when we look upon those wrinkled hands and that furrowed brow and know that so soon they must be wrapt in death's cold embrace and that tremulous voice will so soon be hushed in silence never more to be heard on this earth.

How good and kind ought all children to be to their aged parents for they know not how soon they must look upon their lifeless forms and into their open graves.

There are many sad homes in our land. May God bless every heartbroken one who may read these lines. The Master did not say, "In the world ye shall have wealth, worldly honors, and a life of ease," etc., but he did say, "In the world ye shall have tribulations."