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In Memoriam.
Mary Henthorn was born in Missouri, Nov. 24, 1815; coming to Pike County,
Ark., she was there married in 1834 to Jas. L. Sorrels. A few years later,
with her husband she moved to Scott Co., Ark., where she resided till 1874,
when her husband died - since which time she has been making her home among
her children in the vicinity. Her death took place May 10, (1891) at the
residence of her son-in-law, Mr. M.A. (Looper). Her life, though of a quiet
and undemonstrative sort, was consistent and blameless. When quite a young
woman she made a profession of religion and united with the M.E. Church,
South, to which she continued a useful member till her translation to the
Church of the "first born" in heaven. In all the varied relations of her
long life she was a model woman - a true and faithful wife, a devoted and
tender mother, a kind and helpful friend and neighbor. In the cause of
religion and her Church she was in labors abundant. Her house was always the
preacher's home and she and her family were for many years the principal
support for the Church in that section of the country. She was the mother
of eleven children, seven of whom still survive. In addition to these, she
had much to do (in) the rearing of several others - the children of her
husband by a former wife. The care and bringing up of such a large family,
was in itself no small burden, but of this I am not aware that she ever
complained. I doubt if Mother Sorrels ever thought much about the question
of the burden of child-bearing and rearing, nor whether she had any vocation
in that direction, but it is certain that she raised up more than a dozen
sons and daughters and did her work well too. She lived to see them all
married and settled in life and all of them members of the Church. A life
extended to nearly four score years in this world, under the most favorable
circumstances, could not be otherwise than one of many disappointments,
sorrows and sufferings; so she found it - a life unavoidably laborious and
full of care - sickness and death coming into the life again and again. Then
came the infirmities of advancing years intensified and aggravated by a
paralytic stroke a few years ago, rendering her well-nigh helpless. Still
she bore all these things with the same patient and heroic spirit that had
characterized all the actions of her life. When death came he came as a
messenger of good, a surcease of suffering and sorrow here, and a home and
happiness in the world of the redeemed. Who can doubt but that she at once
entered into the fullness of joy in the house prepared for her in heaven?
The death of this aged lady removes from the community a prominent actor in
the early history of Methodism in this section of the State. By her death
the last local link in the chain of events that binds the thrifty,
prosperous condition of the M.E. Church, South, in this country at this
time, with the toils and sacrifices of our fathers in the early planting of
Methodism in this new and wilderness region more than a half century ago.
Among those who labored for the building up of the cause of Methodism in the
counties of Sebastian and Scott, dating back to its first settlement by the
white man, none have done more to secure the prosperity of this day than the
family of Sorrels, of which the deceased was a prominent member. Her
father-in-law, Washington Sorrels, was among the pioneer settlers of this
State. He reached the State in 1819; joined the Methodist Church in 1812;
for a few years he was an itinerant preacher; he then became a local
preacher, in which capacity he served the Church till his death, which
occurred at Waldron, 1855. Jas. L. Sorrels was the eldest son; he became a
citizen of Scott county about fifty years ago, where he continued to reside
until his death, which occurred in 1874. Here he and his wife Mary
faithfully served with their generation, "worked righteousness," and raised
up a large family of five sons and ten daughters, who have in the main all
of them, with their descendants, been found walking in the way their parents
taught them - holding up the banners of God and Methodism. We estimate the
goodness of a tree by the kind of fruit it bears. This rule upon the
authority of the great Teacher, is applicable to human life. Judged by this
standard, the value of our sainted sister's life (in which the husband's
must also be included) will be a very high one. A long life of labor and
cross-bearing, daily exemplifying the graces of Christian character; a
large family of children reared in such a way in the "nurture and admonition
of the Lord," that when they get old that they not only have not departed
from the faithful examples and teachings of their parents, but they have in
word and works transmitted it on to their children and grandchildren. I
think it would be difficult now to find among the numerous descendants of
this faithful pair one that had grown to maturity, that would not be a
professor of religion and a Methodist. Many of them are conspicuous for
their zeal and usefulness. Three sons survive, Samuel D. Sorrels, Dr. G.R.
Sorrels and Dr. J.W. Sorrels, the last mentioned being the best known,
having served the Masonic fraternity of the State last year in the capacity
of Grand Master. There are some six or seven daughters still living, but I
am unable to give the particulars concerning them. The righteous shall be
in everlasting remembrance. What a precious heritage the bereaved family
have in the finished life of the departed mother. May her death be
sanctified to the good of all.
F.M. Moore
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The Arkansas Methodist, Devoted to the Interests of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, in Arkansas. By Bennett & Thornburgh. "Speak Thou the Things
that Become Sound Doctrine." Volume X. Little Rock, Arkansas, June 24, 1891.
No. 7, page 6, columns 1-2.
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