Obituary #1

Marshall Maxey was born March 1, 1855; departed this life September 7, 1927, at his late home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He was for forty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for fifteen years was a faithful member of the First Church in Mt. Vernon. He had a splendid voice and was for many years a member of the choir. His services in revival meetings are recalled by his former pastors, and it is said that many were led to know and accept the Saviour through his singing.

Poor health made it necessary for him to give up his work in the church, and for the past few years he had been confined to his home. He was interested to the last in the work of his brethren, and inquired as to the progress of his church.

His good wife is left to travel the way alone, as they had no children. The Rev. J.C. Kinison, a former pastor, preached the funeral sermon, and the remains were laid to rest in the West Salem cemetery.

Obituary #2 - Mt. Vernon Newspaper - 1927

J. Marshall Maxey, Highly Respected Resident, Will be Buried at West Salem Thursday Afternoon

J. Marshall Maxey died at 3:00 o'clock this morning at the family home on the Richview Road in the northwest part of Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Maxey had been in poor health for the past six years and for the last three years had been confined to his home. Death was due to Bright's disease.

Mr. Maxey was born in Jefferson county and his entire life was spent in this county. He was 72 years old March 1st of this year. November 13, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Moss of Shiloh township. Mrs. Maxey survives and one brother, Will Maxey, also survives.

Mr. Maxey was a son of the late William Thomas Maxey (in his day known as "Tom Cannon" Maxey).

At the age of 25 Mr. Maxey was converted and united with the M.E. church. He retained his membership in the New Shiloh M.E. church until he and Mrs. Maxey located in Mt. Vernon and transferred their membership to the First M.E. church about twenty years ago.

While a member of the New Shiloh M.E. church, Mr. Maxey was in fact a pillar of the church and one of its most devout members. He took a prominent part in all the activities of the church and for many years served as chorister of the church.

He was of a deeply pios nature, honorable and upright in all his dealings, a model citizen and member of society, and his influence was ever on the side of right on all moral and religious questions or any issue involving the general good.

After uniting with the First M.E. church here he and Mrs. Maxey were members of the choir for many years.

Mr. Maxey engaged in general farming and stock raising while a resident of Shiloh township, and was a fine judge of stock and a successful exhibitor of stock and farm products at Jefferson county and other fairs. He specialized in cattle , hogs, and sheep.

Note:
The last part about the funeral arrangements was missing from the copy of the article I copied this from............ Mary Jane Ohms

Obituary #3

J. Marshall Maxey, son of Thomas and Mary Cummins Maxey, was born in Shiloh Township, Jefferson county, Illinois on the 1st day of March 1855; here he grew to manhood, attending the public schools of that day and securing what education he could. He was united in marriage with Miss Ella E. Moss daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Moss, on the 13th day of November 1879. Mr. Maxey loved music and from young manhood, was a leader in singing, leading choruses or singing solos. He had a rich strong voice and loved to sing and in the old time way and many were led to victory and salvation by his gracious singing. Mr. Maxey was not converted until after his marriage, he then united with the Shiloh M.E. Church and continued a member of the same holding many offices in the church and was choir leader for several years; till some 20 years ago he moved to Mt. Vernon, and he and his wife then placed their membership in the First M.E. Church when held membership till the end came and he was transferred to the church triumphant. He had been failing in health for some 6 years, and gradually grew weaker as the malady got a stronger grip on him, he fought bravely on never giving up. On last Friday September 2nd, he took his bed, getting gradually worse until at 3:00 a.m. September 7th, 1927, he passed away. He leaves his devoted wife who has walked by his side for almost 48 years, one brother W.H. Maxey of Shiloh township, and many relatives and friends. Mr. Maxey was of the old and well known pioneer families of Jefferson County; he was a man who stood for right in all questions pertaining to morality, righteousness and uprightness of life.

A good citizen, a loyal true friend of the church, a man who believed in God the Father of us all. It is great to put ones life on God's altar and love and serve him during a life of three score and more years. A loving husband, a true brother, a kind friend, an honored citizen is gone and we can sing with the poet -

Asleep in Jesus blessed sleep.
Then we think of the lines of the poet who said,
I sit and think, when the sunset's gold
Of flushing river and hill and shore,
I shall one day stand by the water cold
And list for the sound of the boatman's oar.
I shall watch for the gleam of the flapping sail,
I shall hear the boat as it gains the strand,
I shall pass from the site with the boatman pale,
To the better shore of the spirit land.
I shall know the loved who have gone before,
And joyfully sweet will the meeting be,
When over the river, the peaceful river,
The angel of death shall carry me.

The funeral was conducted from the First Methodist church in Mt. Vernon at 4 p.m. Thursday September 8th, 1927. Rev. G.R. Goodman read the scripture and prayed, Rev. J.C. Kinison, read the obituary and brought the funeral, message, Rev. C.C. Hall spoke words of comfort cheer and offered prayer. The body was then taken to West Salem cemetery for burial.

Note: He and Ella are both buried in West Salem cemetery.

Submitted by Mary Jane Ohms - June 5, 2001