Jerry and Linda Butler

Crossing the Dark River: Henderson County, Tennessee, Obituaries 1827-1950 by Brenda Kirk Fiddler, copyright 1999, published by Charles and Brenda Fiddler, 331 Eastern Shores Dr., Lexington, Tennessee 38351

p. 236 STANFILL, Emily FIELDS (The Lexington Progress, March 5, 1926) Dies in Henderson: Mrs. Emily Viola STANFILL, beloved wife of "Jimmie John" STANFILL, was born August 19th, 1859, and died February 28th, 1926, at her home in Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee. She professed religion at the age of eleven years and lived a faithful Christian until death. She married J. J. STANFILL, December 16th, 1875, and two children survive her, in addition to her husband Hubert of Sardis and Mrs. Hattie Daniels of Jackson. She was a sister of Mrs. W. D. WRIGHT of Lexington, who is now the only surviving member of the family of the late Ben FIELDS. She and her husband worked hard in hand for forty years and maintained a Christian home. It was not our personal pleasure and privilege to know this good woman but years ago we were told that her goodness in the home and in the neighborhood knew no bounds. The funeral service was held in her home and the remains carried to Roby for interment in the cemetery there.

Before her death Mrs. STANFILL wrote the following letter:

To Mrs. Mattye CLARK and all the Circle and my friends: Dear Mrs. CLARK, the Doctors say that I cannot live long and we have decided to be buried at Roby where my brothers are buried. I wnt you to call the Circle together or tell them to put on the whole armor and come to Roby the day I am brought there. I want you all, or the Aid Society, to march with me from the house to the grave. If you all don't have conveyance, get somebody. Mr. STANFILL will settle it when I am gone. I want you to call Miss Allie and Maggie MONTGOMERY and tell them I want them and Mr. Arthur to come. I want all my friends to come. I do hope I do not have any enemies for I love everybody. I want Brother Billie HOLLAND and Brother Dock ROSS to come and make a talk and anyone else that wants to. I want Manley HARWELL and Mrs. Bob NEWMAN to sing, and all who will. I want Dr. KEETON to come, for he has prolonged my life and treated me so nicely.

I am ready to go for the Lord is with me. I am standing on the promises of God. Tell everybody to come to Roby on that day, for this is my last day on earth. It grieves me to leave Mr. STANFILL and all my family and friends, but the Lord is calling me now, and I have suffered so long. I close with much love and best wishes to you all.
By Emily Viola STANFILL