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Subject: Fayette Co GaArchives Obituaries.....HEFLIN, MD, Wilson Lumpkin August 13, 1910
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:14:57 EDT

Fayette County GaArchives Obituaries.....HEFLIN, MD, Wilson Lumpkin August
13, 1910

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Candace (Teal) Gravelle October 18, 2005, 12:56 am



"THE ROANOKE LEADER"

Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama



NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, August 17, 1910



DR. WILSON L. HEFLIN DEPARTS THIS LIFE FOR THE LAND OF REST BEYOND



(photo of Wilson L. Heflin included with article)



One of the most prominent and picturesque characters in all this section of

the state passed from the scenes of life when Dr. Wilson Lumpkin Heflin

breathed his last at his home in Roanoke at 4 o'clock last Saturday

afternoon.



Impelled by that indomitable spirit which made his long life one of

remarkable activity, Dr. Heflin persisted in working at intervals on his

little farm in the edge of town, contrary to the wishes and entreaties of

his children, and it was while thus engaged that he was first attacked last

Wednesday afternoon. The attack was in the nature of apoplexy but not until

the following afternoon was his condition considered serious.



Only one son, Robert L. Heflin, was with him at the first, but in answer to

a hurried summons came Hon. John T. Heflin, who was with the educational

campaign speakers Drs. Wyatt and Howell Heflin and Hon. Harrington P. Heflin

of Birmingham and Congressman J. Thos. Heflin of LaFayette. The two

remaining sons, Walter W. and Marvin R. Heflin were attending the University

in Chicago and only arrived in time for the funeral. Mrs. H.B. Reid, the

only daughter of the deceased, was unable to leave her home in Kentucky.



All efforts possible were made by friends and physicians in Roanoke, members

of the family and a professional nurse was brought from Birmingham, to save

the life of the aged patient, but all were futile. Gradually he sank into

the last long sleep. At intervals he gave evidences of recognition and

interest in his surroundings, and only a few hours before his spirit's

flight, he undertook to sing an old hymn, "Shall we gather at the river."



After all was done to prolong the life of the beloved patriarch and the

fight was lost, the body was embalmed and placed in a metallic casket and

Monday morning was borne to old Concord church, near Louina, in whose

cemetery rests the dust of the deceased's sainted wife and his distinguished

brother Judge John T. Heflin. Here is the scene of the old Louina Camp

ground, now only a memory, but which Dr. Heflin did so much to make a power

for good in its day.



Fully one thousand people had assembled from far and near, a most

representative gathering, including old and young and members of both races,

and scarcely a one but felt a sense of personal loss in the departure of the

good man whose body rested before them. Fittingly enough, the services were

held in the grove near the church, a number of chairs and pews being placed

for the family and close friends. Thus the last scene connected with the

history of this man who had lived so near to Nature's heart was held in the

temple of Nature itself.



The service was most impressive. The old songs were sun which were favorites

of the deceased. The service was in charge of Rev. S.L. Dobbs who was

assisted by Rev. R.W. Anderson, a former pastor. The prayer offered by the

former and the address by the latter will live in the lives as well as in

the memory of many who heard them. Brother Dobbs also paid a beautiful

tribute to his deceased friend. In conclusion Elder William Parrish, an old

friend of Dr. Heflin, delivered a touching eulogy to his long time neighbor

and departed comrade.



After the large concourse of the white race had filed past the flower laden

casket for a last look upon the reposeful countenance of the man whose

labors had meant so much to them, the negroes were invited to pass by. A

most pathetic incident was the approach of an old, decrepit former slave of

the doctor "Uncle Boss" Heflin, who with his faithful wife, stood weeping

over the bier of him who had shown them so many kindnesses in sickness and

in health.



With the interment of the body of Dr. Wilson L. Heflin, closed the history

of a man which, if rightly written, would form a volume teeming with salient

facts of the stirring scenes of the four-fifths of a century and more

through which this man moved and in which he played a busy part. It would

afford a story rich in romance, charming in sentiment and abounding in the

choicest and rarest of humor. Such a book would stand without a counterpart,

for Dr. Heflin was peculiarly an original character and occupied a unique

place in the history of this section.



The deceased was born in Fayette County, Georgia 82 years ago the 21st of

March last. He came to Randolph county in boyhood and spent the remainder of

his life among the people. He practiced medicine for 63 years, the longest

record probably of any practitioner who ever lived in Alabama. Living in the

days when this country was sparsely settled, the extent of the territory he

covered was amazing. Only a man of gigantic constitution and heroic will

could have endured the labors and hardships he underwent. The rich and the

poor alike received the faithful ministrations of this man, the fame of

whose skill called him far and near. It is doubtful that any call ever

failed to receive his attention, regardless of renumeration. One evidence of

the great amount of charity work he did is found in the fact that

nothwithstanding he had such an enormous practice through so many years, he

accumulated no fortune and died a comparatively poor man. But he was rich in

the prayers and good will of those had had served and the legacy of the good

name which he leaves to his children is a fortune that cannot fly away. He

did a good part by his nine children and their lives of usefulness vindicate

the wisdom of his course in investing what he accumulated in the development

of his offspring rather than in the perishing things of time.



