THOMAS BASS PASSES

Thomas Bass, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bass, died at Touro Infirmary Tuesday night after a long period of illness. At this time funeral arrangements are incomplete.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bass; one sister, Miss Nell Bass, and one brother, Clarence Bass, Jr.

Published in The Prentiss Headlight, Prentiss, Mississippi, January 11, 1945
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IN MEMORIAM

Thomas Bass, a member of the Sophomore class of Prentiss High School, passed away last week.

Although he suffered long, he was seldom seen without a smile. This is not just an idle tribute; it is a fact. And those who were closely acquainted with Thomas can vouch for his honesty and dependence. Mere words cannot tell one's real feelings, only the heart knows. But these words are to let anyone it may concern know that we all thought mighty highly of him. These words will soon die, but thoughts of Thomas will live on.

He was a great fellow. -- From Jan 19th Issue, Prentiss Hi-Life.

Published in The Prentiss Headlight, Prentiss, Mississippi, February 1, 1945
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IN MEMORY OF THOMAS BASS

God in His infinite wisdom has called from our midst, Thomas Bass, a fine Christian lad, dearly beloved by his host of friends, and the pride and joy of his fond parents, his sister and little brother. Just to know Thomas was to love him. His sweet, unselfish manner and his fine traits of character endeared him to all.

Thomas, though a great sufferer for the past eight years, always wore a cheery smile, and when asked how he was feeling, would always reply, "Oh, just fine," hiding behind that brave smile and those cheery words the intense pain that he was enduring.

Every thing that human hands could do was done to restore him to health, but to no avail, and he passed away at a New Orleans hospital on Jan. 9, 1045.

Sleep on, sweet Thomas, and take they rest--
God called you from this world, for He knew best.

--- A friend.

Published in The Prentiss Headlight, Prentiss, Mississippi, February 1, 1945
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IN MEMORIAM
THOMAS BASS, DECEASED

(A good character shines its own light.)

Master Thomas Bass, sixteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Bass, Prentiss, cheerfully and bravely answered the call of the grim reaper when on January 9th, 1945 at 8:00 o'clock P. M. the Death Angel issued the final call for him to come home to God.

Thomas departed this earthly life in Touro Infirmary, New Orleans, where he had been under treatment of specialists for about twelve days. Although his affliction had been upon him for the past several years, Thomas never complained, always suppressing his untold suffering and misery with a bright and cheerful smile.

He was a member of the sophomore class of the Prentiss High School, and a member of the Bethany Baptist Church, having united with the church in tender age, from which time up until physical condition prevented, shortly before his passing, he was a loyal member, being a devout and consecrated Christian, serving God through the various channels of the church and in his daily life. Thomas was born and reared in Jefferson Davis County and spent the greater part of his life attending school and assisting his father with his work about the farm. He enjoyed the love, friendship and admiration of all who chanced to meet him, and to know him was to love him.

Surviving him are his mother and father, one sister, Miss Nell Bass of Columbia, one brother, Master Clarence Bass, Jr. of Prentiss, and a host of friends and relatives.

Consolation:

"The moving hand writes, and having writ, moves on." How true that is, and how sad it would be if that hand did not leave indelibly printed upon the pages of our hearts a glorious story of joys experienced, tasks accomplished, and hopes fulfilled, together with a beautiful picture protraying our blissful associations and cherished companionships with loved ones and dear friends along life's way; and in the evening of life, when the frost of age transposes our joys from hopes of future expectations to golden memories, those pages upon which are written our memories of Thomas will stand out in predominating brillance, as the stars stand out in the Heavens by night, proclaiming our memory of him as the sweetest, most precious, and most cherished of them all.

Words of comfort have never been conceived by the human mind, or uttered by human tongue, which can subdue or alleviate the aching hearts, the mental anguish, the futile longings, and the lamentations of those dear loved ones who mourn his passing. We, nevertheless, rejoice with the knowledge that all of you, his father, mother, sister and brother, are all true Christians with firm and undaunted faith in God, and steadfast hope in His Salvation; and truly, we know that He will console and comfort each of you and bring peace to your hearts and minds with His love as time passes on, and you will through God's mercies become wholly reconciled to His unerring will.

Although God called him in his prime of life, Thomas, during the sixteen short years he was with you, added much joy, pride, and happiness to your lives and your home, and the life that he lived was glorious and beautiful, portraying tenderness, loving kindness, unselfishness, consideration for others, cheerfullness, affection, conviction, courage, devotion, nobility, greatness, and all other characteristics of a sweet and beautiful life. Surely there was great rejoicing among the angels in Heaven when Thomas entered therein, and surely God's Heaven is more radiant with his presence there. Our great loss in his passing was Heaven's gain and his eternal reward in Glory. He will be there at God's right hand with a sweet and welcoming smile to greet you as you enter the portals of God's Glorious Heaven of unending and blissful peace and joy and happiness.

Eulegy:

Although there was a pronounced difference in the ages of myself and Thomas, he was my most cherished, most beloved, and most intimate friend. I having met and become acquainted with him on August 21, 1944 and our associations and companionship were never severed until his last breath was taken, it being my sad privilege to hold his hand and stroke his forehead during the last moments of his life. Through my companionship with him I learned that his ideals in life were beyond all reproach, and his ambitions and aspirations were for eternity, even though eternity is beyond all human apprehension.

The day of his passing will ever be the anniversary of our great sorrow; his memory will ever be our guiding star to Heaven.

Having only the best to give, he gave freely, and of his own rare spirit strove earnestly a double portion to impart.

His life was radiant with the most qualities of a sweet and beautiful character: magnetic personality, without tendency to vice or immorality, a stranger to deceit and lover of the truth, he formed no evil habits to be corrected, and forged upon himself no chains to be broken. His nature was as transparent as the light that shone upon him, his heart as open as the soft blue skies that bent in benediction above him; his temper as sweet and cheery as the limpid streams that trickle the face of the sunkissed mountains, glittering and shining cyrstal clear as they ripple down the mountain side into canyons deep, wringing out sweet and enchanting music in their rippling flow through the meadows and fields. There was not in him one single element of hatred or envy. He was conservative in his associations, and unswerving in his loyalty and fidelity to God who gave life and took it again.

Even though all these noble things are truthfully and earnestly attributed to his life, Thomas was not without fault, for none has ever been perfect on this earth except Jesus Christ our Lord and Master. No, Thomas was not perfect; he was human. The sun has its spots, yet, it gives to us the light of day. Yes, Thomas made mistakes, but he was true, he was noble, he was honest, a soul of great integrity and great labor, and devotion to duty and principle was the rule of his conduct.

"Tell me not in mournful numbers
Life is but an empty dream,
For the soul is dead that slumbers
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real, life is earnest,
And the grave is not its goal,
Dust thou art, to dust returneth
Was not spoken of the soul."

The truthfulness and reality of these immortal words of the great poet have never been more truly revealed and portrayed than in the life that Thomas lived. To those of us who knew him, it can truly be said that his life was an ideal model by which all should desire to live.

While the language at my command is insufficient to adequately express our love and appreciation of Thomas, and our great sorrow of his passing, I am content to say that for his life we are grateful, and to God who gave it, we are truly thankful.

-- By a true and loyal friend to Thomas and his family.

Published in The Prentiss Headlight, Prentiss, Mississippi, March 1, 1945