Tillie Clay |
| Posted 2018-01-11 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, September 25, 1928, page 7, column 3 Tillie Clay Is Dead At Age 75 Tillie Clay, 75 year-old negro woman, identified with two of Prescott's leading families for years as cook and general housekeeper, died yesterday morning in the county hospital in Miller Valley rather unexpectedly. Her death marked the end of a long trail of helpfulness and brings forth frequent expressions of praise from those who knew her well. She holds the esteem especially of the Herndon and Wells families, for it was with them that she served the longest and it is they who knew her so well. Her exact age is not known, according to Mrs. J. C. Herndon, although Tillie was born in Paris, Ky., years before the Civil war. She was a slave in those early years and had been reared as a housegirl on one of the large Kentucky plantations, or at least in the home of refined Southerners, who impressed her with fine principals that she carried throughout her life. It was in those tender years of her life that she (unreadable) limit. Never once did she speak bitterly of those slave days; on the contrary she left fall ever so often expressions giving evidence that her girlhood days were spent in choice surroundings, where kindness and good care were uppermost. Some 40 years ago she came west to Prescott to become a maid in the home of the son of Secretary Bayard, a government official. Her residence with the family was for only a short time, and then she did servant's work in the home of Judge E. W. Wells and Judge J. C. Herndon. During her residence in Prescott she displayed a staunch Christian character, and frequently read the Bible and quoted Scriptures. For several years she was a member of the Lone Star Baptist Church. About two years ago she became an inmate of the county hospital. Those in charge of the institution say that Tillie always was cheerful and wanted to be of help in every way. Last Thursday she was taken with a chill. The next day she was sitting up. But her condition got more serious, then critical. The end came Sunday morning at -- o'clock, quietly. She never was married and as far as is it is known had no relatives in this state. Funeral arrangements have not been completed but the burial will take place in the Citizens Cemetery near Whipple. |
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