In return, no father was ever blessed with more loyal, devoted children. In

their lives, representing several professions, and also the maker of the

home, he still lives to bless mankind.



One beautiful feature in the life of this man of rugged exterior but tender

heart was his devotion to the memory of his wife, that fair and radiant

woman who left him 27 years ago, called from the cares of the earthly home

to wait and watch at the gates above. Never a knight paid more gallant

devotion to his lady than this lonely lover laid as a living offering at the

shrine of her departed spirit. The flow of the incense thus continually

offered was noted with keen appreciation by those who were closest to him.

More than this, it was known to some as a sacred secret that upon the return

of each anniversary of the death of his adored companion, Dr. Heflin,

regardless of circumstance, made a pilgrimage to her tombstone and to the

old homestead, around which his affections still clung, and in the love and

life of whose former days he lived so much in memory.



But the past is gone and the pilgrimage ended. Home with him has been

rehabilitated, in a land where shadows never darken, where love is forever

illuminated and rest is his at last.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



NEWSPAPER issue of Wednesday, September 21, 1910



TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF DR. W.L. HEFLIN, written by a life-long friend who was

born in the same county, Capt. B.F. Weathers.



The Heflin family and the family of the writer of this sketch have been

closely associated as neighbors and friends for over three generations. The

two families were neighbors in Fayette County, Georgia in the early settling

of that part of the state. Later both families left Georgia about the same

time, both locating on High Pine Creek in Randolph County, Alabama, several

miles apart. At that time the aborigines were in this country, the Creek

Indians. Our fathers, by their associations with them, learned much of the

Indian dialect and could speak the Creek idiom quite fluently.



Dr. W.L. Heflin was the youngest son of Wyatt and Sarah Stell Heflin. He was

born in Fayette County, Georgia March 21, 1828. His father moved into

Randolph County, Alabama Dec. 11, 1836. Dr. Heflin was a boy, eight years

old; from that date he has been a citizen of this county until the day of

his death.



After his father's death, the old homestead where he grew up to manhood,

became his property. He was educated in the common schools of the country,

partly at Wedowee, the country side; studied medicine while in his teens;

entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in the year 1847, when

but nineteen years of age. In 1851 he graduated at the medical college in

Augusta, Georgia and located in Louina in 1855; lived there 37 years. He

came home with a large field of practice before him. For fifty years he

spent more hours in his saddle, visiting the sick, than out of it.



He was a practicing physician in this same territory of the state

continuously for sixty-three years. Through that long period of his practice

he ever held the unsparing confidence of all the people in the large circle

of his practice, even after doctors became more plentiful in the country.

When the other doctors had a case that baffled their skill, Dr. Heflin was

called in whether far or near. He was very successful in his practice.



He attended all calls regardless of financial considerations, exposing

himself to any and all conditions of weather. It was never too cold or hot,

in rain or shine, by day or night, he went when called for. His indomitable

will power, his iron constitution, his untiring energy, fitted and qualified

him to endure most anything that came upon him. There are the fewest of men

that could hold up under what he could.



Dr. Heflin was a wonderful character in many respects; he excited the

admiration wherever he appeared in any crowd of men or women. He possessed

that most happy faculty of having a jovial, jolly disposition, entertaining

and interesting in his conversation.



While in his thirty-second year Dr. Heflin was married December 8, 1859 to

Miss Lavicie C. Phillips, daughter of Harrington Phillips, at that time the

wealthiest man and largest planter in the county. His daughter was the most

beautiful and attractive young lady in all the country, and as modest as she

was beautiful. She retained all of her attractiveness up to her death. To

crown it all she was a most noble christian woman. She was a great

benefactor to all the poor and suffering of her community and it is the

opinion of this writer that the high standing and prominence of the Heflin

children is largely due to the early training of their sainted mother.



