Description
“Aunt Violet” Death of Aunt Violet Tolley, Wednesday, February 21, 1894. Her funeral was preached at the house by the pastor of the A. M. E. Church, H. H. Triplett. Text: II Corinthians, 5th Chapter, 1st and 2nd verses. There was a large attendance, many of her white friends were present, also as many of my race as could get to town in time. Several of her white friends followed her to the grave (yard). Death makes no distinction. Job tells us that the small and great are there. There the prisoners rest together. Death is a great and terrible monster to the unsaved but a sweet messenger of promised immortality to those whose pilgrimage here has been under the influence and direction of the spirit of our Lord. This enemy to human happiness has entered the family circle of our beloved sister, better known as the African mother of the Fleshman heirs. This great and noble woman, who was brought to this state as a slave by Mr. John Murray, perhaps as early as 1839 or 1841. Her former home was in the state of Tennessee. Just when she became a Christian is unknown to the writer. Perhaps she was owned by persons who are members of the Presbyterian Church and as a general thing servants belonged to the same church of which their masters did. If this is a fact, then she was brought under the covenant of Grace and received the ordnance of baptism when a child by sprinkling or pouring. Aunt Violet Tolley was well known in Platte City and also in Platte County. She was highly respected. She was taken sick around the 1st of February. Notwithstanding she was a colored woman, there was not a day during all her illness that she wanted or lacked for anything. Many were the white friends that attended the house, also those of her race, she was blessed above many of her color. There was left for her at the death of Mr. Larkin Fleshman a fine house, well fitted with all the comforts of life and perhaps some land and stock. Sister Martha Ann Lewis and daughter were in attendance at her bedside day and night. We can only at last say, but not least, sleep on dear mother, you have been faithful over a few things intrusted to your care. Come, send the blessed master, I will make you ruler over many things. As strange as it may sound to many of my race, there is a feeling existing between white and colored people where we have been raised together that no political feeling has or can destroy, this is (a) manifested well-known fact to the writer. The greatest prejudice now among ourselves as a race. There is nothing so hurtful to us as that of living in town and drinking and fighting which all comes from having nothing to employ our minds. Keep up with time. H. H. T. (H. H. Triplett)Date(s) of Creation
3/2/1894
