OBITUARY In the death of our beloved Brother, JOSIAH C. STARGEL, who departed this life the third week in August 1923, Oakwood Community has lost one of her best citizens. He was born March 6, 1847, in Union County, Georgia. He was reared in a day that we had no free education, but he acquired that common sense knowledge which is so much needed to become a leader in community life.
August 1923
He learned how to get the thought from the printed page. Which caused him to become a great reader of papers and books. He kept so well informed on current events that his opinion in regard to public issues was sought by old and young of his neighborhood. The dearest of all books to him was the Bible. In the reading of this Book of Books, and the preaching of the Word by our good old comrades of the Cross. He was led to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, and was baptized into the fellowship of Cain Creek Church (Lumpkin County) August 29, 1886. He was ordained as a minister of Cain Creek Church May 26, 1888. He was well informed on the fundamental doctrines of his denomination, and he always moved his church membership when he moved, retaining his ministership. He was a minister of Flat Creek Baptist Church at the time of his death, and when we think of his usefulness both in church and every where a good man is used, all have come to fully realize in the past few months how real indeed is the loss to his church and community.
He was married to Miss Mary Isbelle Shelton November 8, 1868. To this union were born eight children all of whom he struggled to give a common school education. These children are living and have families of their own. He was loyal and true to his family, giving the very best of his life to the interest of each one of the most industrious women we have survives him. He was a man of great faith, smooth and gentle in spirit, slow to speak, but always spike to the point.
I am glad that it was my happy privilege to have known him during the last 10 years of his life and to have loved him, and to have been associated with him in many a conversation about the Kingdom work of our Lord and Master.
I shall always hold precious to myself the memory of such a man of God. He said that he wanted to go as cheerful to the grave as his faith would permit him. He said in his last conversation to me "You need not worry about me for I know that I will be anchored with all the Redeemed of our Saviour." While we will miss him here, I want to say that some day we will be reunited in that world where sorrow, death, and separation can not come and where loved ones and friends will never part.
/s/ REV. L. L. BENNETT
Submitted by Robert Lee Stargel Jr.