To Dr. Heflin and his wife, eleven children were born as follows:



Wyatt Heflin of Birmingham, one of the most noted physicians of the state;



Harrington P. Heflin, who is now the Democratic nominee of Jefferson County

for solicitor to succeed himself, a position he has held for several years;



Walter W. Heflin, a Methodist minister and a member of the North Alabama

Conference;



John T. Heflin of Roanoke, the Democratic nominee for the probate judgeship

of Randolph county;



Howell T. Heflin, a prominent physician of Birmingham;



J. Thomas Heflin, of LaFayette, the Democratic nominee for congress to

succeed himself from the 5th congressional district;



Sophia E. Heflin, died at Louina at the age of one and a half years;



Robert L., Heflin, who remained with his father and was his close companion

up to the last moment of his father's life;



Mrs. Lavicie Reid who lives in the state of Kentucky, the only member of the

family absent at their father's funeral;



Marvin R. Heflin, also a Methodist minister and a member of the North

Alabama Conference.



Cenus Heflin, the youngest child, died in her infancy at six months.



In all, eight boys and three girls. All the boys are living and have one

sister living.



Dr. Heflin and wife joined the M.E. Church, South, and were baptized by

immersion in the Tallapoosa River at Louina by Rev. Daniel Howell, a noted

Methodist minister of the country, on September 16, 1869 and became the main

pillar of the church to which they belonged, always faithful to the church's

interests. Their home was the home of all the preachers far and near. They

did not wait for an invitation. All knew that the door latch hung on the

outside and that they were welcomed at any and all times.



Dr. Heflin was the prime mover in establishing Louina camp ground and its

strong supporter so long as it was kept up. He is no longer seen among the

walks of men. On the 15th of August his mortal remains were carried to old

Concord church cemetery, and there laid by the side of his departed wife, to

rest unto the morning resurrection, when the dead shall rise; the righteous

shall rise first, put on immortality and dwell forever with the saints in

glory.



The Concord church, its cemetery and Louina Camp ground are close together.

On that forty acres is a fine spring. In the early days of the county while

the land belonged to the government, a man set up a grogshop near where the

church now stands. It became very unpleasant to Dr. Heflin's father, Wyatt

Heflin, so he himself, Harrington Phillips, Frank McMurray, Peter Mitchell

and John Chewning decided they would move it. None of them wanted the land,

so they put in ten dollars each, the government price, entered the forty

acres, donated and deeded it for church purposes, and it is so used only to

this day.



This happy and prosperous family received its saddest blow when the grim

reaper invaded the home and took from the doctor that which was dearest to

him of all earthly treasures, his wife and companion, the joy of his life,

the queen of his household. November the 3rd, 1883, her immortal soul was

severed from this earthly tabernacle of clay and borne away on angels' wings

to glory, the felicity of heaven prepared for the children of God.



When this sad catastrophe came upon him, the Doctor gathered his little ones

around him and said in his heart "I will assume all the cares and

responsibilities both of father and mother." So he did and brought them up

to maturity, an honor to his name, educating them as best he could. How well

he performed that duty, the prominence of his children is the living and

gratifying testimony. We find among them doctors, lawyers, preachers,

statesman and farmer.



The Doctor was a good disciplinarian. He believed in training children to

work. When his boys were not in school he had them at work on the farm,

though he was financially easy in circumstances. He did not allow any one

around him that was able to work to eat bread in idleness. He was a hard

worker himself. Yet no man was more loyal and devoted to his children than

he was, and they equally to their father.



He was a great benefactor to all classes of people in the country. He gave

the poor and hungry bread; he alleviated the pains of the suffering and

sick.



He joined the Confederate Army at Notasulga, but was sent back home to

minister to those left at home. In the early days after the civil war, when

the whole country was devastated, no schools in the country, a few of

Roanoke's enterprising men determined they must establish a good school in

Roanoke. Dr. Heflin was one of the men to subscribe his hundred dollars, at

a time when it was harder to raise a hundred dollars than five hundred now.

The building of that school is the bed-rock of what Roanoke is today. Dr.

Heflin left Louina and moved to Roanoke on Feb. 5, 1892 where he remained up

to the time of his death.



He died with that full triumphant faith in the doctrines of Christ. He

evidenced it but a short while before his immortal soul took its flight. In

that last home he saw the long vistas open and angels descending to bear his

soul away. He was heard in a low tone humming that sweet song, "shall we

gather at the river." The Doctor was a fine, original character. He believed

in men telling the truth, that his word should be as good as his bond, that

they should work and be honest. His heart was like unto a bold spring of

pure water, a gushing fountain of noble sentiments. I have often thought

that if it was God's will in his providence to let such men live on and on,

what a blessing it would be to the world of mankind, especially the

subsequent generations. The life and character of such men are a great

beacon light of inspiration to the young men of the country in helping them

to mold and form a good character for themselves. A life friend, B.F.

Weathers.





Additional Comments:

Alabama Death Index (1908 - 1959)

Name: W L Heflin

Death Date: 13 Aug 1910

Death County: Randolph

Volume: 23

Certificate: 476

Roll: 1





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