THE
HOME
NEWS
EDITED IN THE INTEREST OF McCRORY AND WOODRUFF COUNTY
VOLUMN 4
McCRORY, ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER, 22, 1918.
NUMBER 18
McCRORY MOURNS LOSS
OF A NOBLE CITIZEN
dr. g. b. fakes died at
HIS HOME TUESDAY
Was Probably the Best Known
and Most Universally Lov
ed Man In This City.
Although his many friends
knew that Dr. G. B. Fakes’
health had been failing him
for sometime and had been ad
vised that the end might come
at any moment, the sad news
that he had died was a sad
shock to everyone Tuesday
morning as each learned the
news which spread hurriedly
over the city. The end came
at 7:45 on the morning of Nov.
19, 1918 when his soul passed
into the great beyond.
Dr Fakes was well and fav
orably known throughout not
only Woodruff County, but the
state as well. His association
in business and in the work
of the Methodist Church gave
him a wide acquaintance with
the leading citizenship of our
commonwealth.
It has been the pleasure of
the editor to know this noble
character our entire life and
in the words of Col. John
Shearer who has known him
for forty years and when we
informed him of the sad loss
said, “I never knew of a
single black mark against
that good man,” our knowl
edge of his life was truthfully
expressed. To live such a
life for such a long term of
years is indeed a difficult
task and we know of no
higher tribute that can be
paid any one than to have
some friend who has person
ally known you for 40 long
years, or more, speak such
comforting words as Col. Jno.
Shearer spoke about Doctor
Fakes.
For almost 60 years he has
been a resident of McCrory
and Woodruff County. He
was.always identified with the
right side of any proposition
that might arise. As a physi
cian, farmer, and in business,
he was successful and there
were none who gave more
liberal than he to any and all
demands, whether it be for a
charitable cause, the church,
the school, good roads, or any
thing else to make the world a
better place in which to live,
he was always found ready
and willing to do his share.
, rre funeral services were
held at the Methodist Church
Thursday afternoon and the
tact that the building was
completely filled with sorrow
ln18’ tfiends attested to the pop
u,arity and high esteem in
which he was held by those
who knew him best. A num
ber of friends from Augusta
and othher towns attended the
services. Dr Fakes was not
only loved by the people of
his race, but the poor old ne
gro was his friend, as well.
The entire balcony at the M.
E. Church was filled with col
ored friends who deeply mourn
his loss. They knew, that
being the friend to the poor
that he was, that they too had
lost a good and faithful friend.
Every business in the town
was stopped and every store
was closed during the funeral
services, and several business
organizations contributed cost
ly and beautiful floral designs.
The remains, were laid to
rest in the Fakes Cemetery, a
large number of sorrowing
friendsand relatives attending.
The floral offerings were
beautiful and as numerous as
was ever witnessed at any
funeral held here. The ser
vices were conducted by Rev.
J.R.Nelson of theM.E.Church
| and the following is an ex
tract of some of the remarks
imade by him concerning the
life of our deceased citizen:
Dr. G. B. Fakes was born in
Wilson County, Tennessee, on
April 11, 1841. He spent the
early part of his life on a farm,
afterwards entering business
life. He studied medicine un
der Dr. Cowen at Galliten,
Tenn, later entering the Medi
cal College at Nashville, Tenn.
Sometime, about the year of
1860, he came to Arkansas and
entered upon the practice of
! his profession in partnership
| with Dr. Scales.
! With the nrst company irom
i this county he entered the Con
federate army and was con
nected with the medical corps.
| After the close of the war he
1 resumed his profession as a
physician and also engaged in
‘farming.
| He was married to Miss
' Ellen Edmonds Nov. 25th,
1863. To this union three
children were born, two of
whom died in early life.
Early in life Doctor Fakes
united with the Cumberland
; Presbyterian church, remain
ling a member of same until
about the year 1863 at which
time he joined the Methodist
j church at DeView. When the
Methodist church was organiz
ed in McCrory, he placed his
1 membership with the society
here and no interest of life
| has been dearer to him than
his love to God and his devo
tion to his church.
There are few, if any, in the
state of Arkansas where Dr.
Fakes has spent most of his
useful life, who possess a rec
ord of official relation in the
1
HOME FROM FRANCE
Enoch Deason who was
one of the first from Wood
ruff County to answer the call
of his country in the world war
and who saw active service
at the battle front in France,
arrived home today, Friday,
for a visit to home folk. He
was wounded in his right arm
while in close fighting with
the enemy and now wears a
French war decorations.
church that equals his. For
at least 40 years he has held
an official relation as trustee,
steward and Sunday school
superintendent, the latter po
sition having been held by him
for at least 35 years and that
of steward nearly 40 years.
It is by no means, every day,
that we are priviledged to
meet and know such charac
ters as Doctor Fakes. His life
was far above the average.
He was clean in speech and as
modest as the most refined and
| cultured lady. His hands
were open to the needy and op
pressed, his love to God and
;tne cnurcn were tne consuming
! interests of his life. No one was
more faithful than he; there
| was nothing little about him;
his life wTas an open book and
his religous life was lived each
day of the week.
He was like a father to his
pastors and their families;
they all knew they could look
to Doctor Fakes for counsel,
and they had in him a friend
who made the way brighter.
Shall wre see his like again?
The home life of our departed
friend was indeed a beautiful
life. The memory of his even
ing devotions will ever be as
precious ointment poured
forth.
i The one whose loss we now
mourn was a man of public
spirit whose interest and in
vestments are helping to make
possible some of the great in
stitutions of the church today.
Dr. Fakes loved life and
wanted to live, he made the
best fight possible, but on the
morning of Tuesday, Nov. 19,
1918, at about the hour of 7:45
the wheels of life stood still
and his great soul passed out
to be with God.
He leaves a wife, one son,
Mr. W. B. Fakes, two grand
sons, Messrs T. J. and Roger
Fakes, three brothers, Dr. B.
R. Fakes of Ashville, N. C.,
Mr. Gracon Fakes of Los An
geles, Cal., and Mr.John Fakes
of Lebanon, Tenn., and four
sisters, Mesdames G. W. Tur
ner of Fort Worth, Texas,
Maggie Smith of Galiton,
Tenn., Bettie Bates of Lebanon
Tenn. and Laura Riley of Los
Angeles, California.
There are many relatives
and friends who mourn his
death, but we weep not as
those who have no hope for
some day in the higher and
better world we shall meet and
greet him again.
J.R. NELSON.
A NOBLE SUGGESTION
Our patriotic Irish friend,
"‘Uncle Bill” Dougherty has
suggested that The Home
News raise a fund through
popular subscription from the4J
people of Woodruff County
for the purpose of erecting an
appropriate memorial in Mc
Crory to the memory and
honor of the soldier boys from
Woodruff County who gave
their lives in the world war for
the cause of democracy.
This is a noble suggestion
and we know will meet the
hearty approval of the people
of good old Woodruff County
who have gone over the top
in every call that has been
made. Our heroes should and
will be given every honor
due them and we will publish
each week the names and
amounts of each contribution.
Mr. Dougherty has author
ized us to state that he will
give $50.00 to The Home News
Memorial Fund for the Sons
of Woodruff who have made
the supreme sacrifice. We
start the list this week with
his subscription to which wc
hope to have many more add
ed before our next week’s
isse.
MEMORIAL HONOR ROLL
W. B. Dougherty, .$50.00
-Buy WS.S.
DEATHS THIS WEEK
Died: Tuesday, Nov. 19,
1918, at his home in McCrory,
Dr Gideon B. Fakes, age 77
years.
Died: Sunday, Nov. 17,
1918, Romelia Edeline, age 40
years, wife of Chas. Anderson,
of near DeView.
Died: Saturday, Nov. 16,
1918, Ruth, age 22 years, wife
of Elbert Mitchell of near Mor
ton. The remains were ship
ped to Bradford for interment.
Died: Wednesday, Nov. 20,
1918, Annie, age 31 years, wife
of Neal Warren, col.
—Buy WS.S.
I Mr. Jack Dixon who recent
ly purchased the soda fountain
of the McCrory Drug Co. and
rented the building which they
occupied has added a new
stock of groceries.
--Buy WS.S.
Mr. Porter Best who recent
ly purchased the Red Cross
Drug Store from Dr. R. L. Fra
ser will move his stock into
the north room of the Hargis
building as soon as workmen
can give it a new floor and coat
of paint.
-Buy WS.S.
Robert Herman Taylor of
Hillemann, son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Taylor, has been report
ed in the daily press as having
died of disease overseas. He
l was a member of Company 21,
| A. A. P. D. Camp Pike Infan
try, A. E. F.