Dear Breeze:
Will you kindly allow space to chronicle the sad death of one of Walton County’s best citizens.
James P. Laird was born and reared in this county, was 60 years old and was one of Walton’s best farmers and stock raisers. Mr. Laird was known far and wide, and all who knew him loved him. He was a good neighbor, a kind husband and father; his wife having preceeded him to the grave several years. He leaves three sons to mourn his death, namely, Wm. A., John H. and James M.
Mr. Laird had been in bad health for some time and on last Monday his sons were summoned by wire to his bed side and remained with him until he was laid to rest at Eberneezer Church Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Laird had never made any religious professions, but on last Thursday before he died he called his children to his bed side and told them to never swear and when they looked on his grave that they could truthfully say there lies a man that never swore an oath in his life, he also told them not to grieve after him as he had craved and desired a peace of mind or a hope in Christ and that he had found it that day and it was all well with him and he was going to rest.
“Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep.”
Peace to his ashes.
A Friend
[Contributed by Michael Strickland]