Louisa Jane (Counts) Wheelock

Mrs. L. J. Wheelock died at 7 o’clock in the morning, Monday, August 22, 1904, at her home on Main street, this city, after an illness of about two weeks. She was first attacked by the rheumatism, of which she had long been a sufferer, but the immediate cause of her death was peritonitis. Funeral services were held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning at the Methodist Church and were conducted by Rev. Frederick Little, formerly pastor of the Methodist church here, now stationed at Jonesboro in charge of the First M. E. Church. The interment was made in the family plot at Shady Grove Cemetery alongside the remains of the husband, whose death occurred nearly thirty years ago. The pall bearers were Dan C. Boardly, W. L. Jefferies, J. T. Jones, R. F. Milwee, Geo. P. Reid and Wm. E. Spencer. The floral offerings by friends were numerous and beautiful, the casket being completely covered by flowers. They were mute testimonials of the love and esteem to which the deceasd was held by this community. Mr. Little paid a beautiful tribute to the life and character of Mrs. Wheelock and said words of comfort and assurance to her sorrowing relatives and friends.

Mrs. Wheelock before her marriage was Miss Louisa Jane Counts, a cousin of R. N. Counts of this city. She was born in Clarendon November 30, 1839, and would have been sixty-five years old had she loved until her next birthday. She was married December 29, 1858, to Jos. L. Wheelock. Eight children were born of this union, four of whom are dead. Those who are living are J. Edward Wheelock, of Hot Springs, E. Jay Wheelock, of Clarendon, Mrs. Kate Lockhart, of Little Rock, and Mrs. J. McCullough, of this city.

When a child about the age of thirteen or fourteen years, Mrs. Wheelock joined the M. E. Church, South, and lived and died in that faith. During the early history of Clarendon, it might be said in the pioneer days, when churches were few and conditions anything but conducive to religious growth, the subject of this sketch wrought actively and faithfully in her Master’s vineyard, and by both precept and example, inculcated the principles of Christianity, rejoicing in love and charity and self-denial that she might lead others to the higher and better life. She went about seeking to do good, endeavoring to make the world better for her having lived in it.... Her life was so crowned with virtues that the shortcomings to which all flesh is heir were completely overshadowed, and naught save pleasurable memories survive her.

Note: Shady Grove Cemetery, Clarendon, gives the following: Joseph L. Wheelock, age 44 yrs 19 days, died March 11, 1876. Louisa J. Wheelock, Mother, Nov. 30, 1839, died Aug. 22, 1904.