Death of Mrs. S. G. Houston.

Mrs. Susan G. Houston died at her home in Monroe last Wednesday afternoon after an illness of many months. She was a little over sixty-six years of age, and her death marks the passing of all but one of the immediate family of the late Major D. A. Covington, one of the pioneer settlers of Monroe and for many years one of the most influential citizens of the county. Major Covington came to this county from Anson, being a member of the large family of that name of Anson and Richmond counties. He and his family were a large force in the social, religious and political life of this section. All his children are now dead except Mrs. Martha Lockhart, who was a twin sister of Mrs. Houston. Other children were Mrs. Dr. Bickett, Mrs. Lessie Houston, Hon. D. A. Covington, and the late James G. Covington.

Mrs. Houston was married immediately after the war to the late Mr. Hugh W. Houston, who died some years ago. She was one of the pioneer school teachers in Monroe and vicinity, and many people now living here learned their letters at her knee. As a school teacher she knew nothing of modern methods, because she retired from the work before our teachers had learned them, but she exercised a patience and a tenderness with her students that spared herself no labor or hardship and made her work a marked success in its day.

She was the mother of four children, one of whom died in tender years, and the three others after they had become grown and when their loss became a series of deep tragedies to their mother whose very existence was wrapped up in them. The first to die was her eldest, who was the wife of Mr. R. L. Brewer of Wake Forest, who succumbed to typhoid fever, leaving two small children. Her mother's heart enfolded these children and she became as near as possible their mother. Then, in a few years, the same disease took her son, who was devoted to her, and for whose death there was no compensation in life for her. Finally, her youngest daughter, who was the wife of Mr. R. E. Blakeney, became helpless through a malignant attack of rheumatism, and after six years of the most intense suffering, died, leaving several children. Again, though well in years and not herself strong, she said: "These children have lost their mother. I will take her place." And all her after years were devoted to the trust. That which makes the quiet self-sacrificing life of this noble woman, as well as those of similar ones that the world often hears little of, notable and not less than heroic, is the fact that she never for one moment lost faith, that she met the problems of her life with as much bravery, with as much fortitude, as any soldier who ever marched with banners and music certain of the applause of mankind, that in following the path which duty seemed to lay out for her she went forward without a doubt, without a moment's thought of turning aside. To say that she was a Christian would be as useless as to say that it is dy when the sun in hanging undimmed overhead.

These words are written by one who knew her for many years, who knew that she was true and faithful to her ideals, who knows that she might have said with Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith," though her modesty and unselfishness would have forbidden her to do so.

The remains were buried Thursday in the city cemetery which was once a part of her father's farm. Services were held at the home by Rev. Mr. Craig, pastor of the church of which she was a member since early girlwhood.

The Monroe Journal
Monroe, NC
Tuesday, December 23, 1913
Page 1