WINFREY ROOTS
Home | Absalom Farrar Winfrey | BIGGS Roots | Baptist Minister Heritage | English WINFREYs | "My Mother and My Father" | Early Kentucky Settlers | Henry Winfrey's Letter | Colorado Homesteaders | Winfrey Book | WINFREY Genealogy | Ancestors I | Ancestors II | Contact Me
Absalom Farrar Winfrey

Letter written 25 December 1887 by one of Absalom Farrar Winfrey & Sarah Lucinda Davison's daughters to her ailing sister.  Absalom moved from Georgia to Mississippi and became a large landowner in Montgomery County, Mississippi.  Absalom owned slaves and lost many of them during the Civil War to smallpox; those that lived were freed at the close of the war.  Two of his slaves, Constantine (b. 1836, GA) and Violet (b. ca 1839, NC), were brought as children with him from Georgia to Mississippi.   During the Emancipation after the Civil War, Constantine took the Winfrey name from his white slave owner and Violet took the name Violet A. Violet.  They continued to live a short distance away on land given to them by Absalom.  Constantine and Violet married and had 3 girls and 5 boys.  They are Oprah Winfrey's direct line ancestors.

                                                                     25 Dec 1887
from Maria Boyd [Mariah Jane (Winfrey) Boyd] - Poplar Creek, MS 
to Mrs. M. A. Burton [Mabel Ann (Winfrey) (Mecklin) Burton] - Opahoma, MS  
 
My dear sister, 
 
Although it is hardly necessary for me to write as Guy [Mabel's son, Guy Clifton Burton] can tell you all the news, yet I feel so interested in your condition of health, I can not refrain from doing so.  You must take care of yourself and try to get well for the sake of all your friends, especially your boys; who can train a child like a Mother?  How can they spare you?  How could our poor afflicted Mother [deaf] spare her first born?  Your yearly visits are one of a few bright spots in her life, and you are Auntie's idol [blind].  Don't be so despondent, Cheer up.  Believe you have many things to get well for. Don't ever think that because you are frail and feeble that you are useless and in the way.  I have been there myself: but I see now that such feelings are all wrong, and I have wounded my loved ones many times who were doing all they could for me by expressing those wrong feelings. I think it is woman's nature when they suffer a long time to become morbid by being sensitive but that's all wrong to give way to such feelings.  I mean we must bear patiently what God sees proper to send.  You know that all better than I do.  When the fiery trials are all over there remaineth a crown of everlasting life.  I had a beautiful dream the other night that gave me great joy at the time.  It had been a day of unusual worry, Auntie had tried my patience beyond endurance and I lost my temper the worst part, and at night felt almost too despondent to pray.  I opened my Bible at random and the first words that met my eyes were, "He forgiveth all thine inequities , he healeth all thy diseases."  You know how that comforted me, and after retiring to rest, I fell asleep and dreamed that Auntie was dead and we were moving home.  It seemed in my dream that Louis (husband) had moved everything and was just taking Henry and me in the house.  We entered a place so beautiful I can not describe it, a place so vast I could not see the extent, the walls were covered with living flowers around and above.  I could see but indistinctly millions of moving objects.  The brightness was so great it dazzled my eyes.  I turned to Louis bewildered and said, "Where are we?  I thought we were going home."  Slowly, sweetly rolled the music increasing in intensity as they sang "Dying is but going home, home."  A great wave of joy swept over my soul as I began to realize I was in Heaven and I seemed to lose consciousness for a while.  Still the music rolled on--one grand glorious chant of praise.  As I became accustomed to the brilliant light, objects became more distinct and the first face I recognized was George Batenan (a murderer) I said, "Oh, Louis, how did he get here?" Again the music answered,"Though thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow."  Oh that glorious triumphant refrain.  I can not describe it.  Then to my bewildered senses came the thought of my lost loved ones.  Before I could look for them, two little hands clasped mine.  Two little faces looked up into mine, two sweet voices called "Mama".  I clasped them in my arms in an ecstacy of love and joy and cried, "Oh, my precious babies, have I found you at last?"  Sweetly the song swept on, "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."  Clasping our new found treasures we stood together and presently saw old Mr. Boyd.  Gloriously the music pealed forth as he welcomed us:  "These are they who have come up through tribulations, washed their robes white in the blood of the lamb."  Passing through the vast happy throng I met Pa, Ma, Jimmy, Clem and you. Joyfully I turned to each and asked "Are we all here?"  The grand melody answered again: "We are all here, Father, Mother, sister and brother, we are all here."  My joy was so great, I cried aloud and in making the effort awoke.  God grant we may all meet where sorrow is no more. 
 
Your Loving sister,
 
Maria Boyd 

absalomwinfreyfamily_i.jpg

The shadowy figure visible in the doorway in the background is said to be that of Violet A. Violet, who along with Constantine, were said to have lived in the plantation house with Absalom and Lucinda Winfrey.