Obituary T. D. Newbern

A telegram received (missing text) Saturday morning by relatives announcing the death of T. D. Newbern, which occurred in Conway, Ark., on the above mentioned date was a shock to this community.

Mr. Newbern was apparently in good health, and had not complained until the morning of his death. He went to the store, in which he was employed to perform his duties, but soon afterwards his sufferings increased, and he decided to go to a near-by drug store for medicine. While on the way, he sank in the street and expired instantly of heart failure.

Deceased was a member of a family of sixteen children, born to the late Dr. D. J. Newbern and to Mrs. C. L Newbern, who with eight children survive. His life of 51 years was spent here until about a year ago, when he moved to Conway, Ark. He leaves a widow, the daughter of Captain W. J. Redd, and one daughter, Miss Mary.

The remains were brought here and laid to rest in the family square in Union Cemetery. The funeral services were held from the Methodist church, of which he was a member and a steward for a number of years before his departure, and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. M. Griffin, assisted by Rev. S. L. Jewell. An immense throng was present, both at the church and at the grave, many friends from the country attending. Out of respect to his memory, the public school, a trustee of which he once was, adjourned and attended the funeral in a body. The floral offerings were beautiful and numerous.

He was held in the highest esteem by our people. He served as Mayor of Bolivar and as Justice of the Peace for a number of years.

Noble, generous-hearted, genial Tom Newbern has answered the last call. He had a pleasant work and a smile for everybody. Not only was he popular with the older people, but the children loved him, and he had many friends among the Negroes, some of whom were present at the funeral.

Source: original newspaper clipping in scrapbook created by Ada Clark Stroup of Saulsbury