IN MEMORY OF BERLIN LLOYD SELF

This is a picture of Berlin Lloyd Self who passed away March 5, 2009. I took this picture of Berlin many years ago. He had stopped by the funeral home where I work one day to visit with me. He always told me his full name was Lloyd Berlin Self, but his obituary indicated it is Berlin Lloyd Self.

BEATRICE CHEEKS GRAVES OBITUARY

GRAVES, BEATRICE, age 93, of Harriman, TN, formerly of Tellico Plains, widow of Lee Roy Graves, passed away 1:55 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2009 at Roane Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late William Parker Cheeks and Martha Kirkland Cheeks. Survivors: son, David Graves, Chattanooga; grandchildren, Amanda Graves, Andrew Graves, Michelle and Maggie Graves; sister, Jessie Graves, California; brother, William Cheeks, Tellico Plains. Memorial service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, Biereley-Hale Chapel, Rev. Bill Moore officiating. Interment in Unicoi Cemetery. Family will receive friends 1-2 P.M. Saturday at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Tellico Plains, TN.

Beatrice was the granddaughter of Jess and Ruth Josephine Self Kirkland and the great-granddaughter of John and Lydia Waters Self.

REV. BERLIN LLOYD SELF OBITUARY

Rev. Berlin Lloyd Self, 79, of Niota, TN died Thursday evening, March 5, 2009, at Parkwest Hospital. A native of Tellico Plains, and a longtime resident of Niota, he was a son of the late Onnie and Sarah Tucker Self, and was a member of Hammer Hill Church of Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Marie Self; three sons, Harold, Billy and James Self; and an infant sister. Survivors include five daughters and four sons-in-law, Joyce and Mike Roberts of Etowah, Linda and Clifton Howard of Decatur, Shirley Eaton of Etowah, Patricia and David Ledford of Washburn, and Julie and Wayne Peeler of Athens; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Berlin and Betty Self of Athens, Charles and Dorothy Self of Englewood, Jerry Self of Loudon, and John Blue Allan of Pontiac, Mich.; 19 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Pauline and Jerry Chaney of Mississippi; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Gene and Julie Self of Pontiac, Mich., and Bill Self of Chicago, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hammer Hill Church of Jesus Christ with the Rev. Clifford Barnes and the Rev. Frank Sims officiating. Burial will follow in Conasauga Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles, Jerry, Gene and Berlin Self, John Allan and Clifton Howard. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
If you are unable to attend the visitation or service, sign the guest registry at www.zieglerfuneralhome.com . Ziegler Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of arrangements.

This was taken from the Daily Post-Athenian, Athens, TN.

REMEMBERING PAPA

Stella Miller was the daughter of Rev. Oliver (Joe) Miller and Mary Lydia Hartness Miller. She was the sister of Mildred Miller Thomas, whose articles have also been published on this blog. Stella passed away on August 17, 2006. Stella wrote “Remembering Papa”.

“Remembering Papa”

A very dear friend of mine, Patsy Robbins, asked me to write about this incident that happened to my daddy years ago, so I'll try to write it just like he told it. Papa was pastor of Coker Creek Baptist Church and back then he had no car so he had to walk all the way across Coker Creek Mountain and down the other side a few miles. As most of you can remember, it was a rough, steep road before the new highway was built. At this time we lived three or four miles below Tellico. Back then country churches only had services once a month; on Saturday morning at 11 o’ clock, Saturday night and Sunday morning. Papa would walk there for services and then back home, so he would get up early Saturday morning and get started in order to get there for the 11 o' clock services.

So this Saturday morning he had gotten almost to the top of the mountain when he said he was so tired and his feet were hurting so bad he decided to rest a while before going on to church. He set down on the side of the road on a big rock and pulled his shoes off. He said when he pulled his shoes off he saw that he had blisters and they had burst and the blood was running out of his socks. While sitting there he looked up the mountain and saw this man coming down the road. He recognized him as a sinner man the church had been praying for so long, but it seemed that no one could reach him or touch him in anyway. He came on down the road and stopped and talked to Papa a while. He started on down the road, but later told that he couldn't get that off his mind. He said something kept ringing in his mind,--that man is a servant of the LORD--over and over, a servant of the Lord, a servant of the Lord. It rang in his mind until he got under conviction and was saved. I don't remember if he came to church and was saved or was saved at home, but the important thing is that he was saved after seeing Papa sitting there on the side of the road resting with the blood running out of his socks. Papa wasn't boasting when he told this, he was just saying that the life you live before your sinner friend is more important than all the words you could say.

Below are the words to a song I used to hear them sing when I was a child. When I think about this incident that happened to Papa I think about this song.

I saw a way worn traveler in tattered garments clad. He was struggling up the mountain it seemed that he was sad. His back was heavy laden, his strength was almost gone but he shouted as he journeyed, deliverance will come.

The summer sun was shining; the sweat was on his brow. His garments worn and dusty his steps were very slow, but he kept pressing onward for he was winding home still shouting as he journeyed, deliverance will come.

I saw him in the evening, the sun was getting low. He had over topped the mountain and reached the vale below. He saw the shining city his everlasting home and shouted loud Hosanna deliverance has come.

Then Palms of Victory, Crowns of Glory, Palms of Victory I shall wear.

“The Way-Worn Traveler” is the title of this song.

Stella Miller

April 1998

MARY ALICE SELF CORBIN AND WILLIAM CLARENCE CORBIN

The pictures above are of Mary Alice Self Corbin and her husband, William Clarence Corbin. Mary Alice was the daughter of Samuel Luther and Lula Bell Cooper Self. She was born April 11, 1928 and passed away June 24, 1994. William Clarence Corbin was born December 18, 1922 and passed away August 9, 1976. They are buried in Franklin, NC. They had six children including a set of twins. Their children are Barry Lynn, Ronald Alden, William Michael, Marsha Carol, Alice Annette and Mary Janette.

PICTURE OF MAUDE DOVE SELF RAPIER AND JOE WASH RAPIER

Recently, I was introduced to cousin Rob Rapier of Washington State by cousin Daisy Murray, also of Washington State. Daisy and Rob met online and I am grateful to Daisy for introducing me to Rob. Rob shared a picture of his grandparents, Maude Self Rapier and Joe Wash Rapier, which I am happy to post on this site. Maude Self was the daughter of Lewis Monroe Self and his first wife, Mary Louise Crawford Self. Maude and Joe Rapier were married on July 2, 1919 in Monroe County, Tennessee. Maude was born circa 1899 and is buried in Illinois. I do not have her date of death. Many in the Rapier family now spell their last name Raper.