The route that my wife, Jessie, and I traveled to our parent’s home in Georgia until they died goes through Louisville, Georgia, some 35 miles west of Augusta. On several of our trips through Louisville we noticed a sign pointing down a lane to the left that says, “PRE-REVOLUTIONARY WAR CEMETERY.”
I have always had a deep interest in anything to do with history – especially American history. I had never been in a cemetery before where people were buried more than two and one half centuries ago. Eventually, on one of our trips to Georgia to visit our families I could not pass that sign another single time without turning down that lane to see this historical plot of ground. I have always been very glad we did.
As the name of the cemetery indicates, many of the people buried there had died prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Other tombstones bear dates well into the 1800’s. One family plot, encircled by a very nice wrought iron fence, caught our attention. On the seven foot high marble monument above a grave is found the following information:
MARY WRIGHT
Born 1825
Married 1843
Died 1854
Engraved into the granite tombstone below the monument are some especially beautiful words that were written by a man as a tribute to his wife who is buried there:
“A Christian Woman”
“A Christian woman is the highest best gift of God to earth, and here lies one of its brightest exemplifications. Christianity was with her a sentiment deeply enwoven in all her thoughts, feelings, and affections.
Kind and benevolent; unexacting and charitable; brilliant, but humble; vigorous in intellect; sweet and lovely in person; meek and gentle in disposition; her life and character have left their impress indelibly fixed in the hearts of those whose wise counselor and devoted partner she was through all the vicissitudes of an eventful, though brief career.
Though married when young, ardent, and hopeful, in the midday splendor of youthful hopes and aspirations—–she entered upon her domestic duties with an energy and devotion which could feel no decline. By the purity and vigor of her own character, she won, from the most slavish passions, him whose welfare was her highest happiness, and whose character was her own handwork.
Her earthly mission accomplished, she laid down her cross, took up her crown, and now sweetly rests in the bosom of her Savior.”
I have never read a more beautiful tribute given by a husband to honor his wife. Mary Wright only lived twenty-nine brief years, but she undoubtedly made the most of them. She both served her Lord and blessed mankind in a superlative way. She continues to bless others to this day who visit the historic cemetery in Louisville, Georgia and read the words of her husband’s tribute.
His recognition of her influence reminds me of the words of a poem written by an anonymous author:
“Like the vase in which roses
Have once been distilled,
You may break, you may shatter
The vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses
Will cling to it still.”
The Paper Pulpit 
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