CENTER- Mr. Thomas Reeves Center was born in Richland County, South Carolina where he lived up to the last year of his life, when he moved to Barnwell County, South Carolina, where he died January 2, 1886, aged 78 years lacking a few weeks. He was educated at the South Carolina College. The Hon. B. Rice, of Union, and Rev. Whiteford Smith, D.D., of Spartanburg, are, as far as he knew, the only surviving associates of his college days. Immediately after his graduation, he began the study of medicine, to the practice of which his long life was devoted. It is not often that persons are found to be better suited to their chosen profession than was Dr. Center to his; and had he selected a different location, both fame and fortune much beyond what he received would and undoubtedly have been his reward. But he chose to live among his own people, and while many gratefully remember his skill and unwearied attention, and cheerfully recognized their obligations, yet by far the larger of his services were given to those who did not pay either for advice or medicine. Intelligent, cheerful, and witty, his company was regarded at all times as an acquisition to every circle, and he rarely left a sick-room without directing the thoughts to a Physician greater than himself, or without leaving a pleasant smile and memory upon both sick and well. Dr. Center was for near forty five years a member of the Methodist Church, filling at times, the offices of steward, Sunday School Superintendent and class leader, and contributed to the utmost of his ability with his means and pen to promote any interest of the church he loved so well. Up to about a year ago, there was little perceptible dimination of his bodily vigor; but during the past six months, it was evident that the end was approaching. He continued up until a few days before his death to observe his usual manner of life; and when his failing strength confined him to the house, the change was accepted without a murmur, and without a struggle or a jar. "The weary wheels of life stood still." His dying words were: "Jesus is with me; all is well."

Written by: John A. Porter
Published in the Southern Christian Advocate