contributed by Mildred J. Brown, November, 1999

O. J. Luna to Mrs. Luna Bryant, Matt. and W. C. Talley

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Laird Miss. Sept 11 1900
Mrs. Anna Luna Bryant, Matt. and W. C.
Talley Tenn.

Dear Anna:
Mother is dead. She died on the 9th of this month she died 12 min. before 7 O’clock Sunday evening. She died as easy as any person I ever saw. She never made any struggle she taken sick last Thursday I went for (Dr.) Pearse Friday and he came Saturday morning and of course the medicine made her sick and she did not rest good in the fore part of the night but after midnight she rested very well and Sunday morning she talked freely and asked if she would not soon be 90 years old and she was told that she would and she replied that she did not know whether she would reach 90 or not. She taken something like a chill between 11 and 12 o’clock and then

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she struggled between death and life until 12 min. before 7 o’clock when death claimed her Brother Tom (her son Dr. Tomas Luna) did not come at all we heard he was sick I telephoned to Will Monday morning and he got there in time to —– her buried

Smith and Alice Porter did not get there until Monday morning after she was dead. Scott Luna came in about 2 or 3 minutes before the last breath left her John Booker told him her condition at New Salem.

Anna I would have Telegraphed you but I could not get it in time for you to have got there in time if you could have left home so I am writing you this Tuesday morning

Anna her and Father (Lunsford Long Luna) has met one more time, not quite 4 years since Father died.

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Anna she would ask me about you ever time I would go over there and when she was talking Sunday morning she said she wished she could see you-We buried her Monday evening. We buried her real nice she looked as natural as she could all the time. Old age and congestion is what taken her off.
Of course, we are not all well but all are up.
Hoping when you get this you a be well.

We thought of you and Matt. (Martha Luna) especially and would have been glad if you all could have been with us.

I remain as ever

O J Luna