The community was greatly saddened by the death last
week of Mrs. Elizabeth Fordham Terry, wife of J. Foster Terry. Her death
followed a short illness which suddenly developed serious complications, and
she passed away Friday evening at the Southampton Hospital, where she had been
taken that morning. She was 37 years of age.
The funeral services were held at her home on Hildreth
Street Monday afternoon and were attended by a large number. The Rev. Jesse
Halsey of Cincinnati conducted the services, Mr. Halsey having come for the
purpose as a warm friend of the family.
Mrs. Terry was greatly beloved in the village and her
death is a sad blow to a large circle of friends. Her bright and inspiring
personality and her unfailing consideration for others made her a welcome
addition to every group. She possessed a brilliant mind and had unusual gifts
as a conversationalist and a writer. She received her education at the
Southampton High School, from which she graduated in 1905, and at Vassar
College, graduating from the latter institution with the class of 1910. After
graduation she taught for several years in the Bancroft School at Haddonfield,
N.J.
During the World War, Mrs. Terry served as the local
district nurse for the Red Cross. In the epidemic of influenza, he sympathetic
ministrations and faithful services endeared her to the unfortunate families
where the disease was rife, and there are many of our foreign-born citizens who
expressed their grief at her passing.
She is survived by her husband and by two young
children, Malcolm and Helen; one sister, Mrs. Albert Burr Craft of Yonkers; and
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. White. Her only brother, Malcolm R. White,
was killed in France during the war.
In a beautiful tribute to the deceased, the Rev. Mr.
Halsey said in part, “This earthly tenement was the habitation of one of the finest
spirits I have ever known. Her loss to this community seems irreparable. She
lent her aid to every good word and work. Many families of our less-fortunate
citizens remember her many kindnesses in time of need.
A brilliant intellect; a remarkably balanced and sane
outlook on life, a keen sense of humor—these and many other rare qualities of
mind and heart endeared her to a large circle of friends [indecipherable] when we cry, “To
what purpose is this waste” can mean, but one [indecipherable] meaning [indecipherable] ever. It
means that out beyond the Mystery there is some other room of our Father’s
House where character and capacity are valued and where high service is to be
performed.
While our presence and our poor words try to express
our sympathy with this household, we renew our Faith in the Life Immortal,
whose portal we call death, more homelike seems the vast Unknown since she has
entered there.
“I have always thought of Malcolm White as the reincarnation
of Captain George, and the faith, and courage of the soldier as he “went West”
is paralleled in his sister, who with a smile upon her lips went out unafraid,
rendering up her life in homage for the gift of motherhood.”
“One who never turned the back
But marched breast forward.
Never doubted clouds would break.
Held, we fall to rise, and baffled
To fight better; sleep to wake.”